Speech #720023465

Without objection. it is so ordered. The bill to reduce certain naturalization fees. and The bill to reduce the fee for records of registry under the immigration laws were read twice by their titles and referred to the Committee on Immigration. The statement prepared by Mr. WALSH of Massachusetts is as follows: These two bills would reduce by 50 per cent the fees required under the naturalization and immigration laws for naturalization and registry. At the present time an alien who came to the United States before June 23. 1921. of whose arrival no record is found. must pay $20 for a certificate of registry. in order to have his admission legalized so that he can apply for citizenship. By the provisions of my bills this fee would be reduced to $10. In addition. the present fee required for certificate of arrival would be reduced from $5 to $2.50. the fee for receiving and filing a declaration of intention would be reduced from $5 to $2.50. the fee for filing and docketing a petition for citizenship and final hearing would be reduced from $10 to $5. Also. the fee for the issuance of new certificates of citizenship or declarations of intention in place of those lost. mutilated. or destroyed would be reduced from $10 to $5. I have been endeavoring for several years to secure a reduction In the naturalization fees. as I have long considered that the present rates put naturalization beyond the reach of the average applicant. that the desirability for citizenship should not be measured by an ability to pay an exorbitant fee. but that the true test should be an individuals merit. etc. During the Seventyfirst Congress I presented a bill which provided for the reduction of the fee for record of registry from $20 to $10. and for making. filing. and docketing petition for citizenship and final hearing thereon from $10 to $5. However. the bill was never reported to the Senate because the department recommended against its enactment in a letter to the chairman of the Immigration Committee of the Senate. The report of the National Council on Naturalization and Citizenship. with related data. presented by Mr. WALSH of Massachusetts. was referred to the Committee on Immigration. to accompany the bills. and ordered to be printed in the RECORD. as follows: