The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-07-12
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE PENsIoN Bill

BE IL enacted on the Senate and House Of Represent
atiyes Of the Uaited States Of Ameriea an Congress
assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be,
aud he is hereby, authorized and directed to place
the pension-roll upon application therefor, the
names of the surviving honorably discharged oil
GERS and enlisted of the military and naval
services of the United States who actually served
90 days, more, subsequent to the Attn day OF
March, 1861 and prior to the 2lst day OF December.
1867.
Sec. 2. That pensions under section of this act
shall be at the rate per month of one cent for each
day IS service rendered; and payable only from and
after the passage of this act for aud during the
natural lives of the persons entitled thereto: Pro-
Utded, hoDeUer That in each and every case where
the service so rendered was less than 800 days the
pension shall be at the rate herein established for
q service of 500 days, TO wit S..
Sec. g. 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 10 the Commissioner
of Pensions, in such form no may prescribe,
Ceive the benefits Of this act; and nothing herein
contained shall be construed as 10 prevent any
! pensioner hereunder from prosecuting his claim
aud receiving his pension under any other gensfSl
special act at his election at any time: Provided
1 That no person shall receive more than one pen
/ sion for the same period.
! See l. That if any honorabiy- discharged officer
or enlisted man Of the military naval service Of
1 the United States, who served during the period
specified ia section OF this act. has died or shall
hereafter die. leaving a widow, such widow shall
/ be placed upon the penson-rOll upon her appicr
ton at the rate Of So per month: Ir0Uided, That
said widow was married TO the deceased officer, OF
enlisted man, prior 90 the passage Of this act. AHd
| provided 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 to
/ the passage of this act
Sec. s. That rank i'm the service of any officer or
enlisted man shall not be considered in applications
under this act.
Sec. 6. That Section 4zl6 OF the Revised Statutes
IS hereby repealed so faFas the same relates to this
act or to pensions under this act: Provided That
this act shall not apply to those persons under the
political disabilities imposed by the l4th Amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States.
Sec. T. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and
he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ
1000 clerks or such additional force may, in his
discretion be deemed necessary, additional TO those
now employed in the Pension Bureau, to adjudicate
all claims arising under the provisions OF this act
within two years from the date of the passage
thereof And be ii further enacted That the Secre.
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 Adlu
tantGeneral, United States Army to dispose of the
increased work consequent upon the passage OF this
act. And be ii 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
sary to promptly dispose of the increased worB
consequent upon the passage of this act not to ex
coed II at each agency and whose salaries shall bt
paid out OF the moneys to be appropriated by TN
act
Sec g. That so much as may be necessary to pay
the pensions provided for in this act and to pay fo
the increased clerical force III the offices OF thI
Commissioners of Pensions, the Adjutant- General
and the United States Pension Agents hereinbefor'
authorized to be employed, be, and the same Il
hereby, appropriated out of any moneys in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
| See. g. That any agent, attorney, or other person
instrumental i'll prosecuting any claim under TIM
who shall, directly indirectly, contract for
demand. receive, retain, for his services or IN
strumentality in presenting and prosecuting suct
claim, a greater sum than $40 payable only upon
tile order of Commissioner of Pensions, by thu
Pension Agent making payment OF the pension
| allowed) who shall wrongfully withhold from
pensoner or claimant the whole or any part OF thu
pension or claim allowed and due such pensione
or claimant shall be deemed guilty of misde
meanor, and upon conviction thereof shall. 70
| every such offense, be fined not exceeding $500
| or Imprisonment at hard labor not exceeding TIVE
years or both in the discretion OF the court. Pro
| Uded That no fee Whatever shall be allowed to an.
| person whomsoever in any where an inVai
| pensioner is granted an increase under the pFovis
ions of this act
| Sec. TO- That all laws parts of laws which con
fict with the provisions OF thsact shall be- and tn
same are, hereby repealed.