The National tribune., 1896-07-30

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Weeks.l
A. C. W.. Philadelphia. Pa.-Please state che
law which Assistant Secretary Reynolds
rendered decision in effect that a pension
under the act of June q, $780, must date from
the time Of filing OF the first application, aud
how this decsionafIects my case, which is this:
/ applied for pension in 1882, old law and was
rejected and then got pension under the act OF
June e. 1890, at the rate of $40 per month, and
in 1893 was reduced to So month. Now, can |
get pay from date of my first application, or can
| get the so rate back to the time it was
dnced? Ansuer. What you refer to is the act
Of March g. 1896, which we printed in this
column shortly after it was approved. Our
opinion is that it amountsto practically nothing,
for the reason that while it provides that a
pension under the act of June 81, $780, may
commence from date of filing Of first applica-
ton. there is coupled to this the fatal lin most
cases) restriction that it is necessary that the
testimony shall satisfy the Pension Bureau that
at date of filing of said first application there
existed pensiouabe degree of disability under
the act of June 81 1890 Now. as Il matter of
fact, the testimony on file in those rejected new
law claims that have been allowed from date Of
last application does not SO satisfy the Commits
sioner as otherwise the pension would have
dated from the filing of the first declaration
instead of from the fling Of the last one subse-
uuent to rejection in other words, the reports
Of the Boards OF Surgeons In such a case do not
satisfy the Medical Referee Of the Pension Bu-
reau that at any examination prior TO the last
one latter the filing of the last application) a
pensOnable degree of disability under the said
act existed and while under this act of March
G, 1885, il is competent Ior the pensiOner to file
testimony tending to show that he was PEN
sionably disabled at date of filing OF the first
application under the act of June 81. 1890, yet
it would appear to US to be, in general OF little
use to do, as it appears to us not reasonable to
suppose that any testimony obtainable will be
accepted by the Pension Bureau as Of a weight
greater than the reports of the Boards of Sur
geons now in the case. The trouble is that the
scheme of rating act of June q pensions has not
changed since Gen. Raum's system was repudi.
| ated. SO long as the present system is in vogue
| legislation of the character OF the act OF March
| 6, 1896 will amount to very little. With re-
spect to your own case You are advised that
| your claim under the old law is in no degree
affected by the law referred to- as it has applica-
| ton only to claims under the act of June q,
| $780, and as to securing your old rate back
| from the time your pension was reduced. We are
of the opinion that no testimony that you can
| adduee will be accepted to show title to the
| $40 rate for the period since reduction. The
point in your allowed case and similar ones Is
not that yen are less disabled than when you
were granted $40 month, but that the degree
| of disability in your case never warranted the
$40 rate under the system of rating new law
claims now regarded ss correct by the Pension
| Bureau.
| All. Indianola, Neb.-What was the amount
| G-se hoo lie nd hat
they redeemable in? Ans,cer. One hundred
and fifty million dollars, aggregate amount
of issue was $3.50, 600 00O,) exchangeable for
per cent. United States bonds redeemable at
the pleasure of the United States latter five
years" They were redeemable in coin.
W. H. R. Sparta, NJ il have seen news
paper clipping to the effect that all United
States officers can execute pension papers with
! out charge What age the facts? Ans,rer. II
is not true that all United States officers can
execute pension papers; as q rule, only those
that are authorized to administer oaths for gen.
eral purposes can take such acknowledgements
the one exception being fourth-class Postmas'
tiers. and they can only take the acknowledge g.
ments in pension vouchers. What you refer "a
is the act of jane T. 1883, which provides tina,
"alI United States officers now authorized to
administer oaths are hereby required and di.
rected to administer any and all Oaths required
to be made by pensioners and their witnesses
in the execution of their vouchers for theil
pensions free of charge" This was aimed a,
certain United States officers abroad wht
charged foreign pensioners exorbitant sums fol
the execution of their vouchers, and since Their
it has been sought to have 1t applied to til Ose
notsries who owed their appointment to thu
President of the United States, but withou
effect as yet. 1t has been contended that mas
, much as such Notaries were appointed withou
con frmation by the Senate that they were no
intended to be included in the act Of June
} 1883.
G.. D. s., Puui!;on, ~ Y-Did the last Con
gross pass bill donating to GAR. Posts con
demned cannon? Answer. Il did not. tn
bill referred to did not pass either the House