The National tribune., 1908-11-26
ANSWERS TO
CORRESPONDENTS.

b. c., vineland, N. j., asks: How
many islands are there in the Pacific
Ocean, and how many now belong to
the United States, whether in the Pa
cifc Ocean or elsewhere?
The exact number of the Islands In
the Pacific Ocean is not known, for the
reason that in the many archipelagoes
there are so many islands that are so
small that no two persons would agree
as to which should be left out, unless
size was mentioned at which to draw
the line. For instance, most autnor1-
ties describe the Philippine Islands as
an archipelago consisting of about
1000 islands. most of them very small.
The other American possessions in the
Pacific are the Hawaiian Islands, Guam.
Tutuila and several adjacent islands in
the Samoan group. In the Atlantic the
United States has jurisdiction over
Porto Rico only, outside. of our own
coast islands. OF course, it is under
stood that the occupation of Cuba by
the United States troops is merely tenn
porary, and the promise has been made
that they will be withdrawn early in
the coming year.
L. J., Los Gatos, Cal, writes: 1 saw
in the press dispatches of May or June
last that the United States Senate while
waiting adjournment had before 1t a
resolution calling for the names of the
Postmasters who held office from 1864
to 1874, who had their salaries read
justed, and who had not as yet been
reimbursed under the readjustment.
Simon NJ. Cutler was the first Republic
can Postmaster at San jose, Cal, being
appointed about the middle of March,
1861, and held the office coutinuously
until his death on Dec. 81. 1869. so un-
der that act his heirs would be entitled
to whatever would be coming under the
readjustment. Could you inform me
how to proceed to collect whatever is
due?
The bill you refer to was passed on
May 81, 1908, and the lists are now be-
ing made up under the direction of the
Secretary of the Treasury, the Hon.
George 3. Cortelyou, to whom you
should write, stating your case, and
asking for information concerning the
progress of the matter.
r. H. c., Canandaigua, N. Y, asks:
Where is Printing House Square? A
friend of mine says it is in London,
and / say it is in New York. Who is
right?
Both are correct A London court is
known as Printing House Square, and
is so called from the former Office of
Kings Printer, which occupied the
site. 1t is here that the office of the
London Times is situated. The open
square fronting on City Hall Park, in
New York City, about which were for
many years grouped the offices of the
principal daily newspapers, is known
as Printing House Square.
G. NJ. p, Alexandria, Va, asks: Have
not all the Presidents been inaugurated
in Washington?
George Washington's first inaugura-
ton was in New York City and his Sec
ond in Philadelphia, where also John
Adams was inaugurated. Beginning
with Thomas jefferson. he and all the
Presidents following. elected as such.
have been inaugurated in the city of
Washington. Vice Presidents who have
succeeded to the Presidency on account
of the death of the Presidents have sim
ply taken the cath Of Office without any
formal inauguration.
A. p. F., Newark, N j.. asks: Is there
any State flower for my State, New
Jersey?
In many of the States so-called State
/ flowers have been adopted by the vote
of the pupils in the public schools, but
in few States the Legislatures have
selected and named state flower
which might be considered official
Among the flowers of legislative selec-
tiSn are: Maine, pine cone and tassel;
Iowa, wild rose, and South Dakota,
Dasdue. In New Jersey neither the Leg
islature nor the school children appear
to have chosen any State flower.
n. J. b.. Concord, N H, asks: Are
there any Territories still left in the
United States?
New Mexico and Arizona are still
without the pale, and the citizens of
rlNaa In ft-f.v III.
of the right of suffrage. Alaska and
Hawaii also rank as Territories, the
former as '.unorganized."
II. G. F.. Salem, Mass, asks: What is
the tallest tree in the world?
In the United States the Big Trees of
California, especially those of the Gala
veras grove, reach hight of nearly 400
feet, but in Australia there is a gum
tree, belonging to the species eucalyp-
tus resnans, in the Cape Otway Range.
which is said to be 415 feet high. Gum
trees grow very rapidly; one in Florida
Shot up 40 feet in four years and one
in Guatemala grew 120 feet in II years.
This means growth of 10 feet each
year, or at the rate of nearly one foot
a month.
J. II. w, Covington, Ky, asks: Can
a Catholic, Jew or negro become Presi-
dent of the United States?
There are no limitations placed by
the Constitution upon candidates for
the Presidency, except that they must
be native-born citizens and 35 years of
age. 1t was within month that Presi-
dent Roosevelt in letter denounced
as 'unwarranted bigotry' any refusal
to vote for candidate for high office
because of membership in the Roman
Catholic Jewish or any other church.
For this statement a Luthern confer
ence takes issue with him. Mr. Roose-
welt Is a member of a branch of the
Lutheran Church. The conference, in
reply to the President, quotes at
length from various official writings
of Roman Pontiffs, and asks: Are we
not compelled to maintain that a IoyaI
Roman Catholic who fully understands
the allegiance required of him by the
Pope can never sincerely subscribe to
the Federal Constitution, nor if he does.
never can be expected to abide by it.
enforce and defend it? Papacy and
Vaticanism cannot be separated from
the Roman Catholic religion" This
will doubtless bring forth a reply from
the President, and maybe precipitate a
general controversy. The President has
in his Cabinet representative of the
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