The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-11
ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
MONEY LOST BY DELAY.
Important Information for Sol
diers and Others.

A considerable number of the survivors of the
Army and Navy who participated in the war OF the
rebellion suffering from wounds injuries or
diseases which had their origin in the line of duty
in the service, and who have failed to file q claim
for pension account of said disabilities although
clearly entitled thereto.
Many have, no doubt failed to apply for the rea-
son that the law specifies that in all such claims
filed after June 30 1880, the pension when granted
can commence only from the date when the appli-
cation Is filed in the Pension Office and the amount
received at first payment would in some cases, be
small.
/ take pleasure in stating that there are very
good reasons for believing that the law limiting
arrears in such pension not fled prior
10 July l. 1880, will be amended; and in consider
ing the subject in the Committee on Invalid Pen
sons, House of Representatives 50th Congress, the
Chairman announced that the Committee WAS in
favor Of bill granting arrears of pension back to
the date of discharge in such cases where the APP
plicaton is on file n the Pension Office at the date
of the passage of the bill
You must, therefore, readily observe the advant-
age to be gained by person entitled to pension in
placing his claim on file at once, so TO secure
back pension when the proposed law shall have
been enacted.
1T was not contemplated by the Committee on
Invalid Pensions to give arrears to those whose
claims are not on file at the date of the passage of
the act
have at all times steadfastly advocated the pas
sage OF bill which will give of pension to
every person who is suffering from wounds, inju-
res or diseases contracted in the line of duty in the
butall legislation looking to such comprehensive
measure has so far been unsuccessful and this pro-
posed legislation may be all that can be secured.
Another reason why a soldier who is entitled 10 n
pension should Immediately file his claim is the
increased difficulty which the claimant will expert
enee as the years pass by in finding officers
rades whose testimony is necessary to establish the
claim. Every year adds thousands to the death
roll, and the witnesses who arc now alive may
have passed away year hence. II is therefore,
extremely important to have the claim filed and
the testimony secured while it is possible to do
Delays are dangerous" and soldier who has
others depending upon him may be doing his fam
lily great injustice in failing to lay the foundation
Tor their future comfort by negecting to place his
claim file.
The pension laws are now being more literally
administered, and many claims heretofore consd-
cred as inadmissible are now being daily allowed.
All who believe themselves entitled TO pension
should write to me for an opinion, which viii be
promptly and cheerfully furnished. No fee is
charged for services in any pension claim unless
the claim shall be allowed, in which event the legal
fee Is deducted out of the first payment of pension
made to the pensioner.
INCREASE OF PENSIONS.
A great many pensioners are entitled to increase,
pension ratings having from time to time been in
creased by acts of Congress- decisions of the Sec
rotary OF the Interior and Commissioner of PEN
sions.
Increase of pension is not given the pensioner
even though his disability increases unless he files
MS claim therefor, and it date only from date
OF examination made after such claim has been
filed.
This is in accordance with Section $685. Revised
Statutes, which reads as follows; Except in cases
OF permanent specific disabilities no increase of
pension shall be allowed to commence prior TO the
date OF the Examining Surgeons certificate estab-
fishing the same, made under the pending claim for
increase. Is ="
1t will be thus apparent that unless the claim for
increase Is duly filed the pensioner must continue
to receive IN great many cases rate of pension
less than that to which he is entitled under the law
So. also, new disabilities have developed as re-
suits OF the original disabilities for which pension
has been granted and for which pension might be
obtained if claim therefor is filed, and in some
cases, disabilities were contracted in service addi-
tonal to those alleged In the original application
and Tor which no claim has ever been fled There
Is no limit to the number of disabilities for which
man may he pensioned and an increase of pension
can often be obtained upon such new or additional
disabilities. invite correspondence from every
pensloner who thinks his rating too low. No
charge for advice, no fees unless successful.
RESTORATION OF PENSIONS.
In many cases where pensioners have been
dropped from the roll for various causes they can
be restored by proper presentation of the facts
wll attend to all such for the usual legal fee
REJECTED CLAIMS.
great many rejected and abandoned claims can
now be successfully prosecuted under more liberal
constructions of the pension laws and suggest
that any person having such case write me full
history of the same. with number of claim ETC.
and will give him my professional opinion, based
upon over % years OF active practice before the
Pension Bureau.
have been very successful in such claims.