The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-20
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety of Interesting
Subjects.

Subjects.
To Corresp0ndenis.-Writ questions on a sep
arate sheet of paper, give full name and address,
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ton will be paid to communications that are not
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umn within three weeSs.l
o. c., Nashville, Tad.-Col. T. z Ellsworth ofthe
New York Fire Zouaves was killed May D. 1861,
at Alexandria, Va, by John ). Jackson pTOpre-
tor OF the Marshall House. jackson was shot and
0ayoneted on the spot by Private BrOwGei!, OF the
Flte GouaYes, vino Mt present resides IN this city.
y. T.. IT,, Paris, Oneida Co. " WHAT is the
law relating to three months extra pay allow
ed to officers, and when was it passed AHsIcer.
March 3, 1865, Congress enacted a law providing
three months extra pay proper for all officers who
We're then IN service and who continued u service
until after April 9, 1850. Nearly every one entitled
thereto, however has been paid.
~ C., Parkmdn, O-Is a notary public compel
lea under the law to I'LL out pension vouchers free
oil charge? AnSrcr. No.
w. D. S, Chicopee Fails llnss.-I have been draw
ing S2i per month pension for the last SIX years for
gnnshOt wound of right leg received at Cold Har-
DOE. sly disability increasing, consultation OF
surgeons was held and il was decided to anputate
the leg, which operation was performed Oct, y
last, my right leg being ampututed three and half
ihches below the knee-JOlut. Am / entitled to an
increase OF pension; and If SO to whom should
apply? Should l have 10 employ an attorney?
AnSJger. II the amputatiOn was direct result in
are entitled to $50 per month Just the same as
though your leg had been amputated during the
war Apply TO the Commissioner of Pensions You
can do as you please about employing an attorney.
W. A., Montpelier, Ild.-NFheu was the law pass
ed increasing pension for loss of sight of Que eye
from - 10 El62 4nS1Cer. There no law IuCTcas
ing pension for loss Of sight of one eye from So to
SIS Pension for loss of sight of eye is IS for
AN enlisted man.
d. A. C. Columbus Grove. Oh. recent order of
the President Of the u. s. the Railway Mail Sery-
ice Is included IN and placed under the jurisdiction
of the Civil Service Commission. You will have
TO Apply to tine Secretary Of the Civil Service Com
mission, this city, for blanks and instructions.
H. H. r A., apollo, Pd.-Nhat is the section Of
the U. =. Revised Statutes which provides that
preference shall be given to Union soldiers in ap-
polntments to office? AHsguer Section 1854 Per-
sons hOnoraby discharged from the military or
naval service by reason OF disability resulting from
wounds or sickness incurred in the line of duty,
shall be preferred for appointments to civil offices
provided they are found to possess the business
capacity necessary Tor the proper discharge of the
duties of such Offices"
p. Z, T., Barnard, N-l We were mustered in
service Feb. r. 1862 and were promised 100 bounty
IN gold and pay In gold. We received neither. ls
not the Government bound in honor to make its
promise good? , l was discharged Feb. Is 1864
by reason of re enlistment ia the field. If the
equalization OF bounty bill becomes a law, viii L
be entitled to any more bounty on my first enlist
ment? 3. was commissioned Second Lieutenant
on htatch i 1000. nut was not then mustered was
discharged March IA 1866 by reason of the close of
the war, but company was not disbauded until
afterwards. Can be mustered on my commission
ment? 4. soldier enlisted in September or Octo-
Der of 1861, aud died in January 1868 His mother
was drawing her State pay of s. per month His
mother now being dead can his brother or sister
recover anything from the Government for the
support and burial of his mother, she being de-
pendent on tHetnt D. Are his heirs entitled to
any further bounty in the event OF the passage of
the equalization of bounty biii2 AHswer l. You
were not promised bounty or pay in gold. You
were promised payment in money You received
1t. The Government never promised to nav its
soldiers in gold. 2 Yes 8. Unless YOU were on duty
as Lieutenant at the date Of your commission,
ana the strength OF the company was sufficient to
allow it an officer Of that grade you cannot receive
Lieutenant 5 pay. 4. No .. That Will depend
upon the exact wording of the law when the same
shall have been enacted.
Z. T., Chicago, M.-What became of Gen. Miles
after the surrender Of Harpers Ferry? Is he iden-
tical with Gen. Miles the Indian fighter? Ansrer.
They are not the same. Gen. Dickson 5. Miles.
who surrendered at Harper's Ferry died Sept Is
1862. from wounds caused by having his leg torn
OIL by shell. The Indian fighter is Gen. Nelson
a Miles
r. D. s, Orland Ae-Is soldier entitled TO COM
mutation whose disability Is equivalent to loss of
hand or foot? ann drawing S34 per month BY
certificate reads: This pension being for disease
OF legs tlOcomotor ataxial.n AHslCcT. In such a
case the soldier would be entitled to Communication,
the disability being confined to iim5S. depriving the
penslOner from the use thereof
NrS. u. u. H., SUHgmsTtOgH, Tspn.-1. What con-
5titutes legal holiday? 2 How many DAVIS are
there IN "a year that so designated besides the
Sabbath Day? g. Is the Constitution uuchaugeabIe2
l. Does Presidential proclamation make q day a
iGsdA ltOtluty tnEOuEnout the United Stute5t IN
slger l. a legal holiday is established by Congress,
although in some States holidays established bv
the Legislature thereof legal so far as the State
IS concerned. ?. The legal holidays are jan l.
Feb. -, July and Dee. .; also Inauguration
Day, when 1t occurs once every four years and
Thanksgiving Day, designated each wear by Presi-
dents proclamation. g. 1t be amended l.
Yes.
@. J. d., Brighton, ~ u am deaf in one ear:
can hear but little with the other; have entirely
lost my speech; have lost the entire use OF both
legs have lost the entire use of right arm and
hand; can use lett arm and hand but little / have
a constant nurse, day and night, and cannot move
a muscle or otherwise help myself feel as though
this was total disability and yet you say the rate
for total disability IS IS per month AnS1rer There
are several grades above total" You are more
than totally disabled. From your description of
yOur disability you are entitled to $50 per month
The grades are as follows: Total disability for an
enlisted man, %; inability To perform any manual
labor, $50; condition requiring the regular aid and
attendance OF another person, 500
q. ~. D., BlngtGHtOR, " FL employed an at
toTney IN my claim for pension and have not heard
from him FOR a year and a half NV claim
Was rejected Nov. Is last, on the ground that ~
denCe could not be furnished Am / now under
any obligations to that Attorney Am I free from
him, and can employ another Attorney AuSlgsr
With the rejection of a claim ends the attorneys
connection herewith, unless he thereafter takes
steps looking 10 overcome the cause of rejection
II you have not heard from your attorney for over
year, and he has done nothing in the prosecution
Of the claim, then you under no obligations to
him, nor would tile Pension Office allow him any
fee IN the case. You can employ another attorney
If you SO desire.
~. Z. d., DdHUile Iolua-What is the mode Of
procedure iD the Pension Office when "A claim for
re-ratIug OF an original claim is flied where the
claimant thinks ne was rated too low Anslrsr
Such claims are not as q rule, entertained They
are almost uniformly rejected.