The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-22
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety Of Interesting
Subjects.

IN Iafr conditlon and VIII eventually be allowed.
though the chances Of success depend, in great
measure, upon the character OF the testimony OBJ
tanned by the special examiner.
II. r, Tituseiie Pa.-veteran volunteers were
those who re-enisted for three years between Jan
uary l, 1853 and April l, 1864 having previously
served two years in the same company or regiment
or nine months in some other organization OF the
army ALI such were entitled 10 Si02 veteran
bounty.
Z. II. w., Palestine Ohio.-You are not entitled
to be mustered a veteran, for the simple reason
upon medical examination at re-enlistment.
ID. s. IT,, South Gibson, Pa.-The widow can COM
pete the original claim of soldier and draw all the
pension money that would have been due him up
TO the date OF his death, no matter what the
cause OF death, but, to entitle her TO Continuance
OF the pension as widow, the soldier must have
died from cause incident to his service and line
OF duty. Her attorney Is not well posted IN PEN
sion matters, else he would not have informed her
that she could not complete the original claim, be-
cause she can do so. The cause OF death has moth
ing TO do with his claim
w. Dr., Sandy lake Pal He would be entitled
to increase. 2. The Government would not assist
nm towards deiraylng the expense OF the opera
ton"
A. W. p, Fairport " IA widow or mother
who remarries, forfeits her pension as such.
A. c., Bs,glfetd, N. Y-All regimentaI surgeons
kept record of the sick and wounded under their
care. The records of the 18th New York engineers
Including the register of Tegimental surgeonj are
on file IN the Office of the Surgeon General U. y A..
such record Is evidence ia pension claim. IL is
probable that your name does not appear therein
or if it does it does not show that you were treat
ed for the disability alleged in your claim
J. A. p PrfHcepiHe M-The headstones fur
nished by the Governments for soldiers graves in
National Cemeteries thirty-six inches long ten
inches wide and four inches thick; for graves in
private and village cemeteries foFty-Iwo inches
long ten inches wide and two inches thick.
". H., GrahGHltoEn, Pa-See reply in our last
issue to DIR. +. o. r. We are of opinion that the
claim would be rejected, unless The reinental sur
geon testified that he did actually treat the soldier
Tor lung disease. The Office would hold that the
comrades had no means of knowing. that the sur
geon treated Claimant for lung disclose.
j. ". r., Wind0n JfiIn-It IS said that "a it Is a
poor rule that won't work bo'h ways but il does
not follow that because a pensiOner at 50 was al
lowed arrears at ST. that ali pensioners "a are
titled TO increase to IS. If they totally disabled
they are entitled to So not otherwise.
j. f., Helena, O-The soldiers mother Is entitled
TO the pay, bounty, &c. due her son, and same will
be paid her, when she files proper claim therefor
and proves up the same.
J. r. c., Rutland, In-The action of the Pension
Office In issuing short certificate that IS granting
pension up to certain date. then TO cease usual
In such cases where tie examining su rgeon Fe-
ports that the disability has ceased disable the
pensioner, and such action is based upon said re-
port. You are probably IN error in regard TO your
statement that you were not examined III May ISL
IL your disability has continued since said date YOU
should apply for restoration to the pension roll
j. C. j.. Hdrtcick Cross Roads Tenn.-I The high
est rate of pension for disease any other disa-
bility, IS s72 per month 2 As to what disease Is
considered the worst that is question that cannot
be answered. Every invalid may consider that his
disease Is the worst and It probably u 50.
A. s., Butler, No.-l. The claim appears to be
proven. 2 The delay Is not culpa0ie neglect -
because the division of special examinations in the
Pension Office Is behind in its work In fact il Is
swamped with claims. and delay of nine months,
and more. Is common enough. 3. You have
poor opinion of the Government If you think it
possible that IL would knowingly delay and twart
claim in the hope that death of claimant will en-
sue, and thus put end to the claim. Such an
idea Is preposterous. A. dishonest careless at
torney, by negleeting the case, might cause delay
therein. 5. The case mentioned IS that should
IN cur opinion, be acted upon Immediately
T. H. A., WaHsdst, VS.. The Pension Office, in
order facilitate the work of special examiners
has divided the country into districts with super
rising special examiner for each who has the con-
troll OF all the examiners In his district and to
whom such examiners report for Instructions &c
instead of reporting direct to the Pension Office as
formerly. 2. The hitch " in your claim is proba-
bly, due TO the fact that the testimony furnished
not up TO the required standard of proof, and the
special examination is intended to bring all the
facts which are not shown by the testimony.
