The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-02-17

Power of attorney must be signed In the pres
ence of two witnesses, and acknowledged before
a duly qualified officer, whose official character
must be certified under seal.
In all cases the postoffice address OF the claim
ant must be distinctly stated.
Applications under this act will be numbered
and acknowledged, to be acted on in their turn
In filing additional evidence, correspondents
should always give the number of the claim as
well as the name of the claimant.
Applications for pensions are made 10 Hon.
Joseph FL. Burnett, Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, d. c., and any claimant addressing
him in person or by letter, will receive the ne
cessary printed forms and instructions. Appli-
cations are commonly made through attorneys,
or the agencies of the Sanitary Commission IN
Washington and Philadelphia, or other local
agencies. The agency in Washington at 3o9 ID
street, is intended for applicants of every class,
and from all parts of the country, and does all
| the business necessary to secure claim In as
| prompt a manner as is possible, W6hOW any
| charge to the claimants. Persons wishing their
claims to be prosecuted by this Office should ad-
dress Pensions Agency of Sanitary Commission,
Washington, d. c., and everything will be done
for them in the promptest manner which the ma
ture of their evidence permits.
Claimants who have recourse to local attorneys
ought to be sure that they are dealing with men
and attorneys are fixed by law, and are as fol-
lows:
"For making out and causing to be duly ex-
ecuted declaration by the applicant with tho
necessary affidavits, and forwarding the same 10
the pension office with the requisite correspon-
dence five dollars In case whenever add1tonal
testimony is required by the Commissioners OF
Pensions for each affidavit so required and exc
cuted and forwarded. Except the affidavit or
Surgeons. for which such agents and attorneys
shall not be entitled to any fees) one dollar and
fifty cents,' (see Sec. g. Oct. to Genl PENSIONS OF
july Ia, 1922 The 9TH Section of said act pre-
scribes penalty for Illegal fees, and in these
words, viz: "That any agent or attorney who
SHALL directly or indirectly, demand or receive
anv greater compensation for his services under
this act than is prescribed in the preceding Sec
ton of this act or who shall contract agree to
other allowance under this act on condition that
, he shall receive per centum upon, or any por-
tion of the amount of such claim, or who shall
wrongfully withhold from pensioner or other
claimant the whole or any part of the pension or
claim allowed and due to each pensioner or claim
ant. shall be deemed guilty of high misde-
meanor, and upon conviction thereof shall for
every such offence be fined not exceeding three
hundred dollars or imprisoned at hard labor moi
: exceeding two years, both, according to the
circumstances and aggravations of the offence
The requirements of the law are often evaded
= notwithstanding the heavy penalties, and will
> prohably continue to be eyaded so long as 1nva-
lids and other claimants simple enough to
. put their trustin total strangers, of whose nteg
rity and competency they have no knowledge.