The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-11-12
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

ICorrespondents should write each question on
dress and mark il "COrresDondents' Column" No
attention will be paid to communications not &C.
coinpaned with name and address Of writer. It 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 week. and II III this column within three
weeks.l
f. L. B., Glorerspile, N. Y-Please state how
MANY men were in the Grand Review at Wash
ington in 1865. Ansper. Something over 200,.
900.
j. s. L., Patfrile, In-Is widow who drew
a pension up to date of remarrage and is again
q widow the second husband having died, en-
titled to renewal of the pension granted on
account of the death of the first husband? An
sWer. No. One or more bills have been intro
duced into Congress looking to the restoration
of pensions for this class of persons, but none of
them have become law.
p W. b., Quincy M-Did Mr.. Tanner, when
Commissioner of Pensions, ever issue an order
that the testimony Of Que comrade should be
accepted as sufficient proof of origin of the
claimants disability? Auswer. He issued this
order:
To Chiefs Of Divisions.
The rule which has hitherto been maintained In
this Office regarding proof of origin of disability.
under which the evidence Of one commissioned
officer Orderly Sergeant was accepted while
i'm the absence of that evidence the testimony Of
two private soldiers has been required. Is hereby
40 far modified that in the absence OF the evidence
of the commissioned officer the Orderly-Ser-
eeant the origin shall be held to be proven ON the
evidence Of the claimant and private soldier,
provided always that said claimant and said pr-
vute he men of reputable character.
JAMES TANNER Commissioner.
R,B. T., Lunsford, Ark-My name OH the
rolls is borne as Beasley l., whereas my correct
name is Robert B. L. and / want to know how
can get it changed so as to appear as it ought
to- Ans,uer. You can apply to the War Depart
ment for certificate OF discharge under your
own proper name, under the act of April IA,
$780, and if granted Hereunder the records OF
said Department will be so changed as to show
| your correct name thereon. We do not under
| stand your second question, and have not
| printed it or attempted to reply to it.
CO. H., Sandwich, ILL., applied for pension
in October, 1895, and was rejected. Now, if
| make another application and succeed. would
my pension date from the fling of the last
declaration or from the fling of first one; this
being q claim under the act of June %, 1890?
Aas,oer. It would date from the fling of the
| last application, unless. which is improbable
YOU could convince the Pension Bureau that
the first rejection Of the claim was an error.
Inquirer, Milwaukee, Wis.-What is the est.
m te as to the number of pensioners affected by
| the act of March 90, 1885, abolishing personal
payments at the several Pension Agencies, aud
has this act proved to be wise measure
Ansyer. About $4,000 pensioners Tor about 6.2s
per cent of the total number) were formerly
paid in person. The change has had the effect
of placing all upon an equality, discriminating
against none. and granting equal rights to all
The old method was Objectionable in many re-
spects, and unfair in that it discriminatei
against pensioners residing at distance from
the Pension Agencies.
j. g.. BrOcktOn, Mass.-Pleass state the mum
Der of employees in the Pension Bureau, and il
what percentage of appealed cases the Secretary
of the Interior Overruled the Commissioner O
Pensions? Ansger. At present there are slight,
over ], 800 clerks. ETC., in the Pension Bureau
As to sppeals from the action Of tho Commits
sioner of Pensions, it is shown by the last annus
report Of the Commissioner that, during tn
fiscal year ending June 30. 1896, the Pension
Bureau was sustained in 2992 csses appealed
aud that in only 534 cases Was the action Of tn
Pension Bufsaa FsveEssd In other words, on
! of 1926 appeals, but 53l were successful