admission of desirable immigrants, and the deportation of those who are excluded.

7. NATURALIZATION

Some of our many immigrants desire to become citizens of the United States. This is possible after they have been residents of this country for at least five years, and residents of the state, in which application is made, for at least one year.

An alien who wishes to declare his intention to become a citizen of the United States must be at least eighteen years of

age. He files his declaration of intention, usually called his "first papers," in the clerk's office of the proper court in his district.* In this document he states his name, age, occupation, and the time and place of his arrival in this country. He promises to renounce for ever his allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince or state.

Not less than two years later, and after the alien has been a resident of this country for not less than five years, he may file

* Courts having power to naturalize aliens are: United States District Courts; also all courts of record in any state or territory having a seal, a clerk, and jurisdiction in actions at law or equity, in which the amount in controversy is unlimited.

a second document with the court. This is generally termed "taking out second papers." This document is a petition asking the court to declare him a citizen of the United States. The petition must be verified by the affidavits of two witnesses, both United States citizens, who state that they have known the petitioner during one year's continuous residence in the state, and also that they know him to have been a resident of the United States for five years. These witnesses must be able to state, too, that the petitioner is of good moral character. At the end of ninety days a hearing is held, on a date fixed by the court. If the judges are satisfied that the petitioner is fit to become a citizen, they grant him a certificate of naturalization.

An Act of Congress of July 19, 1919, provides that any person of foreign birth who served in the army or navy during the World War, and who has been honorably discharged from the service, may be naturalized without delay if he appears before a naturalization examiner with his honorable discharge and two citizens to identify him. After passing the preliminary examination, he may immediately file his petition for naturalization and be heard at once by the court.

8. REGULATION OF LABOR

If not for reasons of altruism, the community must protect its workers for the sake of its own welfare. When the working population labors under the handicap of long hours, unsanitary surroundings, and less than a living wage, the community is made to suffer for its neglect by the evils of lowered production, the drain on the community purse for the support of charitable institutions and hospitals, and the danger of epidemics of disease. The community that permits children of ten or twelve years to work in factories and mills—or even agriculture-for long hours will suffer in future in the lowered vitality of its citizens, and the increase in the number of its criminals.

The protection of workers is secured mainly through action of the state legislatures, through private welfare organizations,

and through certain corporations, which have done a great deal to improve conditions of labor.

In most states the legislature has provided an Industrial Welfare Commission or some similar body, appointed by the governor, to deal with questions affecting labor conditions.

The United States Department of Labor is actively engaged in promoting the welfare of our workers throughout the country. The work of the department is divided among four Bureaus: (1) The Bureau of Immigration has charge of carrying out the immigration laws of the United States; (2) The Bureau of Naturalization is active in the work of Americanizing our immigrant population; (3) The Bureau of Labor Statistics issues valuable reports of labor conditions and labor legislation throughout the country; (4) The Children's Bureau works for child welfare and strives to get good child labor laws enacted; (5) The Women's Bureau investigates and reports upon conditions affecting women in industry.

Private Organizations. Among the voluntary organizations in this field are the Consumers' League, the National Safety. Council, the National Child Labor Committee, and the American Federation of Labor.

The Consumers' League, through its state branches, is constantly working to introduce good labor legislation in the state legislatures. Its committees investigate labor conditions and publish their findings in order to educate public opinion. It is attempting to persuade all consumers to make their purchases only of goods manufactured under healthful conditions, and to avoid sweat-shop goods.

The National Safety Council is organizing and leading the "safety first" movement in the United States. It is a cooperative organization composed of factories, railroads, public service corporations, mines, insurance companies, and technical schools. It publishes and distributes safety propaganda, a great deal of it appealing directly to the workman in the form of posters and motion picture films.

The National Child Labor Committee is working to secure

state and national legislation to regulate child labor and to raise the age at which it is legal to employ children. It investigates conditions surrounding children in industry, and publishes reports of its findings.

The American Federation of Labor strives to influence legislation, both in the state legislatures and in Congress, that will improve conditions of labor.

9. REGULATION OF BANKING

When you are so fortunate as to receive a gift of money, perhaps you are advised to open an account in the local bank. An important looking individual behind a barred window takes your money, files a card on which you have written your signature, and hands you in return two bound books. One is your bank book, which contains a record of the money that you have just deposited, and which indicates that the bank is in debt to you for that amount. The other is a check book, containing printed slips of paper, all exactly alike. The name of the bank is printed on them, and the words, "Pay to the order ofIf you should wish to draw out some of the money you have deposited, you write the amount on one of these checks, the name of the person to whom you wish to pay it, and then you write your signature in the lower right hand corner of the check.

Your money, together with that belonging to many other depositors, is now the property of the bank to invest. Perhaps a local business man needs $1,000 to enable him to settle a bill that should be paid promptly. He goes to the same bank where you have made your deposit, and explains to one of the officials why he wishes to borrow $1,000 from the bank. Since he is a man of good business reputation, and is able to offer as "collateral," or security, some property which he owns, the bank lends him the $1,000, and takes his note, or his written promise to pay back this amount, plus interest, at some future date. For the use of this money he will pay the bank interest at the rate of $60 each year. Before many months have

elapsed he is able to repay the bank and wipe out the debt. The bank is the gainer by the transaction because of the money, called interest, which has been paid in return for the use of the $1,000.

Perhaps your father needs a sum of money to enable him to purchase the piece of ground next door to your house. Instead of borrowing the money from a bank he may prefer to do so from a business friend. In return he gives his note, or his promise to repay the amount borrowed, with interest, on a specified date. In this case he may not have to put up collateral, but he must get some person of good financial standing in the community to "endorse" the note. That is, this third person writes his name on it. Now, if for any reason your father should fail to pay this amount to his creditor, the endorser can be held responsible for payment.

Suppose the man who lent this sum to your father finds that he needs ready money, too. Rather than require your father to pay back the sum, he goes to his bank and requests it to "discount" the note. The bank then credits his account with the amount specified on the note, less a certain sum deducted which the bank takes as its profit on the transaction.

With the income received from interest on its loans and discounts on notes, as well as investments in good securities paying interest, the bank is able to pay its running expenses and make a profit besides. This profit is used to pay dividends to the stockholders of the institution, whose money invested forms the capital on which the bank was started in business.

The value of banks to a community is incalculable. They offer a secure place for the deposit of money. They provide loans that enable a business man to tide over bad times, or to increase the efficiency of his plant, and thereby increase his earnings. They provide a safe and convenient currency in the form of bank checks. They may even, under certain restrictions, issue actual money-or bank notes.

But banks may do a great deal of harm in the community, if they are not properly managed. So long as they lend their