The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-08-31
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Information of Value Concerning Pensions

OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Information of Value Concerning Pensions.
Correspondents should write each question on
a separate sheet OF paper, give futi name ana sd-
dress and mark it CORRESPONDENTS Column" No
atten ton will be paid to communications not ac-
companied with name and address OF writor. IL ~
requested that a stamp be inclosed for reply by
only. Replies by mail will ordinarily he made
within a week, and il in this column within three
weeksl
Old Soldier. CIarenore Ind Ter.-Please inform
me If am legally entitled to file a claim IN the
Cherokee Strip? On April %, 1889. the year
when Oklahoma was opened, / filed on claim and
relimquished itin September of same year Aastoer.
You have exhausted your right, and cannot hie on
the Cherokee Strip.
"A Kid of'6l" must bear in mind that we do not
notice communications which do not contain the
full name and address of the writer Please read
notice at head of this column.
j. B. T.. AMgustd Ark.--l. Under the new pension
law OF June ~ 1890 there not clause that reads.
after soldier becomes 62 years old he can, by his
own application. be placed on the pension-roll ut
Sl2 per month? 2. Was HOke Smith soldier in
Union army in the late war? AnStOeT. |. No.
That clause was in the bill as it was introduced,
but it was rejected in the House OF Representatives.
.. No.
N. H. K, Le,oisb,rg. GA claim having been
placed OH the completed flies during Raum's adj
ministralio will il have to go through another
investigation before allowed? Ansacer. II it s nm
invalid claim under the new law, yes; otherwise, the
case will probably be finally acted upon when tits
W W. B., Sedulin ho.-I. How many U. s. vol
unteers of the late war are drawing pensions? z
What the average rate? B. In 1888 applied for an
increase Of pension three new disabilities. Tho
3lst July, 1890 WAS examined by the oca! board
furnished all the proof the law required Hear
ing nothing from my old-aw claim. III February,
1891, made application under the new law, with
other disability-loss of sight of left eye. In
August, 1891. was ordered before another board
for special examination. In October, 1891, re-
ceived an increase of pension for slight deafness OF
both ears and nothing said about the other dis
abilities. Now, what is the difference between
formal examination and special examination, aBd
why was not allowed on all three counts? A1a-
/. There June 30, 1893. 365, 40 in-
valid pensioners, both army and navy, old law,
and 3T.203 invalid pensioners. both army and
navy, new law. 2 The average rate we cannot
give you as there are no statistics showing the
data. g. There is material difference between
medical examination and a special medical
examination. except that the board making the
latter upon special instructions. 1t is sort OF
reriesv board as it were, to settle differences OF
opinion, etc. As do not have access to the
papers i'll your case we cannot say what disposi-
ion was made OF the claim for the remaining dis
abilities
j. w. U, Gree,ato,os Tad-Did Gen. Raum drop
from the pension rolls 600 pensioners? II So for
what cause? If not, how many did lac drop? IN
During each year Of every administration
certain number of pensioners whose names are
upon the rolls are dropped. This is mainly done
by the Pension Agents. and sotue few by the PEN
Bureau From July ], 1891, to June 30, 1892,
being The latest dala obainable) there were 2536
names dropped from the roll for various causes;
by death. H7ll: by remarriage (widows, etc.
258 minors arriving at i6 years of age. PSI; by
failure to claim pension (the law requiring a per-
10 draw within three years., 2,iOl; from other
caIIses, 2g75.
r. H. o., Oakland, AL. What action is taken by
the Pension Bureau case where there is "A minor
child by prior marriage and the widow, who is APP
plying for pension does not have the custody of said
child? VIII she he allowed her pension of 50 under
act of June ~ 1890, and the guardian OF the child
81 will she be required TO draw the full amount
and pay the S2 TO the guardian? Or what? ..
What date is set the end of the of the rebel.
W nui UHtp mn hay ser ed
SO days to he entitled to pension under the act OF
June q, 1890? AnstCer /. The 81 additional pen
sion Tor child not In custody of widow only be
paid the legal guardian of the child. 2. Aug.
