under the law the party whose ballot he desires to vote at the primary. And further provided, That, if a special election or Fall primary shall intervene between registration day and the next general or municipal election, the presence of the name of an elector on the list shall not be conclusive evidence of his qualifications as to length of residence or payment of taxes at said special election or primary. If his name is not registered he shall not be entitled to vote at any election or primary. Before receiving his ballot, every voter shall satisfy the election officers of his identity, and, if challenged, by signing his name in the place provided for that purpose, if able to do so, and by the production of such other evidence as is or may be required by law. (Act 1913, Sec. 17, P. L. 990.)

† Voters in Cities of Third Class Must Register to Vote-Registered Voter May be Challenged. 12. Any person (in cities of the third class) whose name is on the register shall be entitled to vote at any general, special, municipal, or primary election, unless it shall be shown, to the satisfaction of the election officers, that he is no longer a resident of the election district in which he is registered: Provided, That if a special election shall intervene between registration day and the next general or municipal election, the presence of the name of an elector on the list shall only be prima facie evidence of his right to vote. If his name is not registered he shall not be entitled to vote at any election. Before receiving his ballot every voter shall satisfy the election officers of his identity, and, if challenged, by signing his name in the place provided for that purpose, if able to do so, and the production of such other evidence as is or may be required by law. (Act 1907, Sec. 5, P. L. 256.)

Non-Registered Voters, in Boroughs and Townships, to be Permitted to Vote Upon Proof of Qualification.

13. Every person qualified residence and payment of taxes,

and who shall make due proof, if required, of his shall be admitted to vote in the township, ward or district (other than cities of the first, second and third classes) in which he shall reside. (Act 1839, Sec. 67, P. L. 534.)

What Proof Required on Election Day of Non-Registered Persons in Boroughs and Townships.

14. On the day of election (in districts other than cities of the first, second and third classes), any person whose name shall not appear on the registry of voters, and who claims the right to vote at said election, shall produce at least one qualified voter of the district as a witness to the residence of the claimant in the district in which he claims to be a voter, for the period of at least two months immediately preceding said election, which witness shall be sworn or affirmed and subscribed a written or partly written and partly printed affidavit to the facts stated by him, which affidavit shall define clearly where the residence is of the person so claiming to be a voter; and the person so claiming the right to vote shall also take and subscribe a written or partly written and partly printed affidavit, stating to the best of his knowledge and belief, when and where he was born; that he has been a citizen of the United States for one month and of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; that he has resided in the Commonwealth one year, or, if formerly a qualified elector or a native born citizen thereof, and has removed therefrom and returned, that he has resided therein six months next preceding said election; that he has resided in the district in which he claims to be a voter for the period of at least two months immediately preceding said election; that he has not moved into the district for the purpose of voting therein; that he has, if twenty-two years of age or upwards, paid a State or county tax within two years, which was assessed at least two months and paid at least one month before the election. The said affidavit shall also state when and where the tax claimed to be paid by the affiant was assessed, and when &nd where and to whom paid; and the tax receipt therefor shall be produced for examination, unless the affiant shall state in his affidavit that it has been lost or destroyed, or that he never received any; and if a naturalized citizen shall also state when, where and by what court he was naturalized, and shall also produce his certificate of naturalization for examination. * (Act 1899, Sec. 1, P. L. 254.)

The proof of the right to vote must be made at the time when the right is claimed. or the vote will be illegal; it is too late to make the proof on the trial of a contested election. In re Contested Election of McDonough, 105 Pa. 488 s. c. 15 W. N. C. 49. An affidavit that is merely defective from want of signature of the voter, or the witness, or that of the officer to the jurat, may be reformed by proof that due proof was made. But this cannot be done by a wholesale affidavit as to all defective proofs, referring to no particular paper; each affidavit must be reformed separately. In re Cusick's Election, 136 Pa. 459, s. c. 26 W. N. C. 425.

All the requisites of the act must be observed, however, and an affidavit by a witness stating in general terms that the voter has resided for the requisite time in the district, instead of clearly defining where the residence for the claimant was, is insufficient. In re Cusick's Election, 136 Pa. 459, s. c. 26 W. N. C. 425.

