The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-23
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on a Variety OF Interesting
Subjects.


death of husband. Recently soldiers claim was
allowed from date of discharge ~ date of death;
widow claim also was allowed ~ the same time,
dating from Dec -, 1881. Granting pension to the
widow shows that the Pension Office was satisfied
as to the cause of husbands death; then why does
not her pension commence Oct Is 1880 (date of
soldiers death instead Dec Is 1881 tiate of appli-
cationl. Is she debarred from the benefit of the
arrears act same other claimants who flied since
June, 1850? AHsJger. The widow is correctly pen
stoned She Is debarrcd from arrears the same as
al others whose claims have been filed since June
80 1850, and could draw pension only from date
her application was filed In case the arrears act
shall be extended she will be entitled to for
Ia months.
p. ". S. Botkins o. SAYS: Please state why the
Mexican pension bill failed. 1t is claimed BY a
party here that the Republicans voted il down be-
cause 1t would pension JEFF Davis. / claim it was
voted down by Southern members because the
Senate amended the bill to increase widows pen
sions from So to SD. Ansner The bill was I'M
douhtedly defeated by the amendments that were
saddied upon 1t and which were not germane to
the question OF pensiOning the Mexican veterans.
The question TO JEFF Davis did not arise because
he was excluded in the original bill
H. w., Sntiivdn, Ind-The attorney is entitled to
fee in the soldiers claim if it is allowed and if
the minor children file claim for themselves, and
1t Is also allowed, he Is entitled to another fee.
There being two claims there are two fees involved
o. b. f., Eiwood, Ind, asks: 1. To whom does
one have to make application for arrears of pay
and allowances under act of June 8, 1S8i-Attor-
ney-General or Pension Commissioner? q What
evidence is necessary in the case? Ans,oer. l. To
neither officer. The claim should be made to the
AdJutant-General,. u. s. A., for amendment of the
record and, that secured, a claim for the pay in
VOWED should be made to the Second Auditor of
the Treasury. 2 We cannot say, as we know
nothing about the case. The claimant will be fully
informed as to the evidence required
B. b. s., Aliens Mills, Memo. Pension to minor
children ceases i'll all cases upon their arriving at
the age of Is. There is no law under which the
pension can be continued after arriving at that
age.
G. r. o., Clayton, I'LL Is the Board of Appeals
to try the merits of rejected pension claims in ses-
sion at ali times? 2. What steps are necessary to
S,cer. i. Yes; 2. Write a letter of appeal to the
Secretary of the Interior. The Board of Appeals
is under his supervision
j. d., Forrest, ~, asks: l. How much pension
does Col. VIM. w. Dudley draw and how much is
his salary Commissioner of Pensions? 2 If q
soldier applies for increase of pension old disa-
bIty, does he have to furnish evidence or will ex-
animation by Board of Surgeons be enough? An
s1oer- L. $50 per month pension. His salary is
s2OVo per year z An examination is probably all
that VIII be necessary unless his disability shall be
rated above SIS, in which event testimony showing
degree of disability may be called for.
W. b., BrockUoyriIe Pa says Suppose man
first volunteers as a soldier for three wears but
after serving one year is wounded in battle and
discharged from service on account of said wound.
few months later he is drafted uto the service
for three years. but only serving Is or 20 months
on account of the war closing and service no longer
required Is he entitled TO be mustered yet
eran? AaSUer. No. The last service must be as a
Uofitnteer. conscript is not entitled to be mus
tered as veteran where his last service was as a
drafted man.
j. W. c., TatonriUe o. submits the following. l.
If a claim is rejected the ground that there has
been no disability since discharge does that have
reference 10 the Examining Surgeons or family doc
tors? 2 Can the claim be called up when adj
dltonal evidence is sent in from family doctor? g.
When the Commissioner rejects n claim, is there
any way to appeal from it? 4. If so, how it he
done? D. Is there a Board of Appeals? Ans,cer
l. The action projection was probably made in the
case mentioned upon the reports of the Examin-
ing Surgeons, who failed to find disability from
the cause alleged, and. therefore, the testimony
submitted is not considered as satisfactory. This
Is not done IN every case but we know of eases
where 1t has been done. 2 Yes, usually, if the
testimony submitted is important. 5. Yes; every
claimant has the right of appeal. 4. By writing a
letter stating all the facts to the Secretary of the
Interior, and asking him to pass upon the ease s.
Yes; under the control of the Secretary and before
whom all claims thus appealed are submitted.
