The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-29
OUR CoRREsPoNpENTs.
Replies to Questions on a Variety OF Interesting
Subjects.

hepiies 70 questions on variety OF interesting
Subjects.
ITO Corrsspondents.-Write questions on a sep
arate sheet OF paper, give full name and address,
and mark 10 Correspondents Column" NOatten-
ton will be paid TO communications that are not
accompanied with fun name and address Of writer
Our readers are reuuested to inclo.e a stamp for
reply to their inquiries. Postal cards viii be
replied to by mail ony. Replies by mail will ordi
ntrily be made within a week, and IL ia this coli
umn within three weeks.l
Widotg, Hiddleso1gn, Conn.-when does a widows
pension commence; when she became a widow, or
Al the time the application was fiied2 A,tSUer. II
depends upon wnSn the claim fled. II prior
to July lsSO her pension will date from the death
of the soldier; il subsequent TO that dale. only
from the date Of fling.
X, Butler, Mo.-I What Is the rate Of PEN
sion for entire disability requiring constant at
tendant3 2. II such disability originated in the
service in line OF duty, does 10 matter OF what
tuTe-whether loss Of eyesight rheumatism, heart
disease, other disability? g. IL q soldier lost
both legs in service, must Inc prove that the same
not lost prior TO enlistment .. Is 10 likely
that the Democrats in the House will let the bill
through, recently passed in the senate, making
ceptanee into the service FrlHndJdcic evidence Of
sOundness at enlistment? AHstUsr. i. Either t00
So according 10 the nature of the disability. 2
Yes; the rating for total blindness. loss of both
hands feet, Is 81; for other disabilities, so. s.
No. T. such has been the law for some time.
e.. l.. IT,. Springfield. OIL. In table OF pension
rates i notice no references Is made To pension for
defective o. impaired VISION. Is there no pension
for such disability 2 h a claim has been al
lowed, how SOON ear application be made for
increase, Owius. 20 increase Of same disability? g.
How long IA time j. Usually required for definite ac-
ton ia a ease? 4. II any other evidence required
besides the examination BY a medical board? Ia
I. The rate for disease Of eyes like al other
diseases, depends upon the report of the Exanin-
ing surgeon, showing 10 what degree the pensioner
IS disabled. There IS specified rae for any dis
ease consequently IL IS impossible to give rating
Tor diseases in our table of rates because n may be
Is Impossible 10 state. because no two claims are
alike. 4. No. unless Tor special reasons.
~. H. C., ByeT, OIL enlisted on She I7th Septem-
Der, 1851, and served until the I4th February 1857
when WAS discharged az Cimarron. y. NJ.
Am entitled tOtravel-pay from place of discharges
10 place Of enlistment? AILStCer. When you were
discharged you probably paid by The Pay
master the travelling allowance due you. Nothing
further can be collected.
S. T.. McG., Gard Point MA father died in the
army, leaving a widow and two children. They
ali drew pensions The guardian bought property
Tor the youngest child, VINO after becoming OF age,
/ died. The mother remarked, having three chll-
dren by second marriage Are said children entitled
70 the same share Of the property the first chill
dreny AaslOer The question is not clear. We do
not understand what property you refer to. II you
mean the property Of the mother, then ali the chill
dren equally entitled but the property Of the
I youngest child desegnds to his or her heirs.
L. \. II, Sandy LIKE Pa.-l. Does the pay Of FitZ-
John Porter commence at the time the bill became
a law, does il date back? If So % what period
2. What has become Of Corp. 81 Kieggs Has he de
/ serted forever? 8 How long alter application
I for pension Is made and evidence sent does il
/ take 10 approve or reject claim AlSlUer. l.
FROM Inc d1Le o. the passage OF the act.
Pect ~ viii report for duty very soon 3. 10 IS i'm
possible to give definite answer, because the claim
/ may be awaiting information from the War Depart
I meut, answers to correspondence ON the part d
the Pension Office TO the witnesses who have testi
fed In the claim, etc. There are many reason:
WAY there Is apparent delay in claim, even aftel
4 all the testimony has been sent in.
