The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-01-22
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on a Variety Of Interestin:
Sulieris

| arate sheet of paper, give full name and address,
| and mark it Correspondents Column" No atten-
ton will be paid to communications that are not
accompanied with full name and address of writer.
Our readers are requested to incose stamp for
| reply to their inquiries.
G. F. p, Franklin, Pa, says: On my way home
from the war, saw in the Capitol the following
| lines:
Westward the course of Empire takes its way"
| VIII you please print the lines etc Ans,Uer. The
verse in which the line occurs is as follows:
Westward the course of Empire takes its way;
| The four first acts already past,
A fifth shall close the drama with the day,
Times noblest offspring is the last
The lines were written by George Berkeley, an
Irish Bishop and philosopher, who died in 1753
The title of the poem in which the lines occur is
"On the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning
| in America"
r. e. L., Stock,osu, Tnd-Where the witnesses in
a claim that is underspeeial examination reside in
! different States. the papers forwarded from one
| Examiner to another until all the witnesses have
been examined. About one-half of the claims
| ferred for special examination finally rejected.
II is impossible to gauge the time required TO
plete case thus referred, some require more
time than others; In one case the witnesses may
all reside IN one locality and in another they
may be widely scattered. We cannot estimate the
rating for amy disease, rs it depends entirely upon
the medical examination by the Examining Sur
geon.
HUM, Bath, NJ III. Would it benefit an appli-
cant who has claim on file for invalid pension
| (sd claim filed in March 1892 elect TO prose-
cute under the amended Mexican Pension Bill
providing passes, ETC.? 2. Cannot ratably pro-
| laws in existence as well under the amended
| bill, providing necessary evidence be fully
| established? 3. If claimant proseeues under the
amended bill, does he lose the time from which his
original application dates? This last question is
not fully understood here. Anssuer. /. That would
| depend upon the character of the claim We can
not answer a question of that nature unless we
know all the faetslSelatve to the claim in question
2 Yes. 8. Yes Pensions under the Mexican PEN
| sion Bali can commence only from the date of the
| passage of the act.
J.. $. G., Kirkseood. gu-If widow pensioner
dies leaving daughter over I6 years of age the
latter is not entitled to pension by law the pen
sion of minor children ceases on the date they he
come 10 years old. Poverty or sickness Of child
does not enter into the question at all. No minor
child Is years old, or over that age, can draw
! pension.
A Soldiers Widow De,,ison Io,oa.-I Is the scrub
! growth of timber in Nebraska acknowledged as
| timber by United States law? 2. If acknowledged
as timber, how much must there be in section to
| prevent "A umber-elaim entry? 4nStoer. /. Scrub
growth is classed timber only when it is recog-
nized in the neighborhood as of value for timber,
| or for commercial purposes, or for firewood and
| domestic 2. timber culture claim mtlst be
made upon lands deroid of timber. If aelSnowl-
edged as timber, the land could not be entered
q timber claim as only tracts embraced in sections
| which are prairie lands, or other lands deroid of
timber, are subject t. entry under the timber
ture act. --.4-7s9
| C. r., Wel,spige, MO- was travelling with my
| Captain, and by his leave, he stopped in Mont
| gomery City, went on to Wellsville TO await his
arrival. While alghting from the cars at Wells
ville was injured by the jerk of the engine. Was
this in the line of duty? Anstcer. You were not
| IN line OF duty, being upon leave.
III. W., Lyrinciue Iad.-Is Captain who drew
his regular pay in service $3.50 per month), ent-
tied to any extra pay for responsibility for arms?
J.B P-Why is the American eagle the emblem
of our country? Afsiger. The esgle in heraldry is
| considered roya-and honorable among BIRDS rs
| the lion Is among beasts. For many centuries the
| eagle has been the emblem Of various countries
! signi!ying royal power When the Colonies threw
| on me yoke OF Ehgllsh oppression, the eagle was
! adopted rs the emb!ematic device of the United
| States, symboizing freedom and power and
ranking equally with the lion, the device of Eng
| land.
p. K. f., Ward Hill, Mass. Do you think the
Arrears Bill will become law this session? 2. If
soldier was a prisoner of war and never got his
railon-money, and after he got home from the
he made application for the same and after awhile
he received an answer that they found his name
on the rebel records having enlisted in the rebel
army something that he never did, (this soldier
has an honorable discharge and is member of the
S.A.k IN good staLGing, and IS a pensioner and
has been since 1861 what can he do to prove to
the Government that he is not guilty of the charge?
