The National tribune., 1880-04-01
THE COURT OF PENSIONS !
IMPORTANT INTERVIEW,
INTERESTINGLY PENSIONERS

vi tHe SeleCJ COnmttce Jne lnVeStg2tlOn OF JDe
payment of pensions, and during the interview
learned that bill had been prepared to organize
Court of Pensions :" that it had been considered
in committee and approved, and Mr.. Geddes was
authorized to present it to the House This has been
done, and it is the determination to press it through
at the earliest practicable moment Mr. G.. kindly fur
nished US with the text of said bill, which we pub
lish below together with the gist of the con versation
relative thereto and the Sixty Surgeon Bill, between
the reporter and Mr.. G.:
BILL to organize a Court Of Pensions
Be enacted by the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the United States Of Anertca in Congress assembled
That court be known the Court of Pensions is
hereby established to consist Of three members who shall
be persons learned in the law be appointed by the
President by and with the advice and Of the SEN
ate who shall hold their said office for the of three
years and until their shall be appointed and
qualified. Each member Of said court, before entering
upon the duties of his Office shall be soemny sworn to
support the Constitution OF the United States and TO dis
charge faithfully and mparally the duties of his office
SEC 2. That il shall be the duty Of said
anime and determine ali claims for pensions, of
pensions for restoration To the pension rolls and for
of pensions arising under the laws of the Uuied
States which may be appealed to ii from the Commits
soner of Pensions together with all applications for pen
slons and arrears OF pensions which do not within any
pension law and cannot be adudcated and allowed by the
Commissioned Of Pensions and the decision Of said
upon any claim shall be ina except where the disability for
which the pension granted has been removed either
In whole part and in Of fraud, hereinafter
provided and when, in the judgment of said court the
claimant has equitable right relief but which the
law does make provision for said court shall recon-
mend the allowance of the by Congress- and there
upon such cases, including the exhibits and testimony
therein with the equitable therefor shall GER
tilted by said to Congress- and from and after the
the passage of this act only certified shall he
passed upon by Congress.
SEC g. That each member of said court shall be entitled
to annual salary of four Thousand dollars each pay
able quarterly from the Treasury
SEC 4. That said shall appoint said If
deemed necessary chief clerk annual salary OF
eighteen hundred dollars and two assistant clerks at an
annual salary of twelve hundred dollars each and mes
senger annual salary Of eight hundred dollars each
payable quarterly from the Treasury. The clerks and
messenger shall take oath for the faithful discharge OF
their duties and shall be under the direction of the court
in the performance thereof and for misconduct
capacity they may be removed by it from the office
SEC .. That all applications for pensions pending in
Congress- not disposed OF the time the organization
of said court shall be referred with all the papers per-
tanning to each claim to the said court.
SEC o. The Secretary of the Interior shall to be
delivered request of claimant his attorney TO the
Court of Pensions, without delay, from time to time all
dsallowed claims for PENSIONS pensions for
increase of PENSIONS and for restoration the pension
rolls and all papers, afidayts exhibits, and testimony
filed i'll each of said claims and all of said testimony
filed with the claim is hereby made part the evidence
to be considered by said court in the adjudication land
shall bc competent for the claimant and the Government
to take additional testimony by adavs or against
the claimant which shall be considered by said il
its adj udication.)
SEC T. When the record of the War Department shows
that the applicant is deserter said court shall have
full jurisdiction and power to hear and determine whether
said record should he amended and if the record of de-
sertion in the opinion of the court should be removed
then the claim for pension shall be considered same as
If said record did not exist.
SEC 8. That assembling of the court the udges are
hereby authorized TO establish all rules and forms of pro
ceedngs that may be deemed necessary for the prompt
hearing and decision of all claims that come before it
and when any claim is determined and allowed the final
decision shall be certified the Secretary OF Interior
and the name OF the applicant shall be placed upon the
pension rolls entitled 10 the rights and benefits of said
decision and paid rs if the applicants had been
placed on the pension rolls by the Secretary of the Interior
in pursuance of the pension laws in force when the pension
application was pending in his department.
SEC g. 1t shall be the duty Of the Secretary of the
terror to provide such in the Interior Department
elsewhere at Washington for the of the Court of
Pensions as may be necessary for their accommodation
SEC. 10. The said Court of Pensions shall continue in
session during each year long be necessary for
the prompt disposition of the business of the court and
any two of the judges of said court shall constitute
quorum and may transact business but in the of
disagreement - any such shall be reserved for
consideration and judgment by all of said Judges