New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-04

| Interior or may be required by law: and
in case OF the death, resignation, absence
or sickness Of the Commissioner, his duties
shall devolve upon the Deputy Commits
sioner until a successor shall be appointed,
or such absence or sickness shall cease.
SEC. 30. That the Commissioner Of Pen
sions is hereby authorized and empowered
to detail. from time to time. clerks in his
office to investigate suspected attempts at
fraud on the government CT the United
States, through and by virtue of the provi-
si0ns of this or any other act Of Congress
providing tor pensions, and to aid in prose
cutting any person SO offending. with such
additional compensation as is customary IN
cases of special service: and that any person
so detailed shall have the power to admin
lister oaths and take attiGavits IN the course
OF any such inyes .igatior.
SEC. Il. That no agent or attorney or
other person instrumental in prosecuting
any claim for pension or bounty land shall
demand or receive any other compensation
for his services IN prosecuting a claim for
| pension or bounty land than such as the
| Commissioner CT Pensions shall direct to be
| paid TO him, not exceeding twenty-five dol
| lars; and any agent or attorney or any other
| person lnstrumentaiin prosecuting any clam
| for pension or bounty land, who shall direct
~ or Indirectly contract for, demand, or re
ceive or retain any greater compensation for
his services or instrumentality in prosecut-
ing claim for pension or bounty land than
| is herelnbetoGe provided, or who shall
| wrongfully withhold from a pensioner or
! claimant the whole or any part OF the pen
sion allowed and due such pensioner or
claimant. or the land warrant issued TO any
such claimant. shall be deemed guilty OF a
high misdemeanor and, upon conviction
| thereof. shall, for every such otense, 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 Il any guardian having the
| charge and custody OF the pension OF his
! ward shall embezzle the same in violation
| Of his trust or Icaudulently convert the
same to his own use. he shall be punished
| by tue not exceeding two Thousand dol
lars or imprisonment at hard labor FOR a
| term not exceeding five years, or both, al
| the discretion 81 the court.
SEC -. That any pledge, mortgage, sale.
assignment or transfer OF any right, clam
or interest IN any pension which has been
or may hereafter be granted, shall DE yold
and OF no effect: and any person acting as
attorney to receive and receipt Tor money
Tor ALI IN henaif OF any person entitled to q
pension, shall, before receiving said money.
take and subscribe an oath, to be fled wi
the pension agent, and by him 70 be
transmitted, with the vouchers now re-
CURED by law, to the proper Accounting
terest IN sad money by any pledge, mort
gage. sale, assignment, or transfer, and
that he does cot 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 pe'1Grv,
and, on conviction, shall be liable to the
pains and penalties OF perjury.
SEC. 30 That any person who shall |
..z-ssaSsus y or wiiltuily in any wise procure |
TIE making or presentation of any false or
fraudulent affidavit concerning any claim |
Tor pension CT payment thereof, or pertain |
Ing to any ether matter within the juris- !
election 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 III drawing a |
pension, which paper shall Lear date !
subsequent to that on which il was actually |
slgneu or executed. such person SO offend |
ing shall be deemed guilty Of a high mis-
deineanor ana SHALL ON conviction there
OF he punished by fine not exceeding
five hundred dollars. or by Imprisonment |
for a term not exceeding three years, or by
both, at the discretion Of the court before
whom such conviction shall be had; and 10
sum OF money due or to become due, to anv
pensloner 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 |
tension office, or any officer or agent thereof,
or is II course Of transmission 70 the pen
sl0ner entitled thereto, bat shall inure |
wholly 10 the benefit Of such pensioner.
SEC 81. That IL all cases OF application
Tor the payment Of pensions to invalid pen
sloners to The fourth day Of Septem Der of
an Odd year, the certificate Of an examining
surgeon duly appointed by the Commits
sloner OF Pensions. or Of surgeon of the
army or navy, stating the contip nance OF
the disability TOR which the pension was
originally granted describing it,, and the
degree of such disability at the time OF
making the certificate, shall be acquired to
accompany the vouchers, and a duplicate
thereof shall be fled in TIE office OF the
Commissioner OF Pensions: and if in case
OF continued disability it shall be stated
at degree below that for which the pen
sion was originally granted, Or was last
paid, the pensioner shah Only be paid for
the quarter then due at the rate stated in
the certificate: provided, that when pen
sion shall be granted for disability conse-
quent upon the loss of limb, or other es-
sentlal portion of the body, or for other
causes which can not in Whole or in part be
removed, or when a disability is certified
ny competent examining surgeons. to the
of the Commissioner of Pen
slons, to have become permanent in q de-
gree equal 10 the whole rate Of pension, the
above certificate shall not be necessary 10
entitle the pensioner TO payment; and pro-
vided further. that this section shall not be
construed tOts2tevent the Commissioner of
Pensions from requiring a more frequent
examination if, III his juG gment, i. is neces-
sary.
SEC. 50. That the Commissioner of Pen ,,
sions be, and he is hereby, empowered 10
appoint, at his discretion, civil surgeons 70
make the periodical eXamin atoms of pen-
,loners which are, or may be, REQUIRED by
law, and to examine applicants for pension,
where he shall deem an examination by | !
surgeon appointed by him necessary: and
the fee for such examinations, and the re-
IuisIte certificates thereof in duplicate in '
,luding postage on such as are transmitted {
70 pension agents, shall be two dollars, I
which shall De paid by the agent for paving :
pensions III the district within which the &
pensioner or claimant resides, out OF anv s
money appropriated for the payment OF !
pensions, under such regulations as the
Commissioner OF Tensions may prescribe.
SEC. 80. That the Commissioner of Pen Y
,ions be authorized 70 organize at his dis 8
'reton, boards OF examing surgeons. not 10 {
Exceed three members, and that each mem c
Der OF board thus organized " no shall a
lave been actually present and made, in c
with other members or member. +
IN ordered or periodical examination, shall S
De entitled TO the lee of one dollar, on the q
ecelpt OF proper certificate Of said exam
nation by the Commissioner Of Pensions.
SEC. -. That examining surgeons duly s
appointed by the Commissioner Of Pen S
lons, and such other qualified surgeons as c
nay be employed IN the Pension Office. NAV /
'e required by him, from time TO tine. a. I
le snail deem tor the interests Of the gov. a
rnlnent, to make special examinations of b
uch pensioners, or applicants for pension. a
nd examinations shall have precedence over p