Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Board Appointed to Frame
Service Medal Regulations.
MINIMUM OF TEN YEARS
FAITHFUL, CONTINUOUS MEM
BERSHIP TO BE REWARDED.
Use Of Penalty Envelopes-Opinion Of
Postal Off1cals-Position Of
War Department.
MINIMUM OF TEN YEARS

A special order has been issued from
District militia headquarters appointing
board Of officers, to consist of Major Walter
D. Davi6ge. judge advocate general, D. c.
militia; Capt Eugene C. Edwards Com
pany e, list Regiment, and Capt. William s.
Hodges, Company D, I'd Regiment, which
is to continue from time to time, at such
place as the president of the board may
designate. to draw up regulations to gov
ern the issue of service medals to members
Columbia for long and faithful service
therein.
In forwarding a copy of the order to
Major Davidge, Adjutant General Brett,
said:
Il inclose you a copy Of the order consti-
tuting board of officers to draw up regu-
lations to govern the issue of service med
ala to members Of the National Guard of
the District of Columbia.
1.-THE commanding general believes that
the issue of a service medal for long and
faithful service is a move in the right drec-
ton and should stimulate interest in the
service and be an incentive to desirable
men to continue in the guard. The regula-
tons the board draws up should be such as
to cover every meritorious case and pro-
hibit the issue of medal to any member
the faithfulness Of whose service is doubt
full
Ten Years Continuous Service.
''The application for the issue of a serv-
ice medal should be made by a member
who has served continuously for ten or
more years, and should pass through the
hands of his immediate commanders, whose
Endorsements as to faithful service will be
given due weight in this Office, which re-
serves the right to approve OR disapproye
the application, Service medals will no
granted for continuous service in periods of
i've years. commencing after the tenth
year of faithful service.
1.-THE board will recommend any safe
guards that appear desirable, such as COM
pany or battalion boards or committees to
pass on applica lions from other than Of
hcers; and boards of officers of the bat
talon or regiment to pass on those of Of
ficers.
THE board will have in mind that it is
desired to recognize faithful service in the
N .Iel Guard OF the District of Columbia;
that length of service when coupled with
Ialthful service makes an excellent cembf-
nation, but when alone is frequently a
9t l,ty that has not promoted the best
interest OF the guard
Continuous service as. recognized nv tho
equations In force is service in periods
unbroken by not more than thirty days.
Inc board Will submit a form of appli-
cation for service medal"
Use Of Penalty Envelopes.
The opinion of the assistant attorney gen.
eral for the Post Office Department decid-
ing that the District National Guard has
no right to use official penalty envelopes
for the free transmission Of official matter
follows
DO not consider it necessary to enter
INTO any lengthy discussions of the ones
tons, but think that the intention of Com
gressk may be properly decided from the
two following points:
IN the fifty-ffth section of the act of
March L. 1889, to provide for the organiza-
ton of the militia of the District of Co
lumbia, 1t is provided-'That there shall be
allowed for the general expenses of the
iHiIlua such sums as may be necessary for
the rental and furnishing of offices for
headquarters, stationery, postage. printing
and issuing orders advertising orders pro.
viding necessary blanks for the use Of the
inl., the cost OF storing. caring for and
issuing all public property, and such other
contingent expenses not herein specially
vided for ''0
THE laws authorizing the use of the
penalty envelope. as far as concerned the
question now being considered were passed
in 1877 and 1854. 1t would seem there
fore. that Congress. when 1t stipulated in
the act providing for the organization of
the militia of the District of Columbia that
an appropriation should be made to cover
the expense Of postage, did not intend
that the penalty envelope should be used
Intent of Congress.
1.-THE intent is made clear by the fifty
eighth section. which provides: That the
commanding general shall annually trans
nit to the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia an estimate Of the amount of
money required for the next ensuing fiscal
year to pay the expenses authorized by
this act, and the said Commissioners shall
include the same In their annual estimates
OF appropriations for the District and all
moneys appropriated to pay the expenses
authorized by this act shall be dsbursed
by the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia, upon vouchers duly certified
and approved by the commanding general,
and accounted for by them in the same
manner all other moneys appropriated
for the expenses of the District
1.-THE expenses of the District militia in
Guiding the item of postage. are paid out
of the funds of the District of Columbia,
contributed to half by the United States
and half by the taxpayers Of the District of
Columbia. 1nasmuch as the laws author
lZ1ng the use of the penalty envelope were
enacted for the purpose of relieving the
United States government from the pay
ment OF postage, and not any local govern
ment, the intention Of Congress in using the
word postage in section % is evident.
1t Is. therefore, my opinion that the Of
fcers Of the District National Guard of the
District Of Columbia are not entitled to
transmit their official mail under the PEN
atty envelope
THE Naval Battalion of the District OF
Columbia was provided for by the act OF
May II, 1898. and is branch of the militia
of the District Of Columbia. There appears
to be no reason for excepting the Naval
Battalion from the above ruling
Therefore, the officers of the Naval Bat
talon of the District Of Columbia are not
entitled to use the penalty envelope in
transmitting official correspondence"
No Allowance for Postage.
1t is explained at militia headquarters
that although the organic act provided
that there shall be allowed for the general
expenses of the militia. such sums as may
be necessary for the rental and furnishing
Of offices for headquarters stationery. pos
tage, ETC., no appropriation for postage
has even been made by Congress.
Militia headquarters today ordered that
until further notice organizations of the
National Guard will discontinue the use Of
the franked envelopes. and instead use
postage stamps in the transmission of mail.
Position Of War Department.
Tho position of the War Department in
tina matter n the ,,Sf, of nan a1fv oxnvo1ox,ec