The National tribune., 1888-04-19

respectively, but not dating from any GATE prior
to the passage of this act.
Sec 5. That rank in the service of any officer
enlisted man shall not be considered in applications
under this act
Sec. 6. That section 4716 of the Revised Statutes
is hereby repealed far the same relates to this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 I4th 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 as may, in his
discretion, be deemed necessary additional to those
now employed in the Pension Bureau, TO adiudicate
all claims arising under the provisions of this act
within two years from the date of the passage
thereof dad be il further enacted, That the Secre-
tary Of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and
directed to employ 500 additional clerks, or such
force as may be necessary in the Office of the Adju-
tantGeneral United States Army, to dispose Of the
increased work consequent upon the passage of this
act. And be 10 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
coed u at each agency and whose salaries shall be
paid out Of the moneys to be appropriated by this
act.
Sec 8. That so much as may be necessary TO pay
the pensions provided rim this act and to pay for
the increased clerical force in the offices of the
Commissioner of Pensions, the Adjutant- General,
and the United States Pension Agents hereinbefore
authorized to be employed, be, aud 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 or indirectly, contract for,
demand, receive or RETAIN for his services or in
strumentality in presenting and 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 wrongfully withhold from a
a peusioner claimant the whole any part Of
the pension claim allowed and due such pen
sioner claimant shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall,
for every such offense be fined not exceeding $780,
or imprisonment at hard labor not exceeding two
years, or both, in the discretion Of the court Pro-
vided, That fee whatever shall be allowed to
any person whomsoever in any case where in
valid pensioner is granted an increase under the
provisions Of this act.
Sec. 10. That all laws or parts of laws which con-
fict with the provisions of this shall be- and the
same are, hereby repealed.
We invite the most careful study and
criticism of this bill. We have but one OBJ
jeet to gain by it, and that is to secure the
nearest approach to justice for the greatest
number of veterans If any one can show
how it can be improyed-a1 things consid-
ered-we will welcome the suggestion.
The bill is the result of three years Of
careful study of the pension problem in all
its phases, and we are sanguine that the
more it is examined the more highly it will
be approved While it contains the best
features, not of one alone, but of all the gen.
eral pension measures which have been
urged upon the attention of Congress, it is
free from their crudities, iniustices, Unequal
tiles, and other obnoxious qualities, and has
new and good features of its own. A few
words as to its main features
1. 1t places on the pension-roll every mar
who served three months or more.
2. IT recognizes principle for which VIZ
have long struggled; that is, the abolition
of all the petty divisions and subdivision
in the lower ratings, and provides that NJ
pension shall be less than So month, ant
increases all ON the roll to that rate. T,
offer less than that is belittling to the MAJ
and his services, and is unworthy Of tn
Government he helped to save.
8. 1t recognizes length of service as
proper basis of discrimination, and gives tn
man who served during the war about 81
month. For shorter periods Of service tn
ratings range down to IS month.
4. It makes effective provision for dispos
ing Of the whole volume of pension bushes
at once, and SO end the sickening delay
which now break the veterans heart. Stuff
Gent clerical force is to be added to tn
Pension Bureau and to the Office of tn
Adjutant- General and the Pension Agencie
to dispose of all the cases arising under tn
act within two years at the farthest.
We lay the bill before our readers wit
the utmost confidence that it forms plat
form upon which every veteran and ever
man who wishes the veterans well will b
glad to place his feet.
It is a measure ofjustice which must con
mend itself to all who appreciate what til
veterans gained for this country, what til
enormous cost to them was, and what is du
them from the Nation which they reunite,
made powerful and prosperous.
1t is banner around which we can a
rally with enthusiasm and march forwar
t with abundant assurance Of ultimate vi
tory. Let us touch elbows under it, an
IS move forward as we used to with con6den
= and determination We will win uuder