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.W -v -v, Jf-vfc --! -' -i'i. ''-" THE NATXON&I, TKIBUNR. 9Q ,-- p a fi 4fi tfc '! IK if I Ml it j 11 KM, J i t' una SclMer' crmtmmkcttt0it Oa-n-ton. Bradford Co., PEmYLVAKiA, October 10, 1880. JSditor National Tribune : Dkaji Sm : I desiro to Btat a few facta through your paper in order tliat the pcoplo may see Just what is being dono in the Pension Office toward fulfilling tho promts given us by tlio soldiers1 friend, Abraham Lincoln, and Af terward made a law of the land by Congress, when I loft tho xYrwy in 18G3 I was a total wreck, being very sick and severely ruptured on each sido of my body. I never 1 t...,. ..,... 11.. 1l i-m An. n 3.ivio rtrti'b- cirton nlf.limirrn JJH.YU UUUU lUiMIJ UUHv IU VIU 4k lJ J .tvio. am--, I...UV-B- until about twolvo years ago I did raanago to perform light manual mechanical labor, but for about said tnno I have not been ablo to earn a sufficient amount to pay for my salt, and, owing to errors made in the Pension Ollico, and nothing olse, I have been continually in trouble about my pension. I have beon held responsible for all those blun ders and made to suffer soYoroly on account of them. Threo years ago I applied for a now disability on double hernia and increase on malarial poison, on which I now receive eight dollars per month, and two years ago last February X received orders to go before tho medical board have furnished a very large amount of proof, proving my freedom from those or any other disabilities whoh I en listed, aud proving when and how I contracted, hornia and tho extent to which it has constantly disabled mo to tho present time. My witnesses wore doctors, military officers, comrades, and neighbors, all good, worthy men, not one whose word would bo doubted anywhere, I have always challenged tho closest investigation, aud, it being so long, (nearly throe years since last examined) I havo requested the .Department to grant mo anotner memcai exauuuuMuu. My ruptures are growing worso rapidly and justice entitles mo to th increase in disability. Since last examined, but I cannot got this order, I have received eight dollars for throe or more years. My doctor's bills have amounted to nearly $8,000. I have run into debt for medical attend ance and food siuco I became disabled entirely, on which I am paying interest, and some one is crowding and mak ing mo coat and trouble all tho time. My family havo lived just as cheaply as possible and live at all during those years past and many tiraoe we suifer for most of the common necessaries of life. How cold weather is here and wo are clothed too thinly for even warm weather, as we havo noth ing Taut lirrht. thin summer clothiuar, and not one of my family is provided with under-cl6thing and nothing to pro euro it with, while my pension is held month after month and ysar after year, and there appears to be no one who cares how much we suffer. I havo promptly furnished all the evidence called for and could furnish more if necessary, but I have already furnished more proof than any other claimant. I should likevto ask how long we must suffer in this way? All I ask is justice, but I won't get this in my lifetime. When I enlisted in April, 18G1, I then gave jip all my prospects in life (and my prospects wore very promising) to servo the country, and soon after received assurance that if I became disabled I should receive full 'comoeneation for the same. Money cannot pay for health, but it can and should make up at least a part of my losses. I am not a beggar asking charity, but I am claiming pay ,for services rendered and should havo as prompt attention as tho wealthy-born soldier receives for his claims. Yours trulv. M. Trentok, Mo., Oct. ltfli, 1880. Mr. Editor : The honorable Commissioner of Pensions, in his recent letter to Congressman Myers, states that "he does not find tho execution of the pension law an easy duty in many cases in these days, so long after the RnlHiftr'fi discharge, when the facts aro veiled in obscurity by lapse of tune and' the natural presumption that tho disability from sickness was of little consequence in the . earlier years, else tho claim for pension would havo come forward earlier : to fix tho ponsion at'a rate at once just to the ponsioner and the Government." I agree with the Commissioner that in many cases it isdifficult to fix tho pension at a rate at once just to the pensioner and the n,,v.imnn4- Vnf la -if: a nat-iTril nrAQiiTrmfirtn ,J that tho JTtJ VUi UiXtwlAl. MtU 43 U IV AJI Vl-lUUk Ui Wfc !