The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-06-10
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sug.
gestions Made.


of an enlisted man or officer shall be considered
az sufficiently proved il satisfactory evidence
is produced establishing the iact OIL the COLI
tinued and unexplained absence OF sucn en-
listed man or officer from his home and family
for a period of seven years. during whicn
period no intelligence of his existence shaii
have been received. And any pension granted
under this act shall cease upon proof that such
officer or enlisted man is still living" Under
this law The wife Eiay be able to obtain pension
under the act of June "a, 1880, without proof
of he soldiers death.
C. O.. Purkcrsh.t5r W. Va.--if disability has
been added 10 your pension certi ficate without
your rate of pension being Increased. IL Us prob
ably because yon are drawing SIT or more per
month and it is considered by the Pension Blu
reau that yeur disability from all the causes
named is still insufficient to eDttle you 10 the
next higher rate.
H. p A., Marion, Io,oa-E.en though the
widow WAS not married to The soldier untii
since June %. ls90, and therefore is not en-
titled 10 pension under the pension act OF that
date she is nevertheless. entitled to tie ac-
crued pension due the soldier at the date OF
his death. and entitled to complete any claim
he had on file at the date of his death.
4. l. s., Buclton, y. E.-There is no fixed
rate for the disability you mention. The high
est saie allowable under the pension act OF June
q. 1850, is sig per month. and probably you
will be regarded as entitled to that rate.
n. K. Nercastfe Ky.-The act Of Feb. "a,
1897, is applicable oniy to those who were ac-
tualiy commissioned as officers. ana not 10
those who womb in all probability have been
commif 81 med but for circumstances over
which they had no control. As 10 the pension
able status of State militia actually mustered
into the service of the United States there Is
no question. The same is true of State militia
called into the United States service by the
President, even though not actually mustered
into the u. S. service. As TO State militia
otherwise acting under the command OF officers
of the L. s, Co operating with u. y forces.
there is Sonic doubt as to their pensionable
status Under the Administration of Pres;-
dent Harrison the pension LAWS we're Literally
construed in this respect but under the last
Administration a less liberal view pre- vailed.
The present Administration has NOT get taken
up the subject. The Missouri Home Guards
organized after April 80, ls9l, and recognized
and paid by The Hawkins Taylor Commission.
SO called. in 1868: the Missouri State Militia
authorized by General Order 96 Of ihe Var
Department, dated Nov. T. 1861. and the Pro-
visicnai Regiments Of Enrolled Missouri
Militia, organized early in 1868. are all re-
garded having been in the L. S. service, IN
the administration of the pension laws.
III. IL IL, Beckdalc. TeE-Ihere is no distine-
ton made under the pension act of June q,
1880 Lelween officers and enlisted men. 1T
you are pensioned under the general pension
law fer disability shows to have been incurred
in the seryire and line of dniy. you are emit
tied to the brnrft of your rank as officer If
you were sHcb at the time Of the prigiL o5 yonr
pensioned disability. IL rou were not in r,oi-
mission an officer March B 1865. you are
mes entitled to the three monii his extra f,ny
proper provided by she Act Of that date There
has been change in she law IA ;his respect.
TN r.. Rossss PeiHf. NY.-There is no law.
II Jnf 1as
ture permitting widow who is drawing
pension to remgrrr and s.ill retain her PEN
sion. The wsdew Temarryiug is entitled to
draw her pension Mp to the dase of heF reu,ar-
riage. She should communicate WIKI the L. S.