An affidavit that does not state when and where the voter was born, nor when and where the tax claimed to have been paid by the affiant was assessed, and where and to whom paid, is defective. In re Cusick's Election, 136 Pa. 459, s. c. 26 W. N. C. 425, overruling, on the latter point.

*

Non-Registered Person, in Boroughs and Townships, Under Twenty-two Years of Age and Otherwise Qualified, May Vote Without Having Paid Tax.

15. But if the (non-registered) person so claiming the right to vote (in cities other than cities of the first, second and third classes), shall take and subscribe an affidavit that he is a native-born citizen of the United States, or, if born elsewhere, shall state the fact in his affidavit, and shall produce evidence that he has been naturalized or that he is entitled to citizenship by reason of his father's naturalization, and shall further state in his ~ffdevit that he is. et the time of making the affidavit, of the age of twenty-one and under twenty-two years; that he has been a citizen of the United States one month, and has resided in the State one year; or, if a native-born citizen of the State and removed therefrom and returned, that he has resided therein six months next preceding said election, and in the election district two months immediately preceeding such election, and he shall be entitled to vote, although he shall not have paid taxes. * (Act 1899, Sec. 1, P. L. 254.)

†An elector to vote a Non-partisan Nomination Ballot is not required to enroll as to his party preferences. In cities enrolled registered voters cannot be challenged at primaries as to party; see Article 5, Sec. 42.

Affidavits Offered in Proof of Qualification of Non-Registered Voter, in Boroughs and Townships, to be Preserved and Filed-Name to be Added to Registry List on Due Proof.

16. The said affidavits of all persons making such claims (in districts other than cities of the first, second and third classes), and the affidavits of the witnesses to their residence shall be preserved by the election board, and at the close of the election they shall be enclosed with the list of voters, tally-list and other papers required by law to be filed by the return judge with the prothonotary, and shall remain on file therewith, in the prothonotary's office, subject to examination as other election papers are. If the election officers shall find that the applicant possesses all the legal qualifications of a voter he shall be permitted to vote, and his name shall be added to the list of taxables by the election officers, the word "tax," being added where the claimant claims to vote on tax and the word "age,' where he claims to vote on age, the same words being added by the clerks in each case, respectively, on the lists of persons voting at such election. (Act 1899, Sec. 1, P. L. 234.)

*

Registered Voters, in Boroughs and Townships, May be Challenged.

17. It shall be lawful for any qualified citizen of the district (in districts other than cities of the first, second and third classes), notwithstanding the name of the proposed voter is contained on the list of resident taxables, to challenge the vote of such person, whereupon the same proof of the right of suffrage, as is now required by law, shall be publicly made and acted on by the election board, and the vote admitted or rejected, according to the evidence. • (Act 1874, Sec. 11, P. L. 36.)

Electors Twenty-Two Years of Age or Upwards Must Have Paid Tax Within Two Years.

18. If twenty-two years of age and upwards, he shall have paid within two years a State or county tax, which shall have been assessed at least two months and paid at least one month before the election. (Art. 8, Sec. 1, Constitution.)

Proper Tax Receipt to be Conclusive Evidence-How Payment May be Otherwise Proved.

19. Where the person offering to vote claims the right on the payment of tax, the receipt for such tax, if signed by the proper officer, shall be the evidence thereof; if such person does not produce such receipt, then the payment of the tax may be proved by the oath of such person, or other evidence, stating when, where and to whom such tax was paid. (Act 1874, Sec. 3, P. L. 45.)

Naturalized Citizens to Produce Certificates-On Voting, Certificate to be Stamped-Penalties for Voting Second Time on, or Neglect to Stamp Certificate.

20. Every person claiming to be naturalized citizen shall be required to produce his naturalization certificate, at the election, before voting, except where he has been for five years consecutively a voter in the district in which he offers his vote; and on the vote o such person being received, it shall be the duty of the election officers to write or stamp on such certificate the word "voted," with the day, month and year; and if any election officer or officers shall receive a second vote on the same day, by virtue of the same certificate excepting where sons are entitled to vote, because of the naturalization of their fathers, they and the person who shall offer such second vote shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be fined or imprisoned, or both, at the discretion of the court; but the fine shall not exceed five hundred dollars in each case, nor the imprisonment one year. The like punishment shall be inflicted, on conviction, on the officers of election who shall neglect or refuse to make, or cause to be made, the indorsement required as aforesaid on said naturalization certificate. (Act 1874, Sec. 11, P. L. 36.)

