The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-05
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY JANUARY 1885,

s24. Can have my residence on my homestead
credited by the three years of original enlistment?
hRsager. No, unless actually discharged for dis
ability incurred in line of duty You can obtain
credit only for the period actually served during
the war unless you were discharged for disability
Subscriber. We have every reason to believe that
Congress will take some action upon the bill re-
ferred to, and IN that event the rates for ampuaon
would be increased.
G. ". T., SpenceruiVe, OIL fled claim for two
disabilities, it being allowed to one but held for
further evidence as TO the other the ground that
it was not supported by medical hospital record
evidence. Stronger proof, however, was furnished
upon the second disability than the first. The
claim went into the hands of the Board of Review
some eight months ago. It investigated by
three Special Examiners. Is this conclusive of its
final disposition? 2. What is the usual period of
time between the date of taking up the claim by
the Board of Review and its final settlement 8.
Must not Inquiries concerning claims be answered
by the Penslon bureau? AnStCer. /. Yes, we
think so. 2 There is no specified time between
the date of furnishing evidence in pension claim
and that of its final settlement, because no two
cases are alike. 3. All letters of inquiry are an
swered when from their contents the claim can be
identified A great many ciaimants fail to give the
number of their claim, company or regiment, hence
their letters cannot be answered
!. II. s.. PhtSbTg Pd.-Please inform me what
decision has been rendered by the Supreme Court
onSec 1905 Revised Statutes, United States? case
was taken up for decision AnstUer. We are not
aware that case involving the construction of the
section mentioned has been appealed to the SUI
preme Court OF the United States. 1t was decided
by the Commissioner of Pensions that The amount
conferred under the provisions of Sec 1856 of the
Revised Statutes is a pension - and that THE use
of the words in the Statute half the months pay
is measure of value and distinctive classih-
cation" In our opinion ii would be utterly and
wholly useless to appeal from that decision. The
section is practically obsolete and cannot be intel
lgently construed otherwise than decided by the
Commissioner
b. J. b., Latltrop Mol soldier in 1861 died In
a hospital, away from his regiment. None of his
Surgeons were with him. Will the records afford
proof OF his death? How proof be obtained
2 nGnSlnpnP I,a1 oxy Eafp dtn
him. lie leaves nc widow, only two minor children,
VINO are now of age. Can they draw the three
months pay? g. soldier dies of his pensioned
disability III his widow, in applying for pension,
proves by physicians that his death due TO such,
must she go back and prove the incurrence of the
disease in line of duty or will the evidence fled in
the original claim suffice? Ans,Uer l. The rec
ords will probably show. Write TO the Adiutant-
General OF the State in which the soldier enlisted,
ana ask Tor transcript from the official records
showing the final disposition of the soldier 2. Yes.
g. No. The evidence filed in the invalid claim will
apply to her claim.
J. II. H., Ironton, O.-Is my father entitled to a
pension on the ground that he was minor at the
death of his father, the latter having been soldier
OF the war OF 1872, and whose death was due to his
seryleeT AnsVer. Pensions on account of service
In the war of 1872 end with the death of the PEN
sioner or his widow. Children are not entitled.
4. j. g., Bfrctdrdcde, Pal. / enlisted Oct. 10.
1851. Was discharged Nov. II, 1862 Am entitled
to any bounty? 2. Am drawing SIG per month on
dropsy and heart disease. Can procure pension
for other disabilities contracted in the service? an
sCer l. No, if discharged for disease. 2. We pre-
sumo so, if the same causes degree of disability
greater than that for which you are now pensoned.
d. T. NJ, IeRdngo, Pd.-Upon what basis does the
Pension Department rate mans ability or inabil-
ity to perform manual labor? What is manual
labor? Ans0er By the term manual labor is meant
any labor usually performed with the hands, such
as mechanical occupations, and anchyloss of ankle
or wrist without complications is used a a basis
for total disability according to rank. Thus, if a
soldier IS rated at IS per month. it is held that his
disability is equivalent in its disabling effects TO
an anchyosed perfectly stiff wrist and any disa-
bility in its effect disabling in degree more than
total twhere total for rank is IS per month"; would
be rated up to SIS per month on basis of loss Of
part of hand or foot.
