The National tribune., 1900-02-22
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sugges=
tiOns Made.

j. b. r., Rochester, N. Y.-There were
no bounties, strictly speaking, alloWc"
for naval cnlistments i'll the war OF the
rebellion before July 1, 1864. through
a misunderstanding of law, men who
enlisted in the Marine Corps from June 6,
1862, to July 10, 1868, We're promised a
bounty of S100. which was paid according
to promise. Under a Joint resolution ol
Feb. "a, 1854, able and ordinary seamen
We're allowed three months pay in advance
as bounty
j. NJ. BeaUsrile. O.-A pension of $50
per month is all that is allowed for loss OF
arm below the elbow or of leg below the
knee. There is no reported decision COW
ering your point that if the pensioner'
drawing on account of loss of arm or leg,
requires frequent and periodical alo and
attendance of another person in consequence
of such disability, he should have the $50
rating. .-
j. S. r., EI Reno. Okld.-Neither widow
nor children can obtain pension under the
general law unless it can be satisfactorily
shown that the soldiers death was due 10
the service and line of duty. crippled
child has no better title in this respect than
if perfectly sound. If the widow is not
entitled to pension under the act of June
"a, 1890, either on account of not being
married to the soldier until after the date of
the law, or on account OF not being IN de-
pendent circumstances. the children can
not obtain pension under the act during her
lifetime or widowhood.
". S. A, Ada, Mich.-There is no
law absolutely debarring widow from a
pension after her husbands death. If you
will state the case your question can be
answered more definitely.
III. L. PIT is within the power of the
Commissioner of Pensions TO order another
medical examination in rejected pension
claim without additional evidence being
filed. \ claimant may file and prosecute
at the same time as many claims as he
has, and he may, if he wishes, discontinue
the prosecution of some of them and prose
cute Others or only one claim at time.
o. N. J., Deep Valley, ". Fd.-By an
act of March 3, 1899, "all enlisted men in
the Regular Army who enlisted subse
Quent to the declaration of war for the war
only, and mustered out of service, who
have served honestly and faithfully be
yond the limits of the United States, shall
be PAID two months extra pay on muster
out and discharge from the service, and all
enlisted men in the Regular Army who
enlisted subsequent to the declaration Of
war, for the war only. and mustered
out of the service, who have served hon
estly and faithfully within the limits of
the United States. shall be paid one months
extra pay on muster out and discharge from
the service" The soldiers homestead
laws apply only to soldiers of the war Of the
rebellion. but Il bill is now before Congress
proposing to extend the benefits of these
laws 10 soldiers of the war with Spain.
Applications for extra pay should be made
to the Auditor for the War Department,
Washington, ID. C..
j. A. Y, Soldiers Home, Ohio-Section
35 of an act of March 3, 1863, provided
THAT hereafter enlisted men, now or here
after detailed TO special service shall not re-
celve any extra pay for such service beyond
that allowed to other enlisted men," General
Order No. 1872, of the War Department
dated June p, 1863. declared that the
above law docs not exclude enlisted men
employed as clerks and messengers in the
military offices in Washington, and at the
several geographical divisions, and Depart
ment Headquarters, from receiving the
extra pay heretofore allowed them" These
men were general service" men of the
Regular Army, enlisted for clerical duty
c. A. P.s Argoniq, ,Knn.-Apparentlyy
IN the recent allowance in your pension
case Your statement is not sufficiently
definite and full to admit of more com
plete answer.
A. j.; GraueSUiue, U-There is no
law that entities an invalid pensioner of
the war OF the rebellion either to pension
or additional pension simply because of
his being % years old.
J. c.. ", NdysCiiLe, S. Con Oct.
p, 1898, the Postofice Department au-
thorized and instructed PoStmasters at
money-order postoffices where there are no
banks, to cash pension checks from the
money-order funds. This dispenses with
the need of any special Legislation on the
subject.
Ahorney.-Rules % and %, approved
March 10, 1898, are still in force How
closely they are observed by ATTORNEYS
or how rigidly applied by Commissioner
Evans, it is impossible TO say. Knowing
Commissioner Evans as they do. il is
probable that attorneys are generally very
careful about advising or suggesting TO
claimants to have their pension cases
called up by a member of Congress The
penalties for doing so are so severe that
few would care to take the risk of LAYING
themselves open to disEarment by violat-
ing the rules.
A. b. c., Corert, Mjch.-The following
are the bills now before Congress with
reference 10 Mexican War pensions: SEN
ate bills numbered 2314, 25O1, 355, and
500: House bills numbered 81 l33. 1909
4343, 75, 6959, 734S, and S124. The Rep
reseniative from your district in Con
greSs will send you copies Of these bills,
free of cost, if you ask him.
L. o. A, PastoOk, N. C.-The Senate
resolution No. 8, passed by the Senate on
Jan. 6, and now awaiting consideration
in the House, specifically provides that the
provisions OF the resolution shall not
apply to those who served il the 1st. ID
Sd, 4th, 5th, and 9Th Regiments 9. s.
Vols. who had prior service in the Con-
federate army or navy" This provision
will apply only TO pension claims under
the act of June q, 1890. and viii not affect
title to pension under the general law on
account of disability incurred in U. S.
service and the line Of duty
j. r., Wdynesborough, Pa.-It is en-
tirely lawful for pension claimant to file
and prosecute at the same time a claim
under the general law and claim under the
act of June q, 1890.
DEPARTMENT AND