The National tribune., 1896-10-22
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

Correspondents should write each question on
separate sheet of paper. give full name and adj
attention will he paid to communications not
companed with name and address Of writer. 1t is
requested , that stamp be nelosed for reniy by
only. Replies by mail will ordinarily be made
witna week and II in this columns within three
weeks.l
j. g., NeD Hapen, COnn.-Please state what
disposition has been made of the case OF Judge
Long vs. circumstance Lochren. Ans,oer.
In the Supreme Court of the United States. on
the 18th inst, the Solicitor General moved to
dism ISIS the case on the ground that the cause
had abated by reason of Commissioner Loch-
ren's resignation and retirement from office.
This. we presume, settles the case.
A. b., Uiyerston, England.-Please state
whether $12 per month is not tho rate under
the act of June 27 1890, for total inability to
work, and whether, in apply ing for an increase
now drawing but So month"; should employ
all attorney in America or in this country.
AnsWer. Twelve dollars per month is the rate
under the Act of June 81 1880, for total inca
pacity for obtaining support by manual labor
from causes not due 20 the soldiers own vicious
habits subject of the Queen cannot act as
attorney before the Executive Departments Of
the United States Government. Your attorney
should be a citizen of the United States.
J. II. H., alma City, MinH.-Has the law
whereby veteran bounty was forfeited by pro-
motion been changed? Answer. No.
W. H. v, Dam. No.. Please state in what
way does silver money coutrol the price OF
wheat? 2. If silver money does control the
price OF wheat. why not the price Of corn, oats,
rye etc? 3. What is the amount in circula-
tion Of all kinds of money in the United States
per capita now 1886, aud what was it in the
year 1873? Answer. !. 1t does not. 2. 1t
does not control the price Of any commodity.
g. The per capita for this year is $2l.l0; for
1873 it was $500.
A. b., Tobias. Neb.-Is there law that all
pensioners who receive less than SIP per month
shall be increased to Sl2 when they arrive
at the age Of Is years? Answer. No; it is not
the law, but it is regulation of the Pension
Bureau that applies only to claims under the
act OF June 81 1890. Of survivors of the late
war. 1t has no appliration to claims not under
the act of June 81. 1890 nor TO any claim where
the title is derivative (widows, minors, or de-
pendent parents)
A. d. j., Brooklu N. Y.-Have the laws
governing fees in pension claims ever been de-
clarcd unconstitutional? They seem to greatly
conflict with the ordinary rights OF contracts.
A1ls,oer. The constitHtionality of said laws has
been repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court
of the United States. In the Of the United
States vs. Hall (9S U. S., 343) it was held that
the United States as the donors of the pensions
may, through the Legislative Department of
the Government, annex such conditions to the
donation as they see fit. and that the agent or
attorney is bound by such conditions. In a
later it was held that 1t is within the
| undOubted power OF the Government to restrain
all individuals from some contracts, as well as
| some individuals from all contracts.
The possession of this power by the Government
in manner conflicts with the proposition
that, generally speaking, every citizen has a
right freely to contract for the price of his
labor, services. or property"
II. e. g., Detroit Mich.-How many pension
ers were dropped by reason of death for the
year ending June 30 1885, and how does the
number compare with the figures for 1895!
Ansper. For the year ending June 90 1896 the
whole number of pensioners dropped because of
| death was 1888, but of this number only
| 1925 were invalid pensioners of the late war
| 1888 were pensioned rs widows dependents
OF the late war; and the balance were old war
pensioners. For the year ending June 80. 1895.
27,6l6 were dropped by death. of which 1877
were invalid pensioners of the late war, and
| 7,037 widows or dependents of the late war :;
balance old war pensioners. comparison of
| these figures (taken from the official reports of
the Commissioner OF Pensions) shows the NOR
tality relatively higher for 1896 among widows
and dependent pensioners Of the late war than
among male pensioners of said war, as only 493
more invalid late war pensioners were drop
| ped in 1895 than in 1895, while of widows and
| dependents 22I excess for 1896 ia shown