The National tribune., 1894-06-21
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

Correspondents should write each question on
separate sheet Of paper, give fli! name and adj
attention will he paid TO communications not ac-
companied with name and address of writer. 1t is
requested that stamp be inciosed for reply by
| letter. Postal cards will he replied 10 by III all
| only Replies by mail will ordinarily be made
/ within week. and II in THIS column within three
| weeks
| B.H. d., Brooklyn. KY.-On Nov. 81, 1893. my pen
sion certificate Cot, 1880 suspended was given
[ 60 days i'll which 10 answer. but had additional
evidence, did not do received n notification
/ that my name WAS dropped from the pension roll
Jan. 81, 1894. Now. want to find out if am not
entitled To- my pension from Oct. 4, 1893 (my last
drawing) until JAN 81. 1894. VIII you please give
an old soldier. who is out of employ ment, all the
| information about this you can? Ans,cer. We
| think that, under proper Interpretation of the
aci OF Zee -. ioIo you are ehiea 10 pension ier
| the period that came withheld, and to a
tinuance thereof until the expiration OF proper
| 80 days notice served under said act. We advise
you TO write to the Commissioner OF Pensions and
ask why you not entitled 10 the benefit of the
law referred to. which made your pension vested
right that that it could not legally be re-
| duced or taken away until proper notice given.
W. p, Greenwood, N. Y-Is there any record OF
ever having free trade in this country? II SO,
| what year and how long did il last, and whose
| Administration WAS it under, and what effect did
| 1t have on the country? AnsUer We had absolute
free trade SO far as the Nation concerned from
the time of the Declaration of Independence TO the
| formation of the present Government in 1885, snd
! the results were unsatisfactory thai one OF The
very first acts by the new Government, which
approved by George Washington himself the
enactment OF a tariff bill. The next nearest APP
proach TO free trade the adoption of the Walker
tariff of 1916, which carried some farther by
amendments in 1857. Depression aud widespread
ruin have invariably followed a reduction of duties
OF the Treasury. sometimes amounting to absolute
bankruptcy. in 1861, when the Government
could only borrow money by paying as high az, in
some instances u per cent Polk, Taylor, Pierce,
and Buchanan the Presidents during the
operation of the Walker tariff
Mrs D. o. b.. Geneseo. IH-Soldier enlisted
1 hou pltarye on old
tracted i'll line Of duty, from which he died soon
after, leaving widow and four small children.
Widow applied for pension. which was rejected on
account Of soldier having been discharged before
the regulation 90 days were quite up. Is there any
ruling at the present time which would give her q
pension? 4rsUer. II The claim has been rejected
upon the grounds stated by you, then it was filed
under the act of June 27. 1890, and if the soldier
did not serve 80 days. there is no title under said
act; IT, however, the soldiers death q direct
result of II disability contracted in line of duty in
the service then there would be title under the
old law which does not require service of 80 days
DR.. s. H. H., Harrisburg. Pal soldier enlisted
in 1873 i'll tile l2th u. ). Inf. (Regulars). and
honorsbIy discharged in 1853. tho end of his full
term of five years service, at Whipple Barracks,
Arizona; during which time he was also messenger
carrier from post TO post for two years. contracted
rheumatism etc. Now, should he prove his all
nients acquired in line of duty and they
tInue since his discharge TO the present time, and
he become an inmate OF the poorhouse is he
pensionabe under any existing pension laws
and if so, under what act? q The application of
| old soldier. past 81 Summers was filed some 10
years ago. but for the want of means and the post
Office addresses of his officers and comrades his
claim could not be substsnisted then adj
vised, and flied under the late law June q, $780,
received pension Of Si2 n month bus now. says
he il is inadequate TO pay his expenses. reaching
from IS to s. week. He desires to be increased
under the general law. How can this be done? an
stceT. l. Yes; pensionable under the general law
upon proper application and proof 2 Only by
esta blishing the old law claim assuming that the
disabilities which he may prove OF service origin
disable him to extent that would enttIe him to
more than Sl2 per month In determining his title
TO rate in excess of Sl2 only disabilities proven to
be of service origin can be considered.
A. g., Sic Lakes. Mich.-Dd alien enlistng at
the time OF the rebellion In the army, become
voter without taking out his naturalization papers?
ArssUer He did not thereby become 3 naturalized
citizen of the United States. Such act simply
equivalent 10 declaration of intention to become
a citizen Of the United States In every such
it go to court OF competent juris-
dietion and take out final papers before becoming
a naturalized citizen of the United States. The
question of being voter has nothing to do with it,
the qualifications of voters left to the re-
spective States and it not infrequently happens
that aliens have been allowed to vote in different
States No period of service in the military or
naval service of the United States no matter how
long, makes IA alien a citizen.
Mrs. W. b. c.. Nets0nUiHe, GA widow here has
been drawing a pension for about three years. She
has lately married again. Can she still draw and
turn the pension over TO her daughter? Aiss,oer.
Her remarriage operates to wholly end her PEN
sion. She cannot turn 1t over to any one, but the
law provides that in such a case the minor child,
by uly-appointed guardian. upon filing of
proper application and proof receive the pension
w. b., BdyGrd, Kdn.-1. Are our Congressman
allowed TO examine q pension claim? 2. When
additional evidence Is asked for, signed by the
Commissioner, Is not that admitting that, IL salts
factorily furnished the claim is pete? 3. After
"a claim is sent TO the Board of Review, how long
before n decision is rendered? 4. II a claim is re-
jected and aferward reopened and allowed would
1t date from time of filing reopening? 5. Are
the decisions rendered by Assistant Secretary Rey-
nolds of the same worth as by the Commissioner or
Secretary of the Interior? 6. Are these decisions
rendered when some case is being considered,
are they the same rulings or new laws? AaStUer.
!. Yes. 2. Only an indication that upon its pro-
duction, IL satisfactory the claim will be ready for
IA settlement. g. few weeks ordinarily; some
times months. A. 1t depends upon the character of
the claim and under which law made. B. The As
sstant Secretary represents the Secretary. His de-
Commissioner of Pensions who is subordinate to
the Secretary of the Interior. 6. Generally upon q
case appealed from the decision Of the Commits
sioner.
o. r. s. Wdles, Mass-Mother and daughter are
drawing pension of So sud So per month. Mother
died May, 1s93 Is not daughter entitled $40 per
month from March 4, ls93 being under Is years of
age? Guardian applied TO Pension Office to draw
minors pension, and through some mistake was
allowed pension only from November, 1888. Can
guardian apply now and get pension back to March
f. l893 from November, 1888? 4nstger. No because
minors pension Hereunder dates only from filing
of application therefor.
8. ID. b., Bangor Ne.-A widow who draws pen-
sion on account of her husband having died from
effects of disease contracted during army service
has a daughter Thy said husband) now "a years
old, who has been helpless from infancy-paralyzed
body and mind. Can she draw any additional PEN
sion for said daughter, under any of the rulings of
the Pension Department. Ansiper. No not if the |
daughter was over the age Of l6 when soldier