The National tribune., 1894-09-13
OUR CORRESPONDENTS

Correspondents should write each question on
separate sheet OF paper, give full name and ad.
dress ana mark 1t Correspondents Column" No
attention will be paid to communications not sc.
companied with name and address OF writer 1t IL
requested that "a stamp be inclosed for reply by
letter. Postal cards will be replied TO by mail
only. Replies by mail will ordinarily be made
within week, and il in this column within three
weeks.l
H. g., Chelsea, Unss--I have had my claim for in
crease of pension rejected four times in succession
and my last agent the Massachusetts State Agent
advises me that it cannot be rs-opened; that
another application will not be advisable for 81
months, and that ii would be of very little use 10
take an appeal in such n case. What do you adj
wise? 4nswer. We are constrained TO state that we
advise you to follow the advice that you say Col
Parsons gave you. We think that an appeal
would he useless.
J. L. b., Syracuse, o. applied for an increase
OF pension June IA. 1894. and on Aug. 10 was or
dered for examination before the board at. For
good reasons-ai least good to mel do not want
10 go before that Board Have q right TO select
another Board, or Is 1t optional with The Commits
siouer rs to where shall be examined? 4us,rer
II is within the discretion of the Commissioner
as 10 where a claimant shall he examined but
for what the Commissioners regards n sufficient
reason change. such as the claimant may de-
sire, Is often made. Write to the Commissioner
and state why you do not wish 10 be examined by
the Board at -. and state where you would Xix 0
| TO be examined, and await The result
NJ. g. b.. Lfg0nir, Pa pensioner drawing &c
q month under the Old law applies hereunder for
an increase. and shortly thereafter he files a claim
under the Law, aud in due time il allowed a
rating OF Si2 II month under the net of June 81
$780, for the old disabilities and for some additional
ones He has been drawing this new law pension
| for two or three years. Now, if the claim for in
crease under the old law should be allowed would
the additional rate be added to the Sc he was re.
ceiving under the general law, or would IL he
added to the Sl2 he gets? 2. Why is it that il
now takes four or five years to get a settlement in
clHim for increase under the old law? g. How
far along did the bill get that Congressman Hicks
introduced. amending the act of June q, 1890? l.
What Is the prospect OF favorable pension leujsa-
ton this Winter? Answer. l. The old-Iaw claim for
| increase is not likely TO be allowed unless those
disabilities for which you drew Sc under the old
law conceded TO have increased as to disable
you TO an extent in excess Of the Sl2 rate In con-
sldering your title to- an increase under the gener
law, only those disabilities named In your oldlaw
| certificate be regarded and the chances are
that the old claim will be rejected upon the ground
| of no benefit. .. We do not know IL does not in
| all cases; il should not in any CASE g. SimpIy re-
| ferred TO committee. 4. We cannot now venture
| an opinion.
J. w., Malta O-How many and what are the
National holidays? Ansi0er July and Dec. %
are probably the only holidays that are observed
| In every State and are National in this sense; but
Congress cannot oblige any State to accent any
given day as n legal holiday, that being n matter
within The province OF the State Congress has de-
clared what days shall be legal holidays in the
District OF Columbia, but has done so by virtue OF
| the express power conferred by the Constitution
whereby 1t exercises exclusive legislation over the
said District.
| r. T. b., Lebanon, XVI applied for an increase
| OF pension in May. 1892, and was examined In
April, 1894 aud my increase dates only from my
examination made last April when did the La
change As to not allow increase back to date
of filing of the claim? Ans,oer. The law has
always been that In claim for straight Increase OF
pension the increase, If allowed. could date only
| from the medical examination, and not from the
| filing of the application.
| ID. w. b., Ednseston. NJ Y-Under the income.
TAX Law Will The salaries of the President and OF
Senators and Representatives be exempt No. On
the excess of $4,000 they will have to pay an in
4 come tax.
Il