New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-24

relatives. Often American Jews will go TO some
OF the little German towns on the Russian from
tier. and their friends will come over to them Of
course. many passports are granted 10 Jews every
year. and they always told, II their race Is
known. that the American passport for them Is
not good in Russia. Some correspondence on this
subject passed between Mr. Bayard. when he was
Secretary OF State. and the Russian Government,
but nothing definite has ever been done In regard
to the matter. and 1t is presumed that the Russian
avs now In force In regard to Jewsh. Amerlcnn CIT
lzens VIII remain so without further ac'ion OF
question on the part of the United states IL II
fr r TACT that Chin2mah born IN ms sDnnt
be naturalzed and enjoy the same privilege All
charged from the Army after three years service e
can declare his intention of becoming naturaized
The history, of the granting of passports is inter
Department OF Foreign Affairs az soon as the pres
s, mn bs had H the t Of
Foreign Affairs in the beginning Of this Govern 90 tpn-
respondence directly after the Declaration Of IN
dependence in 77s on April H. I'M the title of the
Committee OF Foreign Affairs The treaty OF IT'S
with France provded for the form of passport 10
vessels but there was no law at that time IN re-
gard to the granting OF passports to Individual;
not have proved a protection: for az that time no
pendce Of the ne nfd sr the
however. passports were issued generally, ana ny
act or Congress, approved IN l1SU, IL WAS prO'lleu
that II any person should violate safe conduct or
passport issued under the authority Of the United
States ne should upon conviction, suffer fine ana
imprisonment. Passports being issued only to Amer
lean citizens the Department necessarily required
some evidence OF citizenship. This was usually n
certificate OF a notary public. but there then no
fixed rule and the lack OF provision on the subject
led to gross abuses and mpositions by the fabrica-
ton Of worthless passports Not until 1856 was an
act passed which authorized the Secretary OF state
To grant and issue passports and cause them TO De
granted and verified In foreign countries BY d!po-
matte 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 dinerent
IN form from those used. but frequently a
simple certificate Of citizenship was made 10 DO
du'v for regular passport. as follows:
William Deas. Charge dcs AfIires Of the United
states Of America 10 the Court Of Great Britain.
II do hereby certify. That Samuel Potts sixty
years OF age. five feet eight inches In height. ordy.
sized mouth. large Nose. high Forehead bald. fair
the United States OF America and such Is entitled
20 all privileges to that character belonging. Inis
certificate to avail during the Voyage upon which
Mr.. Potts is the point OF embarking for the
United States
Given under my hand and seal of the Legation
at London this Twenty seventh day OF October,
1895 WM ALLEN IDEAS. (SeaD."
Copies OF number of certificates OF TINS CHAR
acier among the archives OF the Department,
in various books and portfolios; but since lsl'. wneH
paners relating the issuance Of passports by the
Department have been kept systematically and
separate from the other correspondence. An act or
Congress OF 1853 was the first ore establishing a
passport fee. which fixed at ~ THIS was IN
creased 10 s. by an of the following year 1851
The passport fee Was abolished by Congress in 1870
restored I'm 1874 and reduced by an act OF March -,
1883. to 3d. the present rate