The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-06-24

tohN thOAA mum bhO pVOi-AouSN1 AANO "ANN~
need has driven them, and for other pur-
poses.
The first is bin No. 1886, which passed
the Senate some weeks ago, and was sent TO
the House for concurrence. Its text is as
follows:
AN ACT for the relief of soldiers Of the late war,
hunorably discharged after three months service,
who are disabled and dependent upon their own
labor for support, and Of dependent parents Of
soldiers who died in the service, or from disabili-
ties contracted therein.
Be Il enacted by Tie Senate and House Of Repre-
Sentdiircs Of The United States Of america ia Congress
assembled That every person specified in the sew
eral classes enumerated in section 1893 Of the Re-
vsed Statutes Of the United States and the amend
ments thereto who served in the military on naval
service, mentioned in said section for the period
of three months during the OF the rebellion
and has AN honorable discharge therefron, and
who Is or shall become disabled from any cause
not the result Of his own fault and shall also be de-
pendent upon his own exertions for support, or
upon the contributions Of others not legally bound
thereto SHALL upon making due proof OF the iaots'
under such regulations as may be prescribed 10y
the proper authority, be placed upon the list OF
pensioners Of the United States and be entitled 10
receive pension during the continuance of such
disability and dependence at a rate prOportionate
10 the degree of such disability and such pension
shall commence at The date Of filing application
therefor. The highest rate OF pension granted
under this section which shall be for total inca
pacity 10 perform any manual labor, shall be SPA
per month, which is hereby made divisible upon
that basis for any less degree Of disability Pro-
vided. That no person entitled 10 or receiving an
invalid pension under existing laws. such as may
he hereafter enaced. granting pension for disabili-
ties contracted in the military naval service of
the United States and in line OF duty, greater than
that provided for herein, shall receive The benefits
of this act but any applicant for such invalid pen
sion hayingan application therefor pending, or who
shall hereafter file his application for such pension,
may, by a declaration over his own signature, at
any time, elect 10 prosecute his said claim under
this act or under the general laws and his pension,
when allowed, If prosecuted under this act shall
commence from the date OF such election Provided
further That no pension paid under any law here
after shall be rated at less than 81 per month
Sec. 2 That in considering the claims Of depend
eni parents. the fact and cause of death and the
fact that the soldier left no widow minor children
having been shown required by law, il shall be
necessary only 10 show 10y competent and sufficient
| evidence that such dependent parent is without
other present means OF comfortable support than
his her own manual labor. or the contributions
Of others not legally bound for his or her support;
and such may be found to be entitled 10 s. a
month under existing laws, modified by this
section. shall receive in lieu thereof Sl2 month
from and after the approval Of this act
Sec 3. That la all applications under the general
pension laws. including this act. where IL appears
by record evidence that theapplioant was regularly
enlisted and mustered into the service, that fact
shall be conclusive evidence OF soundness Gt the
time OF his enlistment. except in case Of fraud.
Sec 4. That no person shall be entitled 10 more
than one pension al the same time under any or al
laws Of the Uniicd States whether such pension
shall have been already obtained or shall he here
after obtained. unless the act under which suoi
pension is chained shall specially declare.
This bill is a substantial embodiment o
the recommendations Of the National Pen
sion Committee Of the GAR, and its pas
sage was received with the greatest satisfac
ton by the soldiers Of the country. 1t is |
measure Of relief to the most needy Of ia
country's defenders, and has been urged 70
years by the Grand Army of the Republic
Upon It's reception in the House it wa
referred to the Committee on Invalid
Pensions, which, after consideration, intro
duced as a substitute the following bill, pre-
pared by Mr. Ellsberry, Of ohio
That all persons who served three months Q
in the military naval service Of the Unite
States IN the war for the suppression Of The rebe
! lion, and who have been honoraby discharge
, ihcrefron, and who are who may hereaits
be suffering from mental physical disability. ne
tie result o. their own vicious habits gro
oarelessness. which incapaciiaies them for the pc
iolmance Of labor In such degree TO Tends
them unable 10 earn support, and who are d.
pendent upon their daily labor for support, shsl
upon making due proof Of the fact according
such rules aud regulations as the Secretary of u
Interior may provide in pursuance Of this act. I
: placed on the list 81 invalid pensioners Of a
/ United states, and be entitled 10 receive for sue
total inability 70 procure their subsistence by dali
q labor SIP per month; and such pension shall cor
mence from The date 81 the filing Of the applicati,
in the Pension Office upon proof that tae disabili
a then existed. and continue during The existence
Y the same ia the degree herein provided Provide
% That persons who receiving pensio
under existing laws. whose claims pendii
in the Pension Office, may, by application TO d
Commissioner Of Pensions. in such forms as he m
prescribe, receive the benefits Of this act; b
|" nothing herein contained shall be 50 construed
y 90 allow more than pension NJ the same lin
E 10 the same person and rank IN the service sh
- not be considered IN applications under this act
n Sec ? That no agent, attorney, other pers
~ instrumental ia the presentation and prosecute
= Of a claim under this act shall demand rccei
for HE services or fundamentally ia presenting
prosecuting such claim sum greater than S, pa
able only upon the order Of the Commissioner
*, Pensions by The pension agent making payment
IA Che pension allowed. except. in heretof,
al prosecuted before the Pension Office when, In
he discretion Of the Commissioner Of Pensions fee
r. $40 may be allowed Ia like 10 the agent
r. attorney u record la the at the date Of the
az sage Of This act and any agent. attorney or OIL
person instrumental 10 the prosecution Of a ella
under ts flct who shall demand receive "A ~
greater than that herein provided for for his servi
la prosecution u tho claim shall be subject 10
az sanlopenalues az prescribed ia section -four Of
'se act 81 July A. 1854 entitled An act making app
gel piiaons for the payment of invalid and other ~
pf sions Of te United states lOr the fiscal year end
m june ~. 1855 and for other purposes"
- in the report which accompanied the !
for the committee says that in It's opinion:
To give pension 10 ali who suffer from
partial disability only, the origin Of VIII
would not have 10 be shown as Of service a
=. line OF duty, would, Ia the opinion Of yonT CO
-. mttee, draw upon the Treasury Of the cOun
~ I greater than the revenues would permit, W
- the other millions drawn lhereir0m Ia D
al ment Of pensions for disabilities actually ira
able 10 the service.
That relief should De afforded 10 those Of
countrys defenders who, since their dischai