The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-20
IMPORTANT TO PENSIONERS.--CIRCU LAR
FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF PEN

An act to extend an act entitled An act to continue
halfpay to certain widows and orphans,'' approved
February B. 1858.
Be enacted &c., That oil those surviving widows and
minor children who have been, may be, granted and
allowed five wears halfpay under the provisions of
law or laws of the United States be- and they hereby
granted continuance of such hafpay under the fol-
lowing and limitations viz to such widows during
life and to such child children, where there is
widow, whilst under the age of sixteen years, to
mence from the expiration of the halfpay provided
by the first section of the act entitled IAN act to
nue halfpay certain widows and orphans, approved
February 1858: Prcudd hoirer, That in Of the
marriage death of any such widow, the halfpay shall
go to the child children Of the deceased officer
soldier whilst under the age Of sixteen years and in
like manner the child children of such deceased officer
soldier when there is widow shall be paid lon
ger than while there children child under the
age aforesaid And propid further That the halfpay of
such widows and orphans shall be half the monthly pay
of the officers commissioned officers, musicians and
privaes of the infantry of the regular army Of the United
States, and more and that no greater shall be
allowed to any such widow or minor children than the
hsfpay of lieutenant colonel: And proUad, aso That
this shall not be construed to apply to embrace the
of any person persons receiving pension for
life and further that wherever hap shall have been
granted by any special act of Congress- and is renewed
continued under the provisions of this act the shall
commence from the date hereof
SECTION q 1ndb further enacted That the provisions
renewed and continued by this act shall be payable out
any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated
Approved June 3, 1858.
PENSION OFFICE August IL, 1858.
The foregoing act is published in the form of cir
cuar the convenience and information of those en
tied to its benefits.
q II will be observed that it creates class of
pensions but simply and continues to widows,
children while under sixteen years of age certain pen
ons provided for by previous laws Persons claiming
its benefits have therefore only to prove their identity
and their Observation-Disclosures prescribed minority
B. This must be done in the form of declaration, in
writin. under OATH by the widow the guardian of
such of the children of the deceased officer soldier
may be still under the age of sixteen years The decln
ration must state the age and residence Of the claimant
the and rank of the deceased husband father,
and the company regiment to which he belonged the
date Of the act under which the former pension was al
lowed its rate per month the agency where paid, and
the dates of its and termination and that
it is made for the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the
said act of June 3, 1858.
T. The declaration must be to- and subscribed
before justice of the peace or other officer duly autho
zed to administer cahs for general purposes in the pre-
snce of at least two persons who know the claimant to
be widow and otherwise the person she represents her
self be- who shall make oath thereto and particularly
AS to their knowledge concerning the facts about
which they testify
s Applications in behalf of minors must be accompa-
MED by the best evidence aainable of their respective
ages if it have not already been furnished In former
application.
g. 1t is required that the State county and post Office
in the declaration and the length of time the same has
been her place of residence and the official position and
geuuneness of signature of the magistrate or other of
cer before whom papers executed acknowledged,
shall be duly attesed by certificate under seal from the
proper officer which certificate If not written ON the
sheet Of paper containing the signature to be authcnti
ccd must be attached thereto by piece of tape or rib
bon the ends of which pass under the official SEAL
to prevent any paper being improperly attached to
said certificate.
4 No officer before whom any paper may be executed,
or testimony taken win he recognised as the agent the
claimant but in every such officer must certify that
he is in wise interested in the result Of the appca-
ton and II the certificate is 10 be to any person
other than the claimant she must in her declaration
give the and address of the person whom she
may desire il TO I've sent
s. The above requirements win be rigidy enforced,
and careful observance of the same in the preparation
of their cases in the first instance, will claimants
much trouble and delay IN the adjudication OF their
claims. Gbo. q WHITING,
Commissioner.