The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1868-08-27
The NeW Pension IN.

y
for details Of the important act passed
by Congress relating to pensions. The
law in question has just been prOmul-
gated by the State Department.
The first section provides that the
law granting pensions to the hereafter
mentioned dependant relatives of de-
ceased persons, leaving neither widow
nor child, entitled to pensions under
the existing laws, shall be so cOnstru-
ed as to give precedence to such rela-
tives in the following order, viz: 1
mothers; 2, fathers 3, orphan broth
ers and sisters under sixteen years Of
age, who shall be pensiOned jointly il
there be more than one; provided
that, If in any case the said persons
shall have left both father and moth
er, who were dependant upon them,
then on the death Of the mother the
father shall become entitled to a pen
sion, commencing from and after the
death of the mother, and on the
death of the mother and father, the
dependant brothers and sisters, under
sixteen years of age, shall become en-
titled to such pensions until they at
tain the age of sixteen years, respect
lively, commencing from and after the
death of the party who preceding wOuld
have been entitled to the same. 1t is
further provided that no pension here
tOfOre awarded shall be affected by
this law.
The second section provides that no
person shall be entitled to a pension
by reason of wounds received, or dis
ease contracted, in the service of the
United States subsequently to the
passage of this act, unless the person
who was wounded or contracted the
disease was in the line of his duty.
The third section provides that the
failure of any pensioners to claim
their pension for three years shall be
taken as presumptive evidence that
such pension has been legally termi-
mated, and the name shall be stricken
from the rolls.
The fourth section provides that, if
any officer, soldier, or enlisted man,
has died since the fourth dayOf March,
1861, or shall hereafter die, leaving q
widow entitled to a pension, or a
child or children under sixteen years
Ofage by former wife, each Ofsaid chill
dren shall be entitled tOreceive two dol
lars per month, to commence from the
death of the father, to continue until
they severally attain the age of six
teen years, and be paid to the guardi-
an of such child or children for their
use and benefit; provided, however,
that in all cases where such widow is
charged with the care, custody and
maintenance of such children, the said
sum of two dollars per month for each
Of said children shall be paid to her
for and during the time she is or may
have been so charged with their care,
subject to the same conditions, provi-
siOns and limitations as if they were
her own children.
The fifth section declares that, in
all cases where an increased pension
has been or may be granted to any
widow or guardian of children, they
shall not be deprived of the increase
on account Of such children being in
any charitable institution provided for
them.
The sixth section is important, and
provides that all pensions which have
been granted in consequence Of death
occurring, or disease contracted, or
wounds received, since the fourth day
of March, 1861 or that may hereafter be
granted, shall commence from the dis
charge or the death of the person on
whose account the pension has been
or shall hereafter be granted /; prOvid-
ed, that the application for such pen
81 on has been or shall hereafter be fl
ed with the Commissioner of Pensions
within five years after the right there
to shall have accrued, except that ap-
plieatiOn by or in behalf of insane per-
sons and children under sixteen years
of age may be filed after the expiration
of the said five years, if previously
thereto they are without guardians or
other proper legal representatives.
The seventh section requires the
Commissioner to make public notice
of the preceding section, especially at
all pension agencies, and to pay all ar
rpars of pension arising under it
Claim agents and other persons are
prohibited from receiving fees for max.
ing applications for such arrears.
The eighth section provides for the
discontinuance of pensions 10 such
widows as neglect to take care ftheir
children, and the ninth section makes
provision tor the payment Of pensions
to legal representatives. Of parties who
die while the application is pending.
The tenth section declares that the
marriage of any widow or dependant
mother, otherwise entitled to a pen
sion, prior to the application therefor,
or to the issue of the persons certif-
cate to her, shall not debar her right
to a pension for the period elaPsing
from the death of her husband, or son,
on account Of whose service or death
she may claim a pension, previous to
her marriage.
The eleventh and twelfth sections
provide for the construction of exist
ing Iaws-the twelfth declaring that
the dCN Ol y uu6i lOO03 oilceli OC ~ Gull
strued as to secure to every person en-
titled by law, before the passage of
said act, to a less pension than S25
per month, who, while in the military
or naval service, and in the line of
their duty, or in consequence of
wounds received or disease contracted
therein, having only one eye, shall
have lost the same, a pension Of s25
per month.
The thirteenth section places all
pensioners, subsequent to the Revolu-
tiun and up to March, 1861, on the
same footing as those who have been
pensionpd since the latter date,and the
widows of Revolutionary soldiers and
sailors, now receiving less, sLsn here
after be paid S. per month.