Certificate of Naturalization or Tax Receipt Conclusive Evidence of Facts Mentioned Therein.

21. In all elections, hereafter the certificate of naturalization, if genuine, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts mentioned therein; and where the person offering to vote claims the right on the payment of tax, the receipt for such tax, if signed by the proper officer, shall be the evidence thereof; if such person does not produce such receipt, then the payment of the tax may be proved by the oath of such person, or other evidence, stating when, where and to whom such tax was paid. (Act 1874, Sec. 3, P. L. 45.)

ARTICLE XI.

NATURALIZATION.

Courts Authorized to Naturalize Aliens as Citizens-All Blank Forms and Certificates of Naturalization to be Furnished by United States Government.

*

1. That exclusive jurisdiction to naturalize aliens as citizens of the United States is hereby conferred upon the following specified courts: United States * District courts now existing, or which may hereafter be established by Congress in any State, United States district courts for the Territories of Hawaii, Alaska and Porto Rico, the supreme court of the District of Columbia; * also all courts of record in any State or Territory now existing, or which may hereafter be created, having a seal, a clerk, and jurisdiction in actions at law or equity, or law and equity, in which the amount in controversy is unlimited.

That the naturalization jurisdiction of all courts herein specified, State, Territorial, and Federal, shall extend only to aliens resident within the respective judicial districts of such courts.

The courts herein specified shall, upon the requisition of the clerks of such courts, be furnished from time to time by the Bureau of Naturalization with such blank forms as may be required in the naturalization of aliens, and all certificates of naturalization shall be consecutively numbered and printed on safety paper furnished by said Bureau. (Sec. 8, Act of Congress of June 29, 1906; as amended by Act of Congress of March 3, 1911, and 39 Stat. L. 965.)

How Aliens May Become Citizens of the United States.

2. That an alien may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States in the following manner and not otherwise:

Declaration of Intention, Requisites and Contents; Prior Declarations.

3. First. He shall declare on oath before the clerk of any court authorized by this act to naturalize aliens, or his authorized deputy. in the district in which such alien resides. two years at least prior to his admission. and after he has reached the age of eighteen years, that it is bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly by name, to the prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of which the alien may be at the time a citizen or subject. And such declaration shall set forth the name, age, occupation, personal description, place of birth, last foreign residence and allegiance, the date of arrival, the name of the vessel, if any, in which he came to the United States. and the present place of residence in the United States of said alien: Provided. however, That no alien, who, in conformity with the law in force at the date of his declaration, has declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States shall be required to renew such declaration. Petition for Admission to Citizenship-Requisites and Contents-Verification by Witnesses-Filing Certificate of Arrival in United States and Declaration of Intention.

4. Second. Not less than two years nor more than seven years after he has made such declaration of intention he shall make and file, in duplicate, a petition in writing, signed by the applicant in his own handwriting and duly verified, in which petition such applicant shall state his full name, his place of residence (by street and number, if possible), his occupation, and. if possible, the date and place of his birth; the place from which he emigrated, and the date and place of his arrival in the United States, and, if he entered through a port, the name of the vessel on which he arrived; the time when and the place and name of the court where he declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States; if he is married he shall state the name of his wife and, if possible, the country of her nativity and her place of residence at the time of filing his petition; and if he has children, the name, date, and place of birth and place of residence of each child living at the time of the filing of his petition: Provided, That if he has filed his declaration before the passage of this act he shall not be required to sign the petition in his own handwriting.

The petition shall set forth that he is not a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government, or a member of or affiliated with any organization or body of persons teaching disbelief in or opposed to organized government, a polygamist or believer in the practice of polygamy, and that it is his intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly by name to the prince. potentate, state, or sovereignty of which he at the time of filing of his petition may be a citizen or subject, and that it is his intention to reside permanently within the United States, and whether or not he has been denied admission as a citizen of the United States, and, if denied, the ground or grounds of such denial, the court or courts in which such decision was rendered, and that the cause for such denial has since been cured or removed, and every fact material to his naturalization and required to be proved upon the final hearing of his application.

