Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
indeed, all the monitors and some of the old cruisers--efficient,
modern seagoing vessels. Seagoing torpedo-boat destroyers should be
substituted for some of the smaller torpedo boats. During the present
Congress there need be no additions to the aggregate number of units of
the navy. Our navy, though very small relatively to the navies of other
nations, is for the present sufficient in point of numbers for our
needs, and while we must constantly strive to make its efficiency
higher, there need be no additions to the total of ships now built and
building, save in the way of substitution as above outlined. I
recommend the report of the Secretary of the Navy to the careful
consideration of the Congress, especially with a view to the
legislation therein advocated.
During the past year evidence has accumulated to confirm the
expressions contained in my last two annual messages as to the
importance of revising by appropriate legislation our system of
naturalizing aliens. I appointed last March a commission to make a
careful examination of our naturalization laws, and to suggest
appropriate measures to avoid the notorious abuses resulting from the
improvident of unlawful granting of citizenship. This commission,
composed of an officer of the Department of State, of the Department of
Justice, and of the Department of Commerce and Labor, has discharged
the duty imposed upon it, and has submitted a report, which will be
transmitted to the Congress for its consideration, and, I hope, for its
favor, able action.
The distinguishing recommendations of the commission are:
First--A Federal Bureau of Naturalization, to be established in the
Department of Commerce and Labor, to supervise the administration of
the naturalization laws and to receive returns of naturalizations
pending and accomplished.
Second--Uniformity of naturalization certificates, fees to be charged,
and procedure.
Third--More exacting qualifications for citizenship.
Fourth--The preliminary declaration of intention to be abolished and no
alien to be naturalized until at least ninety days after the filing of
his petition.
Fifth--Jurisdiction to naturalize aliens to be confined to United
States district courts and to such State courts as have jurisdiction in
civil actions in which the amount in controversy is unlimited; in
cities of over 100,000 inhabitants the United States district courts to
have exclusive jurisdiction in the naturalization of the alien
residents of such cities.
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