The National tribune., 1895-09-26
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

Correspondents should write each question on
a separate sheet of paper give full name and adj
attention will be paid to communications not ac-
eompanied with name and address of writer. 1t is
requested that stamp be Enclosed for reply by
letter. Postal cards will be replied to by mail
only. Replies by mail will or diuarily be made
withina week. and If in this column within three
weeksl
B. J. E.. Pittston, Pal. Is there a law to
pension a soldier who served fve-year term,
commencing December. 1S77P 2. At his death
can his widow or children draw pension? An
s'rer /. Yes, for disability contracted in
line of duty in the service. 2. Yes, If the
soldier should die from q cause directly due to
a disability originating in line of duty other
wise, not.
d. A. s.. Mem Orleans. LA soldier PEN
stoned at So a month under the old law dies
with dysentery, but having been a physician
he always treated himself, and his wife cared
for him in his illness. 1. How will she prove
that he died of the disability for which he was
pensioned2 2. They were married in April
1895, and she has about So, 900 worth of prop
erty. How much pension per month will she
get? AnsWer. 1. If he died in city there
should be public record of the cause of his
death. If there was attending physician
during the last illness the cause of death may,
perhaps, be shown by the affidavit of the widow
and by the testimony Of friends who called
during the fatal attack, and who can state the
prominent symptoms then present. 2. Having
no title under the new law (having married
the soldier after June 81. $780, the amount of
property that she possesses cuts no figure, and
she must rely upon the provisions of the gen.
eral law, which requires that she shall show
that his death was direct result Of disability
originating in line of duty in the service. The
rate of pension, if allowed. will be s. month
(having married him after March 10, 1880.
w. W. H.. COnuene, Mel. If an applicant
f r u
tional evidence to corrob0rate that which has
already been furnished, is it not necessary to
obtain the atiidavits of one or more to the truth
of former evidence? g. Why is it that dis
elimination appears to be made against those
who are not publicly known or prominent and
why must some testimony be corroborated and
other not 3. If hernia comes on by degrees
so that the claimant does not know just when
it originated or how it was caused, will it de-
bar him from q pension under the act OF June
q, 1890? A. If q rupture was due to overlift-
ing would it be held to be due to negligence?
Ansirer. /. Your question is not clear, but
what is wanted in such case Is additional
testimony from persons having personal knowl-
edge to the facts that may be in issue. 2.
No definite rule can be laid down. The stand
ing of the witnesses and the relative import
ance Of their testimony will govern in such
case 3. 1t should not, as the Assistant Secre-
tary has recently ruled that where claimant
under Sec. 2 of the act of June "a, 1890. cannot
furnish the testimony of persons having per-
sonal knowledge of the circumstances under
which the disability was incurred, and there is
nothing in the case to create suspicion that
it was caused by vicious habits, his own affi-
davit setting forth the circumstances, together
with the testimony of two credible witnesses
who have known him from time antedating
the incutrence of the disability, showing that
he was then and has been during all their &C.
quaintance with him q man of good habits, will |
suffice, whether said disability il the result of
injury or disease. 4 Generally net