The petition shall also be verified by the affidavits of at least two creditable witnesses, who are citizens of the United States, and who shall state in their affidavits that they have personally known the applicant to be a resident of the United States for a period of at least five years continuously, and of the State, Territory, or District (of Columbia) in which the application is made for a period of at least one year immediately preceding the date of the filing of his petition, and that they each have personal knowledge that the petitioner is a person of good moral character, and that he is in every way qualified, in their opinion, to be admitted as a citizen of the United States.

At the time of filing his petition there shall be filed with the clerk of the court a certificate from the Department of Labor, if the petitioner arrives in the United States after the passage of this act, stating the date, place. and manner of his arrival in the United States, and the declaration of intention of such petitioner, which certificate and declaration shall be attached to and made a part of said petition.

Declaration on Oath in Open Court to Support Constitution and Laws of United States, and Renunciation of Other Allegiance.

5.

Third. He shall, before he is admitted to citizenship, declare on oath in open court that he will support the Constitution of the United States, and that he absolutely and entirely renounces and adjures all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly by name to the prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of which he was before a citizen or subject; that he will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and bear true faith and allegiance to the

same.

Evidence of Residence, Character, Et Cetera-Witnesses.

6. Fourth. It shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the court admitting any alien to citizenship that immediately preceding the date of his application he has resided continuously within the United States five years at least. and within the State or Territory where such court is at the time held one year at least, and that during that time he has behaved as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same. In addition to the oath of the applicant, the testimony of at least two witnesses, citizens of the United States, as to the facts of residence, moral character, and attachment to the principles of the Constitution shall be required, and the name, place of residence, and occupation of each witness shall be set forth in the record. (Sec. 4 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906.)

No allen shall be admitted to become a citizen who has not for the continued term of five years next preceding his admission resided within the United States. (1 Revised Statutes of U. S., Section 2170.)

The provisions of this title shall apply to all aliens being free white persons, and to aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent. (1 Revised Statutes of U. S., Sec. 2169.) Declarations of intention more than seven years old are insufficient to support petitions for naturalization. (See U. S. v. Morena, 171 Fed. 297.)

Renunciation of Hereditary Title or Order of Nobility.

7. Fifth. In case the alien applying to be admitted to citizenship has borne any hereditary title. or has been of any of the orders of nobility in the kingdom or state from which he came, he shall, in addition to the above requisites, make an express renunciation of his title or order of nobility in the court to which his application is made, and his renunciation shall be recorded in the court. (Sec. 4 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906.)

Naturalization of Widows and Minor Children of Aliens Dying After Declaration of Intention Before Being Actually Naturalized.

8. Sixth. When any alien who has declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States dies before he is actually naturalized the widow and minor children of such alien may, by complying with the other provisions of this act, be naturalized without making any declaration of intention. (Sec. 4 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906.)

Notice of Filing of Petition and Hearing Thereon for Citizenship.

9. That the clerk of the court shall, immediately after filing the petition, give notice thereof by posting in a public and conspicuous place in his office, or in the building in which his office is situated, under an appropriate heading, the name, nativity, and residence of the alien, the date and place of his arrival in the United States, and the date. as nearly as may be. for the final hearing of his petition, and the names of the witnesses whom the applicant expects to summon in his behalf; and the clerk shall, if the applicant requests it, issue a subpoena for the witnesses so named by the said applicant to appear upon the day set for the final hearing, but in case such witnesses can not be produced upon the final hearing other witnesses may be summoned. (Sec. 5 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906.)

When Petitions for Naturalization May be Filed, and Certificates Issued-Change of Name of Alien on His Naturalization.

10. That petitions for naturalization may be made and filed during term time or vacation of the court and shall be docketed the same day as filed, but final action thereon shall be had only on stated days, to be fixed by rule of the court, and in no case shall final action be had upon a petition until at least ninety days have elapsed after filing and posting the notice of such petition: Provided, That no person shall be naturalized nor shall any certificate of naturalization be issued by any court within thirty days preceding the holding of any general election within its territorial jurisdiction. It shall be lawful at the time and as a part of the naturalization of any alien, for the court, in its discretion, upon the petition of such alien, to make a decree changing the name of said alien, and his certificate of naturalization shall be issued to him in accordance therewith. (Sec. 6 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906.)

