The National tribune., December 01, 1880, Page 90, Image 2

About The National tribune. (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917

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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.
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