The National tribune., 1885-07-09
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety Of Interestin
Subjects.

SuOJeCtss
ITO Correspondents.-Write questions on a sep
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 a stamp for
reply to their inquiries.
E.P H., Hu,nbird Wis-1. How old is Robert
Lincoln? Give date of birth. if possible? 2. TO
he perform as Captain? have written to another
paper and failed to get a14oy. Ans,oer. l. Hon.
onged to no regiment. 3. He was appointed Cap
tain and Assistant Adjutant- General, U. s. Vols,
Feb. ii. 1865. and resigned June 10, 1865. Up to
April, 1865, he WAS on Gen. Grants staff.
y. H. F., Golden, IH.-Is JEFF Davisdrawing pen
sion account OF his service in the Mexican War?
Ans,oer No.
Captain, Ogdensburg, NJ Y--The act of June 3.
1884 does not provide for the recognition of of
for period prior to the date when his company
completed its organization and was mustered into
the United States service. The Adjutant- General,
u. $. A, holds that the company had no legal ex-
stence prior to its muster into the United States
service, and If the officer went in with his company
the date of his inuster-in cannot be changed He
may have been in the service of his State during
the organization and completion of his company.
the battalion regiment of which it formed part,
but that does not involve the United States Govern
ment in any liability for services rendered during
said period.
W. p I'd No. Cap-An honorably discharged
soldier applies for pension and after years of wait
ing. he dies. Are his heirs tall being grown sons
and daughters) entitled to anything from the Gov
ernment on said soldiers account? AaStcer. If he
left widow she can complete the claim and draw
the pension The children if over l6 years of age,
have claim, unless for reimbursement under
Section AIS, Revised Statutes.
T. H. H., Portland, Me.-A soldier applies for q
pension and dies i'll 1878 of disease contracted in
service, before completing his claim, leaving
widow and minor children, the widow being in
receipt of pension for son lost in the war. The
guardian of the children applies for pension, and
same is rejected on the ground that soldier left
widow surviving. who has not remarked since his
DEATH" Now, can the widow relin4uish her present
c,i,, huch md md OH fha
81 per month back to date of act giving pension for
children? Aistoer. She could have done so had she
which she should have DONE She would have then
been entitled to IS for herself and - for each child
under l6 years Of age from date of soldiers death
(deducting the pension received as mother during
said period). She caunot get arrears now because
she did not file her claim in time.
E.. KaLkaskd, Mich.-l Is the certificate of the
Medical Examiner reviewed by a Board of Exam
iners at the Pension Bureau and the case decided
by that Board? 3. Is the same doctor presiding
over that Board that presided a year ago; if not
who holds that place now? 8. Where there are no
new causes alleged, how long will 1t take to decide
II claim for increase of pension? Ansucr. l. No. BY
Medical Examiner" we presume you mean the
IA Medical Examiner of the Pension Office and de-
cided by him. 2. We presume you refer to the
and has been for a number of years at the head of
the Medical Division of the Pension Office. s. We
state the exact time Such cases are usually
promptly decided
j. b. B., Rochester N. VI was a Captain in the
army during the war, and am receiving pension
of 50 per month for disability contracted while
First Lieutenant. In case of my death by reason of
my said disability, to what rate of pension would
my widow be entitled? Ans,cer. Sl7 per month.
c. G., alma, Neb.-l. Having noticed in your
prince of papers that Gen. Rodgers had been ap-
pointed Chairman of the Board of Pension Appeals,
some half dozen of us ask to be informed what are
the duties of this Board? 2. How many Boards Of
ExamintTs and Review and number of Surgeons
does claim for pension pass through before final
adjudication? Ansuer L. The Board of Pension
Ann Ia ia what = implies and y n mart of
the Office of the Secretary of the Interior The
duties of the Board to act upon such rejected pen
sion claims as are appealed from the decision Of
rejection by the Commissioner of Pensions. q A
pension claim is worked up" by an Examiner in
tile Pension Office When in his opinion, it is COM
plete he submits il to the Board Of Review in the
same Office, one of whom passes upon the case
whence it goes to final reviewer 1t is then sub
mitted to the Medical Division. and of the
Surgeons decides the degree of disability which
governs the rating; a clerk then records upon the
case the date of commencement rate of pension to
be given, dates, etc; it then goes to the Certificate
Division, and certificate issues. The above is the
action in an ordinary case. If, however, the claim
is of doubtful merit it may be referred for special
examination, or it may pass through various hands
to settle differences Of opinion The Commissioner
sometimes takes personal action in such cases.
Napy Bridgeport, COnn.-i applied for q PEN
sion in 1885 for heart trouble for which was dis
charged. 1t was granted in 1876 as follows: "a per
month from discharge to 1876 and IS afterwards In
1881 applied for increase for an injury. My claim
was thoroughly examined by Special Examiner,
and it allowed at 81 for said injury. Now, am
not entitled to that additional 81 from discharge to
1876? 2. One enlisted in December. 1861. and was
dischargeAfor injury in 1852, which he received
in the service. and has recently been pensoned for
it, Is he eatitied SlOO U. s. bounty? Aas,Dcr. !.
You in error date of application you could
not have ped in 1855 and been pensoned from
discharge You probably mean 1878. For the in
jury yon could only be pensioned from date your
application therefor filed in the Pension Office,
because you did not alege it prior to July 1850.
2. No, if he served in tho navy. If in the army,
and you will give particulars Of the case, stating
rank. company and regiment, period for which
enlisted, nature of injury and how incurred how
much bounty was received and when paid, We will
endeavor to answer the question.
j. f. b.. Terre Hd,ete, Ind.-Whether you are or
are not entitled to increase of pension is ques
tion that depends upon the degree of your disable
ity As we have no means of knowing what de-
gree of disability exists in your case we cannot
say how much pension you should receive. No