Anarchists and Polygamists not to be Naturalized.

11. That no person who disbelieves in or who is opposed to organized government, or who is a member of or affiliated with any organization entertaining and teaching such disbelief in or opposition to organized government, or who advocates or teaches the duty, necessity, or propriety of the unlawful assaulting or killing of any officer or officers, either of specific individuals or of officers generally. of the Government of the United States, or of any other organized government, because of his or their official character, or who is a polygamist, shall be naturalized or be made a citizen of the United States. (Sec. 7 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906.)

Aliens, to be Naturalized, Must Speak the English Language.

12. That no alien shall hereafter be naturalized or admitted as a citizen of the United States who can not speak the English language: Provided, That this requirement shall not apply to aliens who are physically unable to comply therewith. if they are otherwise qualified to become citizens of the United States: And provided further, That the requirements of this section shall not apply to any alien who has prior to the passage of this act declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States in conformity with the law in force at the date of making such declaration. • (Sec. 8 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906.)

Final Hearing of Petition, Shall be Held in Open Court-Applicant and Witnesses to be Examined Under Oath.

13. That every final hearing upon such petition shall be had in open court before a judge or judges thereof, and every final order which may be made upon such petition shall be under the hand of the court and entered in full upon a record kept for that purpose, and upon such final hearing of such petition the applicant and witnesses shall be examined under oath before the court and in the presence of the court. (Sec. 9 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906.)

Proceedings Where Petitioner has not Resided Continuously in State for Five Years.

14. That in case the petitioner has not resided in the State, Territory, or district (of Columbia) for a period of five years continuously and immediately preceding the filing of his petition he may establish by two witnesses, both in his petition and at the hearing, the time of his residence within the State, provided that it has been for more than one year, and the remaining portion of his five years' residence within the United States required by law to be established may be proved by the depositions of two or more witnesses who are citizens of the United States, upon notice to the Bureau of Naturalization. (Sec. 10 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906; as amended by Act of May 9, 1918.)

15.

United States May Appear in Court Against Petitioner.

That the United States shall have the right to appear before any court or courts exercising jurisdiction in naturalization proceedings for the purpose of cross-examining the petitioner and the witnesses produced in support of his petition concerning any matter touching or in any way affecting his right to admission to citizenship, and shall have the right to call witnesses. produce evidence, and be heard in opposition, to the granting of any petition in naturalization proceedings. (Sec. 11 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1206.)

Fees in Naturalization Proceedings.

16. That the clerk of each and every court exercising jurisdiction in naturalization cases shall charge, collect, and account for the following fees in each proceeding:

*

For receiving and filing a declaration of intention and issuing a duplicate thereof, one dollar. For making, filing and docketing the petition of an alien for admission as a citizen of the United States and for the final hearing thereon, two dollars; and for entering the final order and the issuance of the certificate of citizenship thereunder, if granted, two dollars. In addition to fees herein required, the petitioner shall, upon the filing of his petition to become a citizen of the United States, deposit with and pay to the clerk of the court a sum of money sufficient to cover the expenses of subpoenaing and paying the legal fees of any witnesses for whom he may request a subpoena, and upon the final discharge of such witnesses they shall receive, if they demand the same from the clerk, the customary and usual witness fees from the moneys which the petitioner shall have paid to such clerk for such purpose. and the residue, if any, shall be returned by the clerk to the petitioner. * (Sec. 13 of Act of Congress of June 25, 1910.)

*

Right of Citizenship to be Forfeited in Case of Fraud in Obtaining Naturalization CertificateCertificate to be Canceled Where Citizen Returns to Foreign Country for Permanent Residence Within Five Years.