Pension Agent through whom her pension is
paid
W. d. IT,, HeH Plains, Ha-Ysu xere preba-
bly, mustered uuGer your commission AS soon
as your company was formed. or AS soon as il
ezs ret1asted 10 . namber ensstsiug IL 10 m
officer OF your rank, aud ia thst case yOn sea3d
not be entitled TO pay as such back OF the date
of your muster. If you were first mustered as
an enlisted snzn- yoa were esi5faed TO pay AS
such from the date OF such muster.
w. e. ssstersrifie. W. Td-wheiher m officer
IL rriiiiei 40 q higher rate Of pension under
the general pension law than an ca listsd ma an.
for ,he same d stability. depends Hpon the char
meter of the disability. II the disability be
Ssr shsch EKed faie Is eskxbiishc6. As for loss
Of arna. ibey ~orid each be entitled 20 The 81 me
rating S3s II the disability be not Of specific
character, as rheumatism some other all
Bea,f, then the esiirer sosId probably gsa fhe
benefit of his rank. If you ~ilf stale your case.
yyHr question can be answered more def
uIsely.
L. H.. Gibson City, M-It is not trse that ne
widow married to soldier since 1880 is emit
taed 80 u 1scnx5sa SUCH What 10 referred 70
is preiaabir the provision IN the Iensisn net nj
sch "a ki,as sdo,r 2.a1f 3o
entitled under THAT act unless married 10 the
soldier prerions 10 the Azfe n fise zcl. IL she
soldier dies of disability shown TO be doe 10 has
service. his widow is entitled 10 pension ander
the general pension Law without regaad TO abe
date ct her marsssee 10 kim.
j. ~, Aftasta, No.-Ycn are correct The
GeneFns Government does not pay the burial
expenses Of psor soldiers dying at their homes
or elsewhere than at Ehe several breaches al
the Natienai lone for Disabled Volunteer Sol
diers, the Soldiers' Home at Washington.
ANY honcraby- discharEed soldier or saiiox si
the United States who dies in destitute con-
dition may be buried ia q National Cemetery
free of cost The QuartermasterIieneral,W War
Department. VIII also furnish free of cost &c
fe railroad station nearest TO destination 50 iis-
hy-fnscrited headstones to mark the graves c
soisers and sailors buried in % kiic or frisats
cemeteries. The pension money due a soldier
q Ihe date OF ms death can be collected By his
Hscew- OK. She be deceAsed. by Eis children
snder 10 al fhe date Of his death. If he ief
sso widow OF chIidrea snder l6 and left insaf-
fcient means TO pay the xpenses attending his
iHst 5iineks and ErriAi, - mach Of fhe pension
money dne nim may he collected rs is oeces
sSsy 20 cover sacii expenses. Tins may b
asae by shs pefssa who bore snch expenses.
J. y. Jersey City. n J.-Thcre is no fixed
yx.e tor aaiy Of the disabilities sou rnenlioa
ii wssolly unable to perform any manual iabo,
by reason of disabilities showa 60 be due K
tas service, son wonld be entiiled 20 $50 De,
month.
IL a & Eden, Ks.-Hhat yon refer 10 10 ,
decision of ibe Assistant Secretary OF The In
terror dated May %. 1893. II overturned Tia,
sysfesn Of ratings under the pension act o
juno q. 1880, established by Order l6s oil In
Commissioner Of PensioaA dated oc1- l.
lego. Under the order referred 10 IN rslid pen
sious under the ACT Of 1850 were rated til
szmc az under zhe general iaw, within ia
limits prescribed by the act TO ratings. Tn
decision referred 10 changed The oflicis
practice tnat $50 worth of old lay" disabil
Ity was necessary 10 obtain the Sc rate unde
The new law.
fl. X l.. GrGisSr7rr. Tena.-The following
an ari OF Aongress approved Aug %. 1884
BE II enacted, ere, That hereafter IN sdd
Iisn 10 Ilae officers SSw authorized 10 a6niini
ter oaths in such cases fourth class Postmaster
Of the United States are hereby required Ell
powered. aud authorized 10 ad IN mister an
aud al oa,hs required 10 lie snsse By pes
sioners aud their witnesses in the execrtion {
xseir sonchcrs with like effect and force {
officers having u seal: and suce Pos; mastx