The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-01

place of permanent legal residence and to
declare that he is going abroad only for
temporary Sojourn and intends TO return
TO the United States for the purpose of re-
siding and performing the duties Of citi-
Zenship here. The oath of allegiance TO the
United States is required in all cases and
fee Of 81 is charged. Fulfilling these con-
d1tlons, the passport is given for any for
eign country and is good for two years
from its date. At the end of that time citi-
zens of the United States can have their
passports renewed by applying to the chief
diplomatic representative of the United
States in that country. to the eonsul-gen-
eral, or, If the country in which he is liv-
ing has no officer of the rank of consul
general, to a consul.
The rules in regard to this matter have
been frequently violated. There was an
old German who had been a citizen Of
the United States. When he left this
country he procured a passport II ap-
pears that every two years, during a
period of twenty years, the old fellow,
by negotiating with a notary or attOr-
ney in this country, had had his passport
renewed. although in reality he was no
longer citizen of the United states
There are many remarkable facts in CON
nection with the passports and the laws
which apply to them Jews of the United
states, who are citizens Of this country,
although bearing passports signed by the
secretary OF State, are not allowed UNI
der any conditions to enter RUSSIA. IhlS
is very severe restriction for them, If
they want TO see any of their friends or
relatives. Often American Jews Will 20
the Russian frontier. and their friends
win come over 10 them. OF course, many
passports are granted to jews every year,
and they are always told, II their race
is known, that the American passport for
them is not good in Russia. Some cor
respondence on this subject passed he
tween Mr.. Bayard, when he was Secreta-
~ of State, and the Russian government,
but nothing definite has ever been done
in regard to the matter, and it is pre-
sumed that the Russian laws now in
force in regard to JeWish-American cit
liens viii remain so without further ac-
ton or question on the part of the United
States. 1t is a remarkable fact that a
Chnaman born in this country can get
a passport, while his parents cannot lee
naturalized and enjoy the same privilege
Although il takes a citizen OF foreign
government five years before he can get
a passport a man discharged from the
army after three years service can de-
clare his intention of becoming natural
lied and q passport may be issued him.
The history of the granting of passports
is interesting. Hand-written passports
We're given by the department of foreign
affairs as soon as the present United
States has assumed the character OF
government. The functions of the depart
ment of foreign affairs in the beginning
of this government were vested in the
secret committee Of correspondence, di-
rectly after the Declaration of lndepend-
ence in 1716. On April II, w. the title OF
the committee was changed, and it then
became the committee of foreign aHalrs.
The treaty of 1778 with France provided
Tor the form OF passport 10 Dt given 10y
the two governments to their respective
vessels, but there was no law at that
time in regard to the granting of pass
ports To individuals, and even II the pass
port had been issued it would not have
proved a protection, for at that time no
power except France had acknowledged
the independence of the United States.
After the peace, however, passports We're
issued generally, and by act of congress.
approved in 1890, it was provided that If
any person should violate a safe conduct
iCGIyad npQpT
of the United States, he should, upon
conviction, suffer fine and imprisonment.
Passports being issued only to American
citizens, the department necessarily re-
quired some evidence Of citizenship. This
was usually a. certificate of a notary pub
lie, but there was then no fixed rule, ana
to gross abuses and imposiuons by the
fabrication of worthless passports. Not
until 1856 was an act passed which au-
thorized the Secretary of State to grant
and issue passports and cause them TO be
granted and verified in foreign. countries
by diplomatic and consular officers of the
United States. At first there was no
charge, except in foreign countries, where
the fee was 81.
The early passports were not essentially
different in form from those now used.
but frequently d simple certificate of cit
izenship was made to do duty for reg
ular passport. as follows:
"William Deas, Charges des Affairs OF
the United States of America to the Court
of Great Britain
Il do hereby certify, mat samuel
Potts sixty years of age five feet eight
inches in hight ord. -sized mouth, large
Nose high Forehead, bald, fair complex
ion, gray Hair and long face, is citizen
of the United States Of America and as
such is entitled to all privileges to that
character belonging. This certificate to
avail during the Voyage upon which Mr.
Potts is on the point OF emb3rklng for
the United States.
Given under my hand and seal of the
Legation at London, this Twenty-seventh
day of October. 1875.
"WA. ALLEN IDEAS. (SeaD.'
Copies of a number of certificates of
this character are among the archives
Of the department in various books and
port folios; but since 1917, when John
Quincy Adams was Secretary of State,
the papers relating to the issuance of
passports by the department have been
kept Systematically and separate from the
other correspondence. An act of congress
of 1863 was the first one establishing a
passport fee. which was fixed a 50. This
was Increased to IS by. an act of the fol-
lowing year, 1864 The passport fee was
abolished by congress sin 1870, restored in
1874 and reduced by an act OF March p,
1885, to 81, the present rate.
n-rusuR III