The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-09-03
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on a Variety OF Interestin
Subjects.

reply TO their inquiries.
J. F. Nee. BeTlcfontaine o.. Has the rate of
pension to the widows of deceased Captains of the
war OF the rebellion been, at any time, SD per
/ month? If SO, when? 2. Have the widows of
q per month for each child under 10 years OF age
the same as nOn-commissioued officers and pri-
Yates; and are they now allowed it? AnsUer l.
No. 2. Yes.
T.HL., Red Oak Io,cn-1 What pension will
an enlisted receive for loss Of both eyes? 2
What pension will Captain receive for tho same
disability? g. What pension will Colonel receive
for the same disability? AnSwer. Providing the
disability in each received in service and
in line OF duty. the pension, if allowed will bel
Sl2 per month. 2. So per month. 3. 81 per
month.
". J. c., Fayetteville N T-The monthly pension
OF the widow and children of Captain of cavalry
Tor any other arm of the service) Is so for herself
and - additional for each child under 10 years OF
age until the children reach that age.
II. p. C., East Boston, Hdss-IIow much bounty
did the U. 5. Government pay in January. 1861 for
enlistments for three years during the war?
A"Swer. $500. For re-enlistments, $780,
l.. II. C., Canton, Mo.-There soldier here
who applied for pension several years ago He has
since died, and the widow has applied for his pen
sion. The question is, should she die before her
husbands claim is allowed, and before she gets her
p nsion could her children claim the pension that
their father or mother should have received? The
children are all of age Insurer. Only such chill
dren were under Is years of age at date of SOL
dier's death receive the accrued pension, in
case of death of widow. If there was no child I'M
der 10 years of age at that date the pension money
VIII revert to the Government.
J. B. r., Freeport Iu.-I have been receiving a
pension at the rate of $40 per month for the last six
years. Originally it was So increased to IS, and
then to $40. The latter part of 1858 applied for
increase and was rejected. Reason given, that
l was receiving the full amount allowed by law
for gunshot wound in shoulder This shortly
before what is termed the Equivalent Bill" was
passed /. Would in your opinion, that bill make
any difference in my rating? 2 Is $40 the full
amount allowed by law for a gunshot wound in the
left shoulder? My wound troubles me great deal
all the time by pains especially at night and occaS
1onaliy gathers and break out at such times laying
me up for several weeks and making large doc
tor bills, etc. cannot raise my left hand to the top
OF my head. and am not able to do any manual
labor which necessitates the of hand and arm.
4ns,oer. l. We never heard the term - Equivalent
Bill applied to act of March g. 1888. Equivalent
disabilities were provided for long before that.
That BILL however increased certain pensions On
Guiding certain equivalent disabties) from SIS to
s2i and from 81 to $50 1t did not in any way affect
your case. 9. The amount of pension for the disa
bility mentioned depends upon the report of Exam
lining Surgeon The rate is not specified by law.
II. f., Eau Claire Wis.-What is the law in
gard to pensioners where pensioner is i'll the
habit of drinking and squandering his earnings and
pension money and leaving n helpless family des-
htute of support for months ut time, leaving them
to become subjects of public charity? What steps
should be taken to prevent the pensioner from
squandering his familys support? We have so
many such cases here in this city that it is time
some one made n move in the right direction. an
ssDer There IL no law to cover the case unless he
can be locked up as a common drunkard. The
pension money is not given him to support his
family, but for his own support He can do as he
pleases with it. 1t is sad state of affairs but
cannot suggest remedy where the moral sense is
so blunted as to develop such pcrverse traits as
selfishness and depravity.
T. j. r.. Jacobsb,rg, OIL. Can n widow draw a
pension from the date of her husbands death if he
was pensiOner until that time and died of disease
contracted in the service? 2. Is she entitled to any
bounty, as he never received any? And if so, how
will she get it? Ansuer. l. That depends upon
when he died and when she filed her claim. If
after June 80 1880, she draw only from date of
| filing her claim. 2. We cannot answer the ques-
ton unless we know all the facts Send us his dis
charge and we will reply.
