The National tribune., 1901-12-12
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Suggestions
Made.

A. D., Cedar Rapids, Widow
pensioners drawing under the Mexican
War service-pension act of Jan. %, 1887,
are entitled to only IS per month. The
act of Jan. >, 1893, authorizing an in
crease to So to neutrality-suspicious., un-
der certain conditions, does not apply to
widows.
G. A. B. Eliasyille, Text is not
clear from yOur statement precisely what
objection the Pension Bureau makes to
the evidence you have submitted as to
your identity with the person whose name
appears on the records. If the proof is
full and clear, as would seem frum your
letter, probably the best thing to do is TO
appeal to the Secretary Of the Interior.
Your attorney should be able to advise
you as to this.
J. II. b., EIizabethtown, Pa.-Proba-
bly, the law you refer to is the act Of
March 3, 1899, which debars a widow
from pension if married to the soldier
and not living with him continuously I'M
til his death, after that date, unless mar
ried to him before or during his service,
or unless his service was i'll the Spanish
War.
p. L. B., Marion. Ind.-Evidence that
is adverse to a pension claim is given far
more weight than evidence that is favor
able. An adverse assumption or pre-
sumption is far more easily drawn from
the official records of the War Depart
ment than an assumption or presumption
that is favorable to a pension claim. 1t
is not true that doubts are generally re-
solved in favor of claimants by the pres
ent administration of the Pension Bu-
reau. If you have produced all the evil
dence you can in support of your claim,
probably it is time to take an appeal to
the Secretary Of the Interior. Your attor-
ney should be able to advise you.
G.. X. L., Denver, Colo.-It is impOs-
sible to intellgently advise as to possible
title TO bounty, without knowing exact
date and term of enlistment and date and
cause of discharge and whether as a COM
missioned officer or as an enlisted man.
w. NJ. c., Benton, Ark.-It is believed
that if guardians of pensioners make such
disposition of the funds of their wards
as meets with the approval of the courts
from which they derived their appoint
ment the Commissioner of Pensions or any
other u. 5. officer has no lawful right what
ever TO interpoSe. 1t is true that u very
peculiar and extraordinary decision has
been rendered by the Interior Department
with reference to the relation of guardians
of pensioners to the Pension Bureau, but
il is thought that this decision would not
bear judicial examination if put to the
test in the courts.
ID. w. p, Ohio State Soldiers Home
There is no provision of law for the issu-
ance by the War Department of certiti-
Gates of Regular Army service in lieu
of lost discharges, except in case of men
serving in the army during the war of the
rebellion. Your member of Congress
could probably obtain for you transcript
of your service, but it probably would
not be sent you on your personal request.
If your service was during the war of the
rebellion, you can obtain certificate of
service on application TO the Chief of
Record and Pension Office, War Depart
ment, Washington, ID. c."
Mrs. +. Il. G.. Greenup. Ky.-If the
mother of the children was divorced from
the soldier, then no widow survived him
within the meaning of the law, and the