The National tribune., 1899-08-31
PENSION POINTERS.
. Inquiries Answered and Sugges=
tiOns Made.

tons MADE.
IAN communications for this column should
accompanied by the true name and correct
address of the inquirer. The reply, however,
will be marked as may be desired. No attention
will be given to anonymous inquiries. This This
NATIONAL TR1BUNEl
". B., Camden, N. .J-If the disability
on which your general law pension was
granted was claimed on by formal appli-
cation filed in the Pension Bureau before
July 1, 1850, the pension should have
carried arrears from the date OF your dis
charge. AS the pension commenced only
from 1882 it would seem that you set up
another disability at that time, on which
the pension was finally granted, and not
on the disa bility claimed on in 1879.
Er-First Sergednt.-All the evidence
filed in the Pension Bureau is retained
there in the proper case. Unless an in
crease of pension on pensioned disability
is due under law or ruling increasing the
rate for a certain disability, the official
medical examination is necessary TO fix
the date of commencement of the increase
of pension, as required by section 469S12,
Revised Statutes. The highest rate of
pension any person, officer or enlisted
man, can receive under the general law is
500 per month.
Michigan evidence may be
filed in a rejected pension claim at any
time, and if deemed sufficient by the Pen
sion Bureau, the case will be reopened.
Ordinarily, new attorney may be ap-
pointed after three months subsequent to
date of notice of the rejection, or the claim
ant may proceed without attorney if his
experience is such as to lead him to think
that he can dispense with counsel.
A. p. A, Marion, IoaUd.-Evidently the
children are entitled to arrears BACK to the
date of filing of the first application under
the act of 1890 by the remarked widow as
next friend"
p. c. r, Ripley, o.-A, Mexican war
widow to be entitled under the act of Jan.
%, 1887, must be either 60 years of age or
wholly or partially dependent on her own
labor or the voluntary contributions of
persons not legally bound for her support.
Remarriage before Jan. 20, 1887, is not
bar.
S. ". c., Gilman Springs, Mo.-The
increase would not commence from the
first examination unless in view of the
subsequent examination the first is now
regarded as favorable. 1t depends upon
the character of the disability and the
rating sought whether additional evidence
is required to supplement the medical
examination in an increase claim.
- F. B. s., National Military Home, Kan. |
The act of March 2, 1895, fixes Sc as the
minimum rate of pension for any period
after the date of the act.
under the general law for simple loss of
sight of an eye-the eye itself not being /
destroyed-is S12 per month. The rate |
for failure Of sight less than total of the |
eye is proportionate to the degree of defect. |
The fractions expressed by 1Sths is another
way of expressing dollars in pension rat
ings; as, 12-1S means S12. A recent edi-
ton of .The National Tribune Soldiers
Handbook" corrects several errors which
crept into the earlier edition.
L. H., Tirden, Iu.-Order 229 of Com
missioner Lochren related to the prepara-
rescinded by Commissioner Evans in 1897
after much hesitation. Send for THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE Table of Invalid
Pension Rates. Price two cents.
T. G., Flora, Ky.-There is only one
Board of Review in the Pension Bureau,
acting as rereviewing board under the
direction of the Commissioner and dubbed
unofficially as ''the House of Lords" The
Board of Review passes on all classes of
pension claims. and the Territorial Ad.
Indicating Division considers all classes of
pension claims coming within their terri
tory. If two claims for the same claimant
are ready for settlement, both will be taken
up at the same time.
w. II. d., Point Pleasant, ". VA
soldier of the Spanish war who is under age
may apply in person, but probably a guar
dian will be necessary for the payment of
the pension if he be still under age when
the pension is granted.
W. S. G., Charleston, N. H.-From
your statement of your case it is impoSSi-
bic to determine why you were pensioned
only from date of medical examination
The rules of the Pension Bureau prohibit
the examination or inspection of the reports
of Examining Surgeons in cases that have
been allowed, unless there is a pending
claim on file.
ID. K. CdrbonddLe, Pd.-Section 1890.
Revised Statutes, provides: when a sol
dier is discharged from the service Except
by way Of punishment for an offenSe) he
shall be allowed transportation and sub
sistence from the place of his discharge to
the place of his enlistment, enrolment. or
original muster into the service. The
Government may furnish the same in
kint but in case it shall not do so, he shall
be allowed travel pay and Communication OF
subsistence for such time as may be suffi-
cient for him to travel from the place of
discharge 10 the place of his enlistment,
enrolment, or original muster into the
service, computed at the rate of one day
for every 20 miles" Soldiers discharged
by way of favor are not entitled. Usually,
the trayel-pay is paid at discharge, if trans
portation in kind is not furnished.
A. III. r., Little Falls, Minn.-The act
pf July IA, 1892, provides rating of $50
ior disablement requiring the frequent and
periodical personal aid and attendance of
another person. 1t is held that disable
ment, requiring the regular aid Of another
person in retiring and rising from bed, in
dressing and undressing, or in attending
to the usual calls of nature, is such as en-
titles to this rate.
d. S. K, Leipsic, GA soldier incur
ring disability while an enlisted man can
be rated only as an enlisted man under the
general law, notwithstanding subsequent
promotions to commissioned officer grades.