The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-13
THE PENSION BILL.

THE PENSION BILL.
Circular Letter from the Commissioners Of
Pensions-HOw to Make Apph-
cation.
The following circular letter has been
issued by the commissioner of pensions:
PENSION OFFICE.
WASHINGTON. January q, 1879.
Persons who are entitled to arrears
of pension, under the act granting arrears,
approved January ., 1879, and whose pen
sions were granted previous to that date,
will not require the assistance of claim
agent in obtaining the amount due them.
All correspondence in relation to any
claims for such arrears will be with the
person entitled, and no claim agent will
be recognized In such claim.
A letter addressed to the Commissioner
of Pensions. signed by the person who was
In receipt Of the pension aforesaid, and two
witnesses, In the presence of a magistrate,
will be the only application required, and
upon which the rights Of all parties con-
cerned will be adjusted
The pension certificate should not be sent
to this office-but it must be exhibited to
the magistrate.
The letter should be in the following or
equivalent form:
To the Commissioner of Pensions:
j, ...-........, pensiOner under pen
sion certificate No.. hereby apply for
the arrears due me, under the act granting
arrears of pension approved January 25,
1879. My post-office address is here in
sert the name of the post-office, and if the
claimant resides In city, the name and
number of the street and residence must
also be given.
Two witnesses. Name of claimant
State of. ...... County of. ........ SIS:
Signed in my presence, by....... who
is known to me to be the person he des-
cribes himself to be, and at the same time
he exhibited to me his pension certificate.
which is numbered 49,.
Magistrates signature.
Very respectfully,
j. A. BENTLEY.
Commissioner of pensions.
THE ARREARS OF PENSION ACT.
An Act to provide that all pensions on account
of death, or wounds received, or disease con-
tracted in the service of the United States
during the late war of the rebellion, which
have been granted, or which shall hereafter
be granted, shall commence from the date of
death or discharge from the service of the
United States; for the payment of arrears Of
pensions, and other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives Of the United States of America
in Congress assembled.
That all pensions which have been grant
ed under the general laws regulating pen
sions, or may hereafter be granted, in con-
sequence Of death from a cause which
originated in the United States service
during the continuance of the late war of
the rebellion. or in consequence Of wounds,
or disease received or contracted
in said service during said war of the re-
belliOn, shall commence from the date of
the death or discharge from said service of
the person on whose account the claim has
been or shall hereafter be granted, or from
the termination of the right of the party
having prior title to such pension:
Prorided, The rate of pension or pen
sions for the intervening time for which ar
rears of pensions are hereby granted shall
be the same per month for which the pen
sion was originally granted.
Sec. 2 That the commissioner of pen
sions is hereby authorized and directed to
adopt such rules and regulations for the
of the arrears of pensions hereby
granted rs will be necessary to cause to be
paid to such pensioners, or, If the pension
ers shall have died. to the person or per-
sons entitled to the same, all such arrears
Of pensions as the pensIoner may be or
would have been entitled to under this act
Sec. ). That section 4,7l7 of the revised
statutes of the United States, which pro-
rides that mo claim for pensions not pros
acuted TO successful issue within FIVE
years from the date Of filing the same shall
be admitted without record evidence from
he War or Navy Department Of the injury
Or the disease which resulted in the disa-
Dility or death of the person on whose ac-
,ount the claim is made.
Prorided, That in any case in which the
imitation prescribed by this section bars |
he further prosecution of the claim, the |
;laimant may present, through the Pension |
'ffice, to the acknowledgement of the army |
,r the surgeon-general of the navy, evil
lence that the disease or injury which re-
ulted in the disability or death of the per-
on on whose accountth the claim is made Or
ginated in the service and in the line of
luty: and if such evidence is deemed |
by the officer to whom it may
Ne submitted. he shall cause a record of the
act so proved to be made, and a copy of
he same to be transmitted to the commits
Toner of pensions. and the bar to the
of the claim shall thereby he re-
moved" be, and the same is hereby re-
,ealed
Sec. 4. No claim agent or other person
hall be entitled to receive any compensa-
ion for services in making application for
rrears of pensions.
Sec. ). That all acts or parts of acts so
ar as they may conflict with the provisions
f this act be, and the same are hereby re-
'ealed
Approved. January q, 1879.
No claim for arrears under the provis-
ons Of the above act, due to pensioner
lready upon the rolls, will be adjusted
nul Congress shall have appropriated the
money for the payment Of such claims.
Applications for such arrears may how
yer De filed-but will receive no answer
mil the claim is adjusted.
The above rules are necessary to prevent
he work of the Office from becoming block
ded by unnecessary correspondence.
J. A. BENTLEY.
Commissioner of Pensions.