AnSner. l. We cannot say at this time what the
prospects are. 2. II depends upon what proof he
has ut his command 10 rebut the Government evil
dence. We should say that it is assfcult case to
prove. He might submit testimony of some of his
fellow prisoners II they know the facts. If the
charge Is not dlsproVen, the Pension Office will
drop him from the roll. We do not understand
why 1T has not been DONE unless because the PEN
sion Office is not aware of the facts shown in the
rebel records. Neither is the comrade entitled to
membership in the lar. so long as the record
stands showing him to have rendered service in
the rebel army.
b., Watertoi0l, ". Y--Can pension money be taken
for debt which was contracted previous to appca-
ton for pension? A,s,Uer. After the pension money
has been paid TO tile pensoner, it is not exempt
from the same process of law that any other money
IS subject TO, except in the State of Iowa. the Les-
lature Of which has enacted law which secures to-
the pensoner the use of his pension money SUBJ
Ject to no process of debt. This is the only State
that we are aware of where such a law is in force.
=. W. H., Mfuerboro, Neb.-if a man enlisted 100
men In August 1862 and was elected Captain served
nine mouths and was compelled TO resign on te-
count OF injuries received in the service is he enti
tied TO three months extra pay, and to whom should
he make his application? A1Swer. lie is not ent-
tied. The three months extra pay was given only
to such officers as Were in the service March 1865
and who served continuously as such to April 10,
1865, or thereafter.
@. T. Mex, MorriSto,tn Ohio,-I was commissioned
Second Lieutenant May 2, 1865, but was not mus
tered in as such until May II, 1865. Am entitled
under the late law to pay Lieutenant between
those dates? 4rstper. If you were performing the
duties of a Second Lieutenant during that period
ana there was an actual vacancy In that rank, and
the company was not reduced below the minimum
number, as to deprive you of muster you are
probably entitled. The only way you can decide
the matter is to file your application
s. Q. r., CandGn Me-Atter IL claim has reached
the Adjutant Generals Office, and has been acted
upon III relation to the presence of parties giving
their affdayits, what disposition is then made of
said claim, provided il is all right on the Adutant
Generai's books? AaSUer The AdIuant- General
renders report to the Commissioners of Pensions |
showing whether the comrades officers who
testify were present or absent at the Cine stated in
Their afhday1ts If said report corroborates the |
testimony of the parties TO their whereabouts at
the time mentioned il is probable that their testi-
mony VIII be considered satisfactory. As to what
disposition will be made of the claim we cannot
say, we do not know whether said report is all
that IS required TO complete the claim.
l.. h. b., Clinton, Ohto.-l. If penSoner forwards
his voucher to pension agent when due the same
having been properly executed and he fails to get
his check III return, why is he obliged to wait six
months and give bond in order to get n duplicate |
eheckf 2. And these checks readily pass as |
money by simply indorsing them, could not more |
secure way be adopted to send them to pensioner?
insurer l. because such is the law lsee Section 477O
Rev Stat, u s., and it is necessary 10 adopt SOM.
measure OF the kind to protect the Government |
against fraud. 2. We do not know of any more !
secure way of sending checks than by mail as the
custom. Not one check in n Thousand goes astray.
T. H. Mex, GrahaBlion, Pal applied for pen
sion In 1879. In my declaration claimed disease
of the liver, with deafness direct result of said
disease. proved that the disability contracted
in the service and have shown by medical and other
evidence that liver disease existed down to 1881.
In lss2 was examined by Board. and dis
ability found. In 1884 was examined by another
Board, by order of Special Examiner, and no dis
ability found; and yet the very best citizens testify
that am still . disabled man. Hnw will this case
be disposed of? AnStper. Deafness a result of
disease OF liver Is impossible theory, and il the
deafness has not been proven to have existed in
the army that part OF the claim viii stand rejected
as not due to service ETC. II no disability, by res