The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-12-20
our CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety of Interestinl
Subjects.

u, Il.
1865 the Government paid 500 boHntyfor one year
eniistfnents and 500 for three years enIistmenfs
payable one third in advance, one third when half
the enlistment had expired and the remaining
third Mt the expiration OF the ftH term If soldier
was discharged for any before the }tH term
for which he enlisted unless for srotnds he was
not entitled to the fllstaIIrsents of bounty TINT
would have been due had he served the entire
period for which he enlisted.
Ell. e., Champaign, Ill. The rate for totalu
disability for am enlisted man il S. per month Int
there are many grades above total 2 Whether
you entitled to increase depends entirely upon
whether you are sufficiently disabled to entitIe
application therefor. 8. You have probably re-
ceived all the bounty to which YOU were entitled
tour discharge VIII be returned to you when your
bounty claim has been settled 4. Tie rate OF 81
Is all that Is allowed by law for the disability de-
scribed.
f. r. HIN a homestead entry the time of army
service would be deducted from the last portion Of
the five years residence required by law.
JIG. s.. Pkaadelphia.-Wr to the Commissioner
of Pensions and request that he issue order for
you to be re-examined. There is no blank issued
for such purpose.
Ai Old Soldier, Bloomington IU.-If the lawyers
refuse to assist you in your claim for increase
old disability why do you not put il into the hands
OF a competent attorney, who will charge you
nothing, unless successful? We know of several
such attorneys, and If you will give Us your name
we viii refer you to one.
" p b., Memphis 5Fo.--You are entitled TO addi-
tional pension for deafness of one ear-if you can
pension granted. As you did not file q claim
therefor prior July 1850 it viii not ertitie you
to arrears, and can commence only from date of
filing OF application.
d. d., BuFGooI. 0hi0.-I We presume that IL bill
to pension the exprisoneTs of is passed by this
any future Congress, the records will be slifi-
cieat TO prove the fact of capture and imprison-
nent. 2 In the absence of record showing such
facts aiiidavits Of officers and comrades will prob
ably be accepted to prove same. There Is no par
tleuiar form for such aiIidavits The simple facts
lot af.fr "A
be all that could be required. Where there IS
doubt about the record 10 might be a good idea to
secure such proof while the witnesses are at hand
and wiling to testify IL Is too early in the session
to predict the fate OF thisor any other proposed G
". r.. South Vi,ieland ". il. The date Of mar
rage to the soldier has nothing to do with the
claim. The second wife OF the soldier is entitled
the same as II she was the first wife, but his chill
dren by the first wife, if they under sixteen
years at date of his death, share equally with his
children by second wife 2. She does not neees-
sariy draw the same pension he did She may
draw more or less. Her pension Is fixed by law ct
g as the widow OF an enlisted man. She draw
Tor herself no more no less The amount of
pension that he was receiving does not in any
manner affect her rating. as there is but rate
for her.
e. ~ Ne, Lancaster Co., Pa Property pur-
chased with pension money IS subject to the usual
legal process for debts contracted before or since
pension granted. under the laws of each State
pertaining thereto. Such property Is precisely the
same as any other property. The fact that It
purchased With pension money does not exempt it.
After the pension money has been paid 70 peusioner
It loses its identity pension money and it Is sub
jet To the same laws any other money likewise
property purchased Herewith.
j. R.. Plsitadelphia.-1. Ifarrears bill Is extended
II viii include all claims fled since June 3D. 1886
10 claims for increase, where new disability was
alleged, such increase can, under the law, COM
nlence only from date of certificate of examining
surgeon which establishes the increased disability
from the old cause but in increase claims where
disability alleged the latter will draw ar
rears in case of extension of the said bill p II
not likely that pensioner who is receiving So
more per month VIII be entitled to additional PEN
SION IN the bill to pension ex-prsoners Of war
Is favorably acted upon.
