The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-03-07

Replies to Questions on a Variety Of Interesting
SulieeiA.


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g. L. M., -, Neb.-Is man who enlisted az
teanlstcr in the Mexican war entitled TO pension,
if he was houoTaby discharged? AnSper. Yes;
he should apply to the Commissioner OF Pensions
T. d., Kansas City, Paid the colored troops
receive any bounty for their services in the late
war? ARSlVer. Yes; they paid the same
upon dates of enlisiments and length of service.
Applications for bounty should be made to the Sec
ond Auditor of the Treasury
~. o. f., annapolis Md.-My claim for arrears of
pay and bounty was allowed Feb. s, and the
Second Auditor of the Treasury states that the
claim will be paid as soon as appropriation shall
have been made by Congress- When will prob
ably receive my money? AHSI0er. AS is usual in
such cases. report of allowed claims made to
Congress about Jan. Z, including ali claims of this
charaeteralowed since Oct. 20 1883. A supplement-
airy report sent to the Senate, by request,
the Goth inst, which included all claims allowed
prior TO the 18th inst. These claims will be included
in the General Deficiency Bill, and payment may
be expected in about two months The claims are
generally paid in their alphabetical order.
l.. ~ T., Dl3toa Only clniIn for amendment Of
muster, under the provisions of the act of June 3,
1884, was allowed by the Second Auditor of the
informed that there has been recent law passed,
Aug Is, 1855 in which there is further provision
for amendment OF muster. Please explain this to
me, ArSHer. The original act of June 8 1884 provid
ing for tiie mastering OF volunteer officers under
their com missions in certain cases, was amended
by the act OF Feb. 3, 1887 and both acts expired
June 8, 1887 by Limitation. The act of August Is,
1888, extended to the time for filing claims under
said acts. If your claim adjudicGted by the
Adjutan General before the passage of the amend
atory act of Feb. 3, 1887 request TO that officer
for reconsideration will be sufficient you
the benefits of that act. The act of Aug Is did not
contain any new legislation so as to include claims
not already provided for by the previous acts.
n D. j., Garrison, Ad.-l. Is man entitled to
homestead if lie has once homesteaded and relin-
ouished ?-2. II a man homesieads and pays the
Government price for the land before his time
expires, aud oblains pr tent, can he then make
tons. He has exhausted his rights, as the law now
stands.
term "Te-rdtjng'? A3S19er. a re-ratng is an in
creased rate given for prior period, during which
il is shown that too small pension has been granted;
that s, when the pension was not commensurate
with the degree of disability then existing The
Pension Bureau will seldom, il ever, reopen a
claim 10 allow an increase of former rate, or TO
re-Tate 1t. 1t Is only done IN Claims where mani
fest error has been committed, and injustice done
by the Pension Bureau in allowing too small
pension. 1t is useless to apply for re-rating In an
ordinary case where the pensoner thinks he has
been rated too low.
K. g. L., bridgeport Conn., enlisted in the vol
unteer service July, 1852, for three years, and
was discharged October, 1853 by transfer to the
Regular Army again enlisting for three years from
that date and finally discharged in July, 1865
expiration of term of service. Am not entitled
to bounty under recent decision OF the See
ond Comptroller by reason of my re-enlistment for
three years prior TO April 1861, having served
period of nine months in a different organization?
AnslVer No; your service III the TWO organizations
are considered as continuous being discharged at
expiration of original term of enlistment, the re-
enlistment is not considered such to entitie you
| TO the veteran bounty.
T. B., Quick, NJ Y-Soldier was pensioned for
I H. a lfa1f
crease of pension April, 1888; was examined by a
board May IA 1885 and died Dec. % 1883, OF tuber
culoss of bowels. His increase claim had not been
! settled. What the rights of his widow In the
! premises, and how should she proceed? ARSlCer.
If the soldier granted increase upon his exRm-
nation i'll May, the widow Is entitled TO the differ
ence between the rate OF 81 per month and the rate
| to which he increased from date of exanina-
ton and to the full rate after increase from date Of
last payment to the soldier to the date of his death
Application should be made to the Hon. Commits
sioner OF Pensions If death was due to disease of
bowels, the widow woItd be entitled to pension
| from date OF soldiers death.
| o. c. A., Ea,aestoR T9tUa--A soldier enlisted in
1861 and served two gears, when he discharged
Surgeons certificate OF disability, for rheuma-
| tism. Ia january, 1865 he reenlisted and served
until May II, 1860, when he was discharged for
wounds received at Appomaitox april 9, 1863. He
| died Aug ~, 1892, of heart disease. He was pen
! stoned for wounds only. His widows claim for
| pension was rejected upon the ground that his
| death from heart disease was not due TO rheuna-
| tism, for which he was discharged in 1853, nor
otherwise shown to be due to his military service
| if being held by the Medical Board of the Pension
Bureau that his second enlistment and service
| conclusive evidence of his recovery from rheuna-
| tism. What evidence should be furnished in such
n case and would YOU advise an appeal to the Sec
| rotary of the Interior? ARSVer We would advise
| that you employ competent attorney, yOur
claim is quite intricate but evidently meritorious
Evidence should be filed showing the soldiers full
medical history from date of his first discharge,
| and about when heart disease first manifest.
The opinion of the Medical Referee should be asked
for rather than to appeal to the Hon. Secretary of
| the Interior.
| IA. C., Kimbaa, Dak.-Please inform me whether
| ! am entitled to pension? My own mother died III
1857; my father remarked, and killed while in
| line of duty in the service some time In 1863 My
| stepmother was pensoned. AnSioer II you were
not under the and custody of your step
mother from July -, 1856, until you attained the
age of Is years, you entitled to pension of So
| per month for that period.
u. I. c., GTeencaSNe, Ind am widow, and draw
pension for the death of my son. This pension
began some time in 1881. As other widow pension
getting arrears, why cannot /? AaSIDCr. The
net of June 7. 1885, allows arrears of pension only
to such rs are pensioued the widows of soldiers,
and those Cike yourself) who pensioned as
dependent parents are not benefited by the act
T. T. S., OtHmlOa, Ioi0d-Soder discharged
March r. 1868 after Is months service, for rheu-
matism His claim for pension was rejected after
special examination, on the ground that the testi-
nlony showed that years prior TO his enlist
ment he had an attack of rheumatism lasting two
months and that his present condition was due to
prior unsoundnesS from disease alleged. lie filed
additional testimony to show that lie did not have
rheumatism for over six years before he enlisted,
but the rejection of his claim re-allirmed.
What course should he pursue to have his claim
reopened? AlSlOsr. Proper advice could only be
given after careful examination OF all the evil
dence OH file in the claim, and do not have
necess to the papers in any we cannot say.
From your statement 1t would seem that the
clnn should be allowed.
j. A. b., Portland, 0re-Soldier claimed pension
for rheumatism; proved origin in service by Captain
and two comrades; also treatment by Regimenta
Surgeon and continuance from 1870 Claim rejected
because he could not show continuance from dis
charge to 1870 How should he proceed in the
ms IN. v. s,
March Anril Nav arn The months To nnrifu