The National tribune., 1885-01-08
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions Variety Of Interestin
Subjects.

| ton will be paid to communications that not
accompanied with full name and address OF writer
Our readers are requested to inclose q stamp for
| reply to their inquiries.
w. X, Ksota, Io,ua-I Where and when was tho
first American hag-that is the present Stars and
| Stripes-unfurled? q Who fred the first shot of
| the late rebellion? Ansacer. L: Probably on the
privateer Ranger, commanded by Paul Jones,
| Summer of 1777; although some authorities say
| at the battle of Saratoga, the occasion of the
surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, Oct II. l7!7. 2 The
rebel gunner who fired the first shot at Fort SUM
| ter, April II. 1861.
| c. n. a., Centre AoniriUe, 3fe.-If widows pen
sion claim fled prior to July L, 1880, she will
draw pension, If claim is allowed, from date of
soldiers death Ii claim filed July 1, 1885, or
| after that date, she can draw pension only from
the date her application was filed In the Pension
| Office.
| j. A., Caribou, Ne, asks what constitutes an
equivalent to the LOSE of foot? Ans'0er. ANY dis
ability which in Its relation to manual labor dis
ables the pensioner as much as the loss of hand
or foot would disable him and emitting him to a
b. L. j., Pavilion, Kan; J. E. H., Neosho Falls,
Kan, and seuerdI otters.-The Oklahoma lands :"
are situated in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Terri
| tory. There is po5I-office there of that name.
No portion of these or other lands IN said Territory
are open to settlement or entry under the laws
| lating to the disposal of public lands For ex-
tended information relating to the status OF lands
in said Territory we refer you to publication en-
| titled The Public Domain a Government docu-
ment, copies of which can only be obtained through
| some Member of Congress. We would advise sill
parties not to attempt to enter upon these lands
| they have no rights thereupOn, and the Govern
other portion of the Territory. There Is serious
trouble ahead for the ibusters who persist in de-
Tying the Government by a lawless Intrusion upon
these lands.
j. b. Broken Bo,p, Ne5.-f file q soldier'ss3e-
claratory statement, and in two months after file
-eInption papers on the same land and pay the
Government price, do lose my homestead right,
| though never filed my homestead papers on the
land-nothing but soldiers declaratory? 2. Can
| n soldier file his homestead papers by power OF
attorney without being present himself? AnSUsr.
L. You have exhausted your homestead right and
cannot file second statement. 2. An entry cannot
be made by an agent or attorney. Nothing but de-
claratory statement can be filed by agent The
entry must be made by the soldier tn person within
f. Tx, Shiloh, Neb.-1. have claim in the
Pension Office am entitled to arrears. If should
choose to prosecute my claim under the amended
Mexican pension bill provided it passes the House.
could get the arrears q What is total disability
spoken OF in the amendment? Is it equivalent to
the loss of foot or hand, for which men now
drawing S24 per month? AnS,Uer. l. No. 2. Yes.
Il. II. D., Grouse, Edn.-I. Claimant made appli-
cation for pension September, 1879. First exami-
ton sept. 1850; second examination Feb z, 1882
Claim allowed July, 1884, and pension stops at
ond examination Feb z, 1852. Is there any other
on record like this? If restored will claim
ant draw from Feb. Z 1882 from the time he made
application for restoration? AHStCer. /. There
many similar cases. . 1t depends upon the medi-
| from Feb 7, 1882 He may draw from the date the
Examining Surgeon finds the disability existing in
a pensionabe degree, which would be subsequent to
the filing of his claim for restoration
j. r., Springfield, Mdss.-Ausicians who enlisted
subsequent to July D. 1861 and who were mustered
out prior TO a service of two years not entitled
to bounty under any law or decision.
d., Malone, says: 1t has come to my notice that
| two or tnree of our citizens who were conspcu-
| ously " at home" during the late unpleasantness"
feeling pretty at the sight of all esoldiers,
and especially of pensioners, and will take any
means TO deprive them of their pensions. Ny in
qury is, Can this be accomplished without giving
the pensioner chance TO defend his before the
Government; or is the business done on the inqui-
sition plan? AnS,csr. If charges are made by any
taken IF CHARGES
party who makes them will have TO substantiate
them under oath, and pensioner will be given an
opportunity to dsprove them.
y. c. Fort Scott Kan.-After appeal pension
| has been considered and allowed by the Depart
ment and papers returned to the Commissioner OF
Pensions, how long before SAID claim Is paid.
