The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-10
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety OF Interesting
Subjects

Subjects.
Several SstbscribersAs before stated unless full
name and address of writer is gwen an answer
need not be expectedsA We do not reply persons
who do not comply with this rule. his viii ex-
plain why some of our correspondents have not
been replied TO.
o. G. W., LAKE. PreSion.-The law requires a cor
tinuous residence homestead claim. both as
regards single or married applicants lie cannot
hold claim by living apon II one day n a month";
nor week In six months, but the settler must
reside upon it continuously the FIJI meaning OF
the word If he Is absent tiereron1 any tssreasoTla
Bile time bis claim s liable 10 be jumped, and be
may lose his title thereto.
II. c.. Slater Mol All veterans who were en-
titled to be mustered as such, see reply 10 Il H. III
issue of November ~ 1855, should nave received
s402 bounty. Ii soldier did NOT intend 70 desert,
THAT is. if he cid not leave his command without
psrmssion,l aud was, by reason OF sickness. absent
from his company when il was mustered cut and
for the same reason was unabs to report person
10 De discharged ana can prove ali these Isets ty
satisfactory testimony, he IS esltstle lon0Fa-
bic discharge and the pay anu bounty remaining
unpaid. Such claim should be made to the Adju-
Pension Office viii do IN any case. fhas Is beyond
the ken OF mortal apprehension All that can be
done in the ease mentioned Is 10 procure reliable
medical testimony showing that The disability
has continued since the date you were dropped
from the roll also showing tie degree, year by
year, OF such disability, forward u u the Pension
Office, asking reconsideration OF your claim aHd
await the result.
j. G., Fattoal, OIL II an invalid pcnsioner dies
Of the disability for which he pensioned, Of
some other disability contracted in the service and
IN line of duty, the mother being also dead, his
minor child apply for a pension through a
guardian If under age s1eh minor child. . No
minor child can draw pension IN any event for
period subsequent 70 his or her arriving the age
OF sixteen years. g. The Limitation of the arrears
act does not apply TO claims OF minor children.
They can apply at any time, and entitled to
pension from death OF soldier. The fact that the
child is cripple viii not eutitle him or her 70 any
additional pension 1t ceases at sixteen years OF
age in all cases.
H. j. Parsons, Kan.-Piease see reply to question
OF J. B. H., December z. 1853.
G. H., Tuna Creek, Pa.-Ali enlisted persons who
served In the navy marine corps for not less
than twenty years and have not been discharged
for misconduct, entitled, ii disabled from age
or infiity, TO relief from the naval pension fund
to the extent OF one-haf pay OF the rank they
held at discharge, paid quarterly same pensions
similar persons who have served not less than ten
years IN the navy marine corps, also entitled
10 relief according to their necessity be deter
mined By board of naval officers. said amount
not to exceed full pension for the rank IN their
vice. nor, II in addition to a pension, TO exceed
one-fourth of such pension. Your long service
may entitle you TO above provisions. Application
should be made direct 70 the Secretary of the
Navy.
L. j., Jr, Nashville, N FL A chaplain was
regularly enlisted and mustered in the any
other officer. His pay was equivalent 30 that Of
Is go; first lieutenant. sly; second lieutenant SIS
per month 3. 4 claimant fling application
/ lOr increase ordered examination
at 4. The child of the soldier IS entitled 10
pension. and the mother can apply Al any time.
r. r. Nee, Efaporia, KdH.-A surgeon ranked as
major, and total pension Is 50 per month"; as
sistant surgeon ranked first lieutenant and same
pension Is sI7 per month.
AndersonriHe. tElEhart, ETadEyeteran bounty
could be paid only to those who re-enEisted under
its provisions. iou did not re-enIiSt because you
were prisoner OF war and had chance to do so.
