The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions Variety Of Interesting
Subjects.

Snbjects.
Many Readers-The following order Of Commits
sioner Dudley, of December % 1881 is still in force
" Hereafter, information to the condition of
claims pending in this Office will be given only to
the claimant, to his recognized agent to Members
OF Congress, and to Heads of Bureaus" 1t IS use
less to write to asking for information In regard
to delay IN any claim. we regret that we cannot
obtain it, by reason of the above order. Inquiries
of claimants relative to their pending claims are
answered by the Pension Office, where the claimant
gives his name company and regiment, post-office
address. and number of his claim tegi6ty-
Inquirer, Enfield Centre ~ Y-1st. From six
weeks to four months, usually. See reply to A. g.
L. in last issue. 3D. The Acknowledgement
does not furnish any information to claimants for
pension. He renders his report to the Commits
sioner of Pensions 3d. 1t depends upon circum-
stances. No two alike. Usually very soon.
L. d. G., Bath.-On the Sth of June, 1852. there
Were r. AS pensioners drawing SIS per month, and
1859 drawing ST per month. Allowing for eeFtlfi-
Gates since issued there about D. Coo PEN
sioners benefited by the act of March 8, 1883.
Mrs. T. M K Sandrsky Ohio.-From your state
ments your claim appears to be in good shape We
do not think that medical testimony prior to lS5S
viii be insisted upon, providing the testimony of
neighborS Is clear and explicit. If the certificate
OF disability upon which your husband was DIS,
charged shows that the disease of which he qled
existed at discharge, do not anticipate any dff-
Guilty IN your claim. We trust that 1t VIII soon be
adiudicated. See reply to " Many Readers"
T. d. R. Vfola Ufs-The eract date when SOL
der was in hospital is unimportant. II you are in
doubt as to the month you state that 1T was IN
the autumn of the year. That Is near enough, pro-
yidng you give the correct year. The officer who
testifies can make similar statement. II unable to
remember the exact month, he can say the spring,
summer, autumn, scir;er, rs the Gaze may be.
H. H. s. Philadelphia, PG.-Ifyou have furnished
all the necessary testimony to complete your claim,
you have equal ehsnce with others, because all
claims that complete acted upon. See reply
to A. g. T. in our last issue; also, TO Many Read
erS, this week We endeavor to give full lnfOrma-
ton where the question IS definite. Your question
| Is indefinite.
". H. B., M Airy. No. asks: How many teeth
! has asperm whale; is there any kind of a fish or
/ whale that could swallow man; Is Heaven place
/ or state and condition? Answer. LIST. A sperm
whale has 40 to 80 eonical teeth in the lower jaw
which fit into cavities in the upper jaw, which has
some rudmentary teeth concealed IN the gums. I'd.
| There is no fish whale that swallow a mar:
entire. The gullet Through which the food passcS)
of whale is about the size of mans fist. The
shark can swallow the largest substances bat even
that fish would be obliged to make several mouth
| fuls of man. Sd. We do not know. We have
Theologans differ in their views regards Heaven,
and we do not profess to be an umpire on this sub
! ject.
| T. b., WeUs Nsb.-In any claim fled since June
49, 1873 the attorney may collect his fee in advance
| from the claimant You can do as you please about
| filing the testimony, but such papers should
properly be sent TO the attorney, and by him filed
in the Pension Office, that he may keep record
| of your case This may save you delay in the
future.
| G.. ". c., IRON Furnace, Ohio.-The person men,
toned would not be eligible for membership in the
/ G. A. r. an honorable discharge is essential
| M c. ST. Louis Mo-Your claim for pension viii
not be favorably considered by the Pension Office
| 1t appears you Were away from your vessel on
tedre, and, while on shore, you became involved il
| quarrel which resulted in you receiving WOUND
| from a knife in the hands of one of the party A
seaman on shore-leave Is in the position
| soldier on ordinary furlough. From the time hs
leaves his proper station until he returns thereto
he cannot held the Government responsible for any
disability received while he Is absent for his
pleasure merely Wmie on sncn Iefive or iurioutsf
| he is not performing any duty; consequently. hs
Is not in - line of duty" The additional fact
| that you received yoar disability in quar-
rel brought ION by drinking, makes your cast
all the fatal, that fact alone, even if yoC
had been under " orders" would bar you to pen
sion, because it was not received in line of duty.
In regard to claim for back pay we viii refer ths
| matter mentioned to 81 competent attorney, whG
will investigate and write you on the subject
J. B., Clare, Mich.-A soldier who deserted from
the Regular army during the war or since Is con
sidered q deserter at large, and he cannot oh
tain discharge of any kind until he has surrend
| cred himself and submitted to the action of the
military authorizes. His status IS the same as II ~
| deserted week ago he can be appreheEded
tried by courtmartia and held to service, other
| WISE
j. II. w., EI,pood, ~ J-It may be that the delay
In your claim IS due to a call on the Adjutant-Gen
eral for report as 10 presence or absence of you
army witnesses, or may be due to letters writes
by the Pension Office to some of your other wit
nesses asking for certain information from then
which was not contained in their affidayits or q
letters written by the Pension Office inquiring int
the credibiilty OF your witnesses. 1t Is manifesto,
impossible for 10 state the probable date wheI
your claim will be allowed, as that IS question
that can be decided only by the Pension Office
See reply TO Many Readers" this column.
ITO insure replies. correspondents should give fal
names and post-oflce addresses Replies 70 Inquire
will be given either in this column by mall III rep
Is published the initials only OF the writer will be used
Correspondence any subject viii have prompt atten
tion.-Edl