The National tribune., 1884-08-07
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions ON Variety Of Interesting
Suh;eeta

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ton viii be paid TO communications that are not
accompanied with fuH name and address of writer
Our readers requested to ineose 4. as4n,s for
reply TO their inquiries.
H. O. w., SilUer Cliff, Colo.-The War Department
VIII not entertain any claim based upon the al
legged unjust discharge or dismissal of an officer
from the army during the late war. Your proper
remedy was to apply TO the Secretary of War at
the time the proceedings OF which you complain
took place: Ordinarily It was not usual to sum
marty discharge an officer without trial by court
martial, yet during the there were some cases
OF the Kind, and they must stand as legal. Your
only recourse is to Congress You have no claim
Tor pay Tor any period subsequent 70 your actual
discharge
". II. a., Darlington. Pa, wants 10 know when
ana why Gen. Il. L. Butler received the title Of
Spoons" Answer. During Buffers occupancy of
New Orleans in the Summer of is62 his aeininis-
tration was characterized by vigorous policy and
ne was diligent IN enforcing the contseatou aet of
congress A large amount of property of rebel
citizens was seized, and spoons as well as other
household property were among the articles
eonlseated bus enemies falsely charged hinl with
taxing these articles and appropriating them
to his own use, hence he was dubbed Spoons
ButieT; but there Is nothing in history To show
that Gen. Butler ever appropriated to himself any
OF the proceeds of such seizures.
II. O., Council Bluffs, IctoG.-Your request that
we publish the prices of labor and provisions be-
lore the war and since Is too gigantic an under
taxing for US to tackle at present. TO do justice TO
to the subject would consume more space than we
can spare You probably have idea of the mag
nitude of table of statistics that would answer
your request. III You viii write TO the Bureau of
Statistics, Treasury Department. you can obtain
documents free of charge that viii enable you to
derive all the information YOU desire ON the ami
ject.
f. K. c., Vest Mansfield, o., wants to know the
popular vote cast for Garfield and Hancock, and
what each received according to official returns.
APS'oer. Garheid, popular vote, 449 tS3 Hancock.
popular vote, Az G5; Garfieioi's plurality 79i8
The electoral vote was follows: Garfield 2t4;
Hancock, I55.
B. F.. West Chester, Pa-Tn the case cited nv Won
wherein tbrOuph ftsf
ney, the widows claim was not fled as it should
have BEEN prior to July 1880 there Is no redress
ne law OF Haren fsI9 Is clear, and reads fol-
lows: Provided, The application for such pension
has been or is hereafter fled with the Commits
sioner OF Pensions prior to the first day OF July
$780, otherwise the pension shall commence from ne
date of filing the application etc Until CONGRESS
repeats this act the law admits of no relief what
ever The causes which prevented the receipt of
the application at the Pension Office prior to july
l. 1850, do not affect modify the terms of the law
and this applies to erery case
W. u, Wakeeneg, KaR.-The increased rating for
loss OF eye Is from half total to any under SIS
per month, according to rank of pensioner and ex-
tent OF his disability. Ia eases where pensioned
for simple loss of eye, the other eve not being
aneeted the rate Is increased to total that is for
an enlisted man, 50; for second lieutenant SIS:
first lieutenant, Sl7 etc; and where there is eonse
quent defornity the rate may be any sum under
SiS for penS3Oner below the rank of CAPTAIN The
eraet amount any penSIoner should receive we
cannot say, as it depends upon the medical history
OF the case filed with the claim and the Commits
answer that question.
RI. H., Scotland Ind asks if property purchased
with pension money can be taken for debt. AnssCer
we have answered this question many times be-
fore and we would prefer fresh questions; however
we viii again state that the law makes no distnc-
ton in regard to property purchased with pension
money. II is tne same as any other property, and
sion money has been paid to the pensioner the
Government ceases to protect it. and it is the same
as funds derived from any other source
Otd Vet Visa rniaa ted of-,,o -,
reopened by the claimant or attorney whenever
testimony bearing upon the Of rejection is fur
nished The Pension Office will, ON receipt of such
testimony, inform the claimant or his attorney If
he employs one whether it is sufficient to establish
the facts alleged 1t is not compulsory to employ
an attorney. We cannot state how long it will be
after sending the testimony before you will hear
from It probably very soon.