G. ". w. Shelby Co., No. General Sheridan mar
ried Miss Rucker, daughter Of General Ruesser
who lived here during the war IN the locality men
toned General Sheridan is now in command of
the army, and resides with his family IN this city.
c. Il. S. National Military Home Ohio.--8Ir. Joyce
at last session of Congress- introduced bill TO in
crease certain pensions for deafness loss Of eye
sight and impaired vision but the bill did not pass
II is too early in the session TO say what viii be
done, If anything. for this class of pensioners
The TRIBUNE Will keep you fully informed.
Old Fort Tic0nderoga n VI You will probs-
bly, be compelled to prove the facts. 2 You do not
furnish any information whatever relative to your
case; therefore, we cannot decide
! J. c. r., Blue Knob, Pal. We think your claim
viii eventually be allowed . No Us ON the sin
of address means that your subscription will ex-
/ pire with whole number 12S, which viii be issued
[ January p, 1884.
/ Il !. F.. Padding, Ohio.-1. If claim was fled
prior to July 1880 II would date from DISCHARGE
such case as you mention could not exist unless
through some blunder on part of Pension Office.
I'd. The Pension Office takes the responsibility Of
( rejecting al claims The Office sometimes sets
aside the certificates OF examining surgeons. and
i f. No.. D There Is but one number In any one
claim, no matter how many declarations fled.
C. r., Philadelphia you do not apply for pen
sion and you should die from the effects of YOUR
disease, your widow would be entitled to pension
providing she could prove the claim She would
Ilaveto furnish the same testimony that you would,
had you applied.
j. B. Y. Fiiidfas6,trg, Eon-I We should say
the first attorney IS responsible 2. The vouchers
were usually issued in triplicate and the Govern
ment kept enc copy. g. There should be no delay
( IN the case Write again to the Commissioner.
J. C. H., Syracuse " You mis-quote our
statements. If you have discharge that i ali that
I IS required. and your claim viii go through De
serters who returned TO their commands and
never receiued q dSSeidrgs cannot be peEsioRed If
i the disability was received in the service from
4 which they deserted.
H. B. H. Pesaberfon, " THE whole question
depends upon whether spinal trouble IS the result
I of wound mentioned. Whether the Pension Office
viii accept your theory, we cannot say.
il. H. Learess,eOrih-1 Your increase. ifaIIoved.
will, we think be granted on the disability. as
you probably receiving ali that you are entitled
10 for the old disability 2. We cannot state the
cause of delay in any claim. g. If Won eaH lsD your
claim you are entitled TO reply stating its con-
dition.
Sect NccoeE, He5-No charge is made for iufor-
nation IN this column We eIIdeavOT reply to each
and eUeTy correspondent and have special y
who devotes his entire time 70 The business OF
answering correspondents, who number no into
! the hundreds every week. We cannot answer every
one in this column, for space VIII not permit
The others replied TO by mall Our notions of
/ future glory to cbiise the boys" and #
you have Jailed to receive replies to yOr questions
II Is because they failed to reach Suppose you
j try again and mark your letter Correspondents
/ column" to insure proper destination.
D. Dr. b.. Quincy IH-The date of Miles surren-
der at Harpers Ferry Va, was September Is 1862
The AdjutHnt- General T. A. this city can proba-
/ bly, give you the date of your EXCHANGE.
81 B. s., Hollis, Me-The aggregate number of
troops mustered in the Union army during the war
was 40S, of whom So Al were eolored soldiers
The number enlisted in the rebel army we cannot
| state, as the statistics are not yet compiled.
f. g. c. Hlrrd, Pa-The battle of Malvern, Hill.
| to which you refer, was fought July l, 1852.
S. Ms, FfazeySburg, O-There is no good reason
| why the widows of all volunteers. enlisted men
and officers should not receive the same pension.
! officer or his widow higher pension than an en-
/ listed man or his widow should be abolished. 1t
costs much to live the others the services
of the officer and the soldier were equally vaIuab BILE
and they should be equally rewarded. Unfortt-
Hately, the pension laws provide inequality of
pensions, based upon difference of rank and here
| is good field for legislation by Congress.
" B. D. Columbus T1s-we presume if appli-
cant should request of Commissioners of Pensions
board of surgeons, and state as his reason that
| injustice WIS done at last examination, that an
/ other would be accorded him. II Is question
for the Commissioner to decide 1t rests entirely