q. 4. H, Middlebourne w. Vd-I Is a soldier
who is pensoned at $50 per month entitled to COM
mutation? 2. Is Il soldier who has lost the use oil
his arm at ahoulder.joint leg at hip.jont enti-
| tied to pension, the be would be for
| amputation? AnsUer. l. That depends upon the
nature of the disability. If the be located in
limb and causes total loss of the of same, be
would be entitled to communication; but If the disa-
bity be located in any other part of his body, he
/ would not be entitled to Communication. Commute
/ ton money is confined exclusively to the loss o.
limbs or the loss of their USE 2. No; he would be
entitled to but S36. whereas amputation at either
| hip or shouiderjoint would entitle him to S45.
W s. and Il. L. T., Lebanon, KGn.-L Is there any
/ indemnity land in kansas open for settlement? 2
Where is the Neutral Strip and is it open for settle
ment? AnsUer. l. 1t will be necessary for you to
describe the tract involved before we can answer
your inquiry 3 The Neutral Strip is tract of ter
ritory south of K. and north of the Pan Han
die OF Texas between Indian Territory and New
| mexico. lnerG mas been no law passed Tor Cl5DO5-
ing OF the land embraced in this strip. 1t is subject
however, to settlement. II is public land, and we
have no doubt that whenever said strip shall be
opened Tor entry the advance settlers will have tbs
4 first right to enter the land so settled upon.
me w. G. a., PdrkerSburg, W. Va.-I made appica
ton for invalid pension in 1879 Furnished evi
! denee of comrades and my Lieutenant; also that o
| my father, practcing physician. together with
| that OF my Assistant Regimentai Surgeon. Beside;
this, procured the evidence of physician wht
treated me since fathers DEATH and that o
! citizens who certified to my condition
| since my return from the army. Was in hos
| pital only two days therefore can get no hos
| pital record NV claim has been reieofad nm IN,
| ground of insuficiency of medical evidence. Car
such decision hold after this abundant evidence
| has been furnished? AnstUer. II the evidence
which You have fled be considered insufficient by
the Pension Bureau the is closed indefinitely
| TIL you can furnish evidence bearing upon the
cause OF rejection. 1t Is impossible for US to stat,
how long the case will remain closed probably
| for all time to come unless you satisfy the De
partment that your claim is valid.
@. Il. d., Salt Lake City, UtGh.-Can a soldier o
the Florida war be pensioned at this lapse of time
| Answer Yes, If he can prove that he contracted
disability therein by an officer or two comrades
who served with him. and also show the continu
Gus existence of said disability during each ant
every year since discharge, and that he is now dis
abled in pensionable degree by of such
disabilities having been contracted in the service
not otherwise.
IT, c. -Torca Falls Io,0a.--If soldier who ha
applied for pension dies before its allowance cal
his widow in such an event receive Sl2 per month
AnstCer. Yes, if the soldier died of disease con
traeted in line of duty iii the service.
s. d., Nes0 YORK. City.-I am very deaf Have
made use Of medicines, oils, ear-horns trumpets
electricity, artificial eardrums, etc. without relief
Do you know of any invention, Device instrumen
or apparatus the of which might enable me tt
hear speech or ordinary conversation? AnSUeT
The Audiphone has been recommended, and SOM
speak very highly of it. We cannot, however, ties
tify as to its merits.
81 J. NJ, 50. birmingham, Mass Would the per
sion due a soldier at his death be payable to. hi
heirs? A1s,OeF. IL would be payable to his widow
or minor children under 16 years of age and to N
| other person. except claim for reimbursement