The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-10
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE PENSION BILL,

Service Pension Bill be laid alongside any
other proposed pension measure, and its
provisions discussed and compared with
theirs It will then be found to be more
equitable and wide-reaching-to do more
good to more deserving men and women
than any other law proposed. It reads as
follows:
A Bill to equaIize pensions, to facilitate prompt
settlement thereof, and for other purposes.
Be at enacted 5y the Senate and House Of Represent
GiireS Of the United StlcS Of america IN Congress
assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be,
and he i hereby, authorized and directed TO place
on the pensionroil. upon application therefor me
names of the surviving honorably -discbarged oii-
GERS and enlisted men of the military and naval
services OF the United States who actually served
80 days, more. subsequent TO the 4th day OF
March, 1861 and prior to the Dist day Of December,
1867.
Sec. >. That pensions under section of this act
shat! be al the rate per month of one cent Tor eacn
day : service rendered; ana payable only from anu
after the passage of this act for and during the
natural lives of the persons entitled thereto: Pro-
vidCd. h0lCecer That in each and every where
the service rendered was less than 500 days the
pension shall be at the rate herein established Tor
a service of 500 days, to wit, IS.
Sec. s. That all invalid pensioners who are now
receiving pensions under existing laws, or whose
claims pending in the Pension Office, or before
Congress, by application to the
of Pensions, in such form as he may prescribe, re-
ceive the benefits of this act and nothing herein
contained shall be construed as TO prevent any
pensiOner Hereunder from prosecuting his claim
and receiving his pension under any other geuerai
special act at his election at any time; Prct7ed
/ That person shall receive more than one pen
/ sion for the same period.
! sec 4 That if any honorably- discharged officer
or enlisted man of the military or naval service OF
/ the United States, who served during the peTloa
specified in section l of this act, has died or shai
/ hereafter die, leaving widow, such wlaoW snaII
be placed upon the pension-rol upon her appilca-
| ton a the rate of So per month: FrOcjdef, Ihat
! said widow married to the deceased oihcer, or
enlisted man, prior to the passage OF this act ana
! prOgjded further, That all pensions granted 10
widows under this act shall take effect from TIE
date OF death OF the husbands OF such widows
respectively, but not dating from any date prior TO
! the passage Of this act
enlisted man shall not be considered IN applications
| under this act.
Sec. 6. That Section 47I6 of the Revised Statutes
Is hereby repealed far the same relates to TINS
act TO pensions under this act PTorided, mat
tbs act shall not apply to those persons under the
political disabilities imposed by the IAN Amend
meut 10 the Constitution OF the United States.
Sec. :. That the Secretary Of the Interior be- ana
he Is hereby authorized and directed 10 employ
ly5 clerks, such additional force as may IN Ais
discretion, be deemed necessary, additional 10 lhose
now employed in the Pension Bureau. to adludlcHte
alt claims arising under the provisions OF tins act
! within two years from the date Of the passage
thereof Ind be II further enacted, That the Secie.
tary o. War be, and he is hereby, authorized and
directed to employ Dbl auuilofia ctIkSf OF sum
force rs may benecessary in the office OF the Adlu
t-General United States Army, to dispose OF the
increased work consequent upon the passage OF lhis
act. And be II further enacted, mat the several
United Stutes Pension Agents be authorized TO IN
crease their clerical force. subject to the approval
the Secretary Of the Interior TO extent neces-
I sary to promptly dispose Of the increased work
consequent upon the passage oil this act NOT 70 eA
coed Y AT each agency, and whose salaries sinai he
paid out Of the moneys 10 be appropriated Oy shls
act.
See s. That so much as may be necessary TO pay
the pensions provided for IN this act aud 10 pay loi
I the increased clerical force H. the Ohees OF the
Commissioner of Pensions, tine AdJutaut 0Ieneral
and the United States Pension Agents hefeiubclore
( authorized 10 be employed be, and the same is
/ hereby, appropriated out of any moneys Ia tie
Treasury not otherwise appropriated
sec. 9. That any agent, attorney, or other person
( Instrumental ia prosecuting any claim under tins
ACT who shall, directly or indirectly contract lol
demand receive, or retain. for bis services or IN
strumenlalty in presenting and prosecuting such
claim. q greater sum than SO payable only upon
the order Of Commissioner of Pensions, by the
Pension Agent making payment OF the pension
allowed or who shall yrongfully withhold from
pensuner or claimant the whole any part OF the
/ pension or claim allowed and due such pensloner
or claimant shall be deemed guilty OF a INSIDE
meanor, and upon conviction thereof shall, for
every such ofIeuse. be fined not exceeding 500
/ or Imprisonment at hard labor not exceeding two
years or both in the discretion Of The court. Pro
Uided That fee whatever shall be allowed 10 any
/ person whumsoever. in any case where invalid
Peusoner j. granted an increase under the proYls'
I ions Of this act.
see 10. THAT all laws or parts OF laws which con-
ct with the provisions Of thisac shall be, and the
same are, hereby repealed.
We believe that the best service any com
rade can render his comrades is to urge the
! Endorsement of this bill by every political
gathering he may participate in, and to ash
his Senators and Representatives to supper
it with all their power, as it represents th,
desires Of the mass Of soldiers.
The advantages of procuring its indorse
mcnt by conventions and other politica
meeting are obvious. Ever since the wa
conventions Of all shades of political belle
have been in the habit of adopting som
gIittering cancellations about CRATE
full recognition of the services Of sol
diers and sailors" These have bee
treated by the politicians elected o
those platforms as OF the least possible con
sequence. They were too vague aud genera
to bind anybody. In view of this expert
/. ence anyone can see that the best way is t
/ get some specific thing Endorsed which wi
, bind every man who accepts nominatio
at the hands of the Convention. THE Ma
] rIoNAL TRIBUNE Service Pension Bill j
I the measure Of all others to have indorset
o aud its success viii bring benefits into tn
] the home Of every veteran.