AnsWer The question Is ambiguous, and will not
admit of definite reply. A claim may be rejected
by the Pension Office and appealed to the Secretary
of the Interior and the latter may reverse the ac-
tion of the Pension Office but this may or may not
authorize the allowance OF the claim. The decis-
ion of the Secretary may be to the effect that the
of lection is overruled, not being sutti
cient to warrant such action, and this would leave
simply a question whether or not the claim shall
be paid and the Secretary decides in favor OF the
claimant, the claim will be promptly, paid.
j. d., Nerddd No.. Was there law passed by
Congress after the lste war allowing disabled
Federal soldiers TO peddle without Government or
| other license, and ii so, IS such now the law? q
| 4 soldier paid a pension of d per month on
account Of hernia from his discharge from army
to the Sd day of last April at which time the Secre
tlIy OF the Interior ruled he should De pad
month from that time. Now, if Congress should re-
peal the of pension act, would he be allowed
s. from the Sd of April last back To the date
| of discharge from the army? 4nstrer. L. There
was never such a law passed by Congress. 2. No.
| The increased rate not authorized prior to
April 3, 1851; consequently, the passage OF the
| arrears act will not affect the rate.
Grape SuGar Co., 1ippecdaoe City, GA soldier
enlisted JGiy6. 1861; served three years, and was
discharged by reason of expiration of term of
ice; received 500 bounty. Is there any more
| bounty due? Ans'oer. No.
c. ". Sat low water IS feet can be taken to
! Rockets" Richmond. Va, and IL at high. The
| distance from Rockets 10 Drury's Bluff wharf
near Fort Darling, by river, is seven miles. From
| Rockets" by river TO Petersburg, Va, is 49,
uiles-athour i'm straight line it is only u miles
| The James River Immediately opposite Richmond
City upper part is full of rocks, and the water
| varies to the depth Of eight feet.
| j. ", DdCis. hsb-l. Can n man procure pen
! sion who sick in hospital with disease con-
tracted III service afterwards came home received
no discharge; and stu suffering trom said disease?
| 9. VIII you state, for the benefit of soldiers who
have tax en- land or hereafter may take homestead
| how it is that honorably discharged soldier is
not entitled to an additional 50 acres of land pro-
viding there was only SO acres to be had IN said
place at that time. / understand citizen is enti-
! tied under like circumstances. AnStCer. /. Yes,
providing he can procure a discharge from the Adj
jutnnt- Generyl. u. - A., and providing the disease
was contracted while he was IN me OF duty. Z.
the original homestead entry OF 80 acres was made
prior to June %, 1874, the soldier can enter an
| additional so acres
I G. c. Marlborough Ohto-When, and at what
| time, did the Democratic party first originate
| Also the same with the Republican party? Give q
short history of the party lines, commencing with
the first colonies of Virginia. tSc, and ending with
Thomas Jciierson's administration. AnStcer. That
would make a toerable good history of the United
States for the period specified but we have not the
time disposal to go into the subject 1t is TOO
vast There are political histories of parties which
| can be obtained from booksellers throughout the
country.
| j. A. L., Potter Center NJ VI AND drawing q
pension of 81 per month for disability contracted
| while an enlisted man. | was afterwards com
missioncd as First Lieutenant. II the Mexican
| bill, with amendments, becomes law, can draw
| one-haf of First Ieutenants pension? ATStcer.
| which stipulates that pensions shall be paid only
for the rank actually held by the penSoner at the
| time when the disability originated
| A. T. Fdrind, III, asks whether the Mexican PEN
sion bill and amendments will be of any benefit to
| soldiers who are already drawing pensions under
the general pension laws for disability contracted
| during the late war? Insurer. No. 1T does not
provide any increase disabilities which have
been heretofore pensioned.
ID. b. H. Niles, Nich.-An hoporaby discharged
officer soldier, seaman, or marine, who served for
not less than 80 days in the u. 5. Army or Navy
during the late rebellion, and was honora5ly
discharged is entitled to enter 160 acres of land
| under the Soldiers and Sailors Homestead Law.
The time of service-or if the party discharged
from service account OF wounds or disabilities
incurred in line of duty the whole term of enlist
| ment-will be deducted from the period of five
years. during which an ordinary claimant must, to
perfect title reside upon and cultivate the tract i;
but no greater period than four years IS credited
for army navy service, thus lnsuring az least
one years continuous residence and Improvement.
| Actual residence upon the land by the settler is
necessary, except in the case of widow or minor
children. II. the latter case, the land l3 culu
| waited in good faith, the law will be regarded a.
| substantially complied with, although the widow
H., lao