The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-03-21
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety OF Interesting
Subjects.


OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety OF Interesting
Subjects.
ITO Correspondents questions on a sep
arate sheet of paper, give full name and address,
and mark 1t Correspondents Column" Noatten-
ton VIII be paid to communications that are not
accompanied with full name and address of writer.
Our readers are requested to incose a stamp for
reply to their Inquiries. Postal cards will be
replied TO By mail only Replies by mail win ordi-
narily be made within week and If in this col
umn within three weeks.l
D. II. o., Cleo. Kan, and OiheTs-1 Did the Okla
homa bill pass Congress and become a law, and in
what part of the Indian Territory is the land stu
ated? 2. What is the status OF tile new law which
hear has just passed, granting additional home
stead rights? AnSteer. 1. What is known as the
Oklahoma Dill did not pass both Houses of Con-
gress, and therefore did not become law. The
so-called Oklahoma lands embrace that part of the
Indian Territory which has not been specially ap-
propriated by some tribe or nation of Indians. In
our opinion the Government has no such title 70
the land in question, as they cannot eede or give
away to settlers without further treaties with the
Indians. z. The law to which you refer not having
yet been promulgated, nor instructions carrying il
into effect having been issued it is not advisable to
give any opinion relating thereto. Our under
standing of such act is that any person who has
made homestead entry, and through any unfore-
seen circumstances may have lost that entry, and
the same been cancelled, can now make another
entry and have all the benefits of the law as much
as he would have had had his first entry not been
made. Again, the same oct authorizes the local
officers of District Land Offices to grant leave oil
absence to homestead settler for any period not
exceeding one year. What conditions the Secre-
tary of the Interior or the Commissioner Of the
General Land Once may put upon said act we, o.
course, nave no means OF knowing.
Y f. s, Brownsville Pa; j. p p, EeuIaha City
Ne6. and OherS--Fhe following is copy of the act
relating TO rations to prisoners of war:
Whereas by general order of the War Depart
ment of Feb. IL, 1862 rations to Union soldiers held
as prisoners OF war IN the rebel States, were com
muted ut a cost price during the period of theiI
imprisonment; and whereas large number of the
said prisoners have been paid under said order bui
many equally worthy with them and who have sui
fered IN rebel prisons. have not been so paid
Therefore
Be it resolved By The Senqse and House of Repre-
seRtdtires Of e United States Of Ansrca IN Congress
assembled. That all the United States soldiers
sailors and marines who were held as prisoners OF
war in the rebel States, shall be paid Communication
OF rations at cost prices during the period of then
imprisonment; Provided, That no person who has
sold or transferred any interest in the claim for
said Communication, nor any purchaser or assignee
of such claim or interest shall be benefited by thi.
resolution; and the amount of such Communication
shall be paid out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated.
Approved July ., 1886.
o. j., Syracuse, n IA soldier claimed pension
for disease of stomach and bowels resulting from
chronic darrilea contracted while on etacIIe serv
ice bat short time before his discharge. He wa:
discharged Immediately upon his return to hi:
command, aud being a recruit, and not well ac
quainted with the members of his company he wa:
unable to furnish any testimony whatever to show
that he contracted ais disability in the service. His
claim was rejected by the Pension Bureau and hs
applied to Congress, aud was pensiOued by sDecia
| act. He has now found two comrades belonging
to another company who were with him on the de.
ached service, and can testify fully as 20 the incur
renee of his disability. Can be now file their test
mony ana establish MS claim under the genera
| law and be pensioned from date of discharge de
| Quoting the period pensoued by special act? An
S1cer. Under date of Nov. "A. 1855, ruling No IL.
was promulgated, prohibiting the granting of {
( under iaxv r
/ son who is pensioned bysspecial act of Congress
This ruling was approved by the Hon. Secretary o.
the Interior on appeal 1t is. however a question
| of law or Interpretation of statutes upon which
there is difference OF opinion. The matter viii
probably be brought before the Hon. John w
Noble, the present Secretary OF the Interior fol
his consideration at early date It is our opin.
ion that the pensioner should not be deprived
of any rights he might have under the general Law
by reason OF being penslOned by special act and
II by any Interpretation of the law he has suffered
1t should be amended. Up until Nov "a 1880, such
pensioners as were pensioned by special act could
| elect whether they would draw pension under sDe
eiai-aet certificate or certificate issued under the
general pension law.