- W ww w of tho owe during the period named. How if this evi- degree of tho disability during tho time, or oven a consid erable portion of tho time, intervening botweon the dato of discharge and date of filing tho application, it seems til riifllp.iiltv of fixincr tho nension at a rato at onco just to I tho pensioner and tho Government could nc be very great If the applicant lias uaci tuo auonaonco oi puysioiuu. or physioians during that time, or any portion of that: time, ho or they ought to be ablo to stato on oath what tho dis ability wafS whether one-fourth, one-half, or an tho caso may bo. In that ovent it seems the responsibility is partly lifted from the Commissioner and a decision arrived at at ouco just to tho pensioner and tho Government. It is indeed unfortunate for the class of claimants I havo namod that they did not filo thoir applications at an earlier dav. when tliov would navo naa no irouoio in ex hibiting to the Commissioner of Pensions a full and com plete history of thoir cases, but "in theso days, so long otmpmbmt$ dmmu We ro obliged to answer corUtin inquiries of tho same nature in oaolvlssue of our papor. While we choorfully furnish infor mation to subscribers, ia thin column, we suggest that much labor, time and expense may t6 tvcd both to ourselves and to or correspondents, if tho l&ttor and other subscribers would keop a ftlo of tho papor. Thoy bould thcn4 at any timo, turn to tho Hl and probably find fcho very inquiry answered about which thoy Would havo written, to us. Wo trust that eaoh and evcry atibsoriber will profit by this suggestion. after the soldiers dlsohargo, whon tho facts aro veiled in obscnritvbv lanso of timo," to say nothing of removals by doath and to unknown localities of important witnessos, it is very difficult for tho soldier to satisfy the Government -Writs to tha AdJatanUQtjnora by fully complying with tho law. givon tho soldier. Jtospecttuiry, Tho doubt should bo EX-SOLDIER, s- Kind Words from tlie Pacific Coast Oar good friends in Oregon and Washington Territory send us pleasant lotters, two of which we publish below. The Tribune is taking firm root on the Pacific Coast. Dallas, Polk Co., Oregon, JSFct, SO, 1SS0. Editor Tribune: I have been a subscriber to Tms Hatiottal Tribune as also a reader of othor papers published in Washington, D. 0., in tho interest of tho soldiers and sailors and I make no hesitancy in saying I believe it pre-eminently tho best paper OI. DUG KIUU, uuu, uumg nu mvuuu DA-ouiuiui, j. i&oi deep iatorcsfc in its publication. I hope it will live and prosper until every worthy claimant for a pension shall be entered upon tho pension roll. May God bless its editor and publishor and 'prosper them in their good work is the prayer Of a suffering ex-soldier. F J WM. LIVERMORE. 3 Lower Cascades, W. T., Ifov. 9, 1SS0. Editor National Tribune; Sir : I received your speoimen oopies in. due time and havo circulated them. Have found no dificulty so far (ex cept1 tho scarcity of settlers in this part of tho world) in obtaining subscribers. I am much pleased with your . u -., !, r, l.lnrnr. 4-rt 4-V.rt RVllinv Tf Anna PHUUI-, J.t WUaU U UlDOOlUfJ KVf UUW Soldier." It does me good to see some- one brave enough to advocate the soldier's rights, for to them wo owe our Kational Inde pendence. Inclosed, please find three dollars on my subscription. Wishing you still greater success with your paper, I remain yours, with respect, MRS. HATTIE THOMAS. J. H., Windsor, Vkrmoitcv Wnslilnirton. T). (3. "---- o-- i " 7-- ,- . - "A SOLDIER," WtKKNE, IOWA. 'X ou wm una n longtny answer in. regard to your quorlcs In our editorial columus. tii a F .lit. JJ., Makand.. In,. No bill has passed Gongt&m to apo daily benollt those who were prisoners at Andoisonvlllb. T. MM BRATTLTsnono', VT.Sond tlirco-cent stamp nnd we will forward von t.ho nctitlon vou desire airainst the "Sixty Sunreou Bill," audln favor of tho ''Ponsion Court Bill," proposed by Ho, Mr. Gcddes, of Ohio. ' Mrs. W. 1). C, Damascus, Pbnn. Tho widow of a doceaaed soldlor forfeits hor ponsion by romarrtago and cannot bo restored to tho ponsion roll even if sho again becomes a widow nor after her child attains tho ago of sixteen years. In answer to nn Inn nirer. from Dakota Torrltorv, who wishes to know if tho Government turnlohos head-stones lor tho graves of doccased soldiers and sailors, wo answer : Yes. Address " Quartermaster-General of tho Army, Washington, D. C." "U'ion SoLDrun," &.A1UC8V1LX.S, IoWa. From the best Infor mation wo can