The National tribune., 1889-09-05
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on Variety or interesting
Subjects.

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umn within three weeks.l
o. g. r., Valentine, Mclean n man sell timber
off a homestead for the purpose of clearing the
land for agricultural purposes? AnsTsr. A home
stead or presumption claimant may cut timber
from MS band so Tar as 1t may be necessary to cuti
vate or improve 1t, or for domestic purposes and
improvement. After removing the timber for such
purposes, should there be any left there would be
no objection To his disposing of the same; but il
lac cuts timber for the purpose OF SALE he renders
himself liable to criminal prosecution for tTespass-
ing on the public domain and to civil suit for the
recovery OF damages.
IN OIL CoHtrade-A soldier who enlisted in Au-
gust. 1862 for nine months. and served his time, Is
he entitled to Government bounty; and if so,
/ how much? AnsIDer. No bounty WIS paid for nine
months enstmeuls.
o. u. j., O,oeka, Keb.-soIdier enlisted for 90
days, and was honorably discharged; enlisted
again. and served until his health failed Is he
titled To bounty? 1HsUeT. No bounty paid for
~ days service Unless he served two years on
ms second enlistment, lie Is not entitled To- any
bounty. As you do not give the dates of his re-
enlistment. we cannot answer you further
"a. J. r., fredericksburg, Ya.-In case an attorney
should take n fee in advance in a pension claim,
and then not do any work in it rs he agreed could
he he prosecutor AnSwcr. Yes; law approved
looS, any claim agent from FeCeiy
ing any sum whatever IN advance as fee in pen
sion claim. He may be prosecuted for that even
If he complies with The terms Of his agreement. It
Is unlawful for him To accept any fee until the
claim - allowed and then only from the United
states Pension Agent who pays the pension, upon
the approval of the Commissioner of Pensions.
". y r., BGiatoH. HinH.-I applied for n pension
IN 1882. and in 1888 IT rejected. Who is the
proper person 10 apply TO 10 have 1t reopened?
1nSwer The Hon. Commissioner Of Pensions, this
city.
l.. r. a., Fort Meade, d. T.-Would the widow of
soldier now serving in tile u. ;. Army be enti-
tied to- pension ia OF his death while in sery-
ice and line of duty although he never was SOL
der during the late war? AHSosr Yes.
o. r. w., HoHtrose, COlo.-Where Is the Soldiers
iiome IA ONO situhtedY 4Hs'0er- Near Dayton, IN
Montgomery County
j. q. Ned Canton. Pa-was the firing on the
Star OF tho West, at Fort Sumter, considered the
commencement OF the war? How many men were
there IN Fort Sumter at the time? AHsUer Yes
The firing Fort Sumter Is considered the first
shot of the war. The garrison in Fort Sumter,
der the command OF Maj. Anderson, consisted Of
seven officers. two non commissioned staff IL non
commissioned officers and 70 enlisted men, Of
whom eight were musicians.
a. y. g., VoOdtCaTd. PG-Between what dates
must soldier have served to be entitled to mem-
bership III the Grand Army? Insurer. No soldier
| - eligible for membership ia the Grand Army OF
tue Republic unless he served between a pril r.
| 1861. and April o. 1865 The first is when Fort
Sumter wns fired upon, which Is considered the
commencement oil the war, and April ., 1862 when
| Lee surrendered
| J. c c. Mamsdeid. o.. soldiers widow. draw
/ ing pensioi, OF SO per month, has several chill
dFen, All under 10 years OF age. Can size get
ried and then transfer the whole Of her pension to
| the youngest child? 2. If a soldier applies for a
pension before issO and dies before the pension Is
granted, aud the widow applies aud 1t Is granted,
viii she receive arrears with ~ Ausucr. !. No.
/ Her pension would be equally divided among all
The children under l6 years Of age. Yes, provid-
Ing The pension was granted on the disabilities al
/ legged by the soldier.
| ". H.. EikhaTi I,d.-l dependent mother re-
ceives "a pension by of the death of her son
I las tile who killed Sinh
| quently her father dies and leaves her s. eco.
/ Nonld this deprive her of her pension. 2 / ap-
piled for increase Of pension July 49, 1853 and was
/ examined by She Board Oct. IL, 1883. When should
! expect reply from the Pension Office? ARsuer.
/ ]. No. 2 You should have heard from your claim
/ before this. Write 10 the Commissioner of PEN
/ siOns and ask him the cause of delay.
J.. w. a, Centre MoreldRd. Pa.-If Il soldier has
reason To believe that Special Examiner has sent
ia report 10 the Pension Bureau containing state
ments injurious to his private character is there
any way that he obtain n copy Of the report in
4 order To defend himself against The libel? Ansrer.
The Pension Oihee viii moi furnish copies of Special
| Examiners reports. We presume there will be no
objection TO your perusing the report and taking a
/ copy thereof.
| r. d. d.. Cokeriiis MO Ter-My claim for pen-
sion was filed prior To the limitation Of arrears but
| has since been pending becaass testimony of CON-
/ missioned officers could not To obtained, though
/ ali other testimony furnished. According TO
| the recent ruling OF the Commissioner Of Pensions
requiring only the evidence of one enlisted man rs
I TO origin. my claim stands complete What action
! shall take on IL, AHSWeT. You should write 10
/ the Commissioner of Pensions, calling attention to
Your claim, stating that you believe The same to be
complete and ask that it receive early action in
/ view OF the fact that you can furnish no further
/ testimony.
| 7. -. g., C5rrick, 'Pd.-OVer two years ago ap-
piled for correction OF muster and on Feb. last
received notice of correction. Why is IL that do
not get paid. or how long will have wait? An-
/ Stcer. The pay involved in claim for muster IS
l adjusted anu paid Ia the Office OF the Second
/ Auditor OF the Treasury. and application therefor
should be made To- him aiteF the claim for eoTrec-
Iion of muster Is settled by the AdjuInnt General.
| ~. r., PtsaBa. Mo- am pensioner at the rate
OF ga per month for total blindness in one eye and
partial blindness in the other. Under the Commits
slOners recent ruling, am not entitled TO $50 per
month"; AHSIUsr No. The ruling only applies 20
| pensioners who drawing S3i per month for a
disability IN arm or leg equivalent 10 the loss OF
| "A hand or foot. Whether you entitled TO SPA
exclusive of the ruling mentioned, we cannot say.
! IL you disabled in degree totally ncspacilat-
| ing you for the performance OF manual labor YOU
are entitled To so per month.
| j. w. Mel, Fort collins. Coio.-i Has the rate OF
pension been increased from S72 Sl0O per month
>. IL not Is there any probability Of such an in
crease? 4nsreT. l. No. ?. We cannot say. That
| depends upon Congress, which alone change
| the rate
We recommend "TansilTs Punch Cigar.