The National tribune., 1882-08-19
THE DESERTION BILLu
Serious Clerical ErrOr-Full Text of the Bill rs
it Has Become a Law.

SerlOuS clerical Err0r-Full Text OF tile Bill hs
it las Become Law.
In the last issue of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
we published the debate in Congress on the bill
atording relief to n certain class of soldiers,
together with the amendments as agreed upon
in conference, under the terms of which all
soldiers who served six months in the service
became beneficiaries of the act 1t will be
recollected that the House fixed the time at
three months and the Senate at twelve, but
under the terms of the compromise, six
months was inserted and the bill passed in
that shape. Upon examining the approved
bill representative of THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE discovered that, as signed by the President,
it limits the application to soldiers to those who
served twelve months. When the representa-
tive of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE called at
the room of the Committee on Pensions to
ascertain who was responsible for the error, he
was informed by one of the clerks that it oc-
CURED in engrossing the bill for the signatures
of the Speaker and others, and precisely who
was responsible could not be positively deter
mined. tits probable that upon the reassembling
ofCongreSs an investigation will be ordered, and
the error promptly corrected, so as to afford
relief to all men who served six months in the
service. Appended will be found the full
text of the bill as on record among the laws at
the State Department.
BE 1t enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentGtiCes Of the United States of Alnerica IN Con-
greSS assembled, That the charge of desertion now
standing on the rolls and records in the office
of the Adjutant- t-General of the United States
against any soldier who served in the late war
III the volunteer service shall be removed in all
cases where it shall be made to appear to the
satisfaction of the Secretary of War, from such
rolls and records, or from other satisfactory tes-
tlmony, that any such soldier served faithfully
until the expiration of his term of enlistment,
or until the twcnty-second day of May ammo
Domini eighteen hundred and siXty-tive, or
was prevented from completing his term of ser
vice by reason of wounds received or disease
contracted in the line of duty, but who, by
reason of absence from his command at the time
the same was mustered out, failed to be mus
tered out and to receive an honorable discharge.
SEC. 2. That the charge of deSertion standing
on the rolls and records in the Office of the
utant-General of the United States against
any soldier who served i'll the late war in the
volunteer service shall also be removed in all
cases where it shall be made to appear to the
satisfaction of the Secretary of War, from such
rolls and records, or from other satisfactory
sertion or with absence without leave, did not
intend to desert and after such charge of deser-
ton or absence without leave, voluntarily re-
turned to his command and served in the line
of his duty until he was mustered out of the
service and received certificate of honorable
discharge
SEC. 3. That in all cases where the charge of
desertion shall be removed under the pr0vis-
ions of this act from the record of any soldier
who has not received a certificate of discharge
it shall be the duty of the Adjutant- General of
the United States to issue to such soldier, or in
case of his death, to his heirs or legal repre-
sentatives, certificate of discharge.
Sec. 4. That when the charge of deserton
shall be removed under the provisions of this
act from the record of any soldier, such soldier,
or, in case of his death, the heirs or legal rep
resentatives of such soldier, shall receive all
pay and bounty which may have been with
held on account of such charge of desertion or
absence without leave: PrOrided, hOweUer That
this act shall not be so construed as to give to
any such soldier as may be entitled to relief
under the provisions of this act, or, in case of
his death, to the heirs or legal representatives
of any such soldier the right to receive pay any
bounty for any period of time during which
such soldier was absent from his command
without leave of absence: lind prOrided further
That soldier, nor the heirs or legal represent
ativcS of any soldiers who served in the army
a period of less than twelve months or who in
tentionally deserted, shall be entitled to the
benefit of the provisions of this act.
SEC. ). That all acts and parts of acts incon-
sistent with the provisions of this act are here
by repealed
Approved, August 7, 1882.