obtain, none of tho cases mentioned by. you aro debarred from receiving a ponsion on account of desertion. (See oditorial in this number upon tho subject of pensions tod03ort ors.) John B., IIorokxn. N. J.Tho inorease of pension for your wound of thlRh should havo dated from your discharge. Tho Ponsion Ofiico hits apparently umdo an error which yfill bo roctillod upon your representing tho faot-s to tho Commissioner of Ponglons. R, M., Hkd Wing, Minn. There would be nothing uuoonstttu tional about tho President's selecting all the Cabinet officers from ono Stato, but tho Senate doubtless would not confirm them. Oablnot olllcors aro generally appointed fromvarious parts of tho United States. T. K. F., Madison, Ind., says: uTho soldiers in this part or the country are all opposed to tho Bentloy Sixty Surgeon Substi tute Bill': how can wc best use our influence aurainst it?" A. Petition Congress against it and write to 3-our inombor of Con gress on the subjects S. P. C. Finlky's IjAkk, X. Y. the widow of tho deceased Eonsioner is entitled to a ponsion during hor widowhood provided er husband's death ras duo to his military service, if he had any ponsion duo him at his death, his Widow can obtain tho sama by applying- to the United States pension agent who paid his pen sion. J. W., KoBSVir,M3, Iowa. Q. Can a soldier draw back pay on in crease claim whoro there is a new disability claimed? A. Not unless ho filed his application for increase of pension onine now dlsabilltv nrior to .Tufv 1. irkh If nlalm for Increase on a new dis ability Is filed subsequent to that date, tho increased rato will commence from the dato of filing the application. A. B. D., Elrot, Wis. If your disability (varicose veins oricg) is tho result of hard marching, you aro not entitled to bounty because you did not serve two years ; but if tho records of tho War Department show you to havo been discharged on aocount. of varicose veins which wero tho result of a wound, or injury from a missile, or tho result of a fall, or of being crushed botweon two objects you havo title. 1 Mas. Emma J., Jonksvim.e, MiNN.Whon Congress grants a pension by a special not, tho petitioner is not notifiod by any official of that body, nininmiits before Congress are almost in- variably represented by an attorney who notifies thorn of the Our Paper and Clock in the " Old Keystone." Babton, Pa., Dec. 10, 1880. Editor National Tribune : Dea-r Sir : I received the Tribune clock in good run ning order on tho 28d ult. It is a neat little ticlcer, good company and a good time-keeper. Ten minutes after I unpacked it I was offered two dollars for it but would not take it. . . . The NATiONAii Tribune was also duly received, it is an interesting and spicy little sheet, and should (and will, I hope,) reach the homo of every soldier above all others as it is their friond and advocates their rights. In response to your query in October issue: "Would you like to have it weekly 1 " Yes ; oven if you don't enlarge it in size. It will make an interesting, cheap and disability was of little consequence in tho earlier years else the olaim for pension would have come forward earlier? Is it not a fact that some of the most deserving of disabled and partially disabled soldiers havo refrained and refused to apply to the Government for a pension for various teasonsV There aro many men entitled oy tne law gov erning tho granting of pensions for services in the late vrar who by reason of means inherited or acquired by trade and speculation do not need tho assistance of the Government and have not, therefore, applied for it. Others again, and I believe a largo per cont. of those ap plying ar. a remoto day are men who have heretofore been able to support, themselves and families, but by some un locky move or misfortune find themselves without means and physically unable to retrieve thoir lost fortune, havo reluctantly yielded to the demands of the occassion and the importunities of friends and applied to the Govern ment, in whose service their health was lost, for assistance to support themselves and thoso depending upon tnem. Others again, from what they esteem a pure, patriotic impulse, will not ask the Government for aid, claiming that when they volunteered they took upon thomsolyes all the chances and had already been paid by the Nation all they wore entitled to receive. Thon there are a class of persons whose pride, call it false or real, will no more allow them to appeal to the Government for a ponsion than it would to ask for charity from