Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-18
Equal Rights of Americans
in Russia Demanded.
HEARING AT CAPITOL
REPRESENTATIVE GoLDFOGLE
RELATES HIS EXPERIENCE.
Wants Government to Secure From the
Car Better Treatment Of Jews
in His Domains.

The House committee on foreign affairs
held an interesting meeting this morning.
during which the discrimination of the Rus
sian government against Jews of foreign
nations travelling in that country was DIS
cussed The feature of the meeting was
the hearing granted to Representatives
Goldfogle and Harrison of the New York
delega ton in Congress, and to Mr.. Simon
Wolf of this city president of the Jewish
society, B'nai Birth, on the resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Goldfogle expressing the
sense of the American people on the sub
ject. The committee took no action on the
matter this morning, but may discuss 1t
again.
Exemption From Capture.
The committee authorized favorable re-
port on the resolution introduced by Chair
man HIT at the instance of the State De-
partment, relating TO the exemption of all
private property at sea. not contraband of
war, from capture or destruction by bel
ligerent powers. . This resolution recites:
THAT the President of the United States
be. and he lis hereby, authorized to corre-
Spond with the governments of the pfinci-
pal maritime powers with a view of incor-
porating into the permanent law of civil
lied nations the principle of the exemption
of all private property at sea, not contra
Dana O1 Will, liViil ItFtuit VI utSti uSlicti
by belligerent powers.
Treatment of Americans Abroad.
The resolution introduced by Mr.. Gold
fogle and discussed this morning recites.
among other things, that it is the sense of
the people OF the United States that uni
form treatment and protection should be
accorded to every American citizen. regard
less of race or creed, when travelling or So
,Ny- hot DNvpr-y a.ayn QSf al
fort should be made by the executive de
pertinent of this government to secure from
the imperial government of Russia such
uniformity of treatment and protee-
ton especially In the recognition
by our citizens, to the end that there
be no discrimination made by the govern
ment of Russia between American citizens
on the ground of thei. religious behef or
faith and the President of the United
States is hereby respectfully requested to
take such steps and cause such diplomatic
negotiations to be set on foot as may tend
to secure, through means of treaty or other
wise, the honoring and the uniform recog-
milton by the Russian government and Its
authorities of American passports, prospect
I've OF the religious faith or denomination of
their holders, to the end that every law
abiding citizen provided with a passport
duly issued by this government shall, re-
CARELESS of what may be his race, creed or
religious faith, have freedom in travelling
and sojourn in the territory of Russia, sub
1ect to such provisions in any treaty be-
tween the United States and Russia
not inconsistent with the spirit and intent
of this resolution
Mr.. Goldfogle's Experience.
Mr.. Goldfogle. in speaking of the resolu-
ton, recounted his own experience in trav-
cling abroad last summer. He stated that
he in Paris and desired to extend his
travels into Russia. Accordingly he went
to the Office of Russian consul general sta
toned at the French capital and asked
that his passports be vised for use in the
czar's domains. Mr.. Goldfogle declares that
the consul general declined to wise the
passports on the ground that the holder
WAS a Hebrew When told that Mr.. Gold
fogle was a member of the American Con-
gress. however, the Russian agreed to Is
a special permit Mr.. Goldfogle de-
clared that had not his official position been
known to the consul general he would have
been denied the customary privileges of
travel in Russia. He said his resolution
was merely an expression Of opinion and
WAS IN no sense a radical measure.
Representative Harrison spoke briefly IN
favor of the resolution, as did Mr.. Wolf,
the latter addressing himself to the treaty
aspects of the situation should the resolu-
ton pass.