The National tribune., 1902-03-06
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sugges'
tiOns Made.

s. f. c. Kingston. y. H.-Thc widow
having died before the accrued pension
due the soldier at his death was actually
paid TO her. no payment of the same VII
be made unless there is Il surviving chilt
of the soldier under the age of IL.
p l.. B.. Marion. Ind.-lf Congress
should by special enactment direct that
the War Department record of the alleged
existence of your disability before enlist
ment be corrected in accordance with The
evidence yOu have submitted, the Interior
Department and the Pension Bureau VIII
doubtless be constrained to take cognlZ-
ance of the amended record DOUBTLESS
the authorities of the Soldiers Home. Ia.
c.. would also be governed hy the amend
ed record.
VI. c.. Traverse City. Mich.-lt is diff
ficult TO say how soon Il pension claim
should be heard from after it has been
called up in the Pension Bureau by a
Member of Congress. Usually such in
quirieS receive extra prompt attention. but
under the present administration of the
Pension Bureau it seems a little uncer-
tain whether they receive attention at all
in many instances.
+. =. D.. Bellefonte. Pa.-When Il pen
sion claim has been rejected i'll the Pen
sion Bureau on the ground of no record
or medical evidence of the alleged disable
ity in the service or at discharge, 1t is al
most impossible to secure a further con-
sideration Of the case there unless record
or medical evidence is discovered and sup
piled ANY evidence that is filed bearing
upon the existence Of the disability III the
service or at discharge is considered, but
is not usually regarded as of any weight.
The case should be heard from within
month or so after the additional evidence
is fled but usually the time is much
md Spr1afiD1nS tho evidence NOT
heard from at all. 1t is not the present
policy of the Pension Bureau TO reopen
and allow any cases once rejected. If a
rejected case has been well established,
the best plan is to take an appeal TO the
Secretary of the Interior.
W. J.. r.. Greenville. O.-The act of
March 6. 1896, providing that invalid pen
siOns granted under the act of June p,
1890. should be made to commence from
the date of filing of the first applica-
tion," contained a proviSo, in effect. that
there should be evidence on file that the
disability existed in pensonable degree
at the date of filing of the said first ap-
plication.' This proviso has made it pos
sible for the Pension Bureau to render the
act of 1896 practically imperative in the
great majority of cases, by holding that
the evidence on file does not. in the opin-
ion of the Pension Bureau. show that the
disability existed in a peusionable degree
at the time of filing the first applica-
ton"
Il. z. T, RutherfordtOn. y. C.-HOn-
bly-discharged volunteer soldiers of the
Spanish war can obtain admission to any
of the branches of the National Home for
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. upon evi-
dence satisfactory to the Home authOri-
ties that they are physically incapacitated
for earning a living. The soldiers home
stead laws are also extended TO the sol
diers of the Spanish war. For full in
formation address the Commissioner of
the General Land Office. Washington, D.
c." A rejected pension claim can be re
opened if additional and satisfactory evil
dence can be presented. Another disabil-
ity may be added to the claim at any time.
T. c., Croaker, Na.-It is not appar-
ent from your statement why the restOra-
ton of your invalid pension under the act
of June "a, 1890, did not commence at
least from the date of the filing of your
application. Your attorney should be able
TO inform you.
I. F.. Upland, Neb.-If the widow was
married to the soldier before March 3,
1899. it would not matter if they had not
lived together continuously until his death.
Her pension would not be denied because
of his having gone to Soldiers Home
to live. 4 decision was rendered by the
Interior Department in 1897, that an ap
plicant for invalid pension under the act
Of June %, 1890. over 60 years of age,
should be regarded as entitled to at least
SO per month, unless it appeared that he
was unusually robust for his age. 1t is
impossible to say what, if any, general
pension legislation is likely to be enacted
at the present session of Congress. Pen
sion and increase of pension under the act
OF 1880 ior act of 1900. are allowed with
out showing that the disabilities were in
CURED in the service. Unless you are try
Ing 10 establish your disabilities under the
general law so as 20 obtain the higher |
rate that the general law would doubtless |
allow you, it is not apparent why you /
should have been required TO furnish evil |
dence that the disabilities originated in |
the service.