The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-01
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sugges.
lions Made.

G. ]. B., Monte Vista, Colo.-The bill
proposed in the last Congress to provide
n rating of $50 per month for Invalid pen
sioners under the act of June -, lS9o'
who require attendance, did not become Il
NJ. W.. Wales, Mass.-Volunteers of
the war of the rebellion who were dis
charged TO reenlist as veterans received nj
the time of such discharge all bounty due
them on account of their first enlistment
One hundred dollars bounty due you on
account of your enlistment i'll November,
1861, was undoubtedly included Ill the
800" bounty which you say you received
as a veteran volunteer The veteran L. ).
bounty was only $500, added TO which
was the recruit premium OF N-oo.
A. c., WawarSing. \. UT Is under
stood from your inquiry that your pension
claim has been rejected on the ground that
your name is not found on the records OF
the War Department. Probably the only
way 10 overcome this rejection is to have
it put there by Il special act of Congress,
or perhaps you should apply for pension
by special act. As to this your attorney
should be able to advise yOu.
J. Milf the soldiers death was due
to the service and line of duty, the father
can obtain pension ut the rate of 81 per
month, but pension will be made to COM
mence only from the date of filing the APP
plication therefor. Any pay or bounty
due on account of the soldiers service can
be collected, but no interest would be al
lowed thereon.
Mrs. NJ l.. D.. Ashmont, Mass.-There
is no way in which Il person can obtain
recompense from the Government for the
care and custody of a soldiers orphan. IL
the child should be entitled to pension,
then its custodian might, as guardian, OBJ
{oin and fhp rOErt WOUll allow Il
reasonable amount for care, but probably
not for past services in this regard.
f. r.. Harris Mich.-Inasmuch the
rulings of the Cleveland Administration
upon the pension acts of June -, 1870,
and March 6. 1896 remain substantially
unchanged, it is very difficult for pension
ers who were cut off or reduced when the
pension roll was revised" to obtain what
they are lawfully entitled to under these
laws as properly and justly construed.
l.. D. H, Oxford, O.-The matter of
arrears in pension cases arising from ser
vice dating prior to March i, 1861, ana
which are not brought under the various
service-pension acts. is governed by sec
ton Alb, Revised Statutes. The arrears
acts of January and March, 1879, do not
apply to these cases. The daughter of the
Mexican war soldier, being over 16 years
of age, is not. pensionable, there being no
period over which she could obtain arrears
under section Alb.
o. NJ WILDER. Colo.-If an invalid pen
sioner drawing under the general law Sc
cures the allowance of a claim under the
act of June %, 1890, at higher rate. it
is presumed that he desires the higher
rating allowed him under the act of 1890
and his views are not asked by the Pen
sion Bureau. If it is found that he is
entitled 70 the same rate under the act
of 1890 as he is receiving under the gen
eral law, he is asked to state his prefer
ence.
A. W. H. Hulington, Ohio.-If the
pensioners check fails TO come to hand
within the usual period after the voucher
had been forwarded. duly executed, it
would be well TO address an inquiry TO the
Commissioner of Pensions if the [. :.
Pension Agent to whom the voucher was
forwarded does not respond to inquiries.
w. w. W., Pleasantville, IOwa.-NO
pension can be obtained under the general
law on account of disability that has made
its appearance since the soldiers discharge
unless such disability is clearly the result
of other disability shown to have origin
ated in the service and line of duty. I'm
der the act of June %, 1890, rating can
be had on disability incurred since dis
charge.
d. w. K, Hartstown, Pa.-The gem
eral law rate of invalid pension for total
disability of the arm is $50 per month.
You might obtain this rating if it could
be clearly shown that the arm is useless
for all practical purposes. If this cannot
be shown, rating Of S24, for disability
equivalent to the loss of hand or foot, !"
might be obtained.
A. r. S.-'The $50" additional per
month does not represent the child's ''pen-
sion" This amount is an additional allow
aDce paid under the act of July %, 1856,
in widows cases, it being allowed for each
child under 16. If the widow dies or re-
marries and children OF the soldier under
16 become entitled in their own right, the
additional allowance goes to them as well;
they receive the same amount that the
widow was entitled TO receive. In the
case you refer to it is not apparent why
tie widow did not receive the same pen
sion that the child now receives.
$. a. s., Clay Center, Kan.-There is
probably no objection to the evidence for
prospective widows claim being collect
ed in advance of the soldiers death.
4. +. D., Rochester, y. Y.-Under the
act of June Z, 1888, widows obtaining pen
sions under the general law are entitled
to arrears back 20 date of soldiers death
Widows pension obtained under the act
of June 81. 1890 Tor May 9. 1900 can com.
mence only from date of filing application
therefor; but to obtain pension under this
act it is not necessary to prove the sol
dier'S death to have been due to the SER
vice and line Of duty. If widow has
property Of such reasonable valuation
that, if turned into cash and placed at or,
binary and usual interest, it would earn
more than $3.50 per annum net, she can,
not obtain pension under the act of june
q, 1880. as amended by the act Of May
8, 1896
*. H. H., MadeIia, Minn.-Senatol
Proctor. of Vermont, introduced the bill
Is. 2172} TO reimburse soldiers of the
Spanish war for medical expenses on fur
Tough, which passed the Senate on March
10.
NJ. II. d, Lansing Mich.-General law
ratings for hernia are not fixed by law
but by ruling Of the Commissioner of Pen
sions. 1t would seem that the Examining
Surgeons enormously reported that ir
your case the hernia at the time of ex
animation was not complete or thai
their report was so understood or con
strued NJ the Pension Bureau. 1t may bt
well for you 10 apply for increase again
aud at the same time apply for q re
rating; or, your case might he appealed
YOur attorney should be able to advis,
you as 10 the best course"