New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-10

IN case OF the Ueatu, reBIgndt!Cu, aGscuce
or sickness of the Commissioner, his dutie
shall devolve upon the Deputy Commis
sioner until successor shall be appointed
or such absence or sickness shall cease.
SEC. 80. That the, Commissioner of Pen
sions ls hereby authorized and empowered
TO detail. from time to time, clerks in hi
office 20 investigate suspected attempts a
fraud on the government Of the United
States. through and by virtue of the provi
sions of this or any other act of Congress
providing for pensions and to aid in prose
cutting any person SO offending, with sucl
additional compensation as is customary IL
cases Of special service: and that any person
so detailed shal! have the power to admin
ister oatbs and take atfiIavits IN the course
Of any such investigation.
Sec. 81. That no agent or attorney o.
other person instrumental III prosecuting
any claim for pension or bounty land shall
demand or receive any other compensation
for his services in prosecuting claim fol
pension or bounty land than such as the
Commissioner OF Pensions shall direct to be
paid to him, not exceeding twenty-five dol
lars: and any agent or attorney or any Other
person instrumental in prosecuting any clam
for pension or bounty land, who shall direct
ly or indirectly contract for, demand, or re-
ceive or retain any greater compensation foI
his services or instrumentallty in prOsecut-
ing claim for pension or bounty land than
is hereinbefore provided, or who shall
wrOngfully withhold from pensioner OF
claimant the whole or any part of the pen
sion allowed and due such pensioner OF
claimant. or the land warrant issued 70 any
such claimant, shall be deemed guilty of a
high misdemeanor, and, upon conviction
thereof. shall, for every such Otfense, be
fined not exceeding five hundred dollars,
or imprisoned at hard labor not exceeding
two years, or both, at the discretion of the
court. And if any guardian having the
charge and custody OF the pension of his
ward shall embezzle the same in violation
of his trust, or iraudulently convert the
same to his own use, he shall be punished
by line not exceeding two thousand dol
lars or Imprisonment at hard labor for a
term not exceeding five years. or both, at
the discretion Of the court.
SEC. 3;2.. That any pledge, mortgage, sale,
assignment or transfer OF any right, claim
or interest in any pension which has been
or may hereafter be granted, shall be void
and of no effect: and any person acting as
attorney to receive and receipt for money
for and in behalf of any person entitled to a
pension. shall, before receiving said money,
take and subscribe an oath, to be filed with
the pension agent, and by him TO be
with the vouchers now re.
Quired by law, to the proper accounting
officer Of the treasury that he has not in
terest in said money by any pledge, mort
that he does not know or believe that the
same has been SO disposed of to any per-
son; and any person who shall falsely take
the said oath shall be guilty of perjury,
and. on conviction, shall be liable to the
pains and penalties OF perjury.
SEC. SO. That any person who shall
or willtully in any wise procure
the making or presentation of any false or
fraudulent affidavit concerning any claim
for pension or payment thereof, or pertain
ing to any other matter within the jjuris-
eictiOn OF the Commissioner of Pensions, or
shall knowingly or willfully present or
cause to be presented at any pension
agency any power OF attorney, or other
paper required as voucher in drawing
pension, which paper shall bear a date
to that on which it was actually
signed or executed, such person so offend
ing shall oe deemed guilty OF a high mis-
lemeanOr and shall, on conviction there.
Of. be punished by fine not exceeding
i've hundred dollars, or by Imprisonment
for term NOT exceeding three years, or by
both, at the discretion of the court before
whom such conviction shall be had; and no
sum Of money due or 10 become due. TO any
pensioner under the laws aforesaid. shall be
liable to attachment. levy or seizure. by or
under any legal or equitable process what
ever, whether the same remains with the
Pension office. or any officer or agent thereof,
Or is in course of transmission to the pen.
sioner entitled thereto, but shall inure
wholly to the benefit Of such pensioner.
SEC. "a. That IN all cases Of application
for the payment of pensions to invalid pen
,ioners to the fourth day of September of
IN odd year, the certificate OF an examining
surgeon duly appointed by the COmmis
siOner of Pensions, or OF surgeon Of the
army or navy, stating the continuance OF
The disability for which the pension was
,risinally granted describing it). and the
iegree of such disability at the time of
making the certificate. shall be required to
the vouchers. and duplicate
hereof shall be filed in the office of the
of Pensions; and if in case
If continued disability it shall be stated
It degree below that for which the pen
'ion was originally granted, or was last
,aid, the pensioner shall only be paid for
he quarter then due at the rate stated in
he certificate: provided, that when pen.
,ion shall be granted for disability ccnse.
,uent upon the loss of limb, or other es.
ensial portion of the body, or for other
.auses which can not in whole or in part be
or when a disability is certified
~ competent examining surgeons. to the
abstraction Of the Commissioner of Pen.
ions, to have become permanent in a &c.
sree equal to the whole rate OF pension. the
lbove certificate shall no. he necessary TO
ntitle the pensioner 10 payment; and pro.
,ided further. that this section shall nOt be
construed to prevent the Commissioner OF
Pensions from requiring more frequent
if, IN his judgment, 1t IS neces
ary.
SEC. 81. That the Commissioner Of Pen.
ions be, and he i. hereby, empowered TO
.ppOint. at his discretion. civil surgeons to
make the periodical examinations OF pen
toners which are, or may 0e. required 10y
aw, and TO examine applicants for pension.
where he shall deem an examination by
urgeon appointed by him necessary: and
he fee for such examinations, and the re-
iuisite certificates thereo: in duplicate, In
luding postage on such as are transmitted
0 pension agents, shall be Two dollars.
which shall be paid by the agent for payin.
pensions in the district within which the
,ensiOner or claimant resides. out 0: any
money appropriated tor the payment OF
tensions, under such regulations as the
of Pensions may prescribe.
SEC. 30. That the Commissioner of PEN
lions be authorized to organize. at his dis
,retion. boards of examing surgeons. not 10
,xceed three members. and that each mem
Der Of board thus organized who shall
lave been actually presen. and made. IN
connection with other members or member,
IN ordered or periodical examination. -hali
,e entitled 70 the tee Of one dollar. on the
'eceipt Of proper certificate OK said exam.
nation by the Commissioner OF Pensions.
SEC. 81. That examining surgeons duly
appointed ny the Commissioner .: Pen
ions. and such other qualified surgeons as
nay oe employed in the Pension c.iice. may
re required py him. from time to time. as
le si!al. deem Cor the interests ct The gov.
,rumen;. 20 make special examinations OF
Uch pensioners. or applicants :or pension.
md Examinations shall have precedence over