Speech #750030068

Mr. Chairman. on the 11th day of February 1937 I introduced bill H. R. 4634. to amend the Naturalization Act of June 29. 1906. and provide for the admission to citizenship of aliens who came into this country prior to February 5. 1917. The bill reads as follows: That the second paragraph of section 4 of the Naturalization Act of June 29. 1906 (34 Stat. 596). as amended (U. S. C.. Supp. VI. title 8. sec. 402). is amended as follows: "Provided further. That where an alien who came into the United States of America prior to February 5. 1917. for permanent residence. has filed a declaration of intention or a declaration of intention and petition for naturalization before the passage of this amendment. and who is now 50 years of age or over he may upon petition or application be admitted to citizenship. the expiration of the time limit of 7 years from the date of filing his declaration of intention notwithstanding. where such expiration was due to the aliens inability to qualify for citizenship because of lack of knowledge of the English language. or lack of knowledge of the laws of the United States of America. or lack of education. and such alien shall not be required to sign the petition or application in his own handwriting." The purpose of this bill is to amend the present naturalization laws so as to admit to citizenship persons who came to the United States prior to February 5. 1917. and who have failed to qualify for citizenship because they lack the educational requirements as prescribed by the present law. Before the passage of the Immigration Act of February 5. 1917. our immigration laws did not provide for any literacy test. and aliens were admitted into the United States without regard to their educational qualifications. As a result thousands of immigrants who came to our shores lacked even a primary education. These men and women who came to make their way into the new world were in most cases persons of mature age. and they were compelled because of necessity to engage in gainful occupations soon after their arrival. Thereafter the burden of providing for themselves and families left them very little time to acquire the necessary knowledge of our language and our institutions to admit them to citizenship.