The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-06-28
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety OF interesting
Subjects

Replies to Questions on a Variety or Interesting
Subjects.
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T.. L. r., BirchardsriIs Susgushanna Co. Pa
To what is an attorney entitled for having change
OF record made In an officers commission An
seer. The usual charge Is -. and Is all that -
allowed by the Department. If any attorney
charges anything over that sum the excess will be
deducted from the amount allowed the attorney
for collecting the pay involved.
MrS. L. B., PjGinSfcid. His-There Is no legisla-
ton contensp plated which would give a widow pen
sion frem the date of discharge OF her husband mp
TO the date Of his death where he never applied for
pension, and il Is not probable that such a law viii
be passed; because II he died without eXCres-
ing his right TO file claim, the widow cannot file
one Tor him. The Government, IN "a such a case
would have no way 10 determine 10 what extent
the soldier was disabled. If he filed claim during
his lifetime, the widow can complete II and receive
all the money to which he would have been en-
titled; but Ia no other event can she receive any
pension for any period prior TO his death. We have
every reason to believe that the law viii be re-
peaed which makes il incumbent upon the widow
TO prove that the cause of her husbands death
originated III the service and line Of duty.
=. /. g., P0keberTy, Pa. Are all soldiers who
enlisted IN 1862 entitled to 500 bounty 2. In a
pension claim in which there Is an attorney Of rec
ord IS violation of the law for another attorney,
upon fling fee contracts to receive So fee, If the
pensouer Is willing To pay the s8me2 AnstCer. All
soldiers who enlisted in 1862 and served ont their
term or were discharged Tor wounds or by reason Of
the close OF The war received 500 bounty and u they
applied prior to July I, 1850 for additional bounty,
they could have received SUUaddi tiOual bounty. II
the soldier discharged for disease before seTy-
ing two years he was not entitled TO bounty. II
would be in violation OF the law for any attorney
who was not the attorney Of record IN claim to
receive So from the claimant In fact, 1t Is in VIC
alOn foran attorney or any other person III prose
cutting claim. to receive any money for services d
rect from the claimant. Such fee for services can
| only be paid by the u =. Pension Agent upon the
! order Of the Commissioner OF Pensioners and If a
person should receive fee for services in any other
/ way 1t would constitute a violation Of law, and
subject the offender to criminal prosecution.
/ hrs. ". J. K, MeHdOH, WesfIHOTCIGHd Co, Pa
! Information requested regarding the bill granting
pensions to soldiers and soldiers widows AHStreT
There has been no recent pension bill granting
pensions to widows Of soldiers, except an. end
inent which was iugrafted on the Pension Ap
| preparation BIZ, which provided that in all via
/ owS' claims (war of 1851 aud I5GJ], including
4 those who were granted pensions since June 20
1880, to date from date of application only should
/ draw arrears back to the date OF the soldier:
! death. There has been no change ia the law
/ however which prescTibes that the widows title
! shall depend solely upon the cause Of the sol
/ dIer's death, which must be shown 20 have OTigi
/ mated in the line Of duty in the service.
! t. 4. -, PigyOH Ark,-i was discharged Aug. 20
/ 1864, by reason OF my company being mustereS
out, OF when i was command. with OF
Lieutenant, after service Of three years. palt
my own fare home, aud was only paid to date a
above. Am not entitled 10 pay proper; also PAL
Tor travelling expenses and subsistence until
reached home? AHStger. You are not entitled Il
pay proper. because you were not in service Marcel
3, 1860 II you were no, paid subsistence and trav
cling allowances you can recover same by making
application therefor TO the Second Auditor Of th
Treasury but we do not think IL probable thai yO
were not paid such allowances. They were prob
| ably included in your haal payment.
i. $. Ned, CdnGdH-l. IS q peuslOuer examines
at regular Intervals by Board Of Surgeons To as
| certain whether his disability still exist52 3 How
long does it take for the Adjutant-C General to max
report to the Pension Office verifying the seryiC
of witness? 3. II one of the physicians On
Board of Examining Surgeons should happen to b
one Of the claimant witnesses, could claimant b
examined by that Board? 4. And # lie should b
examined by that Board would said physical
have as much influence as the others In decidin
the claimants rate Of disability? AlsJCer. l. Whe
pension has been allowed the peusiOuer is nc
again examined unless he makes application 70
! increase Biennial examinations were abOlishe
some years ago 2. The time required for Ia
| Adjutant-Ge General to render report verifying ID
service, etc. OF an army witness is usually frOr
two to four months. 3 The fact that one OF III
{ physicians comprising an Examining Board
/ Surgeons IS or was one of the witnesses Of th
claimant will not operate against the claimant nC
/ would II prevent claimant from being OrdeTe
before said Board. f. Nor would il prejudice I'll
claim III any way. On the contrary, the fact of q
Examining Surgeon having knowledge of tn
claimants physical condition would be IN tn
claimant favor, and the Commissioner Of Pension
would not order him to go before another Boar
simply because member OF a certain Board VI
one OF ttie claimant Witnesses such prOceediu
would be reflection upon the professional honest
of the Surgeon. 1t il quite common for an appi
cant to be examined by an Examining SUrzeo
who may also have been the claimants physician
, even when such facts are known TO the Penso
Office at the time the examination Il ordered.
j. S. h, Cairo, Ills soldier prohibited frOl
receiving any money due him from the Govern
ment through losing his original discharge? IL
No; the certificate Of discharge Is merely a
| evidence of service, the absence of which
explained ia the settlement of any claim when
Is required. 1t is OF 10 value 10 persons other tina
the soldier.
j. Il. IT, T., Easton ML-Please give the defn
, ton of the word wound" as connected vi,
bounty claims. AisiVer. In the administration
the bounty laws the word wound is understood
in the sense Of injury, hurt or damage, as cOutrl
distinguished from disease or sickness. Ruptu1
meaning OF the bounty laws. The benefits of Il
act of Congress providing bounty to soldiers di
charged for mounds, includes those discharged &
injuries, such as rupture, fractured leg or arr
etc.
4. D. NJ, Alexandria Co., Va.-How far fro
| Washington is HArper's Ferry, and what Is
general direction? AHS2CeT. Distant about IS mile
northwest from this city, and about 80 miles
railroad.
Several Subscribers ask what was the pay of
private soldier at close of war, and when
increased? AnStUcT. The pay of a private sOlGi
was increased from SI TO sI3 per month Augu,
1861, and further increased to sl6 per month May
l 1864.
NAT, Kyana Dubois Co. Ind If a soldi
should take up a homestead and fail to stay on
until he gets title, letting it go back TO the Go
eminent, could his wife take up a homestead du
stead in a different State or Territory? Anster
| No to both questions.