The National tribune., 1900-04-12

actually served shall be allowed; but no
patent shall issue 10 any such homestead
settler who has not resided upon, improved
and cultivated his homestead for period
of at least one year after he shall have
commenced his improvements: Provided.
That ii any such person shall have been
discharged on account of wounds received
or disability incurred in the line of duty.
then the full term of his enlistment shall he
deducted from the time heretofore required
to perfect title without reference to length
Of time he may lave served.
Sec. 2. Tina. in case of the death of
any person who would be entitled 10 the
benefits of section one of this act. his widow e.
if unmarried, shall be entitled: TO such
beEefits, or in case of her death o. rcniarri-
age, then his minor orphan children, by Il
guardian duly appointed. may enter Il
tract of land under The homestead laws
::,id receive the benefits of section one Of
this act: and if the soldier sailor, or marine
died dl ng the term of his enlistment the
entire ."rm OF enlistment shall be deducted
from the time heretofore required TO per-
feet title: Provided, That in no ease shall
the amount of suc.l DEDUCTION be less than
one year"
WAR OF THE REREi LION PENSION
CLAIMS. GENERAL LAW.-lt mas come
10 l." r"cognizeJ by i@Cs. who are in a
portion TO Judge. that rs rIli" IL Is a waste
of time aud money 10 prosecute pension
claims under the general law, arising out
Of Sarvic1 i'll the war Of the rebellion. un-
less t'inre - q record Of the alleged dis
abilities; at the War Department or, in
heirs eases, unless the deceased soldier or
sailor was penSionei under the general
law on account of The disability which re-
suited in his death. Medical evidence of
the existence of the alleged disabilities in
the service or Very soon after discharge
may sometimes supply the lack of official
record evidence, but not always. The
SiStS in calling for evidence of officers.
comrades, neighbors. etc, in the face of the
fact that through the absence of evidence
of the character above indicated the case
will 80 times out of Il hundred he reieciei
for the lack of satisfactory evidence after
the evidence called for has been furnished.
There is every indication that upon the
whole, and with respect TO general law way
of the rebellion claims. the present ad-
miniStration of the Pension Bureau is the
most illiberal in the history of the inStitu-
ton.
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE
1NTERlOR.-Ihe resignation of the Hon.
Webster Davis as Assistant Secretary of
the Interior marks the departure of the one
prominent active friend of the old soldier
in the pension department of the Admins
tration. 1t Is unfortunate indeed for those
having business before the Pension Bureau
that MIR. Davis has allowed himself to be
process of making an incumbant's position
uncomfortable to the extent that he is
obliged to withdraw TO preserve his self
respect. Late in the Summer OF 1887 Mr..
Davis assured a representative of THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE that decisions had
been prepared which were designei to
correct all the wrongs and injustice of the
previous Administration with respect to
the pension act of June p, 1890. But for
some unknown reason these decisions We're
pigeon-holei aud have never seen the light.
Perhaps Mr.. Davis may now feel disposed
10 enlighten the old soldiers us 10 the true
inwardness of the pension policy announced
three years ago us one of prompt pay
Tl"nt of liberal pensions" and as TO the
influences and considerations which
shcivei the important decisions of 1897.
He is best able to explain, as the officer OF
the Interior Department having immediate
personal supervision Of the pension matters
of the Department.