The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-05-02
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

tCorrespondents should write each question on
. separate sheet OF paper give full name and adj
dress and narkit Correspondents Column" No
attention will be paid 70 communications not ac-
companied with name and address of writer. 1t is
requested that n stamp be inclosed for reply by
letter Postal cards will be replied to by mail
only. Replies by mail will ordinarily be made
within a week. aud II in this column within three
weeks-l
Alb, Freedom, Ma Surgeon. ranking
az a Major, widower, marries two years since !;
at that time he was drawing pension OF S25 a
month, his total of rank; six months since he
died from disability for which he was PEN
stoned Please state what rate OF pension the
widow would draw, S12 or $25? Aasrer. Ii
the Pension Bureau comedies that the fatal
disability originated while the officer held
the rank of Surgeon. the widow would be en-
titled to the total of rank for Surgeon, which
is $25 month.
A. VS., Spring Brook, ~ VI have been
told that after a man reaches the age of 20
wears he gets more pension. Is this so: and
what is the amount that he is to get? AHsCer.
1t is not so; there is no such law, so far as PEN
sious for the late war are concerned. There is
a ruling Of the Commissioners of Pensions of
Sept 9 1893 that provides that in rating
claims under the act of June q, 1890, the Sl2
rate shall be allowed if the applicant has
reached the age of 10 years, ID being presumed
in such a case that senile debility exists.
III v. Soldiers Home Call. Has Congress
passed a law providing medals for all the vol
upteers of the first call of April, 1861? 2 Is a
soldier of the late war who receives pension
for such service entitled to another pension for
service in another war, say, the Mexican or In
dian war? Answer. l. No. 2. One cannot
draw two pensions for the same period of time,
as the law expressly prohibits this. If one had
title to pension on account of each war he
could take pension most advantageous to him,
or change from one to the other whenever to
his interest to do so.
ID. McR., Pitts6urg, Pa.-Please inform me
whether q soldier OF the 14th Pa. Cav. drawing
a pension of $12 month can get admitted to
the State Home at Erie, and whether he would
have to give up his pension if he went thereP
AnSwer. We do not know whether there are
any vacancies in that Home at present, but you
can ascertain by writing to the Superintendent
of that Home. AS to giving up pension, we be-
lieye that formerly-and il may be the practice
yet-the Home took so per cent. OF the pension
of it's inmates You can ask the Superlnten-
dent when you write him.
J. w. p, Franklm's Forks, Pa.-Please in
form me whether Gen. Sickles draws pension,
and whether he draws the pay of retired otfi-
cor and the pay of Congressman? Anseeer.
Gen. Sickles is on the Retired List, and there
fore is not pensioner, as the law expressly
provides that no retired officer shall draw PEN
sion while receiving the pay of a retired OH
GER. During Gen. Sictles's term In Congress
he drew the pay of n Congressman in addition
to his pay as a retired officer.
c. b. National Military Home. Ran.-Please
state in your columns the following: Where
was William Smith, Paynaster-General Just
retired), bornP How was he appointed Pay
master, and when and what rank did he hold
Ansrer. He was born in Vermont, but was ap-
rointed from Minnesota. He was appointed
an Additional Paymaster of Volunteers, Aug.
20. 1861 Brevet-Lieutenant-Colon March 13,
1865; Major and Paymaster of the Regulars,
Jan. II, 1867; Lieutenant-Colonel and Dep.
Paymaster- General, Sept 8, 1888; Brigadier-
Geaeral and Paymaster- Gen eral, March 10,
1890. He was selected by President Harrison
for Paymaster- General because of special fit
ness for that place.