E. B., Hamletsburg, MA soldier dies, leaving
six children, the two youngest under Is years o
age Who receives the benefits of the soldiers sery
ice in demonstrating, the two Youngest or all the
/ children? AnSiger. Under the provisions of the
homestead law a soldiers minor orphan children
under 81 years of agel providing his widow is dead
or remarked, can, through duly-app0inted guar
dian, make homestead entry, and be entitled tc
all of the privileges of the military service of theil
deceased father See Secs. 1901 to 1863 inclusive
United States Revised Statutes.l The entry must
be made for the benefit of all the children who are
minors at the date of entry.
Mrs. s. E. A., Redington Ne6.-I If a man takes
homestead and dies before making finaI proof
and his widow completes it. can the widow make
another homestead entry? 2 A soldier dies with
out taking homestead. If his widow makes
entry, she apply the time of her husbands serv
ice in making her final proof? AHssCe7 l. Yes
as she is completing her husbands entry as his
widow; and she has perfect right to make another
entry IN her own right as the head of the family.
2. Yes.
d. p, Scranton PA dependent mother having
drawn pension up TO date OF her death is heI
husband, who IS dependent father, entitled tc
pension? Ans,rsT. Yes, if tie father was depend
ent upon the soldier ut date of his death.
~ ID. p, BiRghdntOH, " II Can citizen o.
the United States, not already land holder avail
himself OF the privileges of the homestead, pre-
emption and tree-elam acts or can he obtain land
only under one of said ucts2 .. In dedaetiug the
time of ones service from the time required 10 OBJ
tain title, is it required that such service should
have been enlisted man; or does service y
include the time one served during the war botI
as enlisted man and as officer? 3. What il
the price per acre asked for Governments lands
ABSVer. Under the homestead and timber-culturs
laws it makes no difference how much land a per.
son may own iii any State or Territory but under
the presumption law he cannot have land in his OWE
State and settle public land in the same State OF
Territory, nor can he be the owner of moro than
$40 acres IN any state or Territory and make q
pre- empton entry. 2 The time served IN the army
navy of the United States during the war Of the
rebellion whether as an officer or as an enlisted
man, is credited to q man III computing residence
on q homestead entry, but in event can such
credit exceed four years. In other words the sol
dier must, without any reference to how long he
served during the war reside upon and cultivate
the land entered at least one year. s. The agTi-
cultural lands of the United States are rated as
what is known as single minimum and double
minimum; that is, at i.25 and ESQ per acre The
latter must be within granted limits of some rail
road company TO which the Government has grant
ed the alternate sections. Thus the policy of the
Government has been that when they granted TO
any railroad company lands to assist them in build
ing the road they granted every alternate section,
and in order to reimburse the Government the
were doubled in price, so that the Government
would obtain for the lands not granted to the rail-
road as much money as they would have received
had no railroad been built or no land granted to
such railroad.
Dr. E. H., Kelrdnna Ind was a Sanitary Com
mission nurse at Mcpherson Hospital at NicSsburg,
Miss, aud never received discharge. Do / need
one? ARSieer. You do not need a discharge
s. Il. b., Jacksonville, Ter.-In 1860 l was en-
ployed ut the Warrington Navy Yard Florida,
under John l.. Porter constructor. was classed
ON the labor-roll as Fastener" at 81 day. When
the ConfedeFatcS took possession, about January,
1861, there due me about two months and 10
days pay. How shall proceed TO get my claim
paid? 4nstCcF. You should apply to the Secretary
of the Navy. Whether anything is due you or not
depends upon your subsequent career. II you
aided and abetted the rebellion you cannot recover
your pay.
That sense Of extreme lreariRsss indicates dis
ordered blood. Ayers Sarsaparilla purifes it.