St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-10
Congressman Macdonald In
PRODUCES a Bill to Give Vet
Grams Pensions.
The Purport of the Bill That
1t Is Their Right, and Not
an Act of Charity.
Senator Vest Makes a Vigor-
Gus Attack on the Blair
Educational Bill.
c. A. R. Employees in the Sec
retary'S Office Have Good
Words for Lamar.

Special TO the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-The follow
ing comprehensive bills were intro
duced by Congressman Macdonald this
afternoon:
Be il enacted by the senate and house
of representative of the United States
of America, in congress assembled:
Section l. That in all cases of appli-
cation for pension by any person who
served not less than three months in the
military or naval service of the United
States, during the war for the suppress
sion of the rebellion, which are now
pending, or hereafter may be: or which
may have been heretofore made and re-
jected because of the failure to furnish
proof not required by this act, it shall
only be necessary, to entitle such appli-
cant OF claimant To the allowance OF
such pension, that it shall be made to
appear as follows:
FirSt-That he enlisted and was ac-
cepted and mustered into the military
or naval service of the United States.
and served in the same as hereinbefore
mentioned: and the official record, or
other competent proof of his enlistment,
acceptance and muster into such Sery-
ice, shall be conclusive evidence of his
SoundneSS at the time of his enlistment.
in all cases where it is not made to APP
pear, as hereinafter provided, that
claimant, at the time of his acceptance
and muster in, was labOring under such
disability as is alleged, and knowingly
and fraudulently concealed the exist
ence of the same from the officers who
so examined, accepted and mustered
him into the aforementioned service of
the United States.
SecOmd-That he was honorably dis
charged from the military or naval
service of the United States aforesaid.
Thirdly the examination and re-
port of the proper medical examining
board or special examiner, as the case
may be, that he is labOring under dis
ability to penSiOnable degree, and the
extent and character thereof, and the
rate per month that claimant is entitled
TO. And such report shall be conclusive
as TO the right of claimant to receive a
pension of not less per month than the
amount which said examining board or
examiner, reported HIM entitled to.
FOurtli-By his own affidavit that the
disability which is alleged in the appIi-
cation, and so found and reported by
the proper medical examining board or
examiner, to exist, was incurred in and
by reason Of the military or naval Serv-
ice aforesaid, and is not the result of
his own vicious habits; and, by the affi-
daVitS of acquaintanceS who are reputa-
bic persons, establishing the reasonable
presumption that he has been labOring
under the alleged disability. or its in
citing cause, since his discharge from
said service: provided, that the claim
ant shall not be required to produce the
evidence of more than two such ac-
Quaintances as TO the same time or state
of facts; and that, in all such claims
for pensions, all reasonable presump-
tionS as to the disability having been so
incurred in said military or naval Serv-
ice, and of its so existing since such
alleged time of incurrence, shall be in
favor of the claimant.
Sec. 2. That where an application has
been made, and is, or may be hereafter,
pending i'm behalf of any person who, by
reason of mental or other disability, is
unable to make the foregoing affidavit
as to the incurrence of his disability,
such other affidavits, or proof. may be
made as will reasonably establish the
fact that his alleged disability was in
CURED in said military or naval service
Sec. 3. In all cases specified in sec
ton l, where it is made to appear as
hereinbefOre prescribed, it shall be
deemed established that claimant is en-
titled to be allowed and receive a pen
sion at a rate per month not less than
that which the aforesaid medical eX-
amining board, or medical examiner. re-
ported him as entitled to for such dis
ability; unless, within three months
after the filing of such application, some
person who shall be deemed worthy of
credit shall make and file an affidavit
showing prima facie that the disability
of the said applicant existed prior to or
at the time of his enlistment, and was
fraudulently concealed when he EN-
listed, OF that the same was not incurred
in said military or naval service In
case such an impeaching affidavit is
filed copy thereof shall be furnished to
the applicant or his representative, if
he is mentally or physically incapable of
acting for himself; and he, or his said
representative, in case of such dis
ability, shall he permitted to furnish
cOunter-af1idavits, or proof. and special
examination may be made in the case;
and if, after considering the evidence in
such disputed claim, it is determined
that the disability in Such case was so
incurred in the military or naval service
aforesaid, such pension claim shall be
allowed Notwithstanding such impe ach-
ing affidavit.
Sec. 4. Where an application for an
increase of pension is made, based upon
the same disability that the original
pension was granted for, although of a
different degree, it shall only be neces-
sary for the claimant to show by the eX-
animation and report of the proper med
ical examining board, or special medical
examiner. that he is entitled to the in
crease asked for, or a portion thereof
The fact that he was entitled to pen
sion having been determined in his fa-
vor, by the granting him a pension
upon his original application. it shall,
upon such application for an increase,
be deemed conclusive as to all matters
other than the present existence and
degree of his disability.
Sec. 5. In all cases where it appears
upon the records that any person, who
served in the military or naval service
aforesaid, is a deSerter; and it further
appears. or is made to appear, that such
person, after the alleged GeSertion, vol
UNFAIRLY returned to the said service; or
that he left his command laboring uil-
der disability, and with the permission
of the proper officer, and was prevented
from returning to the same by reason of
such disability: or that, nOtwithStand-
ing such entry or charge of deSertiOn
upon the records, he thereafter received
an honorable discharges: such entry or
charge of desertiOn. upon the records,
shall be construed and held to be that
such claimant was absent without leave,
and no more: and the same shall not, in
such cases, prevent or defeat the allow
afce of any pension claim.
Sec. 6. The widow of any person who
served in the army or naval service of
the United States, in the war for the