The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-21
THE RUSSIAN JEWS.
They Have no Rights in Reli-
gion or in Property.
TAXES LEVIED ON EVERYTHING.
Not Permitted to Travel, and Only
Allowed 10 Live in Certain Lo-
caIities-Shameful Laws.
London Times.

London Times
The AngIo-Jewish committee has pre-
pared pamphlet which contains amongst
other things a summary of the laws
now in force in Russia against the Jews.
The summary is compiled from a collec-
ton made few years ago for Baron Guns
berg in ST. Petersburg, but afterwards sup
pressed. 1t has been brought up TO date
and corrected by the code officially sane
toned by the censor in ST. Petersburg.
There cannot, therefore. be any question of
hearsay or Misrepresentation in the pic
ture thus laid before the world of the con-
ditions of life of the Russian Jew. A short
abstract will serve to indicate the lines
upon which the legislation is conceived.
Taking the Russian Jew tirst in the ca
pacity of public citizen, the duties which
he owes TO the state are laid down. These
consist chiefly of military service and pc
cuniary contributions. With regard 10
military, Jews are, like Christians, subject
to the law of CONSUMPTION, but the law
which permits Christians under certain
circumstances to provide substitute for
personal service does not apply TO Jews.
Jews are not allowed to pursue any trade or
profession till they produce evidence that
they have been registered in the recruit
ing districts, they are not allowed TO serve
on recruiting committees, and the family
of any Jew who eyadeS the military duties
is called upon to pay fine of 800 roubles.
I'm the similar case of q Christian evading
military duty the penalty falls upon him.
self alone.) Figures given by the journal
OF Statistics" give proportion of Jews TO
non-lews in the entire male population of
3.95 per cent. The official accounts of the
ministry give for the same period ofyears as
that covered by the statistics ofpopulation
percentage on the conscription rolls of
$50 Jews. The Jewish population is there
fore called upon TO furnish a quota of
recruits which is considerably above its
due proportion. When called to the colors
Jewish privates may never rise above the
rank of non-commissioned officers. They
are not allowed to enter the school for the
training of officers, nor are they eligible
as candidates for any post of official dig
nifty. Jews may not be employed to guard
the frontier; they may not serve in the
local divisions, nor among miners and
sappers, nor in the commissariat service,
nor as secretaries, nor as bandmasters,
nor may Jewish soldiers serve as
attendants to officers. The privilege ex-
tended TO recruits of all other denomina-
tons who serve in the districts of the
Amoor of taking their families with them
at the expense of the state, on condition of
permanently settling in the district when
they enter the reserve, is not given to
Jews. Jewish volunteers are not admitted
10 examination for the rank of officer.
either by special commission or in the
that no military dignity or emolument Is
open TO the Jewish soldier. Jews are not
allowed to serve at all in the navy.
With regard to taxation, over and above
the ordinary assessments TO which the
whole population is liable the Jews have
TO pay the following special es:-I.
The box tax, which is subdivided into uni
versal and subsidiary. Under the head of
universal is included tax on all meat
slaughtered according to Jewish rites and
on every pound of such meat sold. This
must, of course. be paid by every meat
eating Jew, and as the tax is usually
farmed out to q collector, the amount
varies from town to town. The subsidiary
tax consists of percentage on the rents of
the houses. shops and warehouses ofJews;
8 percentage on the pronts of factories.
breweries, industrial establishments and
other trade enterprises carried on by Jews;
percentage on capital bequeathed by
Jews; tax on apparel specially worn by
Jews and Jewesses. For the wearing of
a skull cap FUSED by Jews during domestic
prayers) tax of 1--we silver roubles year
is levied. ,. Candle tax on Sabbath lights
(of which it is the rigorous custom among
Jewish housewives 10 light at least two
on the eve of the Sabbath and festivais).
This amounts TO 10000 rouhles a year.
). 4 tax on printing offices. amounting 10
70 roubles for every printing press
worked by hand. 10 for every small ma
chine press and 20 for every large or
double machine press. This tax contrib
utes, OF course. 70 increase the price Of all
Hebrew literature.
The personal and the pecuniary contri-
buttons of the Jewish portion of the popu-
lation TO the requirements of the state are.
therefore, by law considerably greater
than those OF any corresponding nom
Jewish portion. The code proceeds 10 lay
down the privileges and rights which jew
ish subjects may III return claim from the
state. Their position Is, nrst of ALL for
mally declared TO be that of aliens whose
social rights are regulated by special ordi-
nances. They are Forbidden TO enter the
civil service. They are forbidden TO practise
in the public medical service with certain
exceptions so rare rs 70 be practically nom
existent. The same prohibition extends TO
the bar. With regard 10 rights of local
1,
the election OF members for the local dis
trict and provincial assemblies, nor can he
he elected 20 any office In these bodies or
their boards; no Jew may be elected TO I'll
the office Of president of school boards, nor
can ne be chosen as member OF the
same. \ Jew is not eligible for the
post of mayor, nor can he act as his
t0cslm teaeRS. A Jew is not eligible for
the presidency of municipal meetings. nor
Of any official body. Jews may not all the
post of police coun>eliors. nor NAV they
iuinl any other duties necessary in town
which either have 10 be ulled exclusively
by Christians, or which cannot be con-
yenisnt!y and decently intrusted to Jews. =
IN the nine Western provinces the fore
man Of 1uryse9nnot be a jew Jews
cannot be elected - master or vice-maSter
Of a trade guild. Briefly, the laws relating
IL the public services show that, alike in
the civil a IN the military hierarchy, no
public dignity or emolument IS for Jew.
The whole rights and privileges Of the
jewish citizen Of Russia are. therefore
concentrated IN his private life. We turn
TO the laws BY which this is regulated, and
look nTSt under the head Of religion. And
nrSt among these We md laws relating 20
conversion from the Jewish faith. If a
Jew or JewssS converted TO Christian Or
thoGox religion does not agree 70 c0ntinue
his 0r Der lie with the Spouse - no remain
81 IN 1nc jewish religion, tGe marriage j
OlS>oiEed and t1e converted man or WOMAN
can marry u person Of orthodox vsticlar. p
IL hn>o2uG or vile &&o,Js CHRISTIANITY.
the chlt0rCn under seven years IL age Of
The same sex IS the convert shall also
q baptized ieW{Sh children NAV
ee converted without the consent 81
their parents, Every convert 70 Christian.
ltE >Aatl receive a payment lH money Of