D. d. ", Shdne'S Crossing, o., asks whether Gen.
John A. Logan ever raised a company of men in
Southern Illinois for the rebel army in the Spring
or Summer of 1851 or did he ever waver in his
loyalty to the flag of our Nation? Anstuer No
"a, ISs45
r. G. p. Lancaster Wis. asks the following: 1.
Are soldiers of the late war who pensoned for
disability resulting from disease contracted in the
service, and who suffer a loss equal to loss of leg.
arm, or both, entitled to communication money every
I'VE years the same as those pensioRed for loss of
limbs? p If So are they entitled to arrears of
communication? 8. If entitled, will additional evil
denee be required, or viii claim be examined upon
the evidence already on file in the Pension Office?
ARs,oer. l. No unless the disease disability is
located in a limb limbs depriving the pensoner
OF the use thereof. The Communication can be paid
only for loss of limb loss of use of tia5-that is
arm or leg,-not for other disease injury. Al
though pensioner may be receiving pension for
disability equal or equivalent to the loss of
limb, unless the leg or is actually disabled so
as to deprive him of the use thereof he is not
titled to communication. 2. Noarrears are paid. g.
No evidence IS necessary beyond that On file in the
Pension Office.
j. r. c. Victu No. asks whether soldiers of the
Florida war are entitled to pension Ansirer.
Only on conditions the same as Mexican war SOL
ders, or those of the late viz for disability
contracted In service and in line of duty.
". H. p, Nuncie H.. says What is the law upon
the land subject to entry in the Indian Territory;
or Is there any land that can be taken? If not do
you think it will be subject to entry in time? An
Stoer. The land embraced in the Indian Territory
Is not subject to entry sale, because it eeded
to the Indians by law and is their own property.
1t is not probable that it will ever be subject to
entry,-at least not during the next so years.
n r., Waterloo, Iora, asks What officers of the
Confederate army are at present holding offices
under the Government, the names and nature of
such offices, etc? Insurer. The information de-
sired is not attainable There is army of them,
holding offices in all branches of the Government
They are in the U. s Senate House of Representa-
tives, Departments, and Bureaus of same, and
thousands OF minor offices throughout the land
Service in the Confederate army is not a bar to
any position or Office in the gift of the Govern
ment.
L. s., Chester H., says: In July last owing to so
many of Mr. Dudley's erroneous decisions, there
was Board of Pension Appeals appointed as fol-
lows: Aaron Bradshaw. of California: Geo Ewing,
OF Pennsylvania, and Harrison L. Bruce of Illinois.
Since then we have heard nothing further Will
you please inform through your beloved coll
unlns What that Board Is doing, if anything? An
S,cer. MIR. Bradshaw is from Colorado. The Board
Is in daily session. 1t is part of the Office of the
Secretary of the Interior and is under his super
vision and control. The exact amount of work
they have accomplished we are unable at present,
to state.
f. B.. Portland Oregon, says: Has there ever
been any prize money allowed for the capture of
Fort Fisher? If so, how can secure my portion
of it? AnScer No; there has been nothing al
lowed.
C. d. IT., Niddletoscn. Conn., propounds the fol-
lowing: Has n law ever been passed by Congress
giving preference to honorably discharged SOL
dIers IN Government appointments? i refer to
those discharged at close of war, and not from
wounds or injury. 4RStger. No. Section I7;l5 Re-
vised Statutes, reads follows In grateful rec
persons honorably discharged from the military
and naval service of the country by reason of
wounds, disease the expiration of terms of en-
listment 1t Is respectfully recommended to bank
ers merchants, manufacturers. mechanics, farmers
and persons engaged in Industrial pursuits to give
them the preference for appointments to remuner-
alive situations and employmentS." Section 1854 !
refers to preference to be given i'll Government APP
pointmcnts to persons discharged from the service
for disability. No other laws were passed by Con-
gress on the subject mentioned.
s. s. r., Spring Lake, Mich.-1. If the soldier can
show by proper proof that his pension was rated |
too low for certain periods he mag be able to get
his pension re-rated. Such claims are rarely al |
lowed, however, because the Pension Office will,
as a rule adhere to the former action. 2. In case
of the death of pensioner from the disability for
W heh he pensioned his widow upon her filing |
a proper declaration and the necessary proof can |
be pensioned "a his tsidoto She does not draw his
pension because that ends with his death. Her |
pension is fixed by law at So per month if the SOL
der was an enlisted man.