The National tribune., 1902-03-13
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sugges-
tiOns Made.

w. Z. y, Smltnnel0- I-d-IHClt 10
now no law in force by which an en-
nloyee of the Quartermasters Depart
ment, such as wagon-maSter, teamSter,
and the like can obtain pension on ac-
count of disability incurred in service
during the war of the rebellion. The act
of June %, 1890, applies only to officers
and enlisted men.
Subscriber, Ada. Ohio-The widow Of
n soldier of the war of the rebellion. who
was married TO him after June 26, 1880,
would not be entitled to pension under
the act of June %. 1890, or act of May
9. 1900. She could obtain pension only
under the general law, which requires
satisfactory evidence that the soldiers
death was due to the service.
C. L. Victor. ColO.-There is no pro-
vision of law whereby the adult child of
an 1872 war soldier can obtain pension.
If so disposed. Congress might provide
for such case by Il special act, but the
circumstances would, of course, have to
be extraordinary. 1t might be worth
while to consult one of your Z. 5. Sen
ators or the Representative from your
District The general pension law rela-
tive to military or naval service since
March 4, 1861, provides for dependent
brothers and sisters only in the event of
their being under 16 at the date of the
soldiers death.
o. A, Greencastle, Mo-If the arm is
totally disabled from causes due to the
service and line of duty, the rate of pen
sion under the general law is S36. If the
War Department allows communication on
the basis of total disability of the arm,
but the rate of pension allowed by the
Pension Bureau is nevertheless Il rate less
than that provided for total disability of
the arm, the circumstance simply Illus
trates the difference of opinion which fire.
Quently exists between two of the EXecu-
tho state of
facts. If the arm is for all practical pur-
poses useless appendage, the rate of
$50 per month should be allowed. When
a claim is unjustly rejected, it is usually
wise to take an appeal to the Secretary
of the Interior.
J. L. B., Union, Me.-The general law
rate of pension for loss of sight of an eye
is SO per month.
G. H. G.. Sheffield. Pa.-The act of
May 8, 1900, amended sections , and 3
of the act of June %, 1890, those sec
tons relating to invalid pensions and wild
ow's and children's pensions. The act
simply changed the phraseolOgy of sec
tion ., but materially changed the legal
effect of section 3. The act of March ),
1901, provided for the restoration of the
pensions of certain remarked widows
again widowed, and who had formerly
drawn pension under the general pension
law. The general pension law relates
to military and naval service since March
4, 1861, where the disabling cause or
death was incurred in service and line of
duty. The general pension law is often
referred to as the 'old' law as distin-
guished from the new law of June 81,
1890. Under the act of June p, 1890,
as amended by the act of May 8, 1900,
a widow of the war of the rebellion who
has an actual net income not exceeding
$3.50 per year, apart from the proceeds of
L L.. o1.% %o,,, rha
acquiring of a piece of property repre-
senting in actual value an amount which
could not under ordinary circumstances
earn more than $3.50 per year net, would
not bar the widow from her pension un-
der the act of 1890.
Stanton-There is no law or regulation
governing the amount of an attorneys
fee for services in securing the removal
of a charge of desertion either at the War
Department or the Navy Department.
The appealing of a rejected general law
pension claim should not delay the set
tlement of a pending claim of the same
claimant made under the act of 1890,
though it may do so.
n. E. r., Dover, Tenn.-Mexican War
survivors drawing pension under the Mex
ican War service-pension act of 1887, and
who were increased to So per month un
der the act of Jan >, 1898, are now held
to be entitled to the increase back to Jan.
5, 1893, if they can furnish satisfactory
evidence showing that they were entitled
tc the increase from that date. The pen
sioner's widow can obtain the benefit of
this decision, the claim in such a case be-
ing regarded as claim for accrued pen
sion.
Il. G. B., Westboro, Mass.-There has
been no general law passed by Congress
providing pensions for survivors of the
war of the rebellion who are 90 years
of age, whether they be disabled or not
A decision rendered by the Interior De
partment in 1897, relative to invalid pen
sions under the act of 1890, holds that if
an applicant for invalid pension under
the said act is 65 years of age, he shall
be regarded as entitled to at least the
minimum rate of Sc per month. unless it
appears that he is in unusually robust
health for one of his age.
/. NJ. S., Strasburg, n. Y.-The Pen
sion Bureau is given an opportunity to
change its decision in every rejected pen
sion case that is appealed to the Secretary
Of the Interior. The Bureau is called
upon to report upon each appeal, to COM
bat the arguments of the appeal, or to
concede that the action taken was wrong
and should be rescinded. The Board of
Pension Appeals of the Interior Depart
ment appears to be about 80 months in
arrears with its work
S. G. F., Gallipolis, OhiO-If Congress
should by special act direct that the al
legged record that the disability claimed on
existed before enlistment be amended to
show that the disability originated after
enlistment, the amended record would op-
crate as evidence in the pension case. and
the pension when granted would be made
to commence from date of discharge. the
claim having been filed before July l,
1880. -,