The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-17
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

Correspondents should write eaclI question on
a separate sheet Of paper give full name and adj
dress and mark il Correspondents Coiumn." no |
attention will be paid to communications not ac-
companied witt, name and address of writer. IT, IS
requested that stamp be inciosed for reply oy
only Replies by mail will ordinarily be made
within n week. and ii in this column within tnree
weeks.l
W. IT,, Conrene Mel. Does the Government
change its flags as soon as new state Is al
mtted, or does the old design continue Tor
awhile after such admission? 2. when was
the last change made, and has there been any
change since Utah came into the Union? 3.
Is flag Hot in every respect according to thas
plan adopted blythe Government, or one that
has upon it anything not authorized ny the
Government, such as an advertisements trlctly
speaking, United States flag? a. Is nag
that has not yet had added to it the last STAR
thereby lacking something, properly speaking,
a flag of our country? Answer. /. 1t is Gus
tomary to add the additional star on the 4th OF
July following the admission OF the new State.
2. On July a, 1896, Utah having become State
on Jan. a, 1896. 3. The propriety OF allowing
anything to be printed by way of advertise
ment on the National flag has been well ques-
toned, and bills have been introduced into
Congress prohibiting such action. but as yet
none of them have become law. 1t is not easy
however, to see that an addition of the charac-
ter referred to can diyest the flag OF its iden-
tity. A. Certainly it is, and outside of Govern
ment circles it is probable that but few OF eur
flags yet have the 4oth star. Flags that strictly
comply with the requirements of the War De-
partment as set forth in its orders, as to hoist.
fly, width Of stripes, precise arrangement OF
stars, etc. are not inlprobably quite rare out
side OF the Army.
Mrs. L. y mr., Arnica Mo-. A widow ola SOL
der is insane, and is now in the insane asyl
and is pronounced incurabe by the superiu-
tendent of the asylum. Can she draw PEN
sion; and If so, to whom should it be paid? z.
Can widow draw pension under either the
old or new law, if she married thu soldier after
June 81, 1890? 3. Can pensioner drawing
pension under the new law have his pension
transferred to the old law without additional
proof? Ansmer. /. She may apply by her law
fully-consttuted guardian, and II the claim De
allowed the said guardian will receive the pen
sion, and, under direction of the court appoint
ing him, disburse it for her benefit. 2. Ii at
all, only under the old law. 8. Certainly not,
unless he has already established title under
the old law. Drawing pension under the act
of June 81, 1890, has no bearing whatever ON
the matter. To draw pension under the gen.
eral law requires the establishment OF claim
Hereunder. One who is pensioned under the
act OF June q, 1890, is not thereby precluded
from prosecuting aud making out claim under
the old law.
f. r. L.. Corning N. Yin 1882 soldier
made application for pension under the old
law, and the claim remained unsettled until
1896. In the meantime he applied under the
act of June q, 1890, and in April, 1891, was
granted pension Hereunder at the rate OF $l2
a month. On Sept. 16, 1896, the old.law claim
was allowed at So per month from date of fling
for the first few years, and at the S4-rate there
after to the date of the allowance of the new
law claim. Now. the question is whether or
not the soldier is entitled to an increase under
the old law. he now getting $l2 under act of
June 81 1890. hnswer He is entitled to re-
newal and increase under the old law ii the
disability for which he drew So and 81 there
under has so increased as to enttle him to
rate therefor greater than sig per month;
otherwise, not.
Z.CH, Kutztocn, PA soldier served from
the 2lst of October, 1852 to the 18th Of jan
uary, 1863, or about "a days. Tho widows
claim under the old law is rejected on the
ground that the death of the soldier was not
due to his military service. and the claim
under the act of June q, 1890, because the sol.
der did not serve 80 days. Does not the PEN
sion Office allow days of grace, say about 10. in
such case? Ansuer. No; days Of grace"
are an unknown quantity at the Pension Bu-
reau; BESIDES to do SO would be in clear vi0ls-
ton of law.
". S. M, Gray Ky.-Please inform mo
whether there is United States law compel
ing the Postmaster. General to give preference
to an honorably- discharged soldier in the ap-
pointment of Postmaster, in case he is qualified
to ill the place. ANSWER. There is no law that
compels or suggests that such preference shall
be given in the case of every discharged soldier.
The only law on the subject is section 17o4, Re-
vised Statutes Of the United States, and that
has reference only to those cases where the SOL
der was discharged by reason Of disability due
to wounds or sickness incurred in line of duty
in the service. In such cases 1t provides that
preference SHALL be given if the applicant has
the business qualifications necessary to the
proper discharge of the duties of the Office.
While the object Of this law is clearly to give
such preference in the case of soldiers dis
charged on Surgeons certificate of disability,
yet it cannot be said that the law in question
| compels the appointing power to show such
| preference, since there is no penalty attached
| to its violation. We are, however, confident
| that, other things being equal, preference as
| pointed out by the said law will be given dur.
| ing the coming Administration.
| G. e., jr., Meckleaberg. N. Would an ex-
soldier, having been discharged on Surgeons
certificate of disability, be entitled to fourth
| class Postm astership under section 1854. Re-
vised Statutes Of the United States? Ansuer.
See reply to w. s. NJ, Gray. KY.
| H. r. L., Oconomowoc, Wis.-Please explain
| as to belligerent rights" and state when the
principal nations of Europe accorded them to
war. Ansger. The accordance of belligerent
rights is the recognition Of state of belliger.
| ency on the part of people engaged In war
| fare with another people or nation, and its
effect is to change the character of the people
so recognized from that of felonious rebels or
insurrectionists to the higher character of sol.
diers having the right to protection that the
| laws of civilized warfare give to soldiery. In.
surrectionists or rebels taken under arms are
| amanable to trial by drumhead court-martial
| or other summary proceedings, and to execu.
| ton as felons; but after the recognition of
| belligerent rights it becomes the duty of q ma
| ton so recognizing to maintain perfect neutral
| ity between those recognized belligereuts
doing no favor to either that is not permitted
| by the laws of war and by international law,
and denying to neither of them privileges
| which they have the right to enjoy as belliger-
ent powers. 1t insuFes that the continuance
of such warfare be upon those principles and
| laws of warfare that are acknowledged to be
| obligatory upon civilized nations when en-.
gagged in open hostilities, including the treat
| ment of captives who arc enlisted in either
army due respect to cartels for exchange of
| prisoners aud for other military purposes
truces, flags of truce, the provision for proper
hospitals and hospital supplies and services to
the sick and wounded of either army. In the
| case of our late civil war-without waiting for
the outbreak of actual hostilities further than
the bloodless attack on Fort Sumter, and its
surrender, April Is, 1S61-Great Britain issued
its proclamation of neutrality on the 18th of
May following, before it had received official
information that war existed. except as to the
blockade Of certain jnsurgent ports. The
French Government acted in concert with