20. 1866, the Date OF the proclamation of the
President procaiIning that every portion of the
country was then III state OF peace aud tranquility,
and the suppressed. |fbe commencement OF
the time for pensiorntbte purposes March 4,
1861.
j. G. C., Cato, ~ WHAT should pensioner do
when he receives II notice of suspension from the
Pension Office, no being pcnsioner under the new
law; mean under Hoke Smiths ruling? ArStger.
He should immediately write to the Commissioner
and request Il medical examination.
s. f., ST. Francis, Kan.-A soldier took home
stead in 1888, and lived on IL Ii short time, and
proved up. using his service In proof of part of
time. He then took "a pre- enpton and was holding
i, when the law of March 2, 1889 went into force
aud bomesieaded it. Did said soldier have n right
TO homestead his pre- -einption claim after having
made time proof on first homestead? Does peace
able possession Of Government land for five years
give tie holder "A right to said land, when he
has legal right to Use, having used all his rights
before? 4HSUeT. Under The act oil March .. 1889,
the soldier could transmute his pre-em ption To a
homestead entry. although he had already had the
benefit of the homestead law and obtained title
Hereunder Peaccable possession of Government
land for five years does not give title TO said land.
w. A. r., Potrer, ". D.-The widow of pen
sioner remarrIes three years after death Of husband
is she entitled TO pension from date of his death
until date of renarriage? 1nsUer. Yes If the
pensoner died from cause incident TO his service
Otherwise,
W. H. B. Teko1noh Neb-I About what would
be the rating for disease and disease of kid
neys under of June q. 1880; would heart dis
ease alone give rating under said act? q After
my claim went through the Board of Review and
received order to go before Pension Board for
another examination, when that is filed will my
claim go back to the Board of Review again?
3. About how long before may pect 10 hear from
it: Ansl0er /. The rating will depend upon your
ability To earn support by manual labor, shown
by the certificate of the Board of Surgeons. Yes
3. We cfNuut say.
J. D. L.. ST. Joe, Ipd.--S. o.. a veteran of the
Mexican and of The rebellion has had his pen
sions granted under net of 1890 and for service in
tie Mexican war, stopped until such time as
the Government shall save the amount the Com
missioner of Pensions says has been paid to him
unlawfully. He interprets the law of 1890 to mean
no draw two pensions. Does that apply
To those who get pension for service III the Mexi-
can war? Aqls,Oer. Certainly The law forbids the
receipt of two pensions of any kind by the same
person. s. O. is very fortunate in having only his
pension stopped until recruitment has been made.
The Government could criDinally prosecute him
if il desired for concealiug the fact that he WAS
already pensioncr when his second pension
r. s. LIS there any comrade drawing pension
on what is known the old law where there is no
record Whatever OF his disability the Depart
meut; never off duty OH account of said disability
which to-day he draws pension simply by
proving by his comrades that knew him be so
affected and that he contracted the same while in
the service? Please answer through The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE to settle a dispute? AnstCer
There are thousands of pensioners under the old
law who drawing pensions for disabilities no
record of which was found at the War Department.
and whose claims were allowed upon the testimony
submit ed la support of the claim
X. s. NJ, NJ II. H.. Ohi0.-A dispute has arisen as
to now pensions are paid pensioners living
abroad. Some hold that our Consus living nearest
TO pensioners send their vouchers to- Washington
and pensioners must wait for checks to return
others say that pensions, under arrangements
made by Commissioner Black, are paid by Consuls
same date as by Pension Agents in this country un-
der snme Identification exhibiting pension certf-
cate etc. 1us,Uer. Some are right and others
are wrong. Vouchers for foreign pensioners are
sent to them direct, same as to pensioners in the
United States; theyexectte the on quarter
day aud return themdireet 10 the Pension gent at
Washington, d. c., who, on receipt of the vouch-
crs properly executed, sends them his check. II
is precisely the same method is pursued with
pensioners in the United States.
NJ r. Percu M-How long was Mason sentenced
to prison for sIootingat Guitcau? 4nSUer. Serg't
John A. Mason was tried by court lal and dis
honoraby discharged from the Army, with loss OF
ali pay due, and sentenced TO the penitentary for
-