@. ". H., Portland, BE-, says: Has Congress ever
passed law making soldiers discharge of no
value to any one but the soldier or his heirs AI-
strer No Nolegislation is necessary on the subject
for the reason that soldiers discharge be Of
no value TO any one but himself or possibly his
heirs. 1t can be used by other parties only in
attempts at fraud If soldier should sell or barter
away his discharge it would deprive him Of all
bounty due or that may hereafter be provided
y. g. g, Ne,c Richmond, Mich, propounds the fol-
lowing: l. Why is pension claimant required TO
give history of his life five years prior to enlist
ment? 2. Why is the soldier debarred from the
benefits of the regimental other hospital reeors9
3. Why is It that the statements of malicious per
sons are given more weight than the sworn testi-
mony of men who have personal kuovvIetisra
of the soldiers disabilities? 4 Why Is il that
the majority OF the moneyed men of the country
are opposed to pensioning the old soldiersg 5.
why IS 1t that greenbacks were not good enough
for the bondholder? g. Why IS it that the soldier
never refused greenbaeks? T. Why is it that an
applicant Tor pension Is debarred from the tasti-
mony OF his relatives as such testimony would be
admitted in any civil court? g. Why i IL that an
applicant for pension cannot compel witnesses to
testify IN his case? g. Why would not the present
Commissioner of Pensions make good examining,
surgeon in case ofanother war? A4sslreT l. Because
such Is requirement. of the Pension Office. 2 and
o. Sucn not beng the facts, there Is answer
4. We presume it is because when they
get rich they get stingy. 5. Because the Govern
ment agreed to pay in gold. g. Because he had t,
take that or nothing The Reverence 90; -. 80
agree to pay the soldier in gold. T. Because il l.
rule of the Pension Office 8. Because there is no
law that would justify it. 9. Having no knowI-
edge OF medicine or surgery, we do not think he
would make very efficient examining surgeon
Subscriber. = Special examiners receive their
salary as clerks IN the Pension Office az 81 400 or
81 600 year and IN addition thereto So day for
besides, the Government pays their /
expenses. They have to buy their |
own cigars
". n. Harlan, Ioina.-congress did not pass any
Of the numerous pension bills introduced last se-
SION soldier who has no hospital other record
or his disability must furnish evidence of an officer
or two comrades showing the time when the place
where and the circumstances under which the dis
ability originated, and also furnish medical evil
denee of treatment therefor during service or |
immediately on arriving home from the service, |
else the claim viii not be favOrabIy considered |
ffOoi OF eoutltlOn PRIOR TO enlistment and since
discharge does not establish the fact that the dis
ability originated in line of duty in the service |
such are the views of the Pension Office
f. H., Homer. n. Y.-The date Of marriage does |
not affect the title of widow IF she was married |
% the soldier at any time before, during or since
he war, even the day before his Death she IS en-
atled 70 pension as widow, providing she can 1
prove that the soldier died of wounds or injuries
,ecelysd or disease contracted in the army If SOL
her dies from Gisase or other cause which did not
originate in the service the widow Is not entitled
AdjalGl.t, Madison, HfS., asks US whence the /
name " Yankee" originated? AIsssr. 1t was a I
popular name for the citizens of the New England
states, but applied by foreigners to all the inhab-
nts OF the United States, and during the late war
ne Union soldiers Were all designated as Yam
SeeS by the rebel soldiers and those living in the
south. The name tFsHgeeS or Renkees was orig
lally given by the Massachusetts Indians to the
English colonists, being the nearest sound thew
ouid give for English" IL was Afterwards
ldopted by the Dutch on the Hudson, who applied
he term In contempt 10 all the people OF New
England.
Mrs. F., San Francisco, Cal, says: Please In
orm us how rejected claim can be brought be- 7
ore the Pension Committee in Congress? 4nslrer /
BY getting Your Member of Congress to introduce /
bill providing for pension under a special act
len. koSeeranS VIII attend 10 the case no doubt /
you bring the matter TO his attention 1t should {
re borne in mind that pension under q special act
arIieS with it no back pension. and can only COM
hence from the date the bill Is approved by the
resident, after il has passed both Houses of Con-
,reSs. rejected pension claim can be appealed
the Secretary of the Interior who is superior in
uthorlty to the Commissioner of Pensions
d. i. p, LuteScie DO, says: soldier files claim
a 1900 for three disabilities; claim is allowed in
$40 for two the disabilities and in IsS2 he files
ppileaIon for increase, alleging the disability for