The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-27
MEXICAN PENSIONS.
i'rovisions of the. BILL as Adopted by the
atSs

proNisions of the. BILL as Adopted by the
Senate.
WASHINGTON, June 2B-The following is a
summary of the provisions of the Mexican pen
sion bill as passed by the Senate:
Section l directs the Secretary of the Int.
ror to place on the pension roll the names of
viEing officers and enlisted men of the military
and naval service who actually served fourteen
days in Mexico rwere on its coasts or frontiers,
en- route to Mexico, or were actually in q bat
tlesof the Mexican and were honorably dis
charged; and such officers soldiers and sailors as
may have been personally mentioned in any res
ollltOn. of Congress for specific service in that
war ard such of their widows as5haye not
married; provided such officer. enlisted man or.
widow be or become sixty-two years of age, or
subject to a disability dependency equivalent
to some cause, Recognized by the pension laws of
the United States as sufficient reason for the al
lowance of a pension No person is entitled to
the benefits of the bill who does not come within
this rule of age or disability, who incurred
slch disability while voluntarily engaged in the
late rebellion.
Section . fixes the rate at So per month,
payable only from the passage Of the act,
for and during the life of the beneficiary OF dur
ing the continuance Of the disability Pension
ers already receiving So month are, however,
cut off and those receiving less than So simply
get the difference between So and the amount
they have heretofore been receiving
Section 3 throws the burden of truth on the
person applying for the pension, to show that he
Is entitled to it, declares false oaths in such
proof to be- perjury and directs the Secretary of
the Interior to stop the pension on discovery Of
fraud Loss of the certificate of discharge shall
not exclude the applicant from the benefits of the
act; other record evidence of enlistment and
service and of honorable discharge may be
deemed sufficient. Land warrants granted for
war service shall be prima facie evidence of ser
VICE and honorable discharge but may be re
hutted by evidence that the warrant was i'm
properly granted
By Section the pension laws already In force,
and not inconsistent with this act are made part
of this act so far as applicable
Section prohibits attorneys and agents from
charging more than $40 for services to the
Claimant, and forbids collection of the money
till the claim is allowed.
Section repeats section 4, ZIG of the Revised
Statutes so far as relates to this bill, Section
tzl6 prohibits the payment of pensions to those
who voluntarily engaged il the rebellion
Section excludes from pension all persons
aboring under the political disabilities imposed
oy the fourteenth amendment.
Section gives pension to all persons who
for three months served on the Union side in
tie War Of the Rebellion who has an honorable
discharge, and is or shall become disabled from
any cause not the result of his own gross
carelessness, disreputable conduct or vicious
habits, and is dependent on his own labor for
support The amount of this pension is to be
proportionate to the degree of disability, and to
commence from the date of filing the appica'
lion The highestrate allowed under this sec
aon Is S24 month, which amount is made