The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-02
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sug.
gestions Made.


60 the commencement OF invalid pension under
the act of June -, 1890. is that in the case OF
James J. Durkee dated Jnne II, 1895, by the
late Assistant Secretary OF the Interior, John
NJ Reynolds The present Administration has
allowed this decision to stsrd 10 this date, ana
until # is revoked there IS no reason TO expect
favorable action claims made under the act
of 1896. to secure arrears or 4re-rating.
r L.. Nesfor Cdl.-Whan a pension claim
under the general law is rejected for the absence
of record or medical evidence of the alleged
disabilities. the additional testimony to reopen
the case must necessarily. Inc that of comrades
or shipmates Of good renute having personal
knowledge of the facts. The more testimony
of this character in such case, the greater the
chances OF success
J. ", LeechuiNe N ca pension attorney
has right to borrow pension money OF his
clients il must, of course be bona fide
transaction. and to avoid any possible question
with the Department on this point 1T would be
well for him to give ample security.
Mrs L. Neip York Cdy.-There has been n o
law enacted increasing widows pensions since
lhe act of March l9. 1856. The rate of widow s
pension under the act of June %, 1890, remains
Unchanged.
". o. L., Iiadiana.-In appealing a rejected
pension case to the Secretary of the Interior
the case should he properly described, the facts
stated and the objections TO the action OF re-
of argument pertinent to the case. The rules
Of the Department do not require an attorney
10 present the appeal. The Board of Pension
Appeals is now several months behind with Its
work. The decision on the appeal is apt to
bring out all material matter leading TO the re-
lection of the case.
G. H c. Jackson Mich.-You are mistaken
IA your understanding of the recent decision
of Assistant Secretary Davis in the matter of
claimants for invalid pension under the act o.
June %, 1890. who are 90 years old. The rui-
ing is that they shall in general be regarded as
entitled TO at least the minimum rate of So
but not necessarily 10 the maximum of Sl2
Commissioner Evans has made 10 ruling on
this subject.
L. s., Army and Nary.-A bounty of Sl00
was payable to three-years volunteers TO
new volunteer organizations before Dec. "a,
1868 and to old organizations before Oct. 24,
1863 SIS being payable in advance after July
s, 1862. The full bounty was not payable un-
less the soldier served two years or was dis
charged before two years service because OF
the close of the war wound or INJURY In
Cured in the service and line of duty. An en-
lisfment in the Marine Corps for the first lime
cesld not be regarded re-enlistment" In
the CORPS. All service in the army or navy
should be stated in an application for pension.
Khen en- the revival of rejected claim new
number is given by the Pension Bureau, and
the correspondence is from different division
cfsthe Bureau than formerly. attention should
be invited to the former number and to the
division of the Bureau which formerly con-
Eucted the correspondence.
C. ~ S. EILa0gf Ind-It is only the legal
wife of the soldier that is entitled to pension
as his widow. Leng-continGed separation, and
even the marriage of the soldier TO another
woman. does not destroy the title of the legal
u %
e o. ~ -NAe sGasi1s. Ind.-If invalid pen
Eiener under the act of June q, 1880. whose
pension was reduced, is restored to his former
rate the rerating shonld date back to the re-
ouction OF his pension.
Grafton, ". Td.-The act of March 13, 1896,
provides: That la considering claims filed
under the pension laws. the death of an en-
listed man OF officer shall be considered az
sufficiently proved if satisfactory evidence is
produced establishing the fact of the continued
and unex plaiued-absence of such enlisted man
OF officer from Ms home and family for period
Of seven years, during which period no intelli-
gence Of his existence shall have been received.
And any pension granted under this act shall
cease upon proof that such officer or enlisted
man is still living" When the War Depart
ment refuses 10 accept evidence TO controvert
en- official record, the only recourse IS to Con-
gress, where special act may sometimes be
obtained authorizing and directing an amend
Enent OF the Official record.
j. H. ~, -Mllt0R, II. Vd.-The first law pro-
viding rates Of pension in excess of the total
disability rate OF rank for disability Of SER
Tice origin less Imam the loss OF limb was
tbe act OF July q, 1861. which provided rate
Of So per month for the loss Of bo;h eyes.
Tie act Of June 6, 1856, p.ovi led a rate Of $50
for inability 10 perform amy manual labor. and
@ rate OF SO for disability requiring the reg
Mar and constant ana and attendance OF an
other person.
B. M. ", Meredith " H.--The rating of S1s
per month for disability of service origin
under the general Law is held obsolete An in
valid peEsiouer now in receipt OF the same
Should te iccSIying either 81 per month or
81 per month.
G. II. L. Memphis ~ Y-The act of Congress
approved july lS. 1884, provides: That the
report OF such Examining Surgeons when filed
In the Pension Office shall he open to the ex-
summation and inspection OF the claimant or
has attorney under such reasonable rules and
regulations the Secretary OF the Interior
xnsy provide" II you now have pending any
sort of pension claim, You your attorney
are privileged to examine the reports Of the
Boards Of Surgeons.
L. T.. Princeton. Pa.-There is no provision
ofiaw for the sepensioning OF remarked widows
pniess they have acquired new right through
their second husbands.
L. q T., Coal Greek, Tenn--If any pensioner
or applicant Tor pension has died or shall here
after die leaving no widow or child under l6
years OF age or il In the case of a widow she left
no child surviving her who was under l6 years
Of age, reimbursement can be secured 10y the
person who bore the expenses, or who is held
Responsible Tor the same, OF the last sickness
and buflal OF said peusioner or applicant for
pension provided he OF she did n oil leave sufji-
Gent assets 10 pay said expenses. Reimburse
ment cannot be secured beyond the amount
that Mas due the pensioEer or applicant for
pension az tie time of his or her death.
u. s. r.. BeliefoatGine, O--Ail the Special Ex-
sminers Of the Pension Bureau are paid for
their services by the United States Govern
ment.
X. T., San Diego. Cdl.-If you are dissatisfied
with the action Of the Pension Bureau in the
matter OF your rate of pension, you are priyi-
legged TO file an application for reratiDg. If
adverse action is taken on the application Tor
rerating you can then appeal 10 the lion. Sec
Rotary OF the Interior. The appeal will not be
entertained unles aud until the claim for re-
rating is considered and disposed of by the
Pension bureau. You are ut liberty TO con-
tinue to file additional evidence in support of
yonr new disability claim for pension. notwitb-
standing portion of your claim may be await
Ing decision from The Hon. Secretary of the
interior.
ID. III. s., Golden CITY, Mo-As the children
OF a soldier, who are drawing pension arrive
u The age OF 10 their respective shares of the
Widows pension 90 10 the children not yet l6.
60 that The child who last reaches that age
draws the full pensi on for the period OF its PEN
sionahie minority after the pension of the mex I
older child has been terminated. ia other
words, the last child will draw the widow =