Complaint that there was discrimination against Jewish employes in the government service caused a three hour debate of the Jewish question in the Latvian parliament today. The Bundist deputy, N. Meisel, raised the question that the percentage of Jewish employ in government service is less than in Czarist Russia.
The Minister of Justice repeatedly avoided reply to Jewish charges. The Jewish deputies Dubin and Lasarson joined the debate, Dubin pointing out that out of 30,000 government officials, there are less than 300 Jews. “How can the Jews be expected to fulfill their duties toward the state when the Jewish youth see no future for themselves in the service of their country? None of the Jewish university graduates can receive suitable positions because there are definite restrictions against the Jews.”
The government spokesmen pointed out that if the number of Jews privately employed by government officials were counted, the Jewish percentage in government employ would be high. They charged that the Jews did not know the Latvian language, which the Jewish members denied.
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