The National tribune., 1895-12-19
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

Correspondents should write each question on
separate sheet OF paper, give full name and adj
attention Will he paid TO Communications not &C.
companied with name and address of writer. 1t 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 week. and If in this column within three
weeSs.l
J. C., Scotland. Ark.-Please state how many
soldiers enlisted in the Union army, how many
| are now drawing pension, and how many have
been dropped from the rolls. AHsUer The to-
tai number of enlstments was 9, 8G5, 028 which,
reduced to a three-years' standard, was 1924
SIC. The number of pensioners on the rolls
June 30, 1895, Including all laws) was 970,524.
During the year ending June 80, 1895, there
were dropped from the pension rolls the names
of az, All pensioners
1L b. f., Weston, IT. Ta.-A soldier voun-
teered in 1862, received his first months pay
and SO advance on 500 bounty promised by
the Government; was taken sick and dis
charged in March, 1863, for physical disability.
When finally paid, the $25 advance bounty was
deducted. Can he now recover the 500 bounty?
AnSrer No.
j. G. s., National Military Home. Ran.-Did
the act of June 81, 1890, limit the date of mar
riage to soldier in way to affect the title of
his widow to pension? AHswer. 1t did to the
extent that the widow is not entitled to pension
under said act if married to the soldier subse-
quent to June 81. 1890 She would however,
he entitled to pension under the old law if she
could show that his death was direct result
of disability originating in line of duty in the
service.
H. s. j., Rosebud Tea. Can a claim for
pension be ordered for special examination
without due notice to the claimant? 2 How
is special examination usually conducted?
AitsWer. /. Yes, where fraud is suspected;
otherwise, notice is given the claimant. q In
what are termed merit" cases due notice is
afforded the claimant of the date and place of
the special examination, and when the case is
taken up the deposition of the claimant is first
taken and then the material witnesses whose
testimony bears upon the points in issue is
taken, together with the dispositions of any
new witnesses whose testimony may be rele-
want and necessary. The claimant has the
right to be present in person or by attorney
and to cross-examine the witnesses where the
merits OF the case arc involved; but where fraud
is suspected and the examination secret, then
the right of cross-examination is not accorded
nor is notice given.
E. H. p, WhittIeSey, OIL. Has there been
any law passed since the act of June 81 1890, |
that will prevent soldier who is entirely dis
abled from labor from getting pension of $40
a month. where he can give all the needed |
proof2 2. How much must soldiers widow
be worth to prevent her getting pension? 3. |
Where woman marries soldier since the war |
aud he dies, and she gets pension, and then |
remarries, and her present husband was a SOL |
der, can she be pensioned in the event of his |
death? Ans,rer. ]. No; but the sufficiency of |
the testimony and the weight to be attached to |
it and the rate of pension that it is held to war;
rant are matters within the discretion of the /
Commissioner of Pensions, subject to review by |
the Secretary of the Interior, and from their
decisions no appeals lie. 2. If she can satisfy
the Pension Bureau that her husbands death
was direct result of disability originating
in line of duty in the service, she will be PEN
stoned regardless of the amount of her property
If she cannot do so, and relies upon the act of
June q, 1890 then, under present ruling, it
will be held that her title TO pension is defeated
under said act of June 81, 1890, if her income
from sources outside her own labor much ex-
ceeds the amount provided by said act viz, 500
a year.