The choice fell upon the same Jewish notables of St.Petersburg, who had displayed so little courage at the Jewish conference of 1882.

[1] The cross-examination of these Jewish representatives turned on the question of the internal Jewish organization, the existence of a secret Kahal, the purposes of the "basket tax," [2] and so on.

Needless to say the replies were given in an apologetic spirit.

The Jewish "experts" renounced the idea of a self-governing communal Jewish organization, and pleaded merely for a limited communal autonomy under the strict supervision of the Government.

True, a few of the questions referred besides to the legal position of the Jews, but this was done more as a matter of form.
Everybody knew that the opinion of the majority of the Commission, favoring "cautious and gradual" reforms, did not have the same prospects of success as the views of the anti-Semitic minority which advocated the continuance of the old-time repressive policy.
[Footnote 1: See p.