The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-06-20
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

fCorrespondents should write each question on
= separate sheet of paper, give full narHe and adj
dress and mnriSit Correspondents Column" No
attention Will be paid to communications not ac-
companed with name and address of writer. II 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 Ia week. and II i'll this column within three
weeks.l
b. p NJ. Maggart, Tenn.-Please inform me
whether there Is a ruling of the Pension Bu-
reau that soldier who had served in the Con-
federate army and then enlisted and was hon.
orably discharged from a United States regi-
ment, cannot draw pension under the new
law. AnsUer. IL is now maintained that the
act Of June 81, 1890, should be construed with
reference to statutes in pari ndteria claws bear
ing upon the same subjectl, and it is held by
the present Assistant Secretary that the pro-
hibition contained in Section 47l6, Z. S. U. s.,
restricts the payment of pension so that those
who voluntarily served in the Confederate
forces and thereafter enlisted in the army or
navy OF tho United States, cannot be pensioned
except for disability incurred in the line of
duty in the United States service. This con-
struction precludes the payment of pension for
disability originating prior or subsequent to
the United States service. thus practically de-
feating title under act Of June 81, 1890, for
such soldiers as had, prior TO their entry into
the Union army, served voluntarily in the
Confederate forces.
c. r. r., Onawa, Io,ra-Pleaso state what
steps can take to get pay for taking care of
an old comrade. who was pensiOner, in bis
last illness and does. the Government furnish
blank applications for such claimsp He was
buried here, and there was nothing with which
to pay the bills Answer. Ii he left surviving no
widow and no child or children under the age
of 10 years, and IL you bore the expenses of
the last illness, he leaving assets, or INSULT
cient to defray such expenses, then, If you will
address the Auditor for the Interior Depart
ment. Treasury Department. Washington. ID.
c." stating the facts, that officer will send you
the necessary blanks and instructions to enable
you to collect reimbursement expenses to the
extent incurred by you mot to exceed the
amount Of pension due on the certfcate).
Z. W., Sher5ane. Tt-Please inform me
whether the Government furnishes headstones
for deceased soldiers; and SO. to whom appli-
cation should be made. AnsICer. Under the
act of March 3. 1891, the Quartermaster. Gen.
eral q. s. A. will, upon solicitation, furnish
headstOues, delivered freight paid, to the near
est railroad station, for unmarked graves OF
soldiers sailors and marines who served in the
army or navy of the United States, either regu-
lars or volunteers. whether they died in serv.
ice or since discharge. State the facts and adj
dress the Quartermaster. General, U. S. A.,
Washington, ID. G.
- al. s., Laurence Rdn.-Pleasc inform me
as TO the rights If any, of the widow under
the circumstances stated viz, A soldier mar
riesin 1868. lives with his wife a term Of years,
and ultimately becomes an inebrlate 10 such
degree that she feels disinclned to live with
him, and they separate and after several years.
desiring TO be rid of his dictatien with respect
to the management of their child. she applies
for and obtains divorce. Does this divorce
bar her from pensionabls rights upon the death
of tho soldier, sho never having remarked?
Ansmer. II lawfully divorced from the soldier,
than ha iS mt hia yf has oh
der the age of 16 years at date Of death of the |
soldier, IL might be entitled to pension, upon |
due application and proof