The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-23
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on a Variety OF Interestin s
Subjects.


Replies to Questions on Variety OF Interesting
Subjects.
ITO Observation-Disclosures questions on a sep
arate sheet of paper give full name and address,
and marx it " Correspondents Column" No atten-
ton will be paid to communications that not
accompanied with full name and address of writer.
Our readers are requested to inolose stamp for
reply to their inquiries. Postal cards will be
replied TO by mail only. Replies by mail will Ordi-
nary be made within q week and il in this col
umn within three weeks.l
j. M A., Pulaski ". Y.-As an answer to you and
to many other correspondents who write to US in
regard To the advisability of taking out home
stead and as the best locality where such home
steads can be entered we desire to say that have
no information on the subject and have no better
means of knowing where the best land IS than You
have. No one but an actual resident of q locality
Is competent to determine the character of lands
in his immediate vicinity. Lands suitable for
homes are being rapidly taken up. Such lands are
mainly situated IN the western parts of Kansas and
Nebraska, and from thence west to the Pacific
Ocean There are some places where crops can be
raised without irrigation. There is also some
cant land in Florida, Arkansas Missouri Wiscon-
sin, Minnesota and the northern part Of Michigan.
Unless you have some friend in the neighborhOod
where you desire to SETTLE and who is posted as to
the quality Of the lands. and who will fully advise
you in regard thereto, you are at a disadvantage.
settler may consider himself fortunate if he OBJ
tans desirable tract, and as he must abide by his
choice of the land be IL good bad it is not wise
to go to any part of the country until full Informal
ton is obtained to the character of the SOIL etc.
IL IS no writing to the General Land Office for
definite information respecting vacant lands they
being daily disposed of at the local land Offices
From the foregoing you will readily understand
that we unable TO advise you in the matter.
H. @. K, Ligonter, Lad.-Extra duty pay
abolished by act of March g. 1868. and nothing
be recovered for extra duty performed after that
date.
c. r. g. anderson Iad-If a soldier draws a PEN
sion by special act does it debar him from applying
for increase? AHSWer Not unless there is some
thing in the act itself which debars him from such
increase. IL the special act fixes the rate then it
cannot be changed except by special act.
Il. IT. r.. Cold Spriag, " VII would be impossi-
bic for any person To use your discharge for any
purpose whatever. He could neither draw pension
nor obtain any other allowances upon it, for the
reason that the holder would have to identify him
self the original owner of the discharge, and
that would be impossible.
j. w. GdLtipOIis OFF the land embraced in the
warrant was never located it cannot now be done,
for all the land in Illinois is taken up We presume
the warrant Is good for land in some other State
where public land is situated II you will send it
to US, will examine it and fully advise you in
regard thereto Heirs OF soldiers of the of 1872
not entitled to pension.
ID. L., Oketo, Kdn.-Are all the pension laws
passed since the war published in book form, and
where can obtain the same? ARssosr. Ali the
pension laws above mentioned are contained in
volume entitled Curtis's Digest of Pension Laws,
Rulings, etc, 1885, and be obtained from sew
eral booksellers in this city.
O. H. s., MaRton, Mich-I How shall I know
when my subscription to THE TRIBUNE ex-
pires? 2 A soldier Is pensioned for heart disease
at S2t per month He Is attacked with paral ysis.
Can he obtain increase on last-named disability?
Answer. /. BY comparing the number printed on
your address tag with the whole number of the
paper as given in the upper rght-cOrner. first page
| che difference between the numbers will give you
| the number of papers due you. 2. IL he can show
for which pensioned, If he show that it orig
mated in the service aud in line of duty, he would
be entitled to increase Of pension providing also
that he prove that he is totally disabled for the
/ performance of any manual labor whatever.
a. d. H., Hlptston, AinR.-AIy brother enlisted in
April 1861 and was killed at the second battle Of
4 Phil Pm TTa vafS
ditional bounty be obtained? 4HslCer. No.
/ @. u T., RichJord, ~ IA claim is rejected by
| ant do to appeal the case? 4ns'cer. He must set
forth the facts in his in the form of argu-
ment, showing upon what grounds he desires to
appeal and send 1t to the Secretary of the Interior,
| Washington, ID. @.
