The National tribune., 1903-06-04
PENSION POINTERS.
Inquiries Answered and Sugges.
tiOns Made.


the right to pension accrued. which, in the
case you cite, seems to be the date when
the soldier died.
II. G. S. H.. West Gloucester, Mass
No bill has been passed allowing
"back pension to Mexican War survivors.
Perhaps you have reference to decision
within the past year which changed the
practice of the Pension Bureau relative to
date of commencement of the increase to
$12, allowed by act, to Jan. D, 1888. I'm
der this decision nearly all the Mexican
War survivors who had been increased to
$12 under the act mentioned became en-
titled TO some back pension because of not
having secured the increase back as far
as it should have been made to commence.
C. Il. G., Altus, Pa.-An invalid pen
sioner pensioned as First Lieutenant under
the general law at SIT per month. the So
called total rate of his rank, could not
go to the next rate, $24 per month. unless,
in the view Of the Pension Bureau, his
disabilities of proven service origin existed
in a degree equivalent to loss of hand or
foot" ..
B. G. NJ, Ancram. n. Y.-The Pension
Bureau does not oblige pensioner to ac-
cept pension under Il different law from
that under which he has been drawing.
If you have been changed from one law
to another without increase Of rate, it
must be because you assented in some
way. to such change. If you have been
drawing only Sc per month under the gen
erai law, and are awarded the same rate
under the act of 1880, it would certainly
seem to be to your interest and advantage
to change to the new law, as, judging from
your general-iaw rate, you will stand
better chance of getting an increase as
pensioner under the act of 1880 than you
do as q pensioner under the general law.
Under the act of 1890 ali your infrmities
and isabilities can be considered in de-
ternlining your right to increase. Dis
ability incident to age can also be con-
sidered. Under the general law only your
pensioned disability of service origin would
be considered. You can go as high as So
under the act of 1890, and will probably
reach that rate in n few years.
Broadway.-There is no fixed time
within which you may expect to hear the
result of the investigation of a pension
claim by n Special Examiner of the Pen
sion Bureau. Claims are frequently in the
Special Examination Division for one or
two years, according to the number of
localities in which there are witnesses to
be examined.
r. g., Newton, Iowa-The remarked
widow of a Mexican War soldier, who re-
married without having filed her applica-
ton for pension, cannot obtain pension
for the period Of her widowhood. If
soldiers death is proven due to the service
and line of duty, and the widow was mar
ried to him before March 10, 1856, her
rate of pension would be So per month.
This applies to war of rebellion cases.
Subscriber, Evansville, Ind. - Hon.
Frank L. Campbell, lately Assistant Sec
retary of the Interior, has been promoted
to the office of Assistant Attorney
for the Interior Department. The. present
Assistant Secretary OF the Interior. in
charge of matters pertaining to the Pen
sion Bureau, is Hon. Melville W. Miller,
of Lafayette, Ind. You will very likely
hear from the appeal in your pension case
within u months from date Of filing
thereof.
J. n. B., Springboro, Ohio-The de-
cisions Of the various Auditors of the
Treasury Department are subject to re-
view on appeal to the Comptroller Of the
Treasury"
w. D. J., New Castle.-The fact that
an invalid pensioner obtains from the War
Department Communication in lieu of arti-
fetal limb, for n disa bled arm or leg, does
not influence the rating given by the Pen
sion Bureau for the same disability. Your
rating of $50 per month will be increased,
without application, to $40 per month
are pensioned for total disability Of the
hand II the rate is given you for total
inability to perform manual labor, the new
law does not benefit you.
0. F. S., Brandon, Vt-The work Of
the Board Of Pension Appeals seems to be
about 90 months in arrears on an average.
Some classes of claims seem to be taken
up more quickly than others.
Subscriber, Selma, Ind.-If the widow
was married to the soldier before or dur
ing his service, and was pensioned under
the general law, and has secured divorce
from the second husband, she can obtain
restoration Of her pension at So per
month, under the act Of March 3, 1901, as
amended by the act of Feb. %, 1903. Ex-
cept where it is a question Of title to the
rating Of 500 per month, in cases of ampu-
tation at or above elbow or knee, with
stump of sufficient length, but in condition
precluding theuse of artificial limb, no
medical examination will be ordered and
no application need be filed to secure in
creases allowed by act of March 2, 1903.
J. O., Hamilton, Ontario.-If the widow
pensioner left no child Of soldier under 16,
and left insufficient assets to cover the ex-
penses of last illness and burial, the per-
son defraying or responsible for such ex-
perses may collect reimbursement therefor
from the accrued pension money. No al
lowance beyond the amount Of the accrued
pension will be made. Application should
be addressed to the Auditor for the Inter-
ior Department. Washington, d. c."
Fl. NJ, Los Angeles, Cal.-Write to the
"Clerk of the Court" at Laramie, Wyo.,
stating the date and place Of your mar
riage, and by whom, and ask if there is a
record of the same, and, if so, the cost of
furnishing you with a certified copy. A
certified copy of the marriage record is
better proof of marriage than a marriage
certificate. There is no law in force pre-
venting an alien from drawing pension
under United States laws, whether living
In the United States or not.
w. II. c., Grand Rapids, Mich.-The
new act of March 2, 1903 refers only to
cases OF amputation or total disa bility of
limbs. II your present condition is Of
fcially accepted as due to the service prob
ably you will be allowed the $50 rate for
disability requiring frequent and period
ical" attendance, as provided by the act
OF July II. 1892, If not the S72 rate.
G. B., Pleasant Home, Ohio.-Dressing
and undressing may be regarded as IN
stances OF certain things" in which the
pensioner requires assistance and which
assistance is such as is contemplated by
the act of July IA, 1892, providing the
rate of $50 per month for disability re-
quiring frequent and PERIODICAL aid and
attendance. Assistance in preparation OF
food at the table might be another. Very
likely not one case in a thousand comes
to the personal attention OF the Commits.
sioner of Pensions. 1t is obviously impos