The National tribune., 1888-08-09
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE PENSION BILL.

Be q enacted by the Senate and House Of Represent
GtiUes Of the United States Of AaericG IN Congress
assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be-
and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place
on the pensiOnroil upon application therefor, the
names of the surviving honoTably- discharged obi
GERS and enlisted men OF the military and naval
services of the United States who actually served
30 days, more. subsequent to the 4th day Of
March, 1861 and prior 70 the 2lst day OF December
Sec. 2. That pensions under section Of this act
shall be at the rate per month Of cent for each
days service rendered; aud payable only from and
after the passage Of this act, for and during tue
natural lives OF the persons entitled thereto: Pro-
Ufded hoagever, That In each and every case where
the service rendered was less than 800 days the
pension shall be at the rate herein established for
a service Of 500 days, to wit So.
Sec 3. That all invalid pensioners who are now
receiving pensions under existing laws or whose
claims pending in the Pension Office, or before
Congress, may, by application to the Commissioner
of Pensions ia such form as he may prescribe, re-
ceiye the benefits OF this act; and nothing herein
contained shall be so construed as to prevent any
pensoner Hereunder from prosecuting his claim
and receiving his pension under any other general
special act at his election at any time: Pr0Dtdsd
That no 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 period
specified in section l Of this act, has died shall
hereafter die, leaving q widow, such widow shall
be placed upon the pension-Foil upon her appiois-
ton at the rate of el2 per month; PrOctdsd, That
said widow was married to the deceased officer, or
proUided further. That all pensions granted to
widows under this act shall take effect from the
date of death of the husbands Of such widows
respectively, but not dating from any date prior 70
the passage of this act.
Sec s. That rank in thu service Of any officer or
enlisted man shall not be considered IN applications
under this act.
See 6. That Section 47I6 Of the Revised Statutes
IS hereby repealed far the relates to this
act or to pensions under this act; PFOv1dsd, That
this act shall apply to those persons under the
political disabilities imposed by the l4th Amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United states.
Sec 7. That the Secretary OF the Interior be, and
he Is hereby, authorized and directed to employ
1000 clerks such additional force may IN his
discretion, be deemed necessary, additional to those
now employed in the Pension Bureau, to adjudieate
ali claims arising under the provisions of this act
within two years from the date OF the passage
tary of War be, and he Is hereby, authorized and
directed to employ 500 additional clerks, or such
force may be necessary in the Office of the Adju-
tant-GeEeral United States Army, to dispose Of the
act. And be u further enacted, That the several
United States Pension Agents be authorized to in
crease their clerical force subject to the approval
of the Secretary of the Interior to extent neces
ssry to promptly dispose of the increased work
consequent upon the passage OF this act not to ex-
coed II at each agency, and whose salaries shall be
paid out OF the moneys to be appropriated by this
act.
the pensions provided for in this act and to pay for
the increased clerical force Ia the offices of the
Commissioners OF Pensions, the Adiutant-General,
ana the united states PENSION Agents nerSluDeIUre
authorized 20 be employed be, and the same IL
hereby, appropriated oat OF any moneys ia the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Sec. 9. That any agent, attorney, CT other person
instrumental In prosecuting any claim under this
act who shall, directly or indirectly contract for
demand receive, retain, for his services or in
strumentality in presenting and prosecuting such
claim, q greater sum than $40 payable only upon
the order of Commissioner Of Pensions, by the
Pension Agent making payment OF the pension
allowedl, or who shall wrongfuly withhold from q
pensioner or claimant the whole any part OF the
pension or claim allowed and due such pensiOneE
or claimant, shall be deemed guilty of a niisde-
meenor, and upon conviction thereof shall for
every such oifense. be fined not exceeding $500,
or Imprisonment at hard labor not exceeding two
years both, ia the discretion of the court. Pro-
Uided That fee whatever shall be allowed TO any
person whomsoever in any where an invalid
pensioner Is granted increase under the provis-
ions of this net.
Sec. 10. That all laws or parts OF laws which con-
ict with the provisions of thsact shall bc and the
same are, hereby repealed.