The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-30
18TH CONGRESS.
Legislation that Concerns Soldiers
and Their Relatives.

There is little TO be said Of Congress last week.
wednesday afternoon both Houses adjourned 10
Jan. for the holiday recess. A large part of the
Members went home to hang up their stock
ings and spend holidays among their friends
and constituents.
NEW PENSION BILL
AT the request of the Union Veteran Army
of the Republic" Senator Blair introduced
bill making comprehensive changes in the
pension laws. The bill practically removes
the Limitation of Arrears of Pension act
and makes the act Of enlistment into the
service Of the United States evidence of physi-
cal sonndneSs at the time of enlistment. 1t
authorizes the Secretary Of the Interior to re-
open all cases denied on the ground of the lack
of proof Of physical soundness at the time of
enlistment. Ii enarges the classes of persons
to be entitled TO the benefits Of the pension
laws so as 10 include all who may have been
disabled while actually engaged in services of
the United States of military nature, whether
they were mustered or not. 1t also grants
pension 10 all female nurses in the late war who
shall have arrived at the age of 80 years and
are without the means of comfortable support.
1t provides that there shall be two classes of
pensionable disabilities, viz. specific and non
/ specific. Non-speciic disability is defined as
one the nature and degree OF which cannot be
determined without the aid of evidence or of
medical examination. The pensionable dis
abilities are graded from one to twenty, accord
! ing to the degree of injury incurred.
The rate of pension for minor children is in
creased from 81 TO s. per month The Pension
Office is required TO give every claimant 10 days
notice Of the time and place of any special
/ examination in the merits of his claim, or OF
any inquiry by letter 20 postmaster or the
neighbors of the claimant concerning his dis
/ ability or credibility or the credibilty Of his
4 wit nha De- dab I'D fran
receiving information under an agreement TO
conceal the source or subject matter from the
/ applicant. Ii is made unlawful to reject claim
upon evidence secured bya secret investigation
or because the records of the War or Navy
/ Departments fail TO show the existence of dis
case, wound or injury. 1t is also made unlaw-
! full 10 reduce a pension or strike the name of a
pensiOner from the rolls without giving 30 days
notice 10 the person affected. When claimant
who is entitled to arrears Of pensions dies be-
4 fore the claim is adjudcated the widow. mi nor
children and dependent relatives shall be en-
4 titled 10 be subrogated TO all the claimants
rights The bill also corrects what are held to
be imperfections in many minor matters of the
present pension laws. "Such further sum as
may be necessary to pay the pensions granted
| under the provision of this act" is appropriated
in addition to the $7500O0OO appropriated by
the last pension bill.
PENSION APPROPRIATIONS.
The pension appropriation bill, which was
reported TO the House from the Committee on
Appropriations provides for a total oxpendi-
1 ture on account OF pensions OF $40 PSI 500. The
estimates were $40, 2o 800 and the appropria-
ton for last year 200.
THE NATIONAL SOLDIERS HOME.
The report of the Board of Managers of the
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers,
which was laid before the House. states that
the inmates of the Home have been well aud
comfortably fed, clothed and housed, and there
have been no complaints on these subjects from
the inmates. The average number of inmates
during last fiscal year was S,9i6, against 5000
for the preceding year-an increase OF IL. Is per
cent. This ratio of increase is said 10 be- likely
10 continue for decade 10 come The expendi-
ture during the year was Sl,609,910, and the
estimates for the next year sl,599,o4
ANOTHER PROPOSED HOME.
Mr.. Gilfilau, of Minnesota, introduced bill
authorizing the cesSion of 200 acres 10 the Fort
Smelling Military Reservation 20 be used as a
site for a State Soldiers Home and ii is the in
tention, if the bill becomes law, 10 select the
zoo acres at the northeast corner of the reserya-
ton, where the falls are. The Minnesota Legis-
lature win this Winter, il the site is secured,
make an appropriation for buildings, and, il
necessary, for the purchase Of additional ground,
10 include all the beautiful little landscape
within the limits of the Home.
EX-CoNFEDEgATI.s FOR THE ARMY AND NAVY.
Representative Herbert explains that his bill
to remove the disabilities of ex-Confederates
and 10 make them eligible for appointment ia
the army and navy of the United States, is fol-
the relief OF Southern men who. having for.
merly served under the Confederate flag can
not enlist under their country's flag.
THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.
The bill relating TO the opium traffic, re-
ported by Senator Edmunds from the Committee
on Foreign Relations. makes provisions for car
rying into effect Article III of the Chinese treaty
of 1881. IL makes il penal ofTense for the
citizens or subjects of either country TO import
transport or sell opium in the other, and give:
American Consular Courts Of China and the
District Courts OF the United States Jurisdiction
of cases arising under the bill.
VACANCIES AT WEST POINT.
The report submitted in the Senate by Sen
ators Henderson and Gibson, and in the Hous,
by Representatives Bragg, Lard aud Viele. o.
} the Board of Visitors 10 the Academy at Wes
} Point. shows that there were at the time o.
visit % vacancies in the Academy. 1t is recon
mended that the President be authorized Il
appoint 10 Cadets at large each year, instead o.
! every four years, as at present