The National tribune., 1886-08-05
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on variety Of Interesting
Subjects.

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and marx II Correspondents Column" NOatten-
ton VIII be paid To communications that are not
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Our readers are requested TO inclose a stamp for
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naTily be made within week and ii ia this col
umn within three weeks.I
r. r.. Loudon, Tenn-What was the date Of the
death Of Gen. Pope, Of the Confederate army? IN
sTer. There was no Gen. Pope. in the Confederate
army. Possibly you refer 10 Lieut-Cien. Le0nidas
P0tk, OF the Confederate army, who WAS killed on
Pine Mountain. Marietta Ca. June 10, 1854
A. s. r., AHi6uyV AaSs hat the ruling Of
the present Commissioner of Pensions touching
special acts iuPairing soldiers claims Of
PENSIONS Is there anything 10 show. beside this
ruling Of Gen. Black that such special acts do inn
pair the claims Of those placed on the rolls by vr
tue OF Congressional legislation? AnssCer. The
ruling was 10 the effect " That claimant having
gone TO Congress, and by that authority had his
claim determined and the date Of commencement
OF pension specifically fixed the jurisdiction 81 the
Commissioner over this claim, so far relates TO
any action " hich would affect the date of The com
menCenent, has been removed, and he cannot take
any action This decision was made in the claim
OF Edward r. Tucker, certificate No. l23.5l2. who
received pension by special act OF Congress from
March 3 1873. he having al that time cain pend
ing in the Pension Office. Mr. Tucker applied for
arrears under the general pension law. from dis
charge up to the date when his pension by special
act was granted. The ease was appealed to the
Secretary Of the INTERIOR who ruled that the effect
oil special acts granting pensions Is 20 cut OF the
pensOner from ali claim to arrears to any other
additional sum Of money of whatever character
other than In addition to that expressly provided
for in said special This decision il 70 the effect
that any pensiOueF who applies to Congress for
special legislation in his behalf valves his right
under the general pension law. and the rights con
ferred by the special act are the only reasonable
rights that he has and is based upon his construc-
tion OF section f720, which provides that When
the rate, commencement and duration Of pension
allowed BY special act are fixed by such act. they
shall not be subject TO the provisions and limita-
tiOus Of the general pension laws but when not
sffN
shall be subject to variation in accordance with the
general law and is commencement shall date from
nc passage q ne special act. Also section 4alo,
which prohibits the payment of two pensions to
one person.
IT, H. s., hudson. Mian.-Enlisted in Is70and was
hOnOrably discharged in 1870; served most Of my
time on the frontier. Am / entitled to 100 acres
without being obliged to live thereon certain
length Of time: AHsrger. You are not entitled 20
any land by reason Of your service in the army.
The soldiers homestead laws apply only TO soldiers
OF the war Of the rebellion, and there laws
which give asodier land without residence thereon.
II. Il. r.. BirchdrdUiiIs. Pal. Are officers who
were commissioned before March, 1855, and
manned in service after that date, entitled TO the
three months extra pay? 2. Why do they not pay
10 after one years application for the same? 3.
Gould an attorney draw that pay and keep It with
out the knowledge Of the applicant, If he had
power TO receipt for the samey Anstcer. I. All
commissioned officers who served az such eOntinu-
ously between March 5, 1865 and April 10. 1865
entitled to three months extra pay. 2. Because
there is money available to pay such claims
They depend upon appropriation by Congess, which
has not yet been made. 3. No.
III. A, East Dubuque. IH-Has Congress passed a
bill granting a pension 70 survivors OF the Black
Hawk war? What Is the rate Of pension allowed
in such cases. and does pension commence from
date Of application, or Is pensioner entitled 70 ar
rearst 1ns1er. Pensions to survivors OF Black
Hawk war, and all other since 1872, are
granted only for disabilities actually received in
service and in line Of duty and proofs of that fact
and tnuance of said disability during each year
since discharge, and loyalty 10 the Federal Gov
eminent during the war Of the rebellion, are re-
CURED The amount OF pension received would
depend upon the degree OF disability as found by
the Examining Surgeon. In all claims for pension
arising from disability contracted prior TO March 4
1851. the pension when allowed can commence only
from the dEfe Of Hing the last eridencs necessary 20
complete tie claim. such claim would not draw
arrears. The survivors Of said wars only await
manifesty impossible to establish a claim for disa-
biiity contracted in said war, on account of the
absence Of proof.
