The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-05-27
PENSION POINTERS.
INQUIRIES Answered and Sug-
gestions Made.

the act OF April IL. lSS0: he IL enacleu, etc.
That the l03d article OF the Rules aud Articles
of War be, and the same is hereby. amended by
adding thereto the following words: No per-
Son shall be tried or punished by court-inar-
tial for desertion in time of peace ana not In
the face OF enemy. committed more ihah
two years before the arrangement oil such per-
son for such offense, unless he shall meanwhlie
have absented himself from the United states.
in which ease the time of his absence shall he
excluded in computing the period of the limi-
tation ps0riaed That said limitation shall
moi begin uHiil The end Of the term for which
said person mustered into tie service.
Under this law a release from the army may
be had in such cases upon Application to the
Adjutant-Genera. u. S. A.. Washington d. G.
J. Z. ". Aeic York Cfty.-The joint resolutions
OF Congress of dec. %. 1863, aad Jan. Is and
March 3 lS6i. gave authority of law TO General
Order No. 100 OF the War Department dated
June %. 1893 and General Order %, dated Jan.
ls. 1864. offering bounty oil S1O0 tor enlist
menis into The Regular Army, and to the Cir
euiar dated Oct. II, 1863 of the lroyost-Mar-
shai-Generai's Office, Offering $500 bounty Tor
volunteer recruits Tor three years, as well rs TO
the General Order l91 of June %, 1853, and
subsequent orders relative 10 the veteran
bounty of $40. The joint resolutions referred
10 related simply 10 these cxtra-large bounties
offered by the Wax Department.
J. 4. s, Curendjsh, W.-If there is particular
testimony flied previous to the filing of your
new claim 10 which you wish TO invite atten-
iion. it would be well to refer specifically TO
snch testimony, stating that you wish u con-
sldeied ia connection with your new cialhi.
You are likely 10 lie ordered before the Board
of Examining Surgeons most convenient 10
you, whether yoa request 1T or not. In brin"-
ing forward new disabilities in case IL is well
TO furnish all abundance of testimony in sup
port thereof. The testimony you mention
might bc sufficient. In determining title
10 "a certain rae OF pension under the general
Law, as S3i Tor disability equivalent To the
loss OF a hand or foot" all the disabilities shown
TO be OF service origin are considered, not sim-
ply ore Of the several disabilities. An exami-
nation order iuay he looked for within two
months after the claim is filed.
Subscriber, lhitseyritle, Ne-A case which
has once been considered CA appeal aud decided
adversely, may be appealed a second tinie by
q motion for rcconside alton. pointing out
specifically lhe mistake or error of fact or law
in the former decision. If a soldiers death
was due 10 his service, his children who were
under 16 at the date of his death may apply
Tor ami receive pension for the period from
the date ot his death until they attain The
age OF &c, provided the widow is dead and did
not receive the pension covering said period.
e. z. H.. Oak Har5or, Hash.-folunteers for
three years who enlisted before July 22, 1861,
did so under the first call OF the President for
three-yrars troops and were promised SiOo
bounty If and when honorabiy discharged.
This promise received the authority of law by
an act of Aug. 6. 1861. The act of July -,
1SGl, was the first bounty law of the war and
covered two-years and three years volunteers
enlisted after July p, 1861. LIS terms were
different from those of the Inducement held out
TO the ihrer-years volunteers before its date.
There is no why there should be any
discrimination between the two ciasses those
enlisted before and those enlisted after July p,
1861, EXCEPT that the Government has lived up
to the promise made 10 those enlisted before
the date named.
j. H. Holland Mich-Many Officers WHO have
bad their musters corrected since discharge
are entiiiei 10 have their general law pension
rerated. II you have not drawn pension as
First Lieutenant from the commencement OF
your pen sion. you are probably entitled to a
Teratiug.
Mrs. If. j. Cgaremont, Va.-To obtain PEN
sion under the general pension law, widow
must show by satisfactory evidence that her
husbands death was, directly indirectly, due
TO his service. Oftimes the medical authorities
of the Pension Bureau do not agree with the
theories or opinions of the doctors who testify
ia the claim, and the views of the former are
very apt to prevail. An appeal to the Honor
able Secretary of the Interior may be taken
when the decision rendered by The Pension
aDce with the evidence.
". H., SaraaHGk. Mo.-A reissue of pen
sion is made for various purposes. 1t may be
made TO include disability not covered by
the former pension certificate. and IN that
event the increased rate contcr cd should date
ordinarily from the date when claim the
additional disability was duly made !,y the FL
ing OF application for pension thereon. Ii
claim WAS made Oh the additional disability be-
for he refs sha nj ,izfp fra
the applicants discharge from the service.
IS. l.. LiacOia, Me.-A widow is not entitled
to pension under the act of June %, $780, If
married TO the soldier since the date of the act.
IT, however, his death were due TO his service
ehe would he entitled under the general pen
SION Iaws. She wouldein any event be entitled
10 complete amy pension claim he had OH file
OF the date OF his death.
{. g.. 'ParkersbuYg. ". Va-After a member
of Congress has called up pension claim of
any description the applicant may reasonably
expect to hear from the Pension Bureau within
week or 30 days, perhaps little longer
j. ". IT,. Ecrton Coto-In order 10 determine
title 10 pension il must be known in what coni-
pany and regiment or other service the father
was during the war, and whether TO . reason
able certainty he is dead.
p d.. Los Angeles. CdL-It is difficult to ex-
plain just why some cases are allowed long be-
tore others Sled al about the same time Some.
times il is due 10 the fact tina, the comi,leting
evidence is filed sooner or the order for
medical examination is complied with more
promptly, one adjudicating division in the
Pension Bureau is closer up with its work than
another adjudicaiing division. Commissioner
Evans is endeayoring TO so adjust the work of
the Bureau that much Of the delay which has
formerly been inevitable will be avoided in
future.
4. L. T.. Maine. n. "a re-rating of gen.
eral Law pension is difficult TO obtain except i'm
cases OF specific disability las, total disability
OF linh or hernla) or in cases where the
evidence shows with unmistak able cIearness
that higher rate should have been awarded
i'm the tirsi Instance.
j. r. IL, DHttOn. hIa.-Com m issioner Evans
has legal right to reverse bis predecessors
actions in reducing pensions or dropping PEN
sioners from The rolls
A. T. p, Grecaraie, hia.-Assstant Secretary
Reynolds las not yet been superseded HIS
successor, Hon. Webster Davis of Missouri,
though confirmed by the Senate some weeks
ago. viii NOT qualify Assistant Secretary IN
ri about Jane j. Mail addressed 10 the CON-
missioner Of Pensions. personal will prob
ally reach him. If you are especially DESTROYS
OF having matters reach him personally, a
member OF Congress may he useful.
l.. d. C., F1re Points, 0.-The pension claim
OF children constitutes but one claim. and only
one fee OF SO viii be payable, even though esch
child has signed separate set of agreements.
and even though each has signed a separate
application. il would seem that AN attorney
ought 10 he entitled 10 reasonable compensation
for services in connection with the special ex.
amiuatioa +" OF pension ease, but il will be