Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-01-31
Pension Bill.

The attention of the whole nation has
been directed towards Washington the past
week as matters Of unusual interest have
been under consideration in Congress.
The new Pension Bill, vii! perhaps attract
the widest and deepest personal solicitude.
Its purpose, simply stated, is topay to all
persons entitled to pensions from the date
Of the death or disability Of the soldier, IN
stead of from date Of application for pen
sion. as has been the practice of the pension
office under existing laws. While they are
elements Of seeming equity in the new Bill,
it is to be feared it was passed more in a
spirit of partisan rivalry than any real pa
triotic desire to do Justice to the soldier.
As the Bill is so short and will awaken so
lively an interest, it is appended. The
following is the full text of the bill:-
Re If enacted, de-, That all pensions
which have been granted under the general
laws regulating pensions, or may hereaIter
be granted in consequence OF death from
cause which originated in United States
service during the continuance oil the re-
bellion, or in consequence OF WOUNDS, IN
iuries or disease received or contracted IN
said service during said war OF the reoelilon
shall commence from the date OF death or
| discharge from said service OF the person
| on whose account the claim has been or snail
/ hereafter be granted, or from the termlna-
ton of the right Of the party having prior
| title to such pension: Provided, The rate
of pension for the intervening time toE
| which arrears Of pension are hereby granted
| shall be the same per month for when the
pension was originally granted.
SEC. 2. That the Commissioner Oh rem
sjons is hereby authorized and directed tC
adopt such rules and regulations tor th'
payment of the arrears of pensions hereoy
granted as will be necessary to cause 10 D'
paid to such pensioners, or, If the pensloner
shall have died, to the person or persons en-
titled to the same, all such arrears Oh pen
sion as the pensioner may be, or Woul'
: have been, entitled to under TINS ACT.
SEc g That section 1717 of the Reylset
Statutes Of the United States, which pro
! vides that 'sno claim for tension not prose
l cnted to q successful issue within five year
= from the date of filing the same shall be ad
mitted without record evidence from tn
War or Navy Department Of the injury O
l the disease which resulted IN the disabilit
or death of the person on whose aeeoun
the claim is made: Provided, That IN an
: case in which the limitation prescribed b
e this section bars the future prosecution
d the claim, the claimant may presen
o through the Pension Office, to the AdJutan
e General of the army or the Surgeon-Generi
+ of the navy, evidence that the disease or IL
/ iury which resulted in the disability
It death of the person on whose account I'll
claim is made originated in the service an
in the line of duty; and if such evidence
It deemed satisfactory by the officer to who
/ it NAV be submitted, he shall cause a reeol
of the fact so proved to be made, and COZ
u of the same to be transmitted to the Cor
it missionerof Pensions, and the bar to Il
# prosecution Of the claim shall thereby
n removed, 4" be, and the same is hereby T
" pesled.
!! SEC. 4. No claim agent or other pers'
S shall be entitled to receive any comPsns
/; ton for services in making application
IN arrears of pension.
SEC. 5. That all acts or parts OF acts
a. far as they may conflict with the provisio
Of this act be, and the same are hereby
" pealed.