17. That it shall be the duty of the United States district attorneys for the respective districts, upon affidavit showing good cause therefor, to institute proceedings in any court having jurisdiction to naturalize aliens in the judicial district in which the naturalized citizen may reside at the time of bringing the suit, for the purpose of setting aside and cancelling the certificate of citizenship on the ground of fraud or on the ground that such certificate of citizenship was illegally procured. In any such proceedings the party holding the certificate of citizenship alleged to have been fraudulently or illegally procured shall have sixty days personal notice in which to make answer to the petition of the United States; and if the holder of such certificate be absent from the United States or from the district in which he last had his residence, such notice shall be given by publication in the manner provided for the service of summons by publication or upon absentees by the laws of the State or the place where such suit is brought. If any alien who shall have secured a certificate of citizenship under the provisions of this act shall, within five years after the issuance of such certificate, return to the country of his nativity, or go to any other foreign country, and take permanent residence therein, it shall be considered prima facie evidence of a lack of intention on the part of such alien to become a permanent citizen of the United States at the time of filing his application for citizenship, and, in the absence of countervailing evidence, it shall be sufficient in the proper proceeding to authorize the cancellation of his certificate of citizenship as fraudulent, and the diplomatic and consular offices of the United States in foreign countries shall from time to time, through the Department of State. furnish the Department of Justice with the names of those within their respective jurisdictions who have such certificates of citizenship and who have taken permanent residence in the country of their nativity, or in any other foreign country, and such statements, duly certified shall be admissible in evidence in all courts in proceedings to cancel certificates of citizenship. Whenever any certificate of citizenship shall be set aside or canceled, as herein provided, the court in which such judgment or decree is rendered shall make an order cancelling such certificate of citizenship and shall send a certified copy of such order to the Bureau of Naturalization: and in case such certificate was not originally issued by the court making such ortler it shall direct the clerk of the court to transmit a copy of such order and judgment to the court out of which such certificate of citizenship shall have been originally issued. And it shall thereupon be the duty of the clerk of the court receiving such certified copy of the order and judgment of the court to enter the same of record and to cancel such original certificate of citizenship upon the records and to notify the Bureau of Naturalization of such cancellation.

The provisions of this section shall apply not only to certificates of citizenship issued under the provisions of this act, but to all certificates of citizenship which may have been issued heretofore by any court exercising jurisdiction in naturalization proceedings under prior laws. (Sec. 15 of Act of Congress of June 29, 1906.)

Minor Children of Naturalized Persons to be Citizens.

18. The children of persons who have been duly naturalized under any law of the United States, or who, previous to the passing of any law on that subject, by the government of the United States, may have become citizens of any one of the states, under the laws thereof, being under the age of twenty-one years at the time of the naturalization of their parents, shall, if dwelling in the United States, be considered as citizens thereof; and the children of persons who now are, or have been, citizens of the United States, shall, though born out of the limits and jurisdiction of the United States, be considered as citizens thereof; but no person heretofore proscribed by any state, or who has been legally convicted of having joined the army of Great Britain during the revolutionary war, shall be admitted to become a citizen without the consent of the Legislature of the State in which such person was proscribed. (1 Revised Statutes of U. S., Section 2172.)

How Aliens Who Were Honorably Discharged Soldiers from United States Army Prior to January First, Nineteen Hundred, May Become Citizens.

19. All aliens who, prior to January first, nineteen hundred, served in the Armies of the United States and were honorably discharged therefrom (Section 2, Act of Congress May 9, 1918)*** shall be admitted to become a citizen of the United States, upon his petition, without any previous declaration of his intention to become such, and he shall not be required to prove more than one year's residence within the United States previous to his application to become such citizen: and the Court admitting such alien shall, in addition to such proof of residence and good moral character, as now provided by law, be satisfied by competent proof of such person's having been honorably discharged from the service of the United States. (1 Revised Statutes of U. S., Section 2166.)

Aliens Who Serve Three Years on Merchant or Fishing Vessel of United States as Seamen to Become Citizens.

20. That every seaman, being an alien, shall, after his declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States, and after he shall have served three years upon such merchant or fishing vessels of the United States, be deemed a citizen of the United States for the purpose of serving on board any such merchant or fishing vessel of the United States, any thing to the contrary in any Act of Congress notwithstanding; but such seaman shall, for all purposes of protection as an American citizen, be deemed such after the filing of his declaration of intention to become such citizen: Provided, That nothing contained in this Act shall be taken or construed to repeal or modify any portion of the Act approved March fourth, nineteen hundred and fifteen (Thirty-eight Statutes at Large, part one, page eleven hundred and sixty-four, chapter one hundred and fifty-three), being an act to promote the welfare of American seamen. (Section 4 of Act of Congress of May 9, 1918.)