The National tribune., 1897-05-20
PENSION POINTERS.
INQUIRIES Answered and Sug-
gestions Made.


regulations at the time applied TO members OF
the volunteer service, shall he held ana con-
sidered 10 have been mustered INTO the service
of the United States in the grade named III his
apnointnent ,lr commission from the date from
which he vas 10 take rank under and by the
terms of his - ID appointment or commission,
whether the same was actually received by him
orno, and shall he entitled to pay, cmoluments,
aud pension as If actually mustered at that
date: Proridea That at the date from which
he was to take rank by the terms OF his SAID
arpoinimeut or commission there was vacancy
to which lac could be so appointed or coihmis-
stoned aud his command had either been re-
cruited To the minimum number required by
law and the regulations of the War Depart
ment or had been assigned TO duty IN the Deld,
ana that he actually performing the duties
of the grade 10 which he was SO appointed or
commissioned; or if not SO performing such
duties. then he shall be held AID considered TO
have been mustered into service and to be en-
titled to the benefits of such muster from such
lime after the date of rank given IN has con-
mission as may have actually entered upon such
duties: Pror;ded further That any person held
as prisoner OF war, who may nave oeea
absent by reason of wounds. or in hospital by
reason of disability received in the service ia
the line of duty, at the date of issue oil ms ap,
pointment commission. If vacancy eAis'eu
for him in the grade to which so appointed or
commissioned shall be entitled TO all the bene-
fits to which he would have been entitled uhdeF
This act If he had been actually performing tue
duties of the grade to which he was appointed
or commissioned at said date: ProC1ded 1nrtier,
That this act shall be construed 10 apply only
in those eases where the commission bears GATE
prior TO June 20. 1868, or after that date when
the commands of the persons appointed or CON-
mssoned were not below the minimum num-
Der required by then existing laws and regula.
lions: Aad prouiaed further. That the pay ana
allowances actually received for the period
covered by the recognition extended under TINS
act shall tie deducted from the sums otherwise
10 be paid Hereunder.
Sec. 2. That the heirs or legal representa-
tives Of any person whose muster into service
shall be recognized and established under Inc
terms of this ACT shall be entitled 10 receive the
arrears OF Jay and emolumcnts due. and the
pension if a,Iy, authorized by law. for the grade
10 which recognition shall be SO extended.
See 8. That the pay and allowances OF any
rank grade paid 10 aud received by any
military or naval officer in good faith for sery-
ices actually performed by such officer IN such
rank grade during the war OF the rebellion
other than as directed ia the fourth proyiso of
the first section of this act shall not be charged
to or recovered back from such officer because
OF any defect in the title of such officer to the
Office, rank or grade in which such services
were actually performed.
"Sec. q. That all acts and parts of acts IN
consistent with the provisions of this act be, and
the same arc hereby, repealed"
". r. z, Wayne. Ncb.-During the last fonr
years there have been q large number of PEN
son claims sent out for investigation by the
Special Examination Division of the Pension
Bureau. We believe that some action will be
taken by the new Commissioner to secEre
prompt action upon these cases. Many OF them
will doubtless be recalled to the Bureau. aud
their mc-iIs determined from the evidence al
ready Oh Gle.
J. III. St Paxl. Minn.-Thc children of a SOL
der or sailor who were under l6 at the date of
the fathers death entitled TO pension ull-
der the general law from the date of HIS death
until they became 16 If the soldier left a
widow WHO is now living but remarked, she
would be entitled to the pension from he date
Of his death until the date of her remarriaee,
and the children, IL under l6 at such date,
would be entitled from then until they be-
came l6. 1t does not matter whether the
widows application lie flied before or after her
remarriage.
L. r. c., Denrer, Coto.-Thcre is no prob.
ability Of the removal of the Limitation The
arrears law of 1879 at this late day. Various
bills having this object in view have been in
troduced in Congress from time to time, but no
further progress has been made. See answers
TO Mrs. NJ. ]. S. and Mrs. M. NJ.
s. n. T.. Vernon, Io,oa.-What you probably
refer Is the act of March 10. 1885, which pro-
yides THAT from and after the passage of this
act the rate of pension of widows. minor chill
dren and dependent relatives now on the pen
sion roll. or hereafter to be placed Ola the PEN
sion-roll and entitled to receive less rate than
hereinafter provided. shall be $i2 per month !:
and nothing herein shall be construed 10 effect
the existing allowance of 50 per month for each
child under the age Of l6 years: Provided. That
this act shall apply only to widows who were
married TO the deceased soldier sailor prior
TO its passage and 10 those who may hereafter
marry prior TO or during the service of the SOL
dicr or sailor. And ali acts or parts of acts in
consistent with the provisions OF this act are
hereby repealed"
7, IL g.. T'aifsciue, Mott is unlikely that
the Pension Bureau will ever authorize the use
by pensioners Of rubber stamps with which to
sign their vouchers.
E. J. r.. Br0ckuiue. Ontario.-Certifcate of
honorable service in lieu of lost discharges from
the military service of the United States may
he obtained upon application TO the Chief of the
Record and Pension Office, War Department,
Washington. ID. c.
l. p Eodasuille Ind-The following is the
act OF Jan. 5. 1893: /" Be IL enacted etc. That the
Secretary of The Interior be- aud he is hereby
authorized 10 increase the pension of every
pensi0ner who is now on the rolls at So per
mouth on account of services in the Mexican
aud who is wholly disabled for manual
labor. aud is ia such destitute circumstances
that s. per month are insufficient to provide
him the neccssaries of life, TO SIP per month"
This Is the only act authorizing an increase of
the pension OF Mexican war seSrice pensioners
and, il will be perceived, does not apply TO
widows.
p. III C.. Quincy, N-The Board OF Pensions
Appeals Of the Interior Department appears to
be less than two months in arrears with the
appeais pending before il. ali sorts of eyi.
dence, whether record or otherwise, tending to
nl.rfu rfufa attcir rfa
the Pension Bureau. A claim for re-rating is
considered if presented.
c. T. IL. HaFren Pd.--There is no Federal
law exempting FROM taxation any property.
real or personal, purchased wholly or in part
with pension money.
u. r.. HdddGna, Coan.--The pension act o.
June q, 1890, is applicable only to persons
who served so days or more IN the military
or naval service of the United States during the
late OF the rebellion" and not 10 soldiers
whose service was before the war.
Il. H.. Hunt hg.-0nly soldiers and sailors
OF the late war OF the rebellion are eligible 10
membership in the Grand Army of the Repub.
lie.
&rs. d. }. s., Leadoille Coio-You are re-.
ferred 10 The answer to S. A. T.. above If Won
are drawing less than SIP per month pepsion,
ii is probably because you are pensioned under
the act of June q, 1880 aud not under the
generai pension law. See answer to q. N b.
H. w, LeaG0lUOffh. Kan.-The 500 original
bounty provided by the act Of July %. 1861. II
not payable 10 enlisted man discharged be
lore Two years service 10 accept promotion q