The National tribune., 1888-07-05
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE PENSION BILL.

Be Il enacted on the Senate and House Of represent
dt5Ues Of TIE United States Of AHlsTicG la Congress
assembled, That the Secretary Of the Interior be,
and he Is hereby authorized and directed 70 place
on the pensiOn-roli upon application therefor, the
of the surviving hOnorabl y-dIschaFged OIL
GERS and enlisted men of the military and naval
services Of the United States who actually served
80 days or more. subsequent 10 the 4th day OF
March, 1861, and prior to the 2lst day of December
1867.
Sec O. That pensions under section 1 Of this act
shall be at the rate per month of cent for each
days service rendered; and payable only from and
after the passage of this act, for and during the
natural lives of the persons entitled thereto: Pro-
Ulded, hOCeUsr, That in each and every case where
the service rendered less than so days, the
pension shall be at the rate herein established for
a service of SEQ days, to wit, S..
Sec. g. That all invalid pensioners who are now
receiving pensions under existing laws, or whose
claims are pending IN the Pension Oulce, or before
Congress may, by application to the COmmissi Oner
Of Pensions, in such form he may prescribe. re-
ceive the benefits of this act; and nothing herein
contained shall be so construed as to prevent any
pensioner hereunder from prosecuting his claim
and receiving his pension under any other general
special act at his election at any time: PrOUidsd,
That no person shall receive more than one pen
sion for the same period.
Sec. f. That if any honorably- discharged officer
enlisted man of the military naval service OF
the United States, who served during the period
specified in section OF this act, has died, shall
hereafter die, leaving widow, such widow shall
be placed upon the pensiOn-rOll upon her applica-
ton at the rate Of SO per month: PTOCided, That
said widow was married to the deceased officer, or
enlisted man, prior to the passage Of this act. And
pTOUided 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 5. That rank in the service of any officer or
enlisted man shall not be considered in napplicatOns
under this act.
Sec 6. That Section 47l8 of the Revised Statutes
is hereby repealed far the relates to this
act or TO pensions under this act: Pr0vided, That
this shall not apply to those persons under the
Amend
ment TO the Constitution of the United States.
Sec. 4 That the Secretary of the Interior be, and
he IS hereby, authorized and directed to employ
LOCO clerks, such additional force may in his
discretion be deemed necessary, additional to those
now employed in the Pension Bureau, to adjudicate
ali claims arising under the provisions OF this act
within two years from the date of the passage
thereof Alid be IL further enacted That the SeeTe-
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 Adiu-
tant-General United States Army to dispose of the
increased work consequent upon the passage Oh TINS
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-
sary to promptly dispose Of the increased work
consequent upon the passage of this act not to ex-
cced IL at each agency and whose salaries shall be
paid out OF the moneys to be appropriated by this
act.
See g. That so much as may be necessary to pay
the pensions provided for in this act and to pay for
the increased clerical force IN the offices of the
Commissioner of Pensions. the Adjulant-General,
and the United States Pension Agents hereinbefore
authorized to be employed. be, and the same is
hereby, appropriated out of any moneys IN 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 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 Commissioners of Pensions, by the
Pension Agent making payment OF the pension
allowed), or who shall wrongfully withhold from a
pensoner claimant the whole aysVr part Of the
pension or claim allowed and due such pensiOneI
claimant shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and upon conviction thereof shall, Tor
every such offense, be fined not exceeding $50
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 to any
person whomsoeVer in any case where an invalid
pensioner is granted an increase under the provis.
Ions of this act.
Sec. TO- That all laws parts of laws which con-
et with e provisions of this act shall be- and the