The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-03-12

C. A. p, Gotue1, Mch.-1. How much of the
Government debt was paid during President
Harrisons Administration? 2. How much
under President Cleveland's? g. How much
silver was there coined in 1895? A. Please
give your authority in each case AnStrer
1. Total bonded debit paid by Mr.. Harrison.
after making all deductions, was $236, 527,-
G6G. 10; but by his withdrawal of Government
funds from National banks and applying same
on the bonded debt Mr.. Harrison stopped the
interest upon 1905, 225, 1885. 2. S341 ,44S,-
1920, il yon refer to his first Administration,
during which the payment for pensions had
not attained near the proportions it did dur.
ing Harrison's Administration, nor had the re.
duction of duty on sugar. etc.. taken place
then. This explains why Cleveland stopped
interest on$36 255, SO more than did Harri-
son. 3. For the fiscal year ending June 80,
1896 So 069, 480.60. 4. and 2 Congressional
Record; 3, Director of the Mint.
s. d. c., Gray, Me.-Please state the meaning
of the word Original" as applied to pension
claims Answer. 1t means, when applied to
claim, that no pension certificate has ever
issued to the applicant therein when applied
to a pension certificate it means the first GER
tifcate ever issued to the beneficiary named
therein.
j. G., Macedonia, I'LL. Has tho bounty law
expired by limitation? 2. Can those cases of
children dsallowed because the children were
over the age of is years of age DO reopened
under the decision of the Secretary without
taking an appeal in each case? Answer. 1.
The bounty act of July 28, 1866 expired by
Limitation July q 1880. 2. If rejected on the
grounds stated-we refer to general law cases
only-tbey can be reopened in the Pension
Bureau by appropriate action therein.
H. NJ, Olean. ". VI am getting widows
pension of S. under act of June 81, $780, My
husband lied by reason of disease contracted in
the service, aud / have filed application under
old laws If allowed will my attorney be
titled to $25 fee have made contract with
him for that amount), or will he get $40, or
only 81 for obtaining an increase? ARSwer.
He will be entitled to and will receive fee of
$25 If his contract therefor be approved by
she Commissioner of Pensions, and it will be
if in due form.
Several Veterans. Soldiers Home Boise, Haho-
Please state whether Washington's Birthday is
legal holiday. Some say that the 18th of July
is the only legal holiday. What are the facts?
Ansuer Whether Feb. 90 is legal holiday in
your State depends wholly upon the law of
Idaho and the same is true with respect TO any
other holiday. There are but two National
holidays, and they are SO not by virtue of Con-
gressional enactment, since Congress has not
the power to prescribe what days, If any. shall
be observed by the several States as legal holt
days, but by universal recognition; We refer
to July and Christmas. These two days are
holidays in every State. and, therefore, may DO
fairly said to be National holidays; they would
cease TO be such if not generally observed.
Congress, in the exercise Of its power to lesis-
late over the Territories and over this District,
has passed acts creating Feb %, Memorial Day,
Labor Day and others. legal holidays, and
these have been improperly characterized as
National holidays; but such acts are inoperat-
i've except for this District and for the Terri
tories. and, therefore, are in no proper sense
National holidays