NJ FL. Where person has taken home
stead and has made final proof on land in ID. t., but
has not received patent for it, and the Govern
ment having suspended the same, is he bound to
pay taxes it before he gets his patent? q Is he
bound to cultivate the land after making final
proof 3. would like to know how many of the
comrades are living who were sitting at the court
martial when the magazine was blown up. Ansger
l. The question OF taxation Is one over which the
Government has no jurisdiction. 1t is IA matter
which is regulated by State Territorial laws. 2.
No; but the Government reserves the right to
inquire into the good faith and intentions of the
party at any time prior to issuance of the patent.
g. The question is somewhat barren of information
as to the date and place where the affair occurred
J. w. b., Evergreen, Col.-PIease tell me whether
a claimant for pension has to furnish any more evil
dence after he is ordered before the Medical Board
for examination? Some say that will not, but
would rather take The tribune for authority than
any one else Ans,cer Thank you for the last para
graph. An order to report for examination is not
an indication of the condition of the claim,
aninatons made at any stage thereof. In some
cases examination is the first thing ordered; in
others claimant Is examined ut different times and
testimony may may not be called for after ex-
animation. 1t depends upon whether the claim is
complete.
NC. W., Belmont O-What are the laws In re-
gard to making homestead? see that in filing
declaratory statement it is done in accordance with
Sections 2290 1904 and 1909 of the Revised Statutes
What those sections? AiiS,Cer Sec 290 requires
the settler to make affidavit that he is the head of
family, or has served in the army navy, and
that the application is made for his sole and ex-
al uSl SeC nrOV fort
filing of homestead claims by honorably discharged
persons Of the army or navy who served during
the OF the rebellion and gives such six months
after filing declaratory statement to make entry
and commence settlement and cultivation. Sec.
29 provides for the filing OF the declaratory state
ment by an agent attorney, if desired. but that
the claimant ia person must make the entry within
six months thereafter.
j. C.. Danrersport, Mass.-Ifan ex-soldier who is
in possession of some property applies for pension
increase of pension, does the fact of his having
said property. fknown at the Pension Office, have
any weight in the rating Of his claim? ATlStper.
None whatever.
b. j. B., Lattrop Mo-Call the attention of the
attorney to the following Act of Congress approved
MAY 2l 1872: BE enacted bu the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States Of america in
Congress assembled, That any claim agent attorney
other person engaged in the collection of claims
for pay, bounty. pension other allowances for
any soldier. sailor or marine, or for any commits
sined officer of the military naval forces who
may have been n soldier, sailor, marine officer
of the Regular or volunteer forces of the United
States and honorably discharged, who shall retain.
without the consent of the owner owners thereof,
o shall refuse to deliver account for the same
upon demand duly made by the owner owners
thereof. by their agent attorney, the discharge
papers or land warrant of any such soldier sailor
marine or commissioned officer which may
have been placed in his hands for the purpose of
collecting said Claims shall be deemed guilty of a
misdeneanor, and shall, upon conviction. be pun
ished by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars,
by imprisonment not exceeding six months or
both ut the discretion of the Court, and shall there
after be debarred from prosecuting any such claim
in any executive Department of the Government"
We think the above will bring him to terms. If he
does not promptly respond, consult your District
Attorney.
PIG. H., North Craftsb,sry, VWhere a pensioner
Is drawing pension of 81 per month for disability
of the left knee, and by favorng the left knee the
right knee has become disabled. could o would he
be likely to get anything on the right knee, 5 n
result from the left knee? AnStCer. No; he is not
entitled to pension for disability OF right knee be-
cause 1t did not originate in the service, etc.
II. C., Volgd, Md.-Are my children entitled to
pension from the death of their father, which hap
pened in 1868? They have drawn since 1866 What
/ wish to know is can my children get the three
years pension now? They over 81 And what
method can take to procure 1t for them? 1nSWer.
They not entitled to pension for the period
mentioned. Pension for children not author
ICED until July 25. 1866, and prior to said date they
cannot be pensiOned.
j. W. X, Fotntainto,pn, Ind.-Please state the
nature of the act of March 8, 1885 under which
not understand your question. You will have to
be more explicit. We know Of no act of that date
that apply to your question.
Boy in Blue Pditey, Neb.-A comrades daughter
married man five years ago They took 100 acres
under the Timber Culture Act and improved it,