The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-24
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE ExsIoN BILL.


Be y enacted by ne Senate and House Of Represent
direS Of ne United States Of tnIsrica IN Congress
assembled, That she Secretary of the Interior De
and he is hereby, authorized and directed 90 place
the pension roll. upon application therefor the
names OF the surviving honoFabl y-discharEed Off
GERS and enlisted men Of the military and naval
services Of the United States who actually served
90 days, or more subsequent 20 the 9Th day of
March 1861, and prior 10 the DIST day Of December.
1867
Sec 2. That pensions under section OF this acs
shall be at the rate per month % cent for each
day 5 service rendered; aud payable only from and
after the passage Of this act, for and daring the
natural lives Of the persons entitled thereto. Pro-
Ujied hotrerCr, That in each and every where
the service SO rendered was less than 500 days the
pension shall be at the herein established for
a service Of 500 days to wit, S..
Sec. 3. That all invalid pensioners who are now
receiving pensions under existing laws, or whose
claims are pending III the Pension Office, or before
Congress may, hy application to the Commissioner
Of Pensions, In such form as he may prescribe
ceiye the benefits OF this act; and nothing herein
contained shall be so construed as to prevent any
peusiouer hereunder from prosecuting his claim
and receiving his pension under any other general
special act at his election at any time Preceded
That no person shall receive more than one pen
sion for the same period.
Sec. 4. That if any houorabiy- discharged officer
OF enlisted man Of the military naval service OF
the United States. who served during the period
specified in section 1 of this act, has died shall
hereafter die leaving n widow such widow shall
be placed upon the peusiOn-roI upon her appiiCs-
ton mt the rate Of SO per month. PTOrided, That
said widow married to the deceased officer. or
enlisted man, prior 20 the passage OF this act ANH
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 TO
the passage Of this act.
Sec. s. That rank in the service Of any officer or
enlisted man shall not be considered IN applications
under this act.
Sec. g. That Section 47I6 Of the Revised Statutes
Is hereby repealed far the relates tu this
act 10 pensions under this net ProUidsd That
this act shall not apply to those persons under The
political disabilities imposed by the 18th Amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United States.
sec. L That the Secretary of the Interior be, and
he IS hereby, authorized and directed 10 employ
eco clerks, such additional force az may ia his
discretion be deemed necessary additional to those
now employed in the Pension Bureau, 90 adjudic8te
all claims arising under the provisions Of this act
within two years from the date Of the passage
thereof Ind be 10 further enacted, That the Score
tary OF War be, and he IS hereby, authorized and
directed to employ 500 additional clerks, such
force as may be necessary IN the office Of the AdJu
tant-tcncral, United States Army to dispose OF the
increased work consequent upon the passage OF this
act. Ind be u further enacted, That the several
United States Pension Agents be authorized 10 in
crease their clerical force subject 10 the approval
of the Secretary Of the Interior to extent neces-
| sary 70 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 thls
/ act.
/ Sec. 8. That 80 much as may be necessary to pay
the pensions provided for in this act and to pay for
the increased clerical force ia the offices of the
Commissioner Of Pensions the Adiuiant- ieucral,
! and the United States Pension gents hereinbefOre
1 authorized to be employ ed. be, and the same IS
/ hereby appropriated out Of any moneys III the
| Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Sec 9. That any agent, attorney, or other person
| instrumental in prosecuting any claim under this
act who shall directly indirect y contract for,
demand, receive, retain for his services or IN
! strumeutaty in presenting aud prosecuting such
| claim, greater sum than $40 payable only upon
| the order OF Commissioner Of Pensions, by the
! Pension Agent making payment of the pension
allOwed), or who shall wrOugfuily withhold from a
pensiOner or claimant the whole any part Of the
! pension claim allowed and due such pensiouer
or claimant, shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meauor, and upon conviction thereof shall, for
/ every such oifense be fined not exceeding 500,
or imprisonment at hard labor not exceeding two
years both, in the discretion Of the court. Pro
Uided, That no fee whatevershall be allowed to any
| person whOmsoever in any case where an invalid
pensioner IS granted an increase under the prOvis-
I ions OF this act.
Sec. 10. That all laws parts of laws which con-
ict with the provisions of this act shall be, and the
! same are, hereby repealed.