The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-25
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on a Variety Of Interesting
Subjects.


Replies to Questions on Variety of interesting
subjects.
[ To Correspopdents.-Wri questions on n sep
arate sheet OF paper, give full name and address,
and mark II Correspondents Column" NOatleu-
ton VIII be paid TO communications that not
Our readers are requested 10 iuciOso "A stamp for
reply TO their inquiries. Postal cards will he
replied to by mail only Replies by mail viii ordi-
narliy be made within week and II in this col
umn within three wceks.l
d. c. r.. Lg)ayelts, Ild.-What are the conditions
OF the act pissed July 5, 1884 in regard 10 the re-
moval OF the charge Of descrtiOu2 Ans1ger The
following Is a copy Of the act above referred to
BE Il enacted By tie Senate md House Of Represent
GtiUes Of ne United States Of Amsrica ia Congress
assembled, that the charges Of dCscrtiCu now
standing on the rolls and records in the Office Of
the AdJutant- General Of the United States AGAINST
any soldier who served ia thelale war in the vol
unteer service shall be removed all cases where
Il shall be made to appear 10 the satisfaction of the
Secretary OF War, from such rolls and records, or
from other satisfactory testimony, that any such
soldier served faithfully until thc expiration of his
term Of enlistment until the first day Of May,
Ammo Domln 1860, having previously served SIX
months or more, or was prevented from compiet-
ing his term OF service by reason of wounds
celved or disease contracted in the line Of duty
but who, by reason OF absence from his command
nj the time the mustered out failed 10 be
mustered out and to receive h1HOr6D discharge.
PTOCtded, That no soldier shall be relieved under
this section, who, not being sick wounded, LEFT
MS command without proper authority whilst the
same was IN the presence of the enemy.
SIC. 2. That the Secretary Of War is hereby
authorized 10 remove the charge OF dGseTtion from
the records Of any soldier in The late war upon
proper application therefor and satisfactory proof
in the following eases:
First. That such soldier after such charge of de-
seruon was made, and within q reasonable time
thereafter, voluntarily returned TO his command
and served faithfully to the end Of his term OF
service
Second. That such soldier abssnted himself
without proper authority from the hospital, or
from furlough given from hospital while suffering
or f.-g orr
tracted in the service in the line of duty and on
recovery, voluntarily returned to his command
and served faithfully until discharged died from
such wounds injury or disease while so absent,
and before the date OF the musteF-out of his COM
mand.
Third That's soldier absented himself without
proper authority from furlOugh given by proper
authority, and while absent died from wounds
injuries or disease received or contracted in the
service IN the line of duty before the muslerout Of
his command
SEC 8. That in all cases where the charge Of de-
sertiOn shall he removed under the provisions OF
this act from the record OF any soldier who mas not
received certificate of discharge it shall be the
duty OF the Adjutant General of the United States
to issue to such soldier in the OF his DEATH
to his heirs legal representatives certificate Of
discharge
SEC. 4. That when the charge of desertion shall
be removed under the provisions of this act from
the record of any soldier, such soldier or in case
of his death, the heirs legal representatives of
suc sol'lef siiall receive the pay ana bounty due
to such soldier; PTOUided, hGtCsusr That this act
shall not be so construed to give any such
soldier in OF his death, to the heirs or legal
representatives Of any such soldier, any DAy
bounty, allowance for any period Of tine during
which such soldier absent from his command
without proper authority; nor shall it be 50 con-
strued as to give any pay, bounty or allowance to
any soldier, his heirs or legal representatives, who
served ia the army period of less than six months
SEC 5. That all applications for relief under this
act shall be made to and fled with the Secretary
of War within the period Of five years from and az
ter its passage and all applications not 90 made
and filed within said term OF five years shall be
not he pfr-1d c,rt-
sdered.
SEC g. That all and parts Of acts inconsistent
with the provisions of this are hereby repealed
Approved July 5. 1884.
r. II. s.. jr.. NordhoF " MY brother aged 2O)
and myself aged % wish go 10 Oregon settle
on 100 acres Of Government land. l am wholly
unaCquainted with the country, except what have
read. / would ike you to inform me as to the
markets. crops etc. and also which is the best part
for To 90 to. What viii II get there etc
What will need when we get there? VIII we
have To fence of the land? Will we be exempt
from taxes during the required five years Of resi-
dence? How much cash Will be necessary for three
persons? AnS1cer. We possess more facilities
for ascertainiug the character of the land, climate
etc. OF any particular part of the country than you
others may have who are not residents The
only way by which the desired information can be
obtained Is by correspondence with some person
thoroughly posted residing in the vicinity, the
part OF the country IN which yon desire TO locate
BY writing to the Commissioner Of the General
Land Office at Washington, he will furnish you
with circular giving general information To- the
manner of proceeding necessary TO acquire title to
public lands under various laws covering tie same
q. s., Chic07o, nj was prisoneFOf war and
read III your paper that prisoner Is entitled to 20
cents day for rations provided by the Govern
ment during the period OF Imprisonment. AHstVsr
Such is the fact. What is it that you desire to
know?
j. G. H., Cgearfsld Iot0a, and s. E. K, Toledo, o.
What was amount of pay allowed private sol
dieT at the breaking out of the war and what were
the dates of the increases? AHsUer. Private sol
diers pay increased from Sill 10 Sl3 per month
Aug. 3, 1861 and again increased TO SI6 per month
| May l. 1864.
H. H. PhanirriIe Pal. filed claim for total
deafness in both ears and total blindness in one
| eye, and piles How much ought ! to get? 2 My
| claim filed in February, 1868. When do you
think will hear from it? AlStgeT. l. 1t will de-
pend upon the report of the Board of Surgeons who
examine you. Ii you are totally deaf in both ears,
| you would get so per month. .. We cannot say.
/ You should write to the Commissioners Of Pensions
| and ask the condition of your claim.
4. II. b., BuTdick, Itd.-DOes the act of Feb g.
1887 change the law any from that of June g. 1851
| in regard to the muster and pay OF officers who
| had arrears OF pay due them? AHSlCeT. Yes. 1t
| provides in certain that the record may be
amended to show officer commissioned from
the date of rank stated in the commission instead
OF from the date when the commission was signed.
4. q. r., COncOrdid, RtrH.-iu the law passed
June g. 1884 for the relief of certain volunteer OH
GERS why the restriction clause inserted re
| quTing more than the minimum number of men
in the company after the Goth of June 1853 TO en-
! title them to muster under the then mastering
regulations? 1t seems to that this does a great
| injustice to the old commands who We're depleted
by long service, and gives troops a decided
advantage. AHSlUeT. We cannot explain why the
restriction clause inserted into the bill mem
toned, but II IS a fact that II IS there.