Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-05-18
THE BILL FOB THE EQUALIZATION OF
BOUNTIES

Iuessis. Scpehck, OF Onlo, and Blaine, OF
Maine, this morning, in the Military Commit
tee, reported the bill for the equalization of
bounties. The Committee approved and Gen.
Scbenck reported it TO the House and moved
its reference TO the Committee of the Whole
The bill is OF such universal interest that we
give considerable space to its provisions.
1t provides that instead of any grant of land
or other bounty there shall be allowed and
paid TO each and every soldier, sailor and ma
rne wbe faithfully served as such In the army,
navy or marine corps of the United States.
and w no has been, or who may hereafter be-
honorably discharged from such service, the
sum OF Ss.335 per month, or at the rate of s 100
per year, as hereinafter provided, for all the
time during which such soldier, sailor or ma
rine actually so served between the 18th day
OF April, 1e6l, and the = day of April. 1865;
rine discharged from the service on account of
wounds received in battle or while en-
gagged in the line of his duty. the said al.
lowance of bounty shall be computed
of service for which his enlistment
was made, and in case of death of any such
soldier, sailor, or marine while in the service,
or before the end ofhis term of enlistment dis
charged on account of being wounded as before
provided, the allowance and payment shall
De made to his widow. or If there be- no widow
then to the minor children of the deceas ed
In computing and ascertaining the bounty to
be paid to any soldier, sailor, or marine, or his
proper representative, under the provisions OF
.ns ACT, there shall be deducted theretrom any
am all bounties already paid or payable der
existing laws by the United States, so that in
no case shall the aggregate amount of bounty
allowed and paid exceed eight and one third
dollars for each month Of actual faithful
service, or at the rate of one hundred dol
lars per year; and in the ease of any
sal or or marine to whom prize money
has been paid, or is payable. the
amount of such prize money shall also
be deducted, and only such amount of bounty
as shall together with such prize money and
any other bounty paid or payable by the
United States amount IN the aggregate to the
sun allowed by this act Attorneys fees shall
no. exceed s. for prosecution Of any claim I'M
der penalty of $1,000 fine or imprison-
ment. 1t shall not be lawful for any
soldier, sailor, er marine to transfer. assign,
barter, or sell his discharge, final state
ments. descriptive list, or other papers
balterlng or selling any interest in any bounty
under the provisions Of this act; and all such
transfers, &c. hereafter made are declared null
ana void as TO any rights intended so to be
conveyed. No bounty under the provisions of
TINS act shall be paid TO any soldier, sailor or
marine who was captured prisoner OF war at
The time OF his enlistment, or who was dis
charged his own application, unless
such discharge was obtained with a view
10 re-enllstment or to accept promo.
ton in the military service OF the
United states, or to be transferred from one
branch OF the military service to another, and
who did actually re-enlist or accept promo
ton. or was SO transferred. And NO bounty
shall be paid to any soldier, sailor, or marine
discharged on the application of parents, guar
dian, or other persons, or on the ground of mi.
nority. No I'D iustment or payment of any
claim OF any soldier, sailor. or marine or of
his proper representatives, under the proyis-
ions of this act, shall be made, unless the an
plcation thereof be filed within two wears
from the passage of this act