The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-26
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety Of Interestir
Subjects.

Replies to Questions on a Variety Of Interesting
Subjects.
J. o. r., East Granite Fails Nirrn.--I. The poem
entitled The Drummer 10Y of Shiloh was pub
lished in our issue of April 90 1888 2 In claim for
increase for same disability for which pensioncd,
no testimony, in ordinary cases is required An
examination by surgeon board Of surgeons is all
that is necessary.
J. C. c., Bay city, Hich.-For disability rated as
total, captain draws so, q first lieutenant SIT,
second lieutenant SIS. and an enlisted s. per
month. But for said officers to be increased, their
disability must be equivalent to that for which an
enlisted would draw the same amount Z. e.,
than total and exceeding the of SIS, SIT
and $50. Halfpenson would be oue-half these
captain would draw $40, a first lieutenant $3.50
second lieutenant $50 and enlisted man 81 per
month.
A. G., JasoariHs, Ind. There ia no way of de-
termining your question as to how many claims
have been referred to special examiners. . The
which lei to their reference the division
of special examinations are various Claims that
are not satisfactorily proven, or where there Is
doubt as to their merit, where adverse testimony
is on file disposed of in that manner. g. There
is specified time for special examiner to dis
pose of q claim in his hands. When he considers
that he has completed his examination of the
he renders his report and the case is then disposed
of. 1t may take him week, month, six months
L. His pay is 81 400 year as a clerk and
in addition thereto 50 day for subsistence; he is
reimbursed by the Government for all expenses
incurred IN transportation. 5. We cannot say how
much longer it will take to settle these old
claims" They will be disposed of rapidly as
possible. This is all any mortal can say.
j. h s. Lancaster Ohio-A claim for commuta-
ton of furlough rations takes about year more
to settle. If claim is favorably acted upon by the
CoIlmissry General, O. ). A, 1t goes thence to the
Third Auditor of the Treasury for action. where,
if former action sustained il is submitted the
Second Comptroller of the Treasury Ii the previ-
ous favorable actions thereon confirmed, it is
reported back to the Third Auditor thence TO the
Secretary of the Treasury, and 10y him Congress IS
asked to make an appropriation to pay the claim,
there funds available to pay these claims.
All this takes time. You cannot get your claim
through in three months or nine months.
B. " o., Hartford, Conn.-From the meager in
formation given by You regarding your pension
claim are inclined 10 believe that your chances
for success good, but we cannot anticipate the
action of the Pension Office.
W. H. B., Mining City Ry.-I. The public debt of
the United States in 1866 was s. $50, 1853, IN
1882, 81, 9lS, 3l2 99ioS. = The Second Auditor OF
the Treasury. 3. Claims of character mentioned
(horse conhscated in time of late war; are barred
by statute. L. The person named is reliable so far
we know. 5. We do not know the firm men
toned. g. The tariff question. Z. Ii is not fact
that the north side of the Ohio River can
get pension easier than men on the south side,
except, perhaps, that those the north side fur
nish the necessary testimony to complete their
claims, while those on the south side do not.
There Is distinction made IN the Pension OftieS
TO the locality in which the claimant lives The
only thing is for him To prOEe his claim this done.
he will get his pension no matter where he lives.
d.. J., Co. c, Ttro Hundred aud Ninth Pa. 7. L
paper. You should write on one side only, and
give your full name and address.
CIV T., Manchester, HaSs.-The law is plain, and
reads as follows That pensions shall commence
from the death discharge of the person on whose
account the claim hiss been, Is hereafter granted,
&c. Proeided, The application for such pension
has been or IS hereafter ed teith the Commissioner
Of Pensions prior to the first day OF July, 1885, other
wise, the pension shall commence from the date of
filing the application" (Aet approved March 8,
1921 The law never intended nor admits of any
oil on hat N m led
in the Pension Office since June so, 1850, draw
arrears. declaration in the hands of an attorney
which was not filed until after June 81, 1850, can
only draw pension from the date it is filed in the
Pension Otice. In this connection reply to
Wounded Veteran Soldier in our last issue.
s. Dr. s. Frazeys5,lrsh, 0hio.-The Governments
never promised 20 pay the soldier In gold or its
equivalent.
J. w., Attvater, Ohio-1st The Second Auditor OF
the Treasury is the officer 20 whom all claims for
pay and bounty should be sent ID. The Pension
Office has nothing whatever to do with such
claims.
j. H., C1rbondale Pu-Drafted soldiers who were
honCrabiy discharged eligible to membership
IN the q. A. L.
" W. g. 6i1sford IH.-The certificate of dis
ability upon which soldier discharged isreeord
evidence and IS valid and binding 2d. The same
Sd statement therein that soldier had beensuffer-
ing from his disease for several years Tor to the
effect that it existed prior to eniistment, would
only have Igeglp,H but 1t would cause the
lection of the claim, if the latter was based upon
the disability mentioned in the certificate 18th The
same. 9Th and 9Th See reply to f. T., I'm our issue
of July IL 1898. 7th. Ii would depend entirely
upon the character of the testimony offered Sth.
We think not. The Pension Office would decline
TO take any further action in the claim until abuud
ant testimony of reliable character had been
offered. showing that the record (as appears in the
certificate of disability erroneous. The only
way is to get such testimony bearing upon the
question of prior soundness at enlistment claim
ant Is able to procure submit il to the Commits
soner OF Pensions, and await the result
j. H. c., Dakota.-If your disability originated in
your first service from which you were honorably
discharged your subsequent desertion from second
service will not affect the claim; but if you claim
disability In second service 1t will be necessary for
you TO get discharge therefrom. before you can
get a pension See reply to Z, G. in our issue of
June II 1888. and to J. s. p. in our issue of JuEe
II 1889
y y, Ettas Cooley. Pd.-1ss. Your cl aim having