Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-07
OF NATIONAL INTEREST.

American Citizens of tho Hebrew Faith
Must Be Protected In Russia-The Presi-
dent Asked for Information ON Russian
Laws-River Improvements.
WASHINGTON, April 6-The joint reso-
luton agreed upon by the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs calling on the President
for information as to whether by operation
of the Russian laws concerning Hebrews
any American citizen of that faith is SUBJ
jected to restrictions which violate the
treaty between the United States and Rus
sin was to-day reported to the House by Rep
resentative Chipman. A report prepared by
Mr.. Chapman to accompany the resolution
says that it's subject is of great concern to
the people of the United States. Every citi-
zen of the Republic is entitled at homo
and abroad to the exact treatment and pro-
lection which are the full right of citizen
ship under the Constitution and our treaties
with foreignlpowers.
Our Government can make no distinction
based on creeds or birthplac.s of its citf-
be made by foreign powers. The peculiar
laws and ordinances of the Empire of Rus
sia have created great uneasiness among
american citizens of the Hebrew faith.
Whatever we may think OF these regula-
tions as part of the domestic policy for the
government of the Russian Hebrews we
can't tolerate their application to any Amer
lean citizen Of any religious faith or race.
As between Russia and the United States
they are simply inadmissible ii they are de-
signed to control the conduct or TO define
to that empire for the peaceful purpose of
commerce or for any other purpose recog-
nized by civilized nations.
A RUMoR has been circulated here today
that Representative Hit, of Illinois, who
has been at different times Assistant Secre-
tary of State Chairman of the House Co m
mittee on Foreign Affairs, and for several
years Secretary of Legation at Paris, was to
be appointed Minister of France to succeed
Mr. Reid. To an Associated Press represen-
tatlve who questioned him about it, Mr..
Hit said that there was no truth in the ru-
mor in fact he had not before heard that his
name had been mentioned in connection
with the French mission.
THE question of Sunday opening of the
Worlds Fair was the subject of a hearing
to-day by the House Committee on Worlds
Columbian Exposition. A number of per-
sons representing religious bodies and So
cieties were present. Colonel Elliott F.
Shepard. of New York made a five-minute
address as President of the American sab
bath Union in opposition TO the opening of
the fair on Sunday. G. E. Fifeld. OF the Ma
tionai Religious Liberty Association. oD-
posed all legislation by Congress in the mat
ter. He asserted that any legisla tion
which dictated that the exposition should
or should not be opened on Sunday would be
II IL. H.
George, of the American Sabbath Union, af-
frmed that Sunday was rest day and
should be so observed. The workinsmen
demanded that the fair be closed on that
day, he asserted in conclusion, and their de-
mand must be respected.
THE House Committee on Rivers and
Harbors has reconsidered its former action
in providing for the contin nuation of the i'm
provement under the contract system of the
Tl,s,
dam at the mouth of the Beaver river in
Pennsylvania and the Improvement will be
ontfnued under the direction OF the Gov
ernment. This change was made at the
suggestion of the Coal Exchange of Pitts
burg one of the reasons given being that
the Government will exercise greater care
in the preservation of the river as a navi-
gable waterway than would be taken by
cided to put under the contract system the
continuation of the Improvement of Hum
boldt Harbor, California.
THE British Minister called ut the White
House this morning and had another confer
ence with the President in regard to
modus vivendi for tie coming sealing
season. 1t is understood that q conclusion
in the matter has practically been reached.
THE House to-day adopted resolution
requesting the Committee on Judiciary to
report back the resolution providing for an
investigation of the Pinkerton Detective
Agency.
THE offers of silver to the Treasury De-
partment to-day aggregated 400 900 ounces
The amount purchased was 10000 ounces at
prices ranging from s0.S620 to S0.S64O.
IT is said at the State Department that
the commercial agreement recently con-
cluded with France is still subject to the ac-
tion of the Chamber of Deputies, and that it
will not be proclaimed by the President un-
til 1t shall have been ratified by the French
Chamber. 1t does not require the sanction
of the United States Senate.