The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-01

The pension appropriation bill passed the
House on the 22d INST 1t is as follows.
BE Il enacted By tie Senate aud House Of Represent
GtiUes 81 the United States Of 4DleTjcu tl Coagress
assembled That the following be, and the
same are hereby appropriated, out Of any money
IN the Treasury otherwise appropriated for the
payment OF pensions for the fiscal year ending
June thIrtieth, eighteen hundred and ei,hty-fye
and for other purposes, namely:
For army and navy pensions. as follows. For IN
valds, widows, minor children, and dependent
relatives, and survivors and widows OF the war Of
eighteen hundred aud twelve. twenty million dol
lars and aiy balance OF the appropriation for the
above purposes for the current fiscal year that may
remain unexpended on the tulrtieth OF June eiz.ll-
teen hundred and eighty -four. il hereby reappro-
Driated and made available for the service Of the
year ending June thirtefh eighteen hundred and
eighty-fiFe: Erovided That the appropriations
aforesaid for navy pensions shall be paid from the
income OF the navy pension fund, Ear the
same may be sufficient for that purpose: lad pro-
rided further, That the amount expended uader
each OF the above items apal be accounted for sep
aTateiy.
For fees and expenses of examining surgeons.
five hundred thousand dollars.
For pay and allowances Of pension agents. For
salary, fees for preparing vouchers. rent. fuel,
lights, and postage letters to che Executive De-
paTtments and 10 pensioners, two hundred and
forty thousand eight hundred dollars. Pr9gidsa.
That from and after july first, eighteen hundred
and eighty -four. agents for the pay mens Of pensions
shall receive only ten dollars for each hundred
vouchers. or at that rate for fraction of hum
dred, prepared and paid by any agent ia excess af
four thousand vouchers per annum: Preceded far
Their, That from and after July rst eighteen hum
bred and eighty there shall be more than
twelve agents for the payment of pensions, and
shall be the duty of the President and he = hereby
authorized and directed. redece the pension
agents not exceeding the number aforesaid, and
50 much Of sections forty-seyea hundred and
enty-eight and forty Seven hundred and eighty
IS IN conflict with this provision be, and the same
I IL hereby, repealed
/ For contingent expenses Of pension agencies. ten
SEC 2 That no agent, attorney. or other person
shall demand receive any Zee for his services Ia
pension arrears OF pension, bOunty-laad claims
/ until the allowance Of the claim.
/ SEC. 3. That all fees IN pension claims shall be
paid by the agent Tor paying PENSIONS out of the
first installment OF pension due the claimants and
/ no agent, attorney, other person shall receive
/ any fee for his services pension claim except
{ through the agent for paying pensions.
SEC. f. That the fee in all pension arrears Of pen
/ sion, bounty-land claims shall be ten dollars
except in case of special written contract filed IN
[ the Pension Office and approved by the Commits
sioner OF Pensions, as hereinafter provided. The
claimant may contract with his attorney of record
! in writing, in such form the Commissioner Of
Pensions ay prescribe for a Zee 10 an amount not
exceeding twenty-five dollars, except IN claims for
increase Of pension where disability al
legged IN cases OF pensions for service and in al
claims flied IN the Pension Office after june TWEEN
tietE, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, and
prior 10 the passage of this act, in which no
fee above ten dollars shall be contracted for and
IN ali Claims fled prior 10 the passage Of this act
the attorney shall file statement under oath, duly
attested, setting forth the amount Of fee already
received by nm, and the amount already received
shall be deducted from the fee allowed by this act
I SEC ). That the Secretary OF the Interior may
prescribe rules and regulations governing the rec
Ognition of agents attorneys other persons rep
/ resenting claimants before his Department, aud
may require of such persons, agents and attOr-
neys before being recognized representatives OF
claimants, that they shall show that they are Of
good moral character and in good repUte, pos
sessed of the necessary qualifications to enable
them to render such claimants valuable service,
and otherwise competent TO advise and assist such
claimants in the presentation OF their eases. And
such Secretary may suspend, debaT, dlsmiss, and
disbar from further practice before his Department.
any such person, agent, or attorney shown TO be-
incompetent disreputabse, who refuses TO abide
by the said rules and regulations who shall in
any manner deceive. misead. or threaten any
claimant prospective claimant, BY word, clrcu-
! lar letter. by advertisements
SEC 8. That any agent or attorney, or other per-
SON instrumental IN prosecuting any claim for
pension arrears thereof who shall. directly or
Indirectly. contract for, demand. receive re-
tain, any compensation for his services instru-
mentality for prosecuting claim for pension or
arrears thereof greater than i herein provided.
In any other manner than herein provided. shall
wiilfully or knowingly make n false statement
in regard TO the amOtsnt OF fee already received,
shall be deemed guilty of high nlisdemeanOF,
and, upon conviction thereof shall, for every
such offense, be fined not exceeding thousand
dollars. or be confined at hard labor not exceeding
two years, both, at the discretion OF the court,
and be forever afterwards debtrred from practice
ing before the Pension Office.