The Portland daily press., 1869-02-04
Impo rtant to Pensioners-Cireular from
,he Interior Department.

The following circular which has been issued
from the Interior Department, is of much i'm.
nortance to pensioners, and by following its
directions they Will be able to secure their
dues from the government at much less ex-
pense than they sometimes find necessary at
present:
The fee allowed for prosecuting a claim for
pension IS ten dollars; but no portion of it is
payable until after the certificate for the pen
sion has been issued.
Army pensions are regularly paid to the 4th
day OF March and to the 4th day of September,
and Navy pensions to the LIST day of January
and to the first day of July in each year.
Vouchers to draw pensions must be dated and
signed on or after the date to which the pay
ment is desired. All pensioners, guardians
and others are directed to refuse their sigma
lures to vouchers unless bearing the same date
or one previous to the day on which they were
actually signed by them. They must also haze
their pension certificates ao them to shoog to the
magistrate phef the oath is administered vi
olations OF the above provisions, or executing
vouchers without being dated, or pOst-dating
the N, or Withholding pension money from PEN
sioners, subject the offending parties to fine,
to Imprisonment, or to the penalties of suborn-
alton of perjury.
Reasonable grounds for suspecting the in-
proper execution of vouchers, or that advanc-
es have been made on them or that the PEN
sion certificate is held as security, authorizes
refusal to pay, and their retention for investi-
cation. No deduction for advances or any
debt can be made from pension money prior to
the delivery to the pensioner Pension agents
are authorized not to recognize any person
who habitually charges excessive fees, by re-
hitting money to them, or paying them in
person,
Biennial examinations of army invalids. not
exempt, are due September 4th in each odd year
Q867 SO, &c., provided their pension COM
menced prior to the preceding 4th day of
March Biennial examinations of navy inval-
ids are due January LIST in each even year
(1868-'70, &c., provided their pension COM
menced prior to the preceding LIST day of July.
No medical examination of a pensioner should
be made until the time of applying fer the
payment of the pension, and if any pensioner
is dissatisfied with the certificate given, he will
not be allowed to procure another without first
submitting his case for instructions.
Pensioners residing within a convenient dis
lance OF the Agency are required when able,
to draw their pension in person. and the eX-
pense of preparing their vouchers at the Agen-
cy is limited to the following fees: For prepar-
ing vouchers, 20 cents; for oath OF identity, Ii
cents. On the first payment there will be
another fee of Is cents for oath of allegiance.
Widows having minor children, and guardians
furnish the additional oath of two witnesses
that the children are alive. On vouchers pre-
pared with power of attorney the fees will be
25 cents; for oath of identity-the fees varying
in different States, II to % cents; for oath Of
attorney at the Agency, Is cents.
On the first payment there will be the addi-
tiOnal fee for oath of allegiance-12 to 25 cents
Widows having minor children, and guardians
furnish the oath of two witnesses that the chill.
| dren are living
No additional sum should be paid by pen
sioners, except it may be for postage for GER
| tiicate of the official character of the magis-
| trate (Form NJ to be filed at the Agency. This
| expense, being shared by several in the same
neighborhood or town, will be very trifing to
each, and only paid once during the magis
| trate's term of office.
1t is required that all pensioners who are moi
| in the present possession of their pension GER
| tificates, shall Immediately apply in person, OF
| by letter, for their return. Should the appli.
cation be refused or evaded, notify this office
! or the pension agent, giving the name and resi-
denee of the parties Withholding them.
In making inquiries in regard to any pen
| soner, it should be stated whether the same is
| an Army or Navy case, and at what Agency
payment was last made. The number of PEN
| sion certificates, when known, and the pen
sioner's post-ofice address, should also be
given.
By reference to their pension certificates
| pensioners will not only learn the date when
| their pension commences, the rate allowed, but
| widows will understand the conditions and
length of time the additional rate of taoo dol
lars per month will continue to be paid to1
each minor child.
Blank forms for vouchers, for transfers, fol
duplicate certificates, for oaths of allegiance
and for drawing arrears after the death of q
pensioner, with suitable directions printed
thereon, are gratuitously furnished to pension
ers on application. CHRIS. G. COX,
o.