The National tribune., 1896-10-01
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

Correspondents should write each question on
separate sheet Of paper. give full name and adj
dress and mark it ''COrrespondents' Column" No
attention will be paid to communications not ac-
eoa,paned with name and address Of writer. II is
requested that stamp be inclosed for reply by
letter. Postal cards viii be replied 10 by mnEl
only. Replies by mail will ordinarily be made
within week. and ii IN this column within three
wecks.l
H. ", Milan, Mch.-Please state the amount
of suplus money in the Treasury ut the close of
the Harrison Administration, and whether
there was shrinkage in the Treasury under
the Mckinley tariff. and whether there has
been IN increase under tho present tariff An
sacer. When President Harrison left Office he
turned over to his successor as surplus the sum
Of $124,O84, 1928. The receipts under the Nc
Kinley bill were S24. .960. POI more than the ex.
penditures Of the Governments; during the
FIRST two years Of the Wilson tariff she receipts
under it we're SIG. 157 SIG less than the expepdi-
lures and since March /. 1888. there has been
q deficit, up to June l 1886, Of $l50 3a8, 149.
s. X, Buffalo, N. Y.-Please state the average
age of the volanteef soldiers Of the late war at
date of enlistment? Ansmer. 25.6 years.
A. W.. Duluth, Minn.-1. Was there ever . law
passed by Congress giving the soldier the differ
ence between paper money and gold? g. Did
Congress pass an act during Grants Admins
holder in gold? g. Did nu- Government ever
pay $3.50 in paper for . dellsr in gold? A.
We're our bonds sold for paper money or for
eold2 Ansper. 1. No. g No. 3. In July,
1864, it took. on an average. for the month,
$2.5S in greenbacks to buy dollar in gold. 4.
For gold or its equivalent.
j. A. c., Mitwaukee. Wis.-HHve any reliable
estimates been made, and by whom rs to the
probable number of survivors of the late war
in 1900 and thereafter? Aasacer. The War De-
partment has made an exhaustive study Of the
matter, and its estimates furnished tho House
of Representatives show that in the year 1900
there will probably survive 999 339; 1905, 620.
6s7; 1910, 626 23l; 1915 429 TIT; 1920, Pol, ,727;
1925, l16, 1903; 1910, $40; l945, o.
s. H., Belle Fourchc, s. D.-Please publish in
your paper tho different pension bills passed
since the war for the benefit of soldiers and the
votes on each, as the Democrats are claiming
that they have done as much for the soldier as
have the Republicans? Amswer. We cannot
publish the bills in detail rs upward of 20 bills
for the benefit of soldiers have become laws
since the beginning of the war, but the records
of Congress will show that tho act Of March 8.
1873 restoring tho pensions of survivors, and
their widows, Of the war Of 1872. which had been
taken from them because Of their sympathy
properly attributed to tho Democrats. OF the %
acts passed from 1881 to 1575. during which time
the Republicans were in power, oil the adverse
votes were cast by Democrats. From 1875 to
1890 80 acts were passed, and against these
we're cast by Republicans, % votes against tho
act Of March 8. 1878, before referred to- and
53 votes against the Mexican war act of Jan.
90. 1887. Against tho remaining 36 acts no
Republican cast single vote. while Democratic
votes, more or less were cast against every ono
of the measures that ever came TO . yea and
nay vote, though only one Democratic vote was
cast against the act of March 9, 1873. restor-
ing disloyal 1872 pensioners. Tho arrears
act has been called Democratic bill. but it was
not. 1t was not introduced by Democrat,
was not moved by Democrat and was not
passed by Democratic votes. The history of the
few measures that have become laws since the
year 1890 is too recent to review, but Of it itcan
be said that the Republican party has main.
t&insd its record for championship Of the rights
of the soldier, aud the other party its reputa-
tion, as illustatsd BY the attitude above re-
ferred to.