1t was hard lines to be in rebel prison at any time
/ especially after your term of service had ex-
pred, but il was one of the fortunes of war. y
The Government could not release you any time,
| as you seem 20 infer.
| JH s., Beverly Ohio.-we do not see how you
establish your claim to the satisfaction CT the
PensioR Office. The testimony obtaiBable in your
case Is not sufficient. III you cannot connect your
disability with the service by medical testimony il
| viii undoubtedly be rejected
| N, Grafton, His.--WheEl you were discharged
the amount due you for transportation To place OF
enrolment was included In the sum that you re-
| ceiyed from the paylnaster who paid yen on your
/ final statements Gu paid your " OWE expenses
out OF money furnished you BY the GIovernmenl
Tor that purpose. You cannot establish cain for
travel pay.
l. c. AcG, Rocky Hal Ey.-This correspondent
inquiries In claimant Tho has proved uY his
clam by medical and other testimony. and has
! been examined by United States examining sur
/ geons, who informed him that he was entitled TO
pension, and whose claim should be referred 10 a
special examiner. and said examiner should report
that he not disabled, whether the claim would
be rejected or whether claimant would be paid q
peasion for the time he proved up his claim 44as
| 1t depends entirely upon the nature ana value OF
the testimony obtained by the special examiner.
Ii he succeeds in establishing the fact that claimant
has not been disabled at any time since Discharge
then the eiaini will be rejected on that ground
otherwise, the Claimant may be paid for the period
that his disability actually existed IN pc.lsioEable
degree.
AYF, PauEsiag, 0sio.-Inyalid pension claims
Nos. 80, $50 to Sd 5i2 were filed about December L
| 1879.
| tf F,1.-u tr-.1 r-, - -.
is unreasonable We do not propose 70 let our col
out every individual who has a fl1lcied
grievance, nor do we propose to argue questions
that Involve abuse OF tiie Government CTR ptIr-
pose is simply 10 impart information grstui.oGsy
to such TO asking for advice. W q gave
you our views and if they do NOT suit you " = can
only say, apply elsewhere. We are not apologies;
for the Pension Oiice in any sense. If We OK plain
TO you the rulings and the mode of action OF thai
Office in pension claims aud there IS in your epin-
ion, defect in the laws or the manner Of admins
tcring them you take such action may seem
best TO You. This Is a free country.
c. L. r, Deer Creek Mian-A rejected claim can
| only be re-opened when testimony 6eaIiag upon
Tie css Of rejection IS submitted. II claim
jectesi for lnc of certain proof and such proof can
now be furnished procure and forward such addi
tional testimony to the Pension 0Isee and ask 4
reconsideration OF the claim II such testimony Is
considered of sufficient Importance the claim may
be re-opened and claimant accorded another exam.
InatIon. We eanuOt IN any such forctelI yFia
| action the Pension Office viii take.
B. r o., Csdarrilis, " j., and oshers-There I:
no method at arriving at the cost to the Govern
nent Ia publishing the list of pensioners It wa,
an unwise expenditure OF the public money with
no resulting benefit to the Government that We
| lave been able 10 discover.
4. H., Lenoauilfe, Pu.-The rating ia a claim fol
increase. like original invalid claim, depends
upon the certificate OF examining surgeon. The
comratle who is drawing IS may not appear to yot
to be any more disabled than you are, and yet ne
is twice much incapaeitated for manual labor n
the opinion of the examining surgeon; hence tia
difference the ratings between MIN and yourself
j. d. iStrcng Kan.--l. IN a pending claim where
the Pension Office desires to correspond with
! witness whose whereabouts cannot now be found
such testimony might not be considered as OF much
value in the absence of eel tain additional inorina
ton required from the witness. 1t depends upon
the Importance OF the testimony already given by
the witness and whether additional information
from the witness Is absolutely necessary. 2 We dc
| not know what you mean by = exposing tho Pen
sion Department" We do not thatS that anything
| claimant could say would prejudice his claim n
the Pension Office.
| j. IT. s., Crap, Fch.-SpecisI examinations are
record of tise disability claimed. and the proof fur
nSiled In support OF ilc allegations i not up 20 The
| required Standard ami yet the Office Is unwilling
to reject the claim il stands Also claims where
there is conflicting testimony, doubt arises Il
their justness &e The special examiner is not 9
medical expert nor does he make medical exam.
nation of claimant. He is simply a clerk of the
and ascertain whether Il Ia nleFitoriotIs one o.
otherwise. The following extracts from recent
Pension Oflice circular u ali give You IN re-
gard to your other qucstioEs " There &c stegia
examiners q. work IN the various States and Terri
tories. and they are doing all shes expedite