The National tribune., 1894-06-14
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.


Correspondents should write each question on
n separate sheet of paper, give full name and adj
dress and mark it Correspondents Column" No
attention will be paid to communications not &C.
companied with name and address OF writer. It is
requested that stamp be inclosed for reply by
letter. Postal cards will be replied to by mail
only. Replies by mail will ordinarily be made
within 81 week, and If in this column within three
weeks.
j. H.. Darts. Hich.-A pensioner dies leaving
not enough property TO pay his funeral ex-
penses. Can the person who bore the expenses of
the last illness collect the accrued pension to help
pay tile bills? What is the law? AnsWer. Section
47ls, Revised Statutes. United States, governs this
matter and IL is now construed by the Secretary
of the Interior, from whose ruling there Is no APP
peal, that reimbursement out of accrued pension
for expenses Of last illness can be collected only
when the following named conditions exist: Where
the pensioner Tor applicant for pensiop) dies eav
ing no widow or minor child or children and leav
ing insufficient assets TO defrsy tile expenses of his
last illness, then that person who bore such
penses collect by way Of REIN bursement, pro-
viding the pensioner Tor applicant for penson) was
pensioned under the old or general law for dis
abilities contracted in service and line of duty; or,
IL not pensoned, then his claim left pending must
have been a claim under the old law. and the per-
son who seeks reimbursement must first establish
the claim in order to create fund out of which he
can be reimbursed. II will be observed that reim-
bursenent cannot. under the present construction
of the law, be collected out of pension granted
under the act of March 9 1878, (S12 act out of
any pension granted under the act Of Jan. g. 1887,
(Mexican war act nor out of any pension granted
under the net of June 81. 1890, Che law or de-
pendent aci,1 out OF any pension granted under
the act of July q. 1892 ndiar act) nor out OF
the pension of any one pensioned as a widow,
minor guardian or dependent parent under any
law; any one of the class just enumerated
be com pleed for reimbursement.
j. C. G., Newport N. Ills there any difference
In the of the pension CT the widow of private
or non-commissioned officer under the general
law? Or do circumstances vary 1t from Sl2 to So
per month? Aastcer. The rate of pension under
the general law for the widow of q private or
commissioned officer is Sl2 per month il she was
married to soldier prior TO March 49, 1886; So per
month If married TO him after said date.
PIG. d., AucrdB,, N. IA widow pensioner dies,
leaving two months pension due; no assets. Can
not this be collected toward funeral expenses?
A,iswer. No. (See above.)
r. H. s.. Bookings. g. D.-A soldier who
drawing pension under the act Of June q. 1890,
widow draw a pension; and. If so. how much?
Ans,UeT. If she was married to the soldier prior to
June %, 1890, and can show the necessary degree
Of dependence she may be pensioned under the
of June "a 1890. regardless of the of SOL
dier's death. IL she was married to the soldier
subsequent to said date, she cannot be pensioned
rs his widow unless she can prove that his death
direct result of cause originating in line of
duty in the service. She could then get pension
under the general law of either 50 or S2 per month
(See answer to J. G. G., abovel
b. c. b., National Home, O.-When q soldier puts
In for an increase. from what date does he get 1t
AnsWer. IL allowed and II IL be q claim for in
crease of the disability for which already pen
stoned then he gets 1t from date OF medical exami
nation.
D.
meaning of having a claim specially examined?
AnsUer. The professed object of q special
animation is TO ascertain the facts in the case.
Claims are ordered for special examination where
fraud Is suspected. or where. from consideration
Of all the evidence submitted, it IL believed that
Justice cannot be done to the Government or to the
claimant without further information to be OBJ
tanned through the medium OF . special examine
ton. Claims of this character are not submitted
for special examination upon the request OF q
claimant or his attorney, but upon the motion
of and official of the Pension Bureau IL has
been recently stated that about 10 per cent. of
reductions made under the act of June 81 1890 are
due to reports Of Special Examiners; the other 90
per cent TO the Board of Revision. 1t is a duty of
iation ofany pension law of the United States.
j. p Stark NJ u. How much behind are the
Special Examiners? 2. After they make their re-
cannot say; IL depends upon the Examiner and
the territory he hns; some few months, some
much longer. 2. After the entire special exami-
nation is completed the Reviewers of the Special
Examination Division pass upon 1t and submit 1t
to the Board of Review. where 1t is disposed Of one
way or the other.
a. w H., Pleasant HUI GA soldier applies for
original pension through an authorized PEN
sion attorney, and in the course OF two years he
becomes dissatisfied with his attorney and makes
verbal contract with another authorized attorney
to prosecute his claim. This attorney calls up the
claim. finds what is needed to complete 1t, goes
ahead and procures the same gets an action on
II, and gets il granted Now, what wish to
know, has this attorney right under the law to
collect pay for his services off OF the pensoner per-
sonaly or not; and If so, how much? AnsDer
Only that attorney who Is recognized by the Pen.
sion Bureau upon the allowance of the claim can
receive fee, and then only through the medium
of the u s. Pension Bureau. He cannot lawfully
receive anything from the pensioner direct.
second attorney who steps into case does so at
his peril, and If not recognized by the Com
missioner of Pensions for fee, he is without relief
L. Il. c., HdrrisUiue, PA comrade. drawing
Sl2 per month under act Of June. 1890. is ordered
before Board of Examiners. If he does not go, what
will be the result? How does 1t come, when PEN
sioner furnishes all the proofs that he is ordered
to appear? Are they running the Department. by
guess work? IL he does not appear for examination,
as ordered what next? Ansiocr. We presume he
is ordered for medical examination because of the
action Of the Board OF Revision. The trouble Is
that degree OF disability that under Gen. Raum's
regime entitled q new-law pensioner to SIC per
month Is now held to not entitle to such rate,
and therefore act Of juno 81 $780, pensions are be-
ing daily reduced or tax Ell away wholly. We see
way now other than comply. There will be
chance by and by 10 remedy this and to dispense
with the apotbecary scale system.