They are already here in the United States. The filing of their papers is the best evidence that they have come here to make themselves one with us and to become coworkers in building up this great country of ours. The junior Senator from New York stated on yesterday that practically 60 per cent of the population of New York are foreign born. That is undoubtedly the greatest concentration of aliens at any point in this country. Out of a population of 5.000.000 or 6.000.000 people more than half are alien born. It is. therefore. of the utmost importance that this Government should throw no obstacle in the way of permitting as many of them as will becoming citizens of this country. If it is our duty to facilitate naturalization and not to retard naturalization. the instrumentalities that we provide for the accomplishment of that purpose ought at all times be adequate for the discharge of the functions imposed upon our naturalization officers. With this large percentage of population of foreign birth in that great city. it is incredible to me that eight persons upon whom devolves the entire work of receiving applications and. preparing those.applications for final hearing by the courts can possibly keep up with the task. In that situation It seems to me that the duty of Congress is clear. and that that duty is that we shall increase the number of employees so that the work may not be delayed.
Keywords matched
naturalization foreign born