their 'neighbors. One gentleman of my acquaintance, on his return from the army in 1865, found himself unable to prosecute his profession of farming on account of a disease contracted in tho service. He gave up bis small farm and engaged in the occupation of clerking for others, that he might thereby take tho better care of his health 'and do enough to support himself and family. This man wrote four years in an ofiico and was often urged by those familiar with bis condition to apply for himself. Ho said, " 2To; so ' long as I am able to support myself and family I do not wish to placo myself in the attitude of an applicant-for charity." It was years after this, when he found himself growiugolder and poorer, ho remove1 to tho Stato of Kansas andsettledonaclaimofGovernraoutland,whereherealized ' that oithor money or ruusclo was required to improve a iarra,. no men applied ior a pension, oul not uum uus do voted wife wroto to an agent in Washington dotailing the circumstances and had reooived the necessary blanks. His case is now pending at tho Pension Ofiico. Other cases might be mentioned, but they are doubtless familiar to evory one, all going to prove that the "natural pre sumption " that tho disability wasof but little consequence else tho clafpi would haye com forward earlier, is not a reliable presumption in thousands of cases. The Com ini&eionej.'' is right when he says that in order to decide the rate of nensiou which shall be paid according to tho decree of the pensioner's disability from time to time, ho " . ... A .. - 1 - ... I--!.- I.I.- 1 ! 11 first-class weekly journal at tho low price of one dollar nor annum. Let us have it' weekly ! Let us have it ! ! I will do all I can to obtain subscribers for The Tribune in this vicinity. Hoping that you will be able in tho near future to givo us the spicy little sheet weemy, l remain, yours nascuy, JUiilNrtX JUV WAAIA. to X Our Clock. Oar friends aro informed that owing to a great fire, which destroyed tho factory where our clocks aro made, there will be a delay of some, weeks in forwarding any alarm-clocks ordered. We can supply large numbers at once of tho ordinary kind. passage of the relief act and prepares and lllos an application under the special act, in the Pension Office. A ncvrapplioation to tho Ponsion Oillce is required in every pension case granted by special act of Congress, but no evidence Is rcquirod, only an ex amination of tho claimant, if an cx-soldior or sailor. O.M., Bangor, Maijoj. Q. Can a lady for marly tho widow of a soldier, but now remarried draw a pension on account of ser vlco and death of former husband up to tho dato of hor remar riage, and can sho draw pension for her child by first husband T A. If she failed to file a claim before July 1, 18S0, hkk title to pension is forfeited, but, if hor child was under sixteen years of age when its fathor died und 1ms not attained the ago of twenty one, and the soldlor's death was duo to his military service, the child is entitled. M. D. II.. WASnwfGTOX, D. O. Q. Whonanex-soidier wno Bas been drawing a pension, on a gunshot -wound dies, does not tho widovrecoivo the same rato oi pension as -was paid to him ? A If tho ex-Holdior was an enlisted man his widow will bo 6H titled to $3 a month for uorseir and 2 a month for each child by the de ceased pensioner who was undor sixteen years of ago at the dato of their father's death. Tho husband may have beon pensioned at &2A a month but the widow could only receive S. Of course the widow would not havo titlo unless her husband diod or a dis ability Incurred in the gorvico. S. A., National Mimtary Uomb, Ohio. The soldier referred to, having enlisted after July 18, ISM, (undor the provisions of the net olJuly 4, 18S4,) and the' only heirs (or nearest of kin) sur viving him being brothors and Sisters, thoy are entitled to any arrears of pay and balance due on clothing account which had accrued to him and remained unpaid at date of his death, pro vided, of course, that his mother did not collect the aamo pribr to her death, and the brothers nnd sisters havo not rocolvod tho monoy. There is no bounty due tho brothors and sistqrs, as tho act of Congress above citod docs not provide bounty for such hell's. J. Citas. A., South Bekd, Ind.