The National tribune., 1898-09-01
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sug.
geStiOns Made.

ian communications for this column shoul
be accompanied 10y the true name and correc
address OF the inquirer. The reply, however
will be marked as may be desired. Noattentiol
Will be given to anonymous inquiries 1T no re
ply Is printed within three weeks. write aganI
j. n. H., Millville, n. IA pension
claimant who has applied under the gen
eral law must make a formal application
under the act of June 81, 1880, if he
wishes TO have his right to pension deter
mined under the latter act His claim
cannot be transferred from one law TO the
other. If pension is granted under the
act of 1890 it viii commence from the date
of filing OF his formal application under
said act, and not from the date of Fl ling OF
his claim under the general law.
ID. E., Chelsea, Ind. T.-See reply to j.
n. III. above
V. c., Wabasha, NIinn.-The rate of
widows pension under act of June 81,
1890 is So per month"; Ii is the same UNI
der the general law unless the widow was
married to the soldier before March 10
1886, or before or during his service
q. o., Conway Springs, kan.-The Com
missioner of Pensions is presumed to be
governed by the rulings and decisions of
the Secretary of the Interior in general
and in particular cases. A case ought in
general TO be finally acted on within six
months after medical examination, if the
proofs are otherwise complete. Invalid
pension commences from the date of fill
ing of the formal application.
@. W. e., Oakland, Md.-The term
wholly disabled for manual labor in the
act of Jan. S, 1898, providing for increase of
Mexican War service pension in certain
cases, is regarded as equivalent to total
inability for the performance of any manual
labor whatever, for which a rate of $50 is
provided by the general law. 1t is held
in a decision under this law that the
claimant, "a years old, is not entitled, be-
a N a va ll,ir1 in
the performance of the duties of County
Surveyor, the compensation of which is
about $50 per year, and though he has as
sistants to carry and set the instruments
for him.
A. o., Whitesboro, N. Y.-There is no
official publication for general circulation
which contains the ratings of invalid
pension. The National Tribune Soldiers
Hand Book, obtainable as a premium
contains all such, however
j. c., Browning, Mo.-AS has been re-
peatedly stated in this column and else
where, pensioners are not obliged to an
Swer the questions contained in circu-
lar letter from the Commissioner of Pen
sions through the pension agents, seek
ing information as to the pensioners
marriage, etc. The Commissioner of Pen
SlonS appears TO be acting in the belief
that pension frauds will in the future
assume the form OF bogus widows and
other bogus heirs OF deceased soldiers and
sailors, and he is seeking TO anticipate
the future by collecting information of the
character indicated
Nj. H., Cork, Ireland.-No u. S. bounty
was offered for enlistments in the navy
before July 1, 1864
j. r., CleveS, O.-Whether a widow was
a first or second or third wife makes no
difference in the determination of her title
to pension, but If she was not married to
the soldier before June 81. 1880, she is
not entitled TO pension under the pension
act of that date, and can obtain pension
only under general law, which requires
satisfactory evidence showing soldiers
death to have been due to the service and
line of duty.
c. NJ. j., Chicago, nl.-Appeals in re-
iected pension cases should be addressed
TO the secretary of the Interior" though
they are IN fact considered by the Board
OF Pension Appeals, under the supervision
of the Assistant Secretary of the interior.
Hon. Webster Davis. No notice of ap-
peal need be given. The Pension Bureau
receives notice from the Department
G.. d., Archbold, OFF discharged from
the army to enlist in the navy, you would
have been entitled on discharge from the
navy, to receive the same bounty that
you would have been entitled toreceiye If
you had continued to serve under your
army enlistment. If discharged from your
army enlistment before two years service
for reasons other than the close of the
war or wound or injury incurred in service |
and line of duty you would not be entitled
70 any further bounty.
F. c. A., Baltimore, Md.-It is not clear |
what information you wish. The rating /
for gunshot wound is supposed to in
clude all disablement resulting there
FROM Invalid pension under the general /
law commences from the date the disabili-
ty claimed on was formally set forth in ap-
plication filed in the Pension Bureau.