The National tribune., 1899-03-30
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sug-
gestions Made.

IAN communications for this column shoul,
be accompanied by the true name and correc
address of the inquirer. The reply. however
win be marked MS mny be desired Noattentiol
Will be given to anonymous inquiries. If no re
ply is printed within three weeks. write again.
J. II. W-1he s10O bounty provided by
the act of July 20, 1888, is not an extra o
additional bounty: 1t is due only to those
who did not receive any original bOunty
for their three-yeaTS' enlistment in the vol
unteer service before July p, 1861. The
act of April %, 1872, provided 500 bount!
for three-years volunteers enlisted before
July %, 1861, provided they were actually
mustered into service before Aug. q. 1s6l
The act of 1883 struck out the provision as
10 date of muster. OF course, if the sol
dier served two years, or was discharged
before two years service for wound Ol
injury incurred in service and line ol
duty, he was entitled TO the bounty under
earlier laws-tfe acts of July q. 1861, and
March 3, 1865.
Infantry, u. S. Volunteers.-That on
medical examination you were rated at
1918 for one disability and S-1S for the
other does not indicate that your penisOn
will be increased from s12 to s24, nor does
It indicate what, if any, increased rate
will be granted. 1t is quite possible that
your claim may be rejected in spite OF the
rating given you by the Examining Sur
geons.
S. D., West Lebanon, Pa.-That you
have not heard from your pension appll-
cation since you filed it, in May last, is
not at all surprising, as nothing IS being
done on so many claims that have been
filed. If you have no attorney, perhaps
your member of Congress can ascertain
the official status of the case if you ask
him. -,
Constant Reader.-n will be impossible
for you to obtain an increase of your PEN
sion from SIT to S24, unless the PENSION
Bureau Tor Secretary of the lnterlorl Is
satisfied, from the evidence, ,hat you yarmai Eni
do but very little effective Work at mahudI
labor of any sort, in consequence OF your
pensioned disabilities. You see from ex-
perience that high ratings by the Exam
lining Surgeons are not alone sulncient'
unless their description OF your condltion,
and other evidence, satisfies the PENSION
Bureau on the vital point.
w. II. B., Randolph, N. Y.-The widow
could not obtain pension under the act
of 1890, because of not being married 10 tne
soldier before June q, 1880; but II II ap
peared to the satisfaction of the Pension
Bureau that his death was due to dis.
ability incurred in service and line OF
duty. she could obtain pension under the
general law.
j. j. L., Five Mile, O.-Your question
about bountieS is too general to be an
swered briefly. No "land warrant IS Is
sued for service in the war OF the rebel,
lion. II you served at least so days and
was honorably discharged, the PERIOD Oh
your service would be credited on the hve
years required for the perfection OF title to
homestead on public lands.
A, j, p, Syracuse, N. Y.-You cannot
take up land under the homestead law
without actual settlement thereon.
r. F. L., Powell, Pa.-H an invalid pen,
sioner, having neither widow nor child
~ him leaves lnSllftl-
cient assets to cover expenses OF last III
ness and burial, the person who pays or
is responsible for the same can have re-
endorsement from the accrued pension.
Apply to the Auditor for the Interior De-
partment, Washington, ID. c.
j. NJ, Marysville, O.-Apparently your
claim for increase on disability not COW
cred by your pension certificate under the
general law is understood by the Pension
Bureau. IL the evi!ence you hled SIX
months ago complied fully with all the
official requirements, and is satisfactory
to the Pension Bureau, you ought TO near
from the case before long. But it is quite
possible for the delay to continue si1
months or more longer.
Lansing.-You would be entitled to
credit for the full period OF your service
In the war of the rebellion, in proving up
title to homestead on the public lands,
whether such period is made up OF sew
enlisted both times for three years, and
was discharged for disability the frs,
time, which would entitle you to a credit
Of three years on that enlistment alone il
the disability was incurred in the service
and line of duty, probably the entire
period for which you would be entitled to
credit is five years or more; but the law
requires at least one years settlement
and improvement on the land.
w. H. j., Brookfield, Mo.-The testi-
mony OF the pensioners wife as TO his re
quirfng frequent and periodical at
tendance of another person would be con
sidered, but should be supported by the
testimony of other persons not related.
Reimbursement for the use and risk OF
private horses in the volunteer cavalry
service of the war of the rebellion can
still be collected on application to the
Auditor for the War Department.
B. II. S., Pau, Ind.-In establishing
origin or existence of disability in the
service the testimony of members of the
claimants company is preferred TO that
OF members of another company or regi-
ment. If, however, those testifying were
In position TO know and did know of the
alleged disabilities, their testimony would
receive due consideration.