- I. The ration allowance of a commissioned officer was aUyaVS commuted, and, thorofore, they liaye no valid claim to said allowance while hold prlsonors of warns havo enlisted men who wore allowed rations in kind, and became ontitled to tho money value thereof when doprlved of subsistence by tho United Statos by b-Blng in tho hands of the en emy. 2. Tho soldier referred to being insamo, application for in valid pension should be made by his legally appointed guardian, trustee, conservator or committee, according to tho law of tho Stato, filing letters of authorltv or duly certified copios thereof. A Compliment. The Natiokai Tiranura. published at Washington, D, C, is tho best soldiers' paper extant. Address Na tional Tribune Uo., Washington, u. u., ior sampio copy. Only 50 cents per year. Thanks, Brother Hosier, of the Bristol (Ind.) Banner, for the above. "A merry Christmas and a happy New Year " to you. ma children nave no titio to nonsion wnue ne iives.i G-. W. B., liiTTMS B AimuN, Tehn. Q. Whoro tho charg tinn rnsts .tirfttnst a soldier, will the testimony of two onl Conundrums. When is a wall like a fish ? When it is scaled. How does a stove feel when full of coals ? Grateful. Which of tho reptiles is a mathematician ? The adder. When is a boat like a heap of snow ? When it is adrift, "When is a doctor most annoyed? When he is out of pationts. When is a literary work like smoko? When it comes in volumes. . ...... Why is the letter G like the sun ? Because it is the centre' of light. What is that which shows others what it cannot see it self? A mirror. Why is the letter N like a faithless lovor ? Because it is in constant. How does a cow becomo a landed est&to ? By turning her into tho field. Whv is whisoerinc a breach of srood manners J Be cause it is not allowed. "What is an old lady inth middlo of the river like ? Like to bo drowned, What word may bo pronounced quicker by adding a syllable to it? quick. Why is. a miser like a man with a short memory? Bo cause ho k always forgetting. How does a sailor know there is man in tho moon ? ho hasJbeen to-ea (sec). oordener isted men bo suillolent to remove said charge in cases where tho testimony of a commissloncd'ouicer cannot bo obtained? A. No: in ordor to havo the charge of desertion removed it must first bo shown that tho party absoutpd himself undor proper authority. His furlough will show this. Second, it must be shown by medical testimony that, at tho dato of tho expiration of tho furlough, tho bearer thereor was unablo to travol and rejoin his command or fenort In person to tho nearest Military station ot the Unted btatcs and that he remained in this condition until tho muator-out of his command, or until he did report in person as abovo. J. S.. Osaok, Iowa. Q. Can I get pay for tho six months I was in rebel prison? A, Yes, if you havo not already rocolvod your monthly pay for that poriod, but if you returned to, and woro mustered out and paid off with, your command, or wore paid on a descriptive list furnished by your company commander, there Is noground for tho belief that you did not receive your monthly nay in. full. If you wero an enlisted man and havo not reooived twenty-live cents ration monoy for each day you were a prisoner, said allowance is your due, provided you were not charged with desertion or absence witnout leave auor yuur reieaso irom roDOi nrison. in such caso you would forfeit the ration monoy. H. N., C al ais,M ainu. Wo notice that tho prin ter omitted a por tion of our reply to your inquiry in tho November number and changed a ilgure, We nowlglvo 1 ho full and correct answer to your tnnulry, as follows: A. Tho ponsion of an onJjstod man for 4 total disability" is eight dollars a month, but tho Commis-sipnor of Pensions has boon empowered by Congress to grant fractional rates of eighteen dollars a month. By the provisions of tho act of Congress approvod June 16, I860, pensioners who had boon re ceiving $50 a month for disease, wound or injury, disabling thorn in such a manner and to such an extent as to require the continued aid aud attendance of another person, wero allowed a ponsion of $72 a month. Some of tho above inquhic wero unavpidably crowdad out of our November number. --- Bow to rear a mulo tickle his hind legs". To make a good monkey wrbnch food him on jgreen applos. Why are umbrellas like pan-cakes ? Because seldom seen after lout. Why is TJ tho gayest lottor in the alphabet? Beams it is always in fun. Why is a bed-bug like a locomotive ? Because it rnmt on sleopers. Why is an editor's chair liko a blaok tooth? Because it is hard to fill. Why is a dog's tail likp the heart of- treo?-Bcaua it is farthest from the bark. "Why aro cashmere shawls like deaf people ?-Becuj0 ...they can't make them here. I a II & mi m m ii f 1 t! I