The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-06
PENSION. MATTERS.
Proof of soundness Before Enlistment-IneTeasins
Widows Pensions, etc.

Proof of Soundness Before MISUNDERSTANDING
Widows Pensions, etc.
The following is the report of the House
Committee on Invalid Pensions in favor OF the
bill to relieve applicants from the necessity of
furnishing proof OF soGndness before enlist
ment:
The subieet-ruatter of the accompanying bills
and the Substitute for them, which is herewith
ported is one that has engaged the earnest atten-
ton OF your committee. fhe substantive PROPOSE
ton embodied therein amendment To the
present law, Is the declaration of AN estOppe s4
the Government forbEldins. that il should in every
case inquire into the question of the physical
soundness OF the soldier prior to his being mus
tered into thc:seryIce.
This committee, after the fullest discussion and
the most insure teli5eration, announce to ths
House that, in its Judgment the Justice of the
proposition, embodied IN the substitutes bill. y
nnassailabe. Before either volunteer or drafted
was received into the service, the Govern
inent required that he should pass rigid exami-
nation, and, III most instances soldiers ex-
ainined twice: first 81 the time of their enlistment.
and afterwards at the time of being mustered into
the service. 1t has happened, in some instances,
amer years of faithful service soldier was dis
charged for disability, and certificate of disability
made III his case stating that the disease injury
was incurred prior 10 his enlistment These GER
titicates were doubtless in many instances. made
without the knowledge Of the soldiers. sometimes
upon the statements OF third persons again, by
those who were strangers to the soldier and have
operated as perfect and complete bar to his OBJ
tanning from the Government that to which he
was justly entitled, n rccOmpense for the loss OF
health bodily injury. which happened to him
while serving his country.
This committee IS informed by the honorable
Commissioner OF Pensions that it Is in such eases
where q record exists, tending To show prior un-
soundneSs, that strict proof is required, and. in
some cases, the record has been held to be eoncEu-
siye against the soldier, and lie Is not allowed to
assaii it. In ordinary cases, however, the proof
required as to prior sOundness Is merely formal.
This bill does not interfere with the proof that is
now required rs to incurTence In the line of duty.
The applicant must still show afiirmatively that
the injury or disease was incurred by him while IN
tins military or naval service and that it in the
line of duty, and the Government is still allowed
to show that It was not incurred, but to do so
cannot go beyond the period of his muster into
that service on account of which he is claiming
pension. There impenetrable bar is erected. ex-
cept in cases where pension IS claimed for physi
cal detoFmities injuries which We're not bar to
his enlistment such the loss Of the left eye the
loss of the third ring finger, and some others
not necessary 10 detail here. In such cases the
Governments can stiil inquire into the question OF
prior soundness. And the Government is still left
free 10 inquire into any fraud that may have been
practiced by any one claiming a pension to procure
his enlistment muster into service, but IN the
absence OF any proof of fraud, the conclusive pre-
sumption is that the man sound, a. the Gov
eminent declared him to be when il received
him into its service. If the officers of the Govern
nent set up fraudulent enlistment, it must be
proven by preponde-anee OF the evidence
Among large number OF rejected claims
Tile IN the Pension Office 1t Is impossible for this
committee TO say how many will be affected by
this legislation The Commissioner of Pensions
has stated TO the committee that he has means
of making estimate as 10 the number affected
has this committee deemed il essential 20 In
quire, except as matter of information for the
House. The controlling reason for reporting the
bill is the justice of the proposed legislation The
plainest principles of equity, good conscience. and
Exir dealing seem to your committee to demand it.
and we unhesitatinofy recommend the I,sssas-e Of
the accompanying substitute
WIDOWS PENSIONS.
Representative Matson, chairman Of the Com
nlittee on Invalid Pensions, has prepared re-
port TO accompany his bill providing for the
increase Of the pensions to soldiers widows
and dependent relatives from s. to $12 per
month. Tie report says that the total num-
Der of widows and dependent relatives Of SOL
diers IN the late war nog on the pension roll is
q. 100, the number of claimants that viii prob
ably secure pension, 1908; the number of
widows of soldiers of 1872, together with claim
ants who will probably receive pensions, Is, 600.
The total number OF pensioners, whose rates
viii be increased by the bill, is estimated at
10, 3333, and the aggregate annual increase of
pensions at s., 967 ,9s4. The report says that,
owing to the age of those who viii be affected
by the bill, the pension list viii rapidly de-
crease.
PENSION RATINGS.
TIE Secretary of the Interior has received a
communication, signed by Hon. c. c. Matson
chairman, and eleven other members of the
Committee on Invalid Pensions Of the House
of Representatives. reeiting that Congress has
received large number of petitions praying
increase in rate of pension for loss of one eye
and recommending that said rate be increased
if. in the judgment of the secretary, it can be
done without injustice to other classes OF pen
sioners whose pensions are fixed by law the
rate for loss of one eye being fixed at one-haIf
OF total by the present rules Of the department
on the subject.
The bill introduced in the Senate, on the
26th ult, by Senator VOORHEES,, to amend the
pension laws, provides for an increase Of the
pensions of persons who lost an arm or a leg. or
were equiyalently disabled by gunshot wound,
to so per month; of those who lost leg by
amputation and are unable TO wear an artificial
leg; those who lost an arm by amputation at the
shoulder. and those whoare totally disabled from
performing manual labor, to 500 per month, and
of those who lost an arm and leg, both arms,
both legs, or both eyes, or have become totally
blind from causes occurring in the service, or
have suffered any other injury resulting in
total and permanent helplessness requiring the
regular personal aid and attendance of another
person, to 800 per month.