The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-28

Feb. 20, 1881, as amenoed by the act o
Aug. Z, 1882, provides substantially as
follows: "All pensions and arrears of pen
sion payable or to be paid 10 pensioners
who are or may become inmates of the
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Sol
diers shall be paid TO the Treasurer OF
TreasurerS of said Home, upon security
given To the satisfaction of the managers,
10 be diSburSed for the benefit of the pen
sionerS without deduction for fines OF pen
altieS under regulations To be established
bv the managers of the Home; said pay
ment 10 be made by the pension agent
upon certificate of the proper officer of
the Home that the penSioner is an inmate
thereof and is still living. Any balance OF
the pension which may remain at the date
of the pensioners discharge shall be paid
over to him; and in case of his death at
the Home, the same shall be paid To the
widow or children, or in default OF either,
10 his legal representatives.
F. c. A. Baltimore, Md.-It is a common
practice of the Pension Bureau To diSre-
gard the favorable reports of Examining
Surgeons, sworn officers OF the Govern
ment, but rarely are unfavorabe reports
disregarded. The law gives the Commits
Sioner the right TO revise the reports OF
Examining Surgeons, and this right is con-
strued as a right To reject. The Board of
Review in the Pension Bureau is sub
stantially the same as it was under the
last Administration.
l. H. r.. White Oaks, n. M.-H an
invalid pensioncr dies leaving pending a
claim fer increase on account OF penSloned
diSa bility his widow may complete his
claim, If medical examination has been
had She must file evidence OF her mar
riagc and th2t she is the legal widow. The
sumo course is necessary II the claim IS
allowed by the Pension Bureau in ignor-
ance of the pensioners death. Communl-
cate with the Commissioner of Pensions
T.. j. NJ, Halifax. MO.-CaimS for &C
crued pension are supposed 10 receive
special consideration in the Pension Blu
Teau. Ordinarily they should be allowed
within six months after filing, If the Ie-
CURED proofs are promptly furnished.
G. NJ. e.. Regent, Ill.-The act of March
g. 1895 continues Ia be construed in the
same manner Is under the last Admins
tration, thus perpctuating the defeat OF
its manifest purpose.
f. w. Niles OF pension claim is
ordered rcopencd by the Secretary OF the
Interior on an appeal, it should be heard
from within n few weeks after the decision
is rendered.
H. A H.. Redkey. Ind.-A record in the
War Department as Ia the disability for
which a soldier was discharged can be
amended only under q SPECIAL act OF Con
gress, no matter how unjust or untrue ii
may be in fact.
VI. W, Kansas.-When charges of a
criminal character are made with reference
TO a pension, the special examination is
secret
b. v, Helvetia. W. Va.-When an in
valid pensioner under the general law APP
plies for increase on disability not covered
by his pension certificate, and later ap-
plies for increase on pensioned disability,
it depends upon the stage to which the
first claim has progressed whether II VIII
be allowed at the same time as the second
claim or not.
Mrs. j. V s., Kansas City, Kan.-H
soldiers wife obtains a divorce from him
because of long-continued unexplained
absence, she is debarred from any benefit
which might otherwise enure to her through
the act of March 13, 1896, which allows
the presumption of death in such cases.
j. H.-There is no fixed time within
which claims for pension are required to be
acted on In the Pension Bureau after
medical examination is had. If the case
is otherwise complete, action may ordi-
narily be looked for within six months after
medical examination. b,
l. c. G., Akron. Ohio.-A soldier who en-
listed in October 1861, for three years,
and was discharged after Is months serv-
ice on account of hernia incurred in the
service and line of duty, would be entitled
TO 500 original bounty
w. Nj. D., Point Pleasant W. Va.-An
attorney may not be supplanted by an
other in pension claim after the proofs
are completed. The first attorney would
be entitled to recognition and the fee on
the allowance Of the claim notwithstand-
ing that the claimant had sought to re-
woke the attorneyship by appointing an
other shortly before the allowance of the
claim.
ii. ID. G., Morrisville, Vt-When a pen
sioner signs his voucher by a cross mark
the officer before whom the acknowledge
ment Is taken may be one of the two wit
nesses TO the cross mark Order No 225
OF the Commissioner Of Pensions is lengthy
ana has several times within the past
year been reproduced in The National
Tribune. In substance il Is Identical with
the decision Of the Department in the case
of Chas. I. Bennett upon which the present
system OF ratings OF invalid pensions under
the act OF June q, 1880, is based. See
reply TO y. 7. X
j. s., Bridgesville, Cal.-An inquiry filed
by member of Congress in the Pension
Bureau usually has the effect of Fastening
action on a pension claim
J.M.P., DOtSOn, Ark.-TWenty-se n dol
lars Is still the rating for total deafness of
one ear and nearly total OF the other, the
rate Tor total deafness remaining at $50
IL. T., Mt. joy, Ohio-A drafted man
who ran away TO Canada was a deserter.
and comes under sectio 1886 Revised
Statutes, which is as follows: ''AIl per
sons who deserted the military or naval
service OF the United States and did not
return thereto or report themselves 10 a
Provost Marshal within 60 days after the
Issuance OF the proclamation by the Presi-
dent, dated March II. 1885, are deemed 10
have voluntarily relinquished and for
felted their rights of citizenship as well as
their right To become citizens. and such
deserters shall be forever incapable of hold
ing any office Of trust or profit under the
United States, or Of exercising any rights
Of citizens thereof" This Law dcbaTs a
deserter from voting at National elections
but not from voting at State elections. or
holding office under State
>. E.-OTder Z4l OF the Commissioner of
Pensions dated Sept. 2 1898, provides
''ln cases IN which the pensi0ner has
reached the age Of IS, his rate shall not he
disturbed If lie is receiving the maximum
Chat is, S12); and if he is not a pensinnrr
he snail receive the maximum for seDiIity
alone, if there are no special pcnsionahIe
disabilities shown" This has reference
only TO invalid pensions granted under the
act OF June y, 1890. No extra duty nav
was allowed after March 3, 1853. TO enlisted
men, except such were employed as
clerks and messengers in the military Of
flces I'M Washington and at the several
geographical divisions and department
headquarters.
j. C., Woodstock, N "a decision
rendered on July Z, 1897, holds: "a claim
ant who has attained the age of 6j wears
snail be deemed entitled 10 AT least the
minimum rate (that is, So of pension nm
less the evidence discloses am unusual
vigor and ability for the performance of
manual labor in one of that age" This
has reference 10 claimants for invalid mem
sion under the act of June 27 1890. In n
decision rendered Nov IL 1894 the follow
ing appears: THE use of the word avici
Gus IN the act indicated undoubtedly