The National tribune., 1896-11-26
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

lCoresbondents should write eacll question on
separate sheet OF paper, give full name and adj
dress and marki it Corresponding Column
attention will be paid to communications not
companred with name and address Of writer. 1t is
requested that 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 IL III this column within three
weeks.l
". H. p, Letcher, S. D.-Please inform me
whether there is a Federal law commanding
all appointing powers to prefer Union soldiers
for all Offices aud places of public employment
Answer. The only law on the subject is Sec
1854. r. S. u. S., which provides: Persons
hOnorabiy discharged from. the military or
naval service by reason of disability resulting
from wounds or sickness incurred in line
of duty shall be preferred for appointment to
civil Offices providing they found to possess
the business capacity necessary for the proper
discharge of such Offices" This law, it will be
Observed applies only in those instances in
which the soldier was discharged by reason of
disability.
T. W. G., Sedalia, Mo.-Will you kindly an
swer the following questions: l. By whom
are Special Pension Examiners appointed
2. Do they have to pass Civil Service Ex-
animation? g. Is a good army record of any
advantage? a. Is age of applicant considered,
if able physically to do the work :? 5. Are the
duties difficult or complex? g. Is knowl-
edge of law required? Ansper /. By the
Secretary Of the Interior. 2. Yes. 3. Yes, if
discharged on Surgeons certificate of disability
Cor benefits under this see last weeks Cor
respondents column.) 4. 1t is not q factor
in securing certifcation but the appointing
power may consider that anythng else he
wishes in selecting or rejecting for appoint
ment one of the three names certified to him :;
he is not obliged to select the highest one of
the three certified. 5. Difficult and exacting.
6. Absolutely necessary, as in the examination
weight of eight is given to law and six to
pension law out of total of 20 points; "a
weight of six only being given to the other five
subjects.)
Ciuil Service Brooklyn. N. What is the rule
as to reinstatement of veterans Of the late war,
and does this apply to all removals made in the
Government service? AnSper. 1t is Depart
mental Rule x, approved by Gen. Harrison Oct.
Is. 1891 and provides upon requistion of the
head of Department for certifcation for re-
instatement of those who through no de-
linquency or misconduct have been separated
from the classified service In case of civilians
such reinstatement cannot be made If the ap-
plicant has been separated from the service for
more than one year, but in case OF h0norably.
discharged soldiers and sailors it matters not
how long they may have been separated from
the service. This rule does not provide for the
reinstatement of any person removed from an
office not in the classified service at date of his
separation from the service, and therefore has
| no applicability to removals prior to May 4,
| 1896 from any of the 30-odd thousand places
! then brought (by Executive order) within the
| classified service.
Victim, Philadelphia, Pa.-Are not those hold
| ing Government Offices protected by the Civil
| Service law from dismissal? Anslocr. 1t is
| illegal for an appointing officer to remove an
| employee Of the classified service because that
| employe refuses to render political service. to
be coerced in political action. or to contribute
money for political purposes" Removals for
any other cause are not prohibited by law, and
| will not be Investigated by the u. s. Civil
Service Commission.
| II. r., Hepner. Ore.-Has Congress ever passed
an act giving pensions to settlers of Oregon and
| Washington that fought in the Indian wars Of
1856, SO? ANSWER. The Senate passed such a
measure, but it has not yet been considered by
| the House. 1t may be taken up and passed
| this Winter.
| O. S. p, Rockland, Mass.-1. Please state how
many pensions were granted previous to the
election of Grover Cleveland2 2. How many
were granted during his first term? 3. How
many were granted during Gen. Harrison's
term? 4. How many have been granted since
| Cleveland has been in this time? .4nslcer /.
| From 1861 to Juno 30, 1885 (the records run by
fiscal years ending June 80 OF each year,, $780,
| Ss7 claims were allowed. 2. From June 30
1885. to June 30, 1859. zoe, 224 new pensioners
were added to the roll. 3. From June 30, 1889,
| to June 30, 1893 (Harrison's term) $50, 800 new
| names were added TO the pension.roll. A. Up
to June 80. 1896 1--WE have no later figures that
are Officially, 1854 new pensioners were en-
rolled.