The National tribune., 1899-01-05
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sug-
gestions Made.

IAN communications for this column should
lie accompanied by the true name and correct
address of the inquirer. The reply, however,
will be marked as may be desired. n o attention
will DO given to anonymous inquiries III no re,
ply is printed within three weeks. write a2aii'I
L. T. R-Three-years volunteers en-
listed before July p, 1861, are entitied 10
500 original bounty, If honoraply oiS
charged, without regard TO cause OF dis-
charge length of service, or date OF tnelr
muster into United States service. inns
is under the act of July 90 1888. None oil
the so called prisoners Oh war pension
bills" have become laws.
W. H. L. Kenosha, Wis.-Address the
sfSurgeon- General, u. >. A., Washington,
ID. c., T" for the name and place OF residence
OF the Surgeon in charge at certain
hospital at certain time, as stated IN
your inquiry. Your pension case Illus
trates the delay which may occur IN tle
Pension Bureau. If you were examined
i'm June, 1897, and all the proofs are com
plete, it is surely high time you heard
from the matter. III you or your attorney
are unable to ascertain the status OF the
case, perhaps an Inquiry through one Oh
your Senators or your member oi the
House of Representatives might secure
the desired information.
+. L., Northfield, Minn.-There rs no
redress at the Pension Bureau Tor the
wives of pensioners deserted or neglected
by their husbands. The wife cannot nave
any part of the pension paid 10 her IN
stead of the pensioner
). W, Bloomingburg, n. "a pension
claimant may appoint new attorney al
any time, but the recognition OF a new |
attorney depends upon whether, IN the
view of the Pension Bureau, the former
attorney has neglected the case, under
the official rules of practice. That your
increase claim filed in August, 1897, has
not since been heard from is not neceS-
sarily due TO inactivity or lack of interest
on the part OF the attorney, whose com
pensation depe-ds upon favorable
settlement, and an early settlement is
greatly 10 his interest. Observation
shows that attorneys are frequently held
responsible for delay in the Pension Bu-
reau, for which they are not TO blame
III. j. c., Bangor, Me.-1he follow ing is
rendered Aug. 10, 1898: This appellant
was pensioned for disability Incurred dur
ing his first term OF service, from which
he was honorably discharged May e,
1862, from that date. He was subSe-
quently drafted and ser.ed until April s,
1864, when he deserted Held, That he is
entitled 10 restoration of his pension,
deducting pension for the whole period
during which he could have been legally
held TO service under the draft" Ii viii
be observed that ti.is deci i'm has refer
ence TO a pension case under the general
law. Ii does not change the holdings
relative 20 cases under the act of june 2,
1880, which still are that every period OF
service during the war of the rebellion
must have terminated with an honorable
discharge, to entitle the ella INFANT to pen
sion under that act The above decision
does not affect the question of bountieS,
which are within the purview OF the
Treasury Department, not the Int Tiori
Department.
s. l. F., Togus, Me.-Ordinariiy there
ought not TO be more than month or so
of delay in the Pension Bureau after a
test medical animation has been had.
AS four months have elapsed in your
case, probably you would do well to have
the case caked up again. a test medical
examination is rather favorable indtca-
ton, though of course il does not always
prove favorable 10 the claim. Nothing
appears TO be known as 10 the likelihood
of a change in the Office OF Commissioner
of Pensions.
W. j.; Wash.-You are one of the in
Vulnerable victims of the retention by the
present Administration OF the very de-
cisioBs and practice SO denounced when
inaugurated by Messrs. Hoke Smith and
VIM. I.ochren, and under which you were
cut of from the roll. The paper that you
signed and executed with two witnesses
in September, 1897, was evidently a new
application for pension under the act OF
1899. 1t is not surprising that the favor
able recommendations of the Examining
Surgeons who examined you prior 10 your
last application were ignored. That is
commonly the case under the admin
istration of the act of 1896, and viii con
tinue so while the present practice under
that act continues in force. !
j. g. C., Akron, O.-Pension claims
arising out of the Spanish American war
come only und the general law, as fhe /
act of June "a, 1890, applies only 10 service I
during the war OF the rebellion j he /
maximum amount Of fee for the attorney /
OF record in a pension claim under TIE |
general law is SIS, for which articles of
agreement must be filed in the Pension
Bureau. When a number of disabilities
are set up as the basis of a claim for
valid pension under the general law, and
a certificate issues recognizing only part
of the disabilities alleged, the fee contract
is regarded as discharged and the fee is
paid 10 the attorney out of the allowance.
1t is held, however, that if the attorney
proceeds 20 establish the other disabilities,