New-York tribune., 1896-04-02
DECORATIONS FOR AMERICANS
THEIR ACCEPTANCE RIGIDLf SCHo
TIMED BY CONGRESS.


ACCEPT MEDALS FROM SPAIN AND BRAZIL
THE OTHER INSTANCES ON RECORD
rpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington. April 1.-The passage by the senate
,o at week OF Joint resolution to permit eAi
Benjamin Harrison to receive Two nc, ''eu prazn has
N him by the Governments OF Spain anu ,, D'i-''
,,,.d ot,ention once more to the jealous scru''"'
observed by Congress in sanction'ng 'he "'oe
nv officers OF the United States OF preseh''' w.
,Ions or honorary distinctions at the hanu' W 10
c,cn Powers As Is we'll known the CONSTITUTION "
the United States. paragraph y oecuo" y 'N''
declares: -. r-,,oa
states and no person holding any office OF TVS, OF
profit under them shall. without the otce or
tite Of any kind whatever from any KING prince u
foreign State. , ,,or ~
The consent of Congress has never been gwen W
the acceptance Of foreign title. and In the huhu'e'
"A, .ors n, The Governments existence Its
sanctioning OF the presentation Of medals ana oec
orat,ons has been uniformly guarded almost s'u'e
ing In 1890. when medal was onered 10 'he
President OF the United States by the ldpera'o'
General OF Colombia In recognition OF 'hs country
friendly aid toward the establishment ana recogn-
ton OF the South American Republics. congress con-
sen,ed TO Its acceptance but qualified the vote oy
ordering that the medal be deposited In the STATE
Dsnartment and not delivered until the expiration
OF the Presidents official term. This custom mas
been generally followed since. with the result that
there are usually sundry decorations or medals on
exhibition at the State Department awaiting the
tedious process OF being conveyed by act OF CON-
gross 10 their owners on the retirement of the latter
10 private ie.
with officers OF the Army ard Navy. Of course.
medals and distinctions conferred by foreign Govern
nents reach their destination only at the caprice or
whim OF Congress- some lingering In the custody OF
the State Department FOR many years In January.
shar .fa i,ra a.aAa nd I.-f
the conditions under which medals and decorations
Nigh, be received by passing the following
No decoration. or other thing. the acceptance OF
which Is authorized by this act. and no decoration
heretofore accepted or which may hereafter be ac-
cepted by consent Of Congress- by any orcer OF the
United States from any foreign government shali
officer 30 receiving the same Hereafter any pres
emit decoration. or other thing which shall be con-
any ofI,cer Of the United slate clvil naval or MIL.
tary. shall be rendered through the DepaTtme o.
State and not to the individual In person but such
present decoration. or other thing shall not be Ge-
vered by the Department OF State unless 80 author
tied by act OF Congress.
The two medals presented TO General Harrison. and
now held in the State Department. commemorate
two important incidents OF his administration-the
opening Of tho worlds Columbian ErposItion tn
October. 1880. and the recognition Of the Republic ot
Brazil In the winter Of 1890 The n-st struck By
the spanish Government 20 express It's Interest In
the celebration OF the +Oth anniversary OF the land
,ng OF Columbus In the New World The second
intended to convey the gratitude OF the Brazil
ian Government 10 the first great Power TO recognize
the overthrow OF the monarchy and the establish
ment OF the present Republic.
The Senate also passed on March p joint resolu-
tion authorizing Professors Simon Newcomb and
Asaph Hall. OF the Naval Observatory. to accept
decorations offered TO them by the French Republic
IN recognition u their services 20 the world or
science. Among other officer Of the Government
who have been authorized to accept medals and
decorations In recent years the following:
Joseph Irish. OF the United State Revenue Marine.
TO accept from ne Spanish Government the grand
cross OF Naval Merit Of he class for
rendered To the officers and crew OF the Spanish war
vessel Pizarro. Lieutenant benjamin II. Bucking
ham. OF the United States Navy, to accept from the
President OF the French Republic the cross Of the
Legion OF Homer In appreciation OF services In con-
Tran WIN hs or @ a. rap' r
sus TO accept a decoration OF knight Commando
OF the Swedish order OF Wasa. rendered him by the
Government OF sweden. and also that OF Commander
Of the Spanish Order OF Isabella. from the Govern
nhef OF be Bunsa of wards at at ms e
Exhibition at Ph.ladelpha FIRST Lieutenant Henry
Metcaife of the Ordnance Department OF the United
States Army 70 accept from the sultan Of Turkey a
decoration OF the order OF the Osmanie rendered
Efforts Of that officer in conducting the inspection OF
arms and ammunition manufactured for the Inn
and bridgeport and N.w-llaven. Conn. Rear-Ad-
miral John }. Almy United States Navy, to accept
cred to him by the King OF the Hawaiian Islands as
evidence OF his appreciation OF that officer, Lieu
.
late commanding the Pacific mail steamer City o;
Fekin 10 accept from the japanese Government a
pair Of flower vases and lacquered box In acknowl-
edgment OF hts services in rescung four Japanese
seamen from wreck in the Pacific Ocean on Jan
uary 10. BI1, Lieutenant Francis Y. Greene. OF the
United States Army. TO accept from the Emperor OF
Russia decora. ION OF the third class OF the Order
OF St Anne for bravery under fire at the battle OF
Shipka Pass August "a and "a. 1871 and at the as
sault Of Pevna September H. 1877 also a decora ton
Of the fourth class Of the Order OF St Vladimir for
kans. December TO 81, 1877; and at the battle OF
pagn medal conferred on all persons present in the
campaign, William j. Wilson. assistant surgeon,
United States Army. to accept from the Khedive ot
Egy pit decoration OF the Order OF Mejideh for cal
lantry In battle ir the action Gura In Abys-
sna. March :. 1876. Commodore j. W A Nlchoson
United states Navy. to accept from the Spanish
Government the grand cross OF Naval Merit with a
white badge az a mark OF appreciation OF the
Vices rendered 20 the officers and crew OF the
wrecked warship Pizarro.
Commander Dennis " Mullan. OF the Navy, was
recently authorized TO receive q medal from the
Government OF Chill. Admiral s. n. Luce. dccora
ton from the Government OF Spain. Admiral John
G Walker and Surgeon General Rufus Tryon. med
ais from the Government OF Venezuela and Admiral
George Brown. Medical Inspector George Woods and
Lieutenant G. L. Blow. decorations from the Queen
OF Hawaii before he recent downfall OF the mon
archy at Honolulu.