also, the employee is permitted to go to the Naturalization Court on the employer's time. Questions are answered regarding the draft, and regarding any subject on which the non-English speaking immigrant or alien is apt to want information. Questions that cannot be answered by members of the committee, are referred to the executive; and if he cannot answer them, he in turn calls the assistant secretary assigned to the Americanization Committee.

For the benefit of these plant committees, there is now being prepared at the Chamber, a brief, concise statement of the steps to take in becoming naturalized.

Secretary Lane's Americanization Conference

Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, called a National Americanization Conference at Washington on April 3rd and 4th, inviting governors of the states, heads of many of America's largest industries and representatives of commercial organizations. The following representatives from Rochester attended: Carl Lomb, Bausch and Lomb Optical Company; Samuel Weil, Rochester Clothiers' Exchange; William H. Gorsline, secretary, War Information Committee of the Chamber; and the chairman of the Chamber's Americanization Committee. The chairman was thereby enabled to place before the committee an outline of the national program suggested by Secretary Lane, and a summarized statement of national problems and accomplishments. The committee is working in co-operation with this nation-wide plan.

In accordance with this, it instructed its legislation subcommittee to draft a bill to be introduced in the State Legislature, requiring all elementary subjects in both public and private schools in the state to be taught in the English language only. The Chamber is also supporting the Federal Education bill now before the Senate, which creates a Federal Department of Education and appropriates federal funds to assist the states in educating immigrants and illiterates.

Employers and Board of Education

The New York State Legislature, at its last session, enacted three Americanization bills embodying the following provisions: Illiterate minors from 16 to 21 years of age who can not speak,

read and write English as required in the fifth grade, are required to attend some public day or evening school, or school maintained by the employer; the commissioner of education is authorized to establish training institutions for courses of study to train public school teachers to give instruction to illiterates over 16 years of age; first-class cities are required to maintain free night schools two hours each night for three nights a week throughout the day school term; and school districts are required to establish night schools wherever twenty or more minors between 16 and 21 are required by law to attend; or that number applies for such a school.

The committee took steps to help carry these laws into effect, holding several meetings to which the school authorities, employers and employment managers were invited. Based on an exposition of the new law made by W. C. Smith, State Supervisor of Immigrant Education, and upon a thorough discussion of its application following the exposition, the Superintendent of Schools prepared a statement setting forth the responsibility, in carrying out the provisions of the law, which would be assumed by the Board of Education; the assistance to be rendered by the Chamber's Americanization Committee; and the duty resting upon the employer. This statement was discussed at another meeting of the same group; revised after full discussion; was duplicated at the Chamber and mailed to all employers known to employ any non-English speaking workers. The committee also supplied copies of the law to employers.

Census of Non-English Speaking Aliens

In accordance with this statement, the Chamber urged all employers who had not yet done so, to place some individual in charge of plant Americanization activities in their respective organizations. These executives made a plant census from which they compiled a list of illiterate minors employed or a list of all illiterate employees, stating the age in each case, which lists they sent to the Director of Immigrant Education. In the meantime, the Chamber obtained from the Monroe County Home Defense Committee a list of the non-English speaking aliens who registered in Rochester in the State Military Census of 1917, with the nationality of each. There were 4,000 of these divided as follows:

and 36 others scattered among 9 different countries.

Illiterate Selective Service Men

In order that it might be equipped to co-operate with the government in getting illiterates who were in the draft to begin. learning English immediately, the committee asked the general chairman of the Local Exemption Board to have registrars serving on September 12th, indicate by a cross (X) the name of each man who could not speak English. The order was given and followed, and the Chamber made a card index of the names thus checked. In this way was obtained the names of the men of military age who cannot speak English.

The Director of Immigrant Education, who is also chairman. of the Co-operative Americanization Committee, has had the names of the members of night school English classes checked up against these various lists. Thus were obtained the names of several thousand adults who should be learning English, but are not attending any class in English. . He is following this up by sending a representative to call on those persons who are evading the new law. It was decided later to circularize the homes of all these people, leaving them a statement in their own language, designed to inspire them with a desire to learn the language of America. This circular is now being prepared by President Rush Rhees of the University of Rochester, chairman of the Home Defense Committee on Instruction, one of the co-operating bodies.

Americanization Through Community Interest

Late in the year, the Americanization Committee adopted a plan to give an impetus to Americanization by fostering com

munity responsibility among residents of foreign birth. A committee of four has made a tour of inspection of those sections of the city in which most of our foreign-born residents live, making notes on the characteristic features in each case. Matters of general community interest have been listed, including housing, sanitation, and disease prevention.

The committee is participating in a national crusade, advocated by the Federal Bureau of Education, against calling persons of foreign birth by nicknames.

JOSEPH R. WEBSTER, Chairman.

37. Rome

Data furnished by Superintendent of Schools.

The population of Rome is about 23,000, 6,000 of whom are Italians and Poles. Most of these foreigners are employed in the brass and copper industries.

The only Americanization work being done in Rome, in fact the only facilities available to adult foreigners, is by the Y. M. C. A.

38. Schenectady

Data furnished by Superintendent of Schools.

I. What is the population of your city? 100,000.

II. What is the foreign population, divided as to nationality? This information concerning the whole population is not available. Attached is the result of the school census of 1917, which may be of interest.

II. What are the leading industries? Locomotive building and manufacturing of electrical goods.

IV. What are the leading industries in which foreigners are employed? Locomotive building, manufacturing of electrical goods and railroads.

V. Do any of the industries conduct classes for teaching English, American history, civil government, etc., for their foreignborn employees? Yes. General Electric Company in co-operation with the public schools.

VI. What public school facilities are open to foreign-born adults for learning English, American history, civil government, etc.? Afternoon and evening classes in the public schools.

VII. How many students of the various nationalities attend public hools? About 450 at the present time.

VIII. Is the attendance regular? So far very good.

IX. What is the average age of adult alien students? About 28 years.

X. How many hours per week do the courses cover? From 2 hours to 6 hours.

XI. Is there any movement in your city to "Americanize" foreigners? None other than conducted by the schools.

XII. By whom is it conducted? Public schools.

XIII. What are your requirements for teachers of adult foreigners? We employ regular teachers who have attended and completed Americanization Institute courses.

XIV. What salary do you think should be offered to attract teachers? From $3 to $4 for two hours if they have had the above training.

COUNTRIES OF BIRTH OF SCHENECTADY'S 1,409 FOREIGN-BORN CHILDREN, SCHOOL CENSUS 1917

B. H. Friss, investigator in the industrial service department of the General Electric Company submitted the following report: