The National tribune., 1896-12-24
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.


il.orrespondents should write each question
eepsrate sheet of paper, give full name sn.i adj
dress and marSit Corresponding Column. NO
Rttep ton will he paid to communications not ao-
eompaned with name and address OF writer. IL IS
requested that stamp be inclosed for reply by
ls,ter. Postal cards will be replied to ny mail
only. Replies by mail will ordinarily lie made
within week. and II in this column within three
weeks.l
W. p. B., Nagent, Io,oa.-In whose admin
isfratiop. counting feur-year PERIODS. was the
public debt decreased the most; aud did Presi-
dent Cleveland reduce 1t more than did Gen.
Harrison? 2 Answer. The greatest reduction OF
thu public debt for any four-year period was
from MARCH, l, 1881, to March ]. 1885. (Garfeh
md Arthur,) the reduction being $.8a, l61.-
9s2.25. From March /. 1855, to March j. 1859,
tClevelsnd's first terrn,) the reduction was
S3a1 .44S 1890, while from March,, 1889, to
March /, 1888 (Harrison's tern.) the redaction
was S236. 5g7. 66610. The reason why Presi-
dent Harrison did not reduce the debt more
was that pension payments were greatly IN
creased and large disbursements were made W
WAY of sngar bounties.
II. D., Hampton. Va.-In an editorial in the
New York Ford it is stated that the Supreme
Court of the United States has decided that
pension is a vested right. Is this true? An
sme,. II is not true but it is about as near cor
rect ne the balance of that papers editorial on
pensions in which the statement to which you
refer is made. As a matter of fact, the SUI
preme Court has Uniformity held that pension
was mere grsiuity. 1T is bounty that may
be given or recalled, increased diminished.
Mt the pleasure Of Congress-" Such is the Ian
guace OF that conrt. The question would have
again come up in the Judge Long case, and the
act of Der. q, 1903 (which to an uncertain ex-
tent makes pension vested right wouid
have received an authoritative Interpretation,
had not that case been absted by the resigna-
ton OF Commissioner Lochren.
j. H. G., Philadelphia. Pa.-For the benefit OF
several readers please explain why it is that in
recent Issue of your paper, III the Core
spendents" column. the statement WIS made
that for the year 1896 the Secretary OF the In
terror reversed tho action of the Com missi oBer
of Pensians ia only 53i Of the cases appealed,
while an Associated Press dispatch, as well IS
your own paper of the 18th inst. last. shows
that for the year 1896 the Secretary overruled
the Commissioner Of Pensions III 2,0G6 cases
4nsuer. The statement in orr Correspondents
column is correct. and is taken from page 16
OF the Report of the Commissioner OF Pensions
for the fiscal year ending June 50, 1896 That
report rccites that for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1886. (this. of course. began July /.
| 1881 ''thc record shows rs follows: Cases in
which the action OF the Pension Bureau was
sustained, 1892; cases in which the action OF
the Pension Bureau was reversed, 53i appeals
| dismissed during the fiscal year, 246." The
article to which you refer land which we re-
| produced in our last issue) is misleading the
truth being that the report of the Assistant
Secretary of the interior dated Nov. 20. 1885.
shows fpage 22) that from April 10. 1888, ia
| Nor. U.s. 1886, period Of three years and seven
4 months, instead Of one year only, the Pension
| Bureau was reversed in 2,069 cases cat Of a
| total of 22,l91 disposed Of during the said
/ three years and seven months. In other
| words for the entire period OF tho incumbeucy
| OF the present Assistant Secretary april 10
] 1888, to Nov. l5 1885, it is shown that in
| 90 lo2 cases the action of the Commissioner oil
| Pensions was sustained and that in 2,o69 it was
reversed. Our reply in our Correspondent:
column had reference only to the record for the
ono year ending Jnno 30, 1896. while the Asso
! c,ated Press dispatch referred to admitted Of
the inference that these 2, 066 e. 069 is the cor
| rect number) reycrsals OF the Pension Bureau
were in the last fiscal year, whereas this num-
Der represents the figures for the entire thre<
4 years and seven months.
/ H. r. d., Santa Monica. Cal-For the benefit
! of several old soldiers please State whether the
| recent ruling of the Secretary of the Interior
| referred to in the Correspondents column .
/ week or two SINCE which holds that descr
| tiyn subsequent to the war of the rebellion Il
no bar 10 pension under the act of June 81
| 1890, will afford relief in those cases wher.
prior to said war the soldier had deserted from
the Regular Army and then had an hon2rabl'
service during the war referred to? Ansme,
We do not understand that tho ruling referred
ally restricts itself to those cases where the de
sertion was subsequent to the war OF the rebel
lion.
| IL M, Gsr1oHdaie, Pal. IL the "Nava
| Prize Fund y ont Of which naval pensions ar
paid exhausted? 2. When does All appiican
for increase of pension return his pension Ger
| tiGcatc when lie sends i'm his application for ia
| The incomsof t(ahout $4O0 000) 10 insufficien
TO pay all naval pensions, and the deficit come
out of the regular pension appropriation.
Not until lie receives nm allowance in the CLAN
| and new certificate and vouchers from th
United States Pension Agent.
A. A. w, Fall Rirer, Mass.-Has tbs reeen
ruling of the Secretary Of the IRterior as to de
the war OF the rebellion any applicability to
case like this: A soldier served In two-month
regiment and received an honorable dischaTg
therefrom, aud then on Jan. g. 1854. enlisted il
three-yeays rcgi mont and served therein til
Ang. 8, 1866. when lae deserted. although shortl
alter the regiment was mastered out. Answe,
The ruling referred to does not afford relief il
any such case. hut ii the facts are as stated b.
you the War Department. will smend the recor
of this soltier and issue TO him an hoaorabl
discharge (he having served faithfully up
May i, 1865, having had n services of more tina
six months prior thereto), and then he vii
have status for pension and Will not have :
rely upon any decision OF the Secretary of th
| Interior as regards discharge.
Il. c., Cline, TEA soldier served durin
the war OF tho rebellion and was woussde
therein, aud is pensioued for this wousd; prio
| tn the said war he deserted from the Regua
, Army, and the question IL. Can the Commi:
. sioIser of PeHsiors stop this pension because q
! this desertion? Ans,Der. He can, it he choose
to, by giving tho 30 days notice required by til
, act Of Dec. "a, 1891. We are not prepared Z
| say whether he would.
II j. B. H., Charleston, M.-Ts . soldier Of Il,
Mexican war entitled 20 draw service pepsio
bncanse Of his service thersia and also n diss
bility pension, he having served in the late w
1 and contracted pensienabl disability thereia
t 44nswer. No one can draw two pensions for til
. 4 same period of tiase. IL entitled to beth, h
may elect which he will draw, but session AL!
5 | r. S. U. s., prevents any one from receisia
5 two pensions for the Same period, aud will {
prevent until il is repealed or modified hy 81
: sequent legislation.