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Show WW NO GOLD STARS FOR CONGRESS. Back of the speaker's rostrum in I the house of representatives hangs an j American flag It is not the official flag ol the United States. The stars in I the field or blue are of gilt, Instead of J plain white as proided by law. There is no authority for the use of gilt stars in the official flag of this country. Representatives Allan T. Treadwaj and ralvin D. Paige, both of Massachusetts, Massa-chusetts, are the discerning members1 of the house who made this discoy-1 ery. Thov are agreed that if ever there! was n time when congress should sit i under the proper Stars and Stripes it' Is now when we are engaged in the greatest war the world has ever known. Therefore, they have intro- duced resolutions providing that i he i flag with Its gilt stars be taken down' from behind the speaker's chair and I that in its place shall be raised an official of-ficial flag with stars of white. On June 14, 1777, the congress passed an act designating the Stars and Stripes as the national flag of the United States. The federal law reads "Re- solved. That the flag of the United States be of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that tho Union be thir-: thir-: teen white stars in a blue field, repre-l repre-l srnting a new constellation." Later an act was passed authorizing the addition addi-tion of a new star for each state ad-l ad-l mitted to the Union The number of ! stars has grown until today there are forty-eight in the flag, representing j that number of states. In commemo-I commemo-I ration of the act of congress in 1777, I June 14 each ear is celebrated as Flag day throughout the nation. Mr. Treadway and Mr. Paige have been unable to find any authority for gilt stars. A hearing on the Treadway ; resolution will be held within a few days by tho committee on accounts The Massachusetts member will give the committee information regarding I the flag which he has dug out of dust-covered dust-covered records and volumes. It is anticipated an-ticipated that the committee will re-I re-I port the resolution favorably. The fommlttco may act at the same time on a proposal, also by Mr, Treadway, that a service flag, showing the number num-ber of congressmen who have taken up arms for their country since war was declared, be raised in the house Boston Transcript. oo |