Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-10
OFFICIAL REWARDS
The Custom Of Giving Presents for
Faithful Service
SANCTIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT
Watches and Medals Presented for
Deeds of Heroism.
FOR RETIRING OFFICIALS

common probably than in any other city
OF the United States has the sanction Of
onlcial example and of the law Congress
has but recently had an investigation of the
payment of premiums to contractors for ex-
ceeding the requirements of their contracts
In the speed Of new war vessels, which re-
suited in the approval and sanction of the
practlce Each year the appropriations
carry sums to pay rewards for services, and
the custom Of cultivating and rewarding
friendships which was practiced by the
pioneer settlers OF this country, who made
presents of beads and blankets TO the saw
ages is still more or less in vogue in a re-
nned and modified form.
The pages at the Capitol look about Christ
mas time for some recognition OF their serv
Ices from those statesmen to whom they
have been especially attentive. and many Of
the old and faithful employees have souve-
Mrs in the form of presents which they
have received from men in Congress. The
presentation of gold-headed canes and
watches is a frequent occurrence. This
form Of recognition is frequently extended
TO prominent men in Congress by their COL
leagues.
In Public Life.
The chairman of a very hand-worked
committee Is often presented with some
souvenir by his colleagues at the close OF
their term of labor. Not long ago Mr.. Reed
was presented with a cane. Last Congress
one member on retiring presented gold
headed canes to the Speaker, the chairman
of the committee on which he served and
some other of his colleagues One of the
assistant doorkeepers in the House drives
a handsome blooded horse which was pre-
scented to him by a representative retiring
from public life. Watches with inscrip-
tons in them are quite commonly worn by
old officials and in a thousand and one
ways the custom of present giving is kept
up. Each Speaker of the House at the end
of his term is presented with a gavel and
valuable inkstand. and each Vice Presi-
dent on retiring is given a similar present.
A very handsome silver inkstand is now
being made for Vice President Stevenson,
and in the possession OF the families OF his
predecessors are the wristbands of Vice
Presidents. some OF which are OF great
value, meme being Of anything less than
solid silver.
Rewards From the State Department..
About $1,000 year is appropriated for the
use of the State Department for the
making of presents as rewards to sea cap
tains ard to the foreign chiefs or rulers of
communities along the coasts where ship
wrecks occur. Every now and then an an
nouncement is issued from the State De-
partment Of some reward to a foreign sea
captain, or some one else, for the rescue of
Americans from drowning at sea. The State
Department does not always spend the ap-
preparations provided for this purpose, but
every year there are considerable number
of rewards Sometimes but two three
thousand dollars are spent for this pur-
pose during the year, and again five six
thousand are spent. The Secretary Of State
is given discretion as to the character OF
the present TO be given and the aim is to
select that which would be most appreciate
ed by the recipient. The commonest pres
ents nowadays are gold watches or marine
monocuars, but everything, from glass
beads, blankets, pocket knives and food, up
TO an embossed gold medal. or a chronome-
ter, is regarded as suitable for a reward. 1t
used TO be the custom to present sea cap
tains who had rescued Americans with solid
silver speaking trumpets.
In the library of the State Department
they have on. exhibition a specimen of the
life-saving trumpet, which is very hand
somely designed in silver. about two feet
ana nall long, with marine decorations
and shield, on which is engraved the
legend OF heroism for which IL is rewarded
These are no longer given, being abanio
as useless, and something useful and that
will be appreciated is selected instead. The
department is frequently called on to make
presents to the chiefs OF the half savage
Inhabitants of islands and the remote coasts
of Africa or the frozen region of the north
The department keeps no roll of honor but
bestows its presents and forgets the re-
cipient after this duty is performed.
The Samoan Kings boat.
For the heroic efforts of the Samoans in
their rescue of the American sailors and
officers of the Inflated men-of-war which
were destroyed on the Samoan coast King
Maliateo was presented with a most perfect
Lob
probably sails about in this craft with a
feeling of wondrous pride. The Samosns
were also presented with the most service
able OF the vessels wrecked there, but this
turned out TO be a present of very doubt
ful advantage After securing IL from OFF
the reef the Samoans were at a loss 10
know what TO do with it, but finally Skinned
ii OFF to be sold for junk in this country
W hen they landed they were confronted
with the custom house regulations and a
duty was demanded to be paid on the Junk
1t took an act of Congress TO rescue lie
poor islanders from the confiscatton of
their award and a penalty in the way Of
customs charges. After the rescue of the
survivors of the Inflated belong expe,ii-
ton, Lieutenant Schuetze was sent 10 the
regions of the frozen north with an I'M
mense supply Of a great variety of pres
ents-trinEets, ornaments, clothing and
food, knives, guns and all sorts of useful
utensils for the natives who cared for the
DeLong party. Not long ago a number Of
the savage tribes on the coast Of Africa
and there is hardly a remote region of the
world where there is not some one who has
received some token of the generous and
everything gratitude Of Uncle Sam
BY far the greatest number OF rewards
however, go to the officers and crews az
vessels who have rescued our shipwracked
mariners. Our consuls in all parts af The
world are instructed to inform the State
Department of any heroic rescue of tte
lives of Americans, and on the report of a
consul to the department the awards are
made The State Department distributes
gifts among foreigners only. Other rro-
vision is made for the announcement of
deeds of heroism within the boundaries Of
the United States.
Life savers Gold and silver Medals
By act of Congress the Secretary of he
Treasury is authorized to award gold ara
silver medals through the life-saving sery-
ice to persons who, at great risk to them
selves and with extreme heroism and dar-
ing, have saved life. These medals are of
great value, exceedingly handsome In de-
sign, and are priced as the highest iecora-
ton OF honor which can be worn by an
American. In fact, they are the only dec
orations which have the sanction of law IN
this democratic country.
The wearers Of them form sort OF legion
Of life savers. and back of each is some