New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-07
TPUBLIC-No. 141.1

AN ACT to define the duties of pension
agents, to prescribe the manner of pay
ing pensions, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled, That with
in fifteen DAYS immediately preceding the
fourth day Of March, June, September and
December in each year, the several agents
for the payment of pensions shall prepare
quarterly voucher for each any every per-
son whose pension is payable at his agency,
and transmit the same by mail, directed to
the address of the pensioner named in such
! voucher who. ON or after the fourth day of
March. June, September and December next
succeeding the date Of such voucher, may
| execute and return the same to the agency
| at which it was prepared, and at which the
| pension of such person is due and payable.
SEC. =. And be 1t further enacted, That
upon the receipt of such voucher, properly
| executed. and the identity of the pensioner
| being established and proven in the manner
| prescribed by the Secretary Of the Interior,
| the agent for the payment of pensions shall
Immediately draw his check on the proper
assistant treasurer or designated depOsitary
OF the United States for the amount due such
pensioner payable to his or her order, and
| transmit the same by MAIL directed to the
address of the pensioner entitled thereto ;;
| but any pensiOner may be required, if
| thought proper by the Commissioner of
Pensions. to appear personally and receive
! his pension.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That
| hereafter no pension shall be paid to any
! person other than the pensiOner entitled
| thereto nor otherwise than according to
the provisions of this act, and no warrant,
power of attorney, or other paper executed
| or purporting to be executed by any pen
sioner to any attorney, claim agent, broker,
| or other person, shall be recognized by any
| agent for the payment Of pensions, nor
shall any pension be paid thereon: Provided,
That payment to persons laboring under
legal disabilities may be made to the guar
| dams Of such persons in the manner herein
1 siOns payable to persons in foreign cOun-
tries may be made according to the provi
sions of existing laws.
| Sec. 4. And be it further enacted. That
in addition to the compensation now allowed
by law, each pension agent shall be allowed,
| as full compensation for all service, in
Gliding postage required by the provisions
of this act the sum Of thirty cents,
and no more, for each voucher pre-
pared and paid by him, which amount
shall be paid 10y the United States.
ployed or appointed by him who shall take,
or receive, or demand any fee or reward
| from any pensioner for any service in con-
nection with the payment of his or her pen
sion shall be held guilty Of q misdemeanor,
and shall be punished by fine not exceed
ing five hundred dollars.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That
the Secretary Of the Interior shall cause
suitable blanks for the vouchers mentioned
| in the first section of this act to be printed
| and distributed to the agents for the pay
| nt ma w shall
note to be printed informing pensioners of
the fact that hereafter no pension will be
| paid except upon the vouchers issued as
herein directed and he shall also give all
necessary instructions and make all needful
regulations for carrying this act into effect
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That
agents for the payment of pensions and any
| clerks appointed by them, and designated
i'll writing for that purpose, which deslgna-
| ton shall be returned to and filed in the
Office of the Commissioners OF Pensions, are
| hereby authorized and required, without
| any fee therefor, to take and certify the
! atfidavits of all pensioners and their wit
nesses who may personally appear before
| them for that purpose, IN winch case the
check for tine pension, when due and pay
| able shall be given direct to the hand of
the party entitled thereto, if desired, and
| not mailed to his or her address as required
| by the second section of this act; and any
person who shall falsely and corruptly take
and subscribe any such affidavit before any
agent or his designated clerk for the pay
| ment of pensions, shall be deemed guilty
| of perjury, and, on conviction, be punished
| by Imprisonment not exceeding five years
| and by fine not exceeding one thousand
| dollars.
Sec Z. And be it further enacted, That
| the fee OF agents and attorneys for the
| preparation and prOsec utiOn of a claim for
pension or bounty land, under any or all of
the various acts of Congress granting
the same. shall not exceed in any
case the sum of twenty-five dollars. 1t shall
be the duty Ofthe agent or attorney ofrecOrd
| be filed with the Commissioner of Pensions,
for his approval duplicate articles Of agree
| ment without additional cost to the clam
ant setting forth the fee agreed upon ey
| the psrties, and which agreement shall pe
| executed in presence of and certified ny
| some officer competent to administer o''t u.s.
| In all cases where application is made lot
| pension or bounty land, and no agreement
l is fled with and approved by the Gom m Is
| sioner as herein provided, the zee sn"i W
| ten dollars and no more
| Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, ihaU any
| agent or attorney who shail uiioc.iy vi IN
| directly contract for, demano, receive, OF
retain any greater compensation LOT MS ser
| vices as such agent or attorney, IN any claim
for pension or bounty land than IS prescribed
or allowed under the provisions OF the proceed
ing section, shall be deemed guilty OF mis-