The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-07-14
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sug.
gestions Made.

! Ian communications for this column should
| be accompanied by the true name and correct
address of the inquirer. The reply, however
will be marked as may be desired. No attention
Will DC gwen TO synonymous inquiries. 1T no re-
ply is printed within three weeks. write again.
c. H., Westfield, Mass.-There is no
law allowing any extra bounty of any
amount for soldiers OF the late war who
were held as prisoners by the enemy.
L. L., Albany, n. "a claim for in
crease under the general law, on account
of disability not covered by the pension
certificate, must be proven the same as a
claim for original invalid pension under
the general law. After the evidence is
all in il is usually a matter of six months Oh
more before final action is taken by the
Pension Bureau.
u. X, Kansas City, Mo.-The Missouri;
Home Guards, organized in the Spring OF
1851, and that were called out and act,,-
ally served in the field under DrODer
authority and in regular military ca
pacity, were brought within the provisions
OF the general pension law by the act of
March IS, 1852. Cnly such Home Guards
of 1861 as were recognized and paid by the
Hawkins Taylor Commission in 1883 are
entitled under this law. IL YOU state your
case more definitely your title to pension
will be determined. You need not pay
anyone "a dollar line" for doing yoIir
writing. Get cheaper penman.
Pennington, Md.-The bill introduced
by Senator Quay providing that So a
month shall be the lowest rate of Invalid
pension has not passed 1t was referred
to the Senate Committee on Pensions and
there remains.
j. T., National Military Home, Va.-All
difference of pay, arrears of pay. travel
pay, ETC., may be claimed for in one ap-
plication. An attorney may lawfully col
lect a reasonable fee for services in CON
nectiOn with the procurement of service
pension for 10 or 20 years service in the
Navy.
III. MA widow married to the soldier
since June 70, 1890, is not entitled to pen
sion under the act of June q, 1890 The
legal widow at the time of the soldiers
death can alone be recognized as his
widow under the pension laws. A di-
vorced wife could have no claim in the
matter, unless it could be shown that the
divorce was illegal. BY applying through
the Commissioner of Pensions the where
abOutS OF a pensiOner may be aScertained
from the records of the United States
Pension Agent through whose office the
penSiOner is paid.
j. III. N, Sidney, Mich.-The question
as to the title OF an invalid penSioner to a
higher rating over the period since his
reduction by the last Administration NAV
be raised by inserting in the application
for increase a clause claiming a rerating
from the date OF the reduction
A. j., Bartlett, Tenn.-It would be diff
cult at this late day to diSprove a record
that a soldier or sailor was paid in full at
the date OF his discharge. Your sworn
statement as to the amounts you received.
and when received, and where. should be
filed with the Auditor for the Navy De
partment, If you desire to contest the
matter.
f. c. b., National Military Home. Ind
If inmates of the Home do not wish to
have any part of their pension paid to
wives from whom they are entitled to a
divorce, the only recourse seems to be to
obtain divorce or leave the Home.
w. III. H., Syracuse, n. Y.-An attorney
who violates the law by taking or accent
ing or demanding an illegal fee in a pen
sion case may escape criminal prosecu-
ton through the running of the statute of
limitations, and possibly may not be sued
with success, but certainly may be dis
barred from practice before the Pension
Bureau.
II. T., San Diego, Cal.-It is understood
that when an appeal is taken in a re-
iected pension claim the Pension Bureau
is so notified by the Interior Department,
and the papers in the case are sent to the
Department shortly after the filing of the
appeal. An appeal in one case will not
delay action on another case
of the same claimant. See reply to d. +.
A. below.
IL. l.. a., Dtllc FOuICue, D.-lDe
Board of Pension Appeals of the Interior
Department is supposed to be not over
six months in arrears with it's work
S. L., Sultan, Wash.-The widow of an |
invalid pensioncr is entitled TO the &C |
crued pension due at the date of his |
death without regard to the fact that she |
is not entitled to widows pension. Ii a |
widow was married to the soldier after |
June 20, 1890, not only is she not entitled |
to widows pension under the act of June |
27. 1890, but child of such marriage is |
not entitled ito child's pension under the
act.
M. Mt is necessary that pensioner
should actually make oath to his pension
voucher in the presence of the officer be-
ore whom the voucher purports to have
been executed. 1t is not sufficient if the
oensioner signs it at home and sends it
Nv some ncighbor or friend or member of
MS family to the Justice or Notary to
sign. L
/. g., Barlow, O.-The pension money of
IN invalid pensiOner cannot be collected
,y his wife unless no is in prison or
adiudged insane.