Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-08-25
IMPORTANT TO PENSIONERS.
DEPARTMENP OF THE INTERIOR,

SIR: The act OF congress entitled
An act to define tine duties OF
Pension Agents, to prescribe the
manner of paying pensions, and for
other purposes approved July s,
1870, in section seventh, makes it
the duty of every claim agent OF
attorney ofrecord, in the prosecution
of claims for pension or bounty
land, to cause to be filed with each
claim, with the Commissioner OF
Pensions, duplicate articles of agree
ment, without additional cost to
claimant in any case, setting forth
the amount agreed upon as the fee
for his services in prosecution OF
said claim, which agreement shall be
executed in presence of and certified
by some officer competent to ad-
minister oaths, and in no case shall
it exceed twenty-five dollars. 1t is
deemed advisable to acquaint the
parties affected by this enactment
with the fees which should generally
obtain, and with the fact that the
duty is distinctly understood to be
incumbant upon the commissioner to
reserve to himself, or his represen-
tative, the discretion to increase or
decrease the amount of fee agreed
upon between the claimant and
attorney, or claim agent, as to him
he may seem fit. sod
To this end, the annexed schedule
of fees is presented for the earnest
attention of all whom it concerns,
with the request for conformity
thereto, and for the incorporation
of proviso in each agreement, after
the specification of amount of fee,
as follows: ''Or such sum as the
Commissioned of Pensions may
direct" that q new contract may
not be necessary, when the amount
specified is not approved by the Com
missioner; said agreement (when-
ever the amount respectively desig-
mated in the schedule is, in any par
ticular case, regarded as insufficient
to be accompanied with letter to
said commissioner, setting forth the
reasons of claim for larger fee.
Attention is also directed to the
penalties prescribed for violation OF
the aforesaid law, as set forth in the
sections, a copy Of which is hereto
annexed, with the request that you
will inform this Office of any vio-
lation thereof of which you may be-
come cognizant. ---.#
SEC. 4. AND BE 1T FURTHER ENACTED
That in addition to the cOmpen-
sation now allowed by law, each
pension agent shall be allowed, as
full compensation for all service, in
Guiding postage required by the
provisions of this act, the sum OF
thirty cents. and no more, for each
!. voucher prepared and paid by him
which amount shall be paid by the
United States. And any pension
agent or other person employed Oh
appointed by him who shall take
or receive, or demand any fee or re
ward from any pensioner for any
service in connection with the pay
ment of his or her pension, shall bt
held guilty of a miGdemeanor, and
shall be punished by a fine not
exceeding five hundred dollars.
SEC. 6. AND 1T FURTHER ENACTED
That agents for the payment Of
pensions, and any clerks appointed
by them and designated in writing
for that purpose, which designation
shall be returned to and filed in the
Office of the Commissioner of Pen
sions, are hereby authorized and re-
quired, without any fee therefor, to
take and certify the affidavits of al
pensioners and their witnesses who
may personally appear before them
for that purpose, in which case the
check for pension, when due and
payable, shall be given direct to the
hand of the party entitled thereto,
if desired, and not mailed to his OF
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 be-
fore any. agent or his designated
clerk for the payment 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. ..-.. ..r-l e.
! ! SEC. s. AND BEIT FURTHER ENAcTED,
That any agent or attorney who
shall, directly or indirectly, contract
for, demand, receive or retain any
greater compensation for his services
as such agent or attorney, in any
claim for pension or bounty land
than is prescribed or allowed under
the provisions of the preceding
section, shall he deemed guilty of a
misdeneanOr, and upon conviction
thereof shall, for every such offense,
ne r1ned not Exceeding five hundred
dollars, or imprisoned at hard labor
not exceeding five years, or both, in
the discretion of the court. .
| SCHEDULE OF FEES.
Invalid: Original, sia; Increase $40; Reject
| -... I1r.. cd, $50. .-
| WIDOW.
Original, without children, in
| valid claim never fled, SIS; rejected, SIS
Original, with children, in
valid claim never filed, '' -
Original, with children, in
| valid claim pending, :. ="