The National tribune., 1900-04-05
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sugges=
tiGns Made.

II, s., Cbanufe, KdR.-Private pension
tills are usually introduced in Congress
TO cover some case that does not come under
any general law or has been denied by the
Pension Bureau for alleged lnSulficlency
Of evidence or some other reason. Usually
claims for increase of pension on penSioned
disability are settled according 10 the
Pension Bureaus opinion OF the medical
examination. and it is not often that the
Secretary of the Interior overrules the
opinion OF the Medical Referee" of the Pen
sion Bureau upon a medical question OF
any sort.
j. b. H.. Chicdgo-For threc-years
volunteers enlisted after July Il. 1864,
a bounty Of $500 was offered, payable in
three installments, one-third in advance,
one-third at the expiration of hall the term
of enlistment, and the remainder at the
expiration of the term. The full bounty
was payable only i'll case the soldier served
the full term or was discharged by reason
of wounds or injuries incurred III service
and line of duty. Discharge because OF the
close of the war entitled the soldier TO only
the accrued installments. In your case,
you were entitled TO only $500.
j. b., Lincoln, W-Evidently your
pension under the act of June p, 1890,
has been granted TO commence from the
date Of filing of a supplemental application
or affidavit filed since you put III your
original application under the act. Prob
ably this supplemental application or
affidavit contained clause especially
claiming pension from the date of filing
the original application, which evidently
was rejected at some time. The letter OF
rejection you have now received apparently
has reference TO the claim for the pension
dating back TO the date Of filing OF the
rejected application.
j. C. NJ, Toledo, O.-The accrued
pension due an invalid pensioner at death
is payable in full only to the widow or
children under 16. If the pensiOner left
insufficient means for the expenses of last
illness and burial, the person paying or
responsible for such expenses may collect
from the accrued pension so much as may
be necessary TO cover such expenses. APP
plication may be made TO the Auditor for
the Interior Department, Washington,
ID. c.
LIE Roy, 64h.-As regards claims for
increase on penSlOned disability. II Is under
stood that an effort is at last being made
in the Pension Bureau TO bring the work
on this class of cases little more up to
date.
S. H.. Hot Springs, S. D.-As it appears
from your statement that you We're not
actually mustered as veteran, although
you re-enlisted. and that you were DIS
charged at the expiration of your original
term of enlistment, the matter could not he
ltCllilSu iION DS SpcCldi hCG Vi SOii-
gress. The facts in your case as to your
pension are not clearly stated. If you
were rated below S6 for the period before
March ?, 1895, under the general law the
So rate can commence only from March
2, 1895. Under the construction of the act
of June "a, 1890, which has prevailed
since May, 1893, a degree of disability
that would give 50 rate under the general
law-raised to Sc by act of March 2. 1886
would not entitle you to any rating what
ever under the act Of June q. 1890.
G. H. L., Os,cego, N. Y.-Probably the
extra S1o0 bounty you refer TO is that
allowed i'll some cases by act of July 2S,
1866, which expired by limitation on June
30, 1880. Claims must have been filed
before July 1, 1880, to be valid.
j. n. j., Litty. Wis. The proclama-
tions of President Lincoln relieving from
the penalties of desertion those soldiers
who We're absent from their commands
without leave, If they returned within a
specified time, did not contemplate and
have never been construed as authorizing
the absentees to return to the service by
enliSting in some other organization. 1t
is held that the act of June 81, 1880. applies
only TO persons having an honorable dis
charge from each enlistment entered upon
during the period of the war Of the rebellion.
Claims that are barred out under this hold
ing will not be good until there is change
IN the law or change in the construction
of the law.
L. G. F., Monroe Center, O-The Pen
sion Bureau maintains that every case
is promptly considered--that is, promptly
in an official sense, and every reasonable
inquiry or other communication given due
attention. This being the case. officially,
unnecessary inquiries and communications
are apt to delay the Bureau in attending
TO proper inquiries, etc. Perhaps Com
missioner Evans can give clearer explana-
ton.
III. r., Soldiers Home. Mich.-There
has been no general pension legislation
as yet at the present session of Congress
indeed no legislation Of any character that
is of benefit to the old soldiers.