The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-16
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sug'
gestions Made.

Ian communications for thls column shonld
be accompanied hy the truc name and correct
address of the inquirer. The reply, however,
will bc marked rs may he desired. Noattcntion
Will be given 10 anonymous inquiries. IL no re,
ply is printed within three weeks. write again
J. n. T., Big Barren, Tenn,-lf you
served 80 DAYS ar more in the Union army
during the war of the rebellion, and were
honorably discharged, you can have
credited on the. five years necessary To
perfecting title TO a homestead ON the
public lands, the fuIl term of your service,
and if you were discharged on account OF
disability, the entire term for which you
enlisted will be credited on the five years.
For full information relative TO the public
lands, etc, apply TO the Commissioned OF
the General Land Office, Washington,
ID. {.
A. b. c., Apollo, Pa.-When disability
was first claimed on in the original APP
plication for pension, which has since
been granted as 10 other disabilities
claimed on at the same time, the increase
of pension based on the disability not
included in the original certificate would
commence from the date of filing OF the
original application. If the original ap-
plication were filed before July ], 1880, the
increase would date back 10 discharge
There is absolutely no way of determining
definitely how soon claim will be al
lowed by the Pension Bureau after the
requirements have apparently been fully
complied with. IL is only safe to say that
it is more than likely to be a matter of
months; and in too many instances it
seems TO be a matter OF years.
H.K., Reynolds, ul.-The fact that the
widow is held not TO be entitled 10 pension
under the act of June q, 1890, because
her income apart from the proceeds OF her
own labor exceeds 500, does not entltle
the children under 16 TO pension in her
stead. If, however, she should remarry
or die during their penSiOnable minority,
they would be entitled, without regard TO
their financial condition. If 1T appears
that the widows financial condition is
not so good now as when she first applied,
perhaps she can secure favorable con-
sideration of a new application.
w. s., Dayton, O.-There is no fixed
rating for various diseases. The rating is
for the disablement due TO the disease,
not for the disease itself. As in your
case there seems to be question as to
whether you are pensionably disabled on
account OF the disease named, you will
be ordered for another medical examina
ton If the Pension Bureau considers
that the evidence you have submitted
warrants such action. In any event, if
when the Pension Bureau is ready to
allow your case il appears that three
years have elapsed since your last ex-
examination.
j. NJ. San inquiry by a member of
Congress often has the effect of facllitat-
ing the progress of a case in the Pension
Bureau; at least, the claimant may usu-
ally look for response indicating the
official status of the case. The present
Commissioner of Pensions has lately init
mated that he will not permit the inquiry
of a member of Congress to forward the
settlement of a case.
Old Subscriber, Moore's Hill, Ind.-If the
soldiers death be shown to be due TO dis
ability proven TO be of service origin, his
widow would be entitled TO pension under
the general law irrespective OF the date of
marriage. IL the soldier were pensioned
as Captain, her rate would be $50 per
month, with 50 additional per month for
each child of the soldier under 10.
w. A. K, Walnut Shade, Mo.-The
bounty you refer to is evidently the adj
diuOnal bounty allowed by the act of
July IS, 1856. Applications therefor must
have been filed before July /, 1880, when
the law expired by limitation, and claim
hereunder cannot now be presented.
Nj. III. o., Plattsburg, n. Y.-The 500
bounty allowed by the act of July 20, 1888,
is due only to those three years volun-
teers enlisted before July %, 1861, and
discharged before two years service for
reasons other than wound or injury in
Cured in the service and line OF duty.
J. A. j., Green Hill, Ind.-You are not
being especially sighted by the Pension
Bureau. You must not expect TO hear
from your claim for increase until it is
reached in its order" 1t is quite likely
to be some months yet before you hear
from it, even though ii is already nine
months or more since you forwarded your
application. Perhaps an inquiry by a |
member OF Congress would bring TO you |
the sought-for order for medical examina- |
ton. No, the Commissioner OF Pensions |
is not dead. |
j. c. NJ, Broad Ford, Pa.-n The soldier |
never received a discharge from the serv-
ice, and yet on his claim for pension was |
ordered Tor medical examination, il is |
possible that the fact TO his desertion was |
overlooked
E. c., Springdale, W. Va.-You cannot |
obtain the $50 rating unless i'm the view |
OF the Pension Bureau your disabIement |
from your combined disabilities of service |
origin is such that you are disqualified |
for the performance Of any manual labor |
whatsoever. Two comrades and two
neighbors win hardly be sufficient TO es-
tabllsh claim under the general law on 1
disability not covered by the general law |
certificate you hold unless there is |
record Of the alleged new disabilities, and |
even then you viii probably be required 10 |
furnish additional evidence as TO your |
since discharge.
NJ. H. r., Kennard, Neb.-1hc Board of |
Pension Appeals Of the Interior Depart |
ment IS about one year in arrears with its |
work. You will be notified OF the decision |
oil the case as soon as the matter is |
reached
}. ID. NJ, Pa.-H you consider the re-
lection OF your general law claim unjust
an appeal may be filed with the Secretary
Of the Interior. Your attorney should be |
able TO advise you as 10 this. You are at /
liberty 10 apply for an increase OF your |
act Of 1850 pension If you are drawing /
less than SIP without regard To your
course in the matter Of your general law
claim.
Mrs. f. NJ. A., Tallapoosa, Calf a |
soldiers undiVorced vile was actually |
dead at the date Of his remarriage, no |
question could arise as 10 the validity Of |
ms remarnage. The report Of the former |
wlie's death should have been of a con
character 30 warrant the soldier i'm |
acting upon the supposition that she were
dead. ii there be any doubt in the mat
ter, the doubt ought 10 be removed |
through searching inquiry.
j. III. r., West BTidgewater, Pat
seems that $1,000 worth OF property de-
under the act OF June q, 1880. The same
bar her ordinarily.
$. l.. d., pittsburg Pa-It is not easv
TO furnish the amount and character of /
evidence regarded by the Pension Bureau
as sufficient TO establish a claim under
the general law on disability not covered
by the pension certificate. II there is no
record Of the additional disabilities, and
you have no medical evidence in service
or at discharge, YOU need not be surprised