Idaho Weekly Keystone

Lost Naturalization Papers and Registration.

The Idaho World furnishes the following reference to a decision by Judge Broderick in regard to the rights of naturalized citizens who have lost their papers. It is important to Registry agents as well as citizens:

"Several of the Registrars of election in this county, having refused to register the names of naturalized citizens, who had lost their naturalization papers, and who had forgotten the name of the Court or Judge before whom they had taken out their final papers. James H. Hawley, Esq. on Tuesday evening, in open Court, called the attention of his Hon. Judge Broderick to the matter. On the following morning Mr. Hawley again called the attention of the Court to the subject, showing in his argument the absurdity of the position of the Registrar, and the true meaning and intent of the law on the subject. After considering the matter, Judge Broderick gave his opinion to the effect that the Registry agent could not refuse to register such citizens as would take the required oath, even though they had lost their naturalization papers and forgotten the Court before whom they were taken out. That the object of the law was to protect the citizen, not to interfere with him in election privileges, and that the Register had no warrant of law for the authority they were exercising in refusing to register persons who would take the oath."