The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-22
Questions Answered.

A. j. c., White River Junction.
The rate of pension is governed by the
rank of the soldier at the time the dis
ability was contracted. Future pro-
motions would not affect it.
J. A. w, st. Johnsburv.-General
Grants book is not yet published. The
great delight with which the advance
extracts of it are read by his country
men forebodes embarrassment to future
historians in determining which most
to admire-the pen or the sword of
General Grant.
F. S., Portland, Maine y our friend
could not obtain a pension for SER
vice in the war with Mexico unless
there is record of his contracting a
disease in the line of duty. or the tes-
timony of commissioned officer of the
company in which he served stating
the time, place and circumstances under
which the disease was incurred.
A. A. W., West Topsham. This cor
respondent writes that her father was
a soldier and died in about three months
after his discharge from the service,
leaving widow and the writer, who
was then four years of age. In three
years the widow remarked. She de-
sires to know if she is entitled to a pen
sion and, if so, how much. Answer
If the soldier died of disease con-
tracted in the army his child would be
entitled to pension of ten dollars a
month from the time the widow remar-
ried until the child arrives at the age
OF sixteen years.
J. A. S., Felchvile.-If dependent
mother dies when claim for a pension
is pending, neither ner heirs or any one
else can receive her pension, except in
cases where the applicant did not leave
sufficient property to pay the expenses
of her last sickness and burial. In such
cases the person paying such expenses
will be allowed to complete the claim
for a pension, and to receive so much
as may be necessary to defray the eX-
penses of the last sickness and burial.
but no more. In answer to your sec
ond question, we will say: If medical
testimony cannot be obtained showing
the existence and treatment of the dis
ease while the soldier was in the service
by reason of the death or nOn-recollec-
ton of the regimental surgeon, other
testimony can generally be substituted
for it.
F. S., Augusta, Maine.-The writer
is Vermont soldier and an inmate of
the National Soldiers Home at Togus.
He says: " Matters at Togus are in a
bad state. Discharged inmates 90 out
side the limits of the home and sell
liquor to those in the home. 1t has gone
on from bad to worse, until it is almost
dangerous for one to walk out day or
night. Now would like to get out of
it. / have been looking for the Soldiers
Home in Vermont, where, hope. there
will be no rum. The law is sufficient
here, but the officers don't want the
business stopped, as it gives them lots
of money. Tell me when | can 90 to
Vermont" We can tell F. S., and
several other old soldiers who have
made inquiries recently, that the trus-
tees of the Soldiers Home in Vermont
are doing nothing to provide home
for destitute soldiers. They appear to
be neglecting duty they owe the state,
as well as the soldiers and friends of
the home.
G. w. S., Woodstock highest
pension paid any soldier on the general
pension roll is 500 month, which is
drawn by Gen. John G. Black, the COM
missioner of pensions, under special
act of congress passed in 1878. AT that
time his disability was reported by the
pension committee as follows From
1874 until this day he has been an in
valid. The wound in his arm has
caused the most intense suffering, and
in 1876, in order to save his life, the ell
bow joint was riveted. He is now
physical wreck, manned and diseased,
incapable of any effort and much of the
time confined to his bed. a
strong, healthy man, possessing fine
talents and great abilities, who would
have gathered fame and wealth, has
been stricken in his country's service.
He asks the country he served so well
to give bread to himself and an oppor-
tunity to educate his children" He
receives salary of $4,000 a year as
commissioner of pensions.