/ q. u. j., Jordan. ". IA soldier employed az
attorney, who demanded an advance fee Of s. The
claim rejected. How can said soldier max.
the attorney refund the money? AnsCer. II tns
before Vi A uf4ir
the attorney refund, because the law that tins
allowed an attorney TO collect his fee in advance
without regard to the final disposition of the claim
The fee paid was for his services, and was not con
! ditIonal upon success. No attorney has a lega
right since July A, lS54 TO collect any part Of TN
j. w., Md,0ay, Utah.-I n a man takes a home
stead and receives his patent therefor can he sell
rent it lawfully? 2. Has the homestead act eve
| been repealed? 3. IL there Is timber on home
stead the time of its occupancy, TO whom does
belong, to the Government or TO the hOmesteader
Ans0er les; Il being his own property. ne ma,
dispose Off as he pleases. g No. 3. IL belongs .
the party who owns the claim.
r.. 4. w., Sea- sEaOHt. Ms.-A soldier Of The war o
1872 drew pension for wounds received Ia line Q
duty 10 the date Of his death. He left two depend
ent daughters surviving him. Are they entitled !
pension? Ansscer No.
Z. p, Bridpori, Pt.-L When a pension claim ha
been rejected and more evidence sent to reopen tn
claim, Is It considered appeal, or is il reviews
by the same board Of officers? 2. How long il
after such evidence has been furnished before tn
considered an appeal It simply reOpeBs the claim
and it is considered by the authorities as be
fore. 2 We cannot say; it depends upon the natur
Of the claim and the character OF the evidence file
to reopen 10 will be considered very after th
receipt OF the testimony.
| O. b. OgaceG K1n.-I enlisted in July 1861 an
was discharged December 1868. / re-enlisted as
veteran, and was discharged July. 1865. receive
500 bounty. Am not entitled TO another SlCO?
so, how shall 1 proceed to get IL? AElSWer. 70
probably received the 500 on your first enlistment
because there is no reason why you should not hav
received IL. By writing to the second Auditor
the Treasury you can ascertain when the bOunt
r. as, FowIer. Mch-1. When a COMMISSIONS
officers resignation on Surgeons certificate of dis
ability il accepted, how much mileage IS he entitle
to from place OF discharge TO place Of enlistment
p Who was Quantrell, and what became Of him
ARs'0er. l. One days pay for every % miles c
travel, with subsistence. 2 He was a guerrilla
and Is now dead.
r. s., TosVnshend vi. How soon after a clair
is rejected before it can be brought before Congress
2 Does il 60 before any board? 3. How long wi
itt4Se before final decision is reached by Cor
gress2 ARSwsr. /. ANY time. 2. All the papers an
sent to Congress, and are considered by the con
mttee having the bill IN charge. 3. We cannot sal
Congressional legislation is uncertain, iuvOlyin
periods from one month 20 many years.
j. W., FtncennsS, Hld.-Why does not the SecOn
! Auditor pay the money on the claims for back pa
and bounty which have been prosecuted to a inl
settlement? When may claimants expect the
money? Anstger. Because he has money at b
disposal 70 pay such claims. Each year COngre.
appriates just enough to pay the claims Above
since the last appropriation made, and Tn
Congress has delayed the usual appropriation
. | Possibly by the time this reaches you the Def
! cheney Bill. which Is made up Of just such item
. will have become a law and the money therein al
propriated be made available at an early day, 81
) by lst Of September.
, O. H. W., Cedar Springs, Mich-Upon the deaf
, of n mother who Is drawing pension for the loss
a son, the father Of the soldier becomes entitled
: | pension.
I Veteraa.-The Democratic majority in the HOu
| II Is, and two vacancies in Democratic District
: The Republicans have majority Of six in the L.
Senate. bat the Democrats have an Overw helmiT
| majority in the White House.
j. j.. ~ NelgtOH, local.. Did not the DepaT
/ ment of the Interior recently decide that Offic
] was in line of duty when returning from leave
{ absence2 2. IL q pensiOner dies from the disea
for which he was pensioned, is his wife entitled
| benefits of same, regardless of whether they we
married before after said disability occurred
g Ansl0sr. 1. No. 2. Yes. The date of her marrial
) 10 the soldier has nothing whatever to do with h
title to pension, any more than the color of b
! hair.
n FINN In IL Now