W. J. g., Fairfield, Ill. The only penalty at
taehed where person falsely reports pensoner
as having contracted his disease prior to enlist
ment. IS that the person is liable to be called liar
with good prospects OF proving il. 2. The Pension
Office will not ordinarily give the names of parties
who furnish Information against claimants, such
reports are considered eo9fideRtiaL.
j. u, Sparta, Wts-1. The parties cannot sell
their rights. 2 The attorney who receives more
than SO for his fee in any unless the claim was
filed prior to June 49, 1878 and there are written
contracts file III the Pension Office allowing a
greater sum- in which case he will be paid by the
pension agent renders himself liable to criminal
prosecution and tine Of 500 imprisonment for
two years, or both.
H. ~. Battle Greek, Neb-To entitIe you to in
crease to 81 It must be demonstrated that have
deafness in both ears total deafness in one
and slight Ia the other. Increase same disable
ity does not carry with it arrears; it commences
from the date of examining surgeons certificate
establishing the increased disability. No testimony
IS required IN ordinary claims for increase upon
the same disability unless the rating IS rgh and it
IS necessary 10 determine the actual amount of
labor performed by the pensioner.
K. e., CtGrEs5uTg, Ran.-In q personal interview
with the Commissioner of Pensions a few days ago.
he informed US that his Office, with the exception
of the special examination division, was well up
with the current work that there were no uureas-
enable delays that failure to reply to letters from
claimants was probably caused by the fact that
such claimants had been previously informed Of
the condition of their claims and had since fur
nished nothing to change the status OF said claims
consequently it was unnecessary to take UP the
time of the Office to tell them the thing over
again; that there would not be, ordinarily. any de-
lay in claim of more than two months; that
where there was an apparent delay of several
months and claimants would furnish the necessary
information to enable the Office to identity the
claim tsuch as service OF soldier number of claim,
&C., such communications would be replied to.
Now, we tell the tale as twas told to US" and
which bears out the statements of THE TRIBUNE
from time to time. You must admit that our infor-
nation, coming as 1t does directly from the Com
missioner is reliable. III a contrary state of affairs
exists, we Go not KNOW Sueh To DE a It4et,
must refer you for further light to the Hon. Com
missioner of Pensions.
b. F., South Eitcfid, O-The badge of the sd army
corps was of the form of shield, and that of the
24th corps heart.
W. b j., Escohecg, R. by second bounty we
presume you mean the additional bounty (act of
July D. 1866. Claims for such bounty are now
barred by statute They should have been filed
prior 10 July l. 1880.
E. c. w., FranktinviUe, NJ FL We cannot state
cause of delay in any claim. Please see reply TO
appears necessary in your claim.
Bo1 1861, Union Oily, Pa.-From the best inform
alton we have been able TO obtain we are led to
believe that the concern is fraud.
g. H., AueHdale-The Second Auditor of the
Treasury has charge of all claims for bounty and
the money allowed in such claims is paid by the
Treasury Department. The person you mention
is attorney and has nothing to do with the
payment of bounties.
Scout No 2, Pine Springs, Ky.-1 About 500.
2. Claimants have the advantage of getting their
claims settled, which could not have been done
with the old force in many years 5. Abut $780,
100000. t. s. Is the rating for total disability
for an enlisted man. with higher grades for in
creased disability. We do not quite understand
your other question.
". p. Tracy 0.-You received sI3 per month, as
pay OF private soldier, up to May, ISL and SO per
month thereafter You have claim for back
pay, because SI3 was all that was allowed b. law
up to May, 1864.
R. Is Mo,eeGqua, TH.-The guardian is not re-
sponsible to the child. The guardian occupies the
place of the parent. The pension money can be
applied to ana is intended for the support and
maintenance of the child, to be expended as the
guardian may deem proper.
L. r. H. Elmo Mo-. Your attorney was prob
ably correct and his information to you was the