B. j. g, Longmans, OIL Does Senate bill 1886
provide for the repeal Of the arrears act? 3 Is it
i probable ME present Congress will take action
| upon il? 8. Would the President interpose q veto
| in case 1t should pass? 4. What did the Commits
siOner of Pensions recommend in his last report
regarding rate for total deafness? 5. What is the
I probable number of such claimants? g. For the
/ good words spoken for this class of unfortunate
! comrades by The TRIBUNE the thanks of such are
rendered and they ask that the agitation may con-
tinue until they realize from the Government that
which IS right as to reasonable rating. 4nslCer.
| /. No. 2 We cannot say whether the present Con-
gress will take up the bill not 3. In case il
! should pass We do not think the President would
| veto it. 4. He renewed his recommendation of his
former report so for total deafness and correspond
ing rates for partial deafness 5. About 200 for
total deafness aud about 5000 for partial deafness
8. We shall do all in our power to secure an in
| crease of the rates.
G. A. s., Cincinnati, OIL What is your opinion
in regard to the act of Aug 1886 providing for
class of pensioners to the exclusion of another? q
Do you think il just TO exclude $50 pensioners who
are totally disabled from the performance of man
| ual labor from the bill above mentioned? AHStUer.
l. We think that pension for eqtigaient disabilities
| should be provided for also. 2. No. but if that
point had been urged We do not think the original
| bill would have passed. Additional Legislation is
necessary.
g. e. o. Mansfield, Pa.-Lost my discharge How
shall proceed TO obtain certificate in lieu thereof?
| Ans'uer. Apply 70 the AdJutant-Generai, U. >.
r. b., Moosr's Forks, ~ "a soldier applies for
| pension and Is recommended by the Examining
Surgeon for 20 per month, but receives but 81 with
| arrears. He applies for increase, and is recon-
mended for IS per month, but receives only S..
Why is he not entitled to last rating the
| same as on the former? 2 A soldier furnishes all
evidence called for and his claim is considered COM
plete Us to testimony required how long before he
! should receive his pension? ARsWer 1. Because
the claim for the intervening period is settled. The
certificates of Examining Surgeons are always sub
ect revision BY the Medical Division of the PEN
sion Ofice. 2. We cannot say, because no two
claims are alike, and each case being peculiar to
itself is acted upon in view Of all the circumstances
which surround ID.
TIE CampbellsciUe, XII To whom must a
soldier apply for bounty if he does wish en-
pIoy an attorney? 2 A church was burned in 1868
by Morgan's men. Can the trustees of said church
recover damages from the Government? g. What
is the object of the Board of Review in the Pension
Office? AHSUer. Il. 10 the Second Auditor of the
Treasury. 2. No. 3. To review the action of those
who hold less responsible positions. and to prevent
| errors of Judgment on the part of Examiners.
+ j. Il. C., NsiU Orleans, LG.-lf pensioner receives
an order TO appear before an Examining Board and
he Is unable To do so account Of i'll health, must
he write TO the Commissioner stating the facts and
| request examination at his own homer Aaslpsr
YES, il he prove the facts. He should submit to
| the Commissioner afhdavits from two good physi-
clans showing his physical inability 10 report foI
examination.
Geo. X a., clifford Pa-You would be credited
| with the time actually served in the army provd-
ing il did not exceed four years In your case Ons
years residence upon the land would be required
| in a homestead entry.
d. T. s., Cochran Ind.-Was increased to $50 pei
month under act OF Aug. 4, 1856, since which time
have been examined by Surgeon. who finds thai
| L am unable to wear artificial limb, the stumt
being only one and fourth inches in length. An
not entitled TO increase above the new rate given
me? My limb Is amputated below the knee. In.
| sIOer You cannot under the law be allowed more
than $50 per month for the disability described
The provisions of the act of Aug a. 1856, apply only
to such eases where amputatiOn above the elbow
or knee and where the stump Is short than an
| artificial limb cannot be worn. AmputRtion belOH
the knee elbow joint not provided for in the
act mentioned except in the clause which provide:
$50 for total disability in limb. You have been
given increase to the full extent allowed you by
said act The act mentioned makes provision
for cases where the stump is tender that artif
eial limb cannot be worn. but only for amputItiOT
so near the shoulder or hip joint that an arttela
limb cannot be worn.
j. ". T., LOgdn, Md-If aman Is drawing $40 pei
1 aia of Iaft