SersyGi SRbscribeFs.-The pay and allowances Of
officers during the war varied from time TO time
according to the arm Of the service in which en-
plOyed The total pay Of Seeond-Lieutenant of
Artillery or Infantry, from commencement Of the
war to Aug 8, 1861 was sl035O; from Aug s, 1861,
to July H. 1867 sI0550; from July H. 1862 March
3. 1865 sl035O; from March 3 1865, to April l. 1865
sl0s5O from April l. 1855, to the close Of the war
Sll250 For the same periods the pay Of other line
/ officers was as follows, viz: First Lieutenant Of
Artillery or Infantry sCS5O $40 So Sll850 SIl350
ll7.5O; First aud Second Lieutenants OF Cavalry or
/ Light Artillery, s1l2S3 sil3S3. Sll2S3, sll6.s3,
sl20s3; Captains Of Artillery Infantry, sIls.5O,
or Light Artillery, sl2950 $1,000. s295O sl53.50,
$3.50. Servants pay prior to Aug. 8. lS6l. was
sll for artillery or infantry, and sl2 for cavalry or
light artillery; from Aug. o, 1851, to July L. 1852.
S3 for all arms; from July ~ ls62, March 1906,
same prior to Aug. O. 1861 after March 3, 1865,
/ SIG for all arms Servants clothing was $3.50 per
month until April l. 1865 and s. 50 after said date
Each officer entitled To four ratons at 30 cents
per ration antil March l. 1855; thereafter officers
serving in the field were entitled to 80 cents per
ration. The pay proper Of line officers Of cavalry
| or light artillery follows: Captain, $40;
First or Second Lieutenant. s53S3; of infantry or
/ artillery, Captain, 500 FIRST Lieutenant, 800
/ Second Lieutenant SIS. Thus, TO determine the
| exact amount due any officer mentioned above.
take the pay proper and add Communication for sub
sstenee and servant which will give the total pay
/ For instance, for the period between July H. 1862.
/ and March 3, 1865 we find the total pay etc. of a
/ Captain OF Infantry TO be sil550 per month This
| amount arose as follows; Pay proper, 500 per
/ month; -four rations day at 80 cents per ration,
/ Sl.0 per day, or $50 per month. Servant, one
e. ~ Toa Sor ssryant s @ rnIa H S s rs
/ Captain OF Infantry. Slls5O. One servant was
allowed to each officer of the grades before mem
| toned $40 extra per month allowed to all
company officers. in addition TO the pay ETC.. above
mentioned for responsibility of arms etc. Uhsn such
officer lCds IN actual commend Of company and re-
4 spOnsibte for said property. In computing the
| amount found due officers under the act OF March
g. 1854 which provides for recognition in the grade
| 10 which commissioned from date of commission
to date of actual muster only the pay proper is
| allowed. No Communication for rat0ns or servant is
included in the settlement of such claims. No APP
/ preparation mas Yet been made To pay the claims
which have been allowed. such items are in
cluded in the General Deficiency Bill now under
consideration, and IL u expected that the bill will
soon become q law, and the money available in q
/ few weeks
III. W., East Saginaw. Mich-what period of time
must expire before pensiOner can apply for in
crease? ARssCsF. ID is a rule of the Pension Office
that application for increase (uniess for q nelg
disability cannot be considered under six months
from the date of last action.
j. r., Atlantic, Io1ua-lA soldier is wounded in
line of duty, which results in amputatiOa of his
| arm, and for lack Of testimony his claim cannot
be completed. special act Is passed for his relief
granting him s2i per month, commencing from the
date of the passage of said act. Can said soldier
prosecute his original claim for back pension hav-
ing filed said application prior to 1850? AHSUsr.
| No See reply TO A. ). f., Millbury, Mass, this
| column.
Up. L. w., Viicsanss. hld.-A soldier enlisted in
| q regiment fer three years He was wounded, and
sent hospital and after being there short time
went home, he says, by the doctors leave, but the
Department has him the rolls as a deseTter. He
was unable To return to his regiment ON account OF
said wound. Can he procure a discharge. aud how
ARSsCer. IL the soldier can prove that he pre-
| vented from returning to his command by reason
of said wound from reporting at the mill
itary post from the time he left the hospital to the
date of muster-out of his regiment he probably
secure discharge, which would date from the time
when he is reported a deserter. He should apply
to the Adjutant- General u. :. A.
| W. II. w., Wdkeeneg, Kan.-l. Under what appro-
priaton will a claim for arrears of pay be paid? 2
Has an appropriation been made? 3. How am 70
| proceed to get my pay when the appropriation is
made2 AlsCer. 1. !" Pay, etc., of the Army, 1885
and prior years" q No. 3. No steps are necessary
upon your part When appropriation shall have
been made you will receive check for the amount
which will be sent you direct, if you have aItOr-
ney; otherwise he will notify you of the receipt OF
the check by him, and to him you will look for
/ payment