The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-12-25
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sugges.
tons Made.

Inquiries Answered and Sugges.
tons Made.
A Subscriber, Kalamazoo, Mich.-The
Joint resolution of Congress of July J.
1902, provides: THAT in the administra
ton of the pension laws any enlisted man
of the army, including regulars. volun-
teers, and militia, or any appointed or en-
listed man of the navy or marine corps
who was henorably discharged from the
last contract of service entered into by
him during the late war of the rebellion,
shall be held and considered to have been
honorably discharged from all similar con-
tracts of service previously entered into
by him with the United States during SAID
war: Provided, That such enlisted or ap-
pointed man served not less than SIX
months under said last enlistment or ap-
pointment. and that his entire service I'M
der said last enlistment or appointment
was faithful, and that he did not receive
by reason of said last enlistment or APP
pointment any bounty or gratuity other
than. from the United States in excess of
that to which he would have been entitled
if he had continued to serve faithfully un-
til honorably discharged under any con-
tract OF service previously entered into
by him, either in the army, navy. or
marine corps. during the war of the rebel
lion. If soldier enlisted during the war of
the rebellion prior to Feb. ID, 1862, and
was under Is years of age at the date of
his enlistment. said service is voidable,
and if he afterwards, during the war of
the rebellion, enlisted in another organiZa-
ton and served ut least 80 days and re-
ceived an honorable discharge, he has a
pensionable status under the act of June
q, 1890, Independent of the joint reso-
luton of July 1, 1902, above referred to.
A Subscriber.-1f an applicant for pen
sion has filed. or has caused to be filed, in
the Pension Bureau, the required proofs
to establish his or her pension claim.
prompt action thereon can be secured by
the applicant writing to his or her mem
Der of Congress, giving him the number of
the claim, or the number of the pension
certificate. and the name and service OF
the soldier or sailor.
j. E. W., Soldiers Home, Calf a
soldiers name is dropped from the pen
sion rolls on the ground that he is not
ratably disabled under the act of June q,
1880, and afterwards he is allowed pen
sion under the act of June q. 1880. he
has the right to contest the action of the
Bureau in dropping his name from the
proper course for him to pursue is to file
an application claiming restoration of pen
sion back to the date his name was drop
ped from the rension rolls.
R. T. s.. Falling Water. Tenn.-No law
has been enacted providing an increase of
pension for Mexican war widows pension
ed under the Mexican war service pension
act of 1887 and amendments.
J. A c., National Military Home Va.
Without full knowledge of all the
facts in the case it is impossible to adj
further in your pension case. Your at
torney can best advise you. II it is a
fact that you did not have the alleged dis
ability before enlistment il is certainly
worth while to fight the case.
G.. H., Rosebank n. UT is impossi-
BE to say what the recommendation of
the Examining Surgeons on your recent
examination probably was as to rating.
Even if they recommend sI2. it is very
far from certain that their recommends
ton will be accepted.
Subscriber. Buffalo. N. Y-If the Ex-
amining Surgeons fail to find disability
justifying the $50 rating. it would be
rather difficult. it would seem. to secure
such rate by special act Of Congress. The
case would be different If the Surgeons
bad recommended this rate. but the Pen
sion Bureau had refused TO accent their
recommendation. There are thousands of
special pension bills introduced in every
Congress that are rover considered by the
committees to which they are referred. be
cause they are not regarded as Of suffi-
Gent merit to justify Congressional ac-
ton. Sometimes special pension acts are
passed without specifying any rate. which
is left to be determined by the Pension
Bureau. OF course. if the special act Is
TO give certain rate. then that rate is
absolutely fixed, and may not be increased
by the Pension Bureau. Another act Of
Congress would be ny,zssary to secure a
further increase.
S. P. S., Montgomery. Pa.|f he pen
sion was not made to commence from the
date the application was filed, OF coarse
the attention of the Pension Bureau
should be drawn to the matter. From
your statement ii is impossible to draw
any possible explanation except clerical err
ror.
P. B. K. Convoy, Ohio.-Persons who
served in the Provisional regiments which
We're formed from the Enrolled Missouri
Militia in 1863 are reasonable, as are
those who served in the Missouri Home
Guards of 1861 and were recognized and
paid By the Hawkins-Taylor Commission
as are also those who served in the Mis-
souri, State Militia organized in the Win
ter of 1872 for three years service.
r. S. R.. Ohio.-The fact that the wild
owe second husband is living and undi-
vorced bars her from obtaining restora ton
OF her pension under the act Of March 3.
1901.
L. C. S., Pierceton. Ind.-There is no
United States law making provision for
funeral or burial exnenses of old soldiers
generally. If no widow or child under 16
survives, and there are insufficient assets
TO cover the expenses. the person response.
Bile for such may obtain reimbursement
from the accrued pension il the deceased
was a pensioner.