The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-07-18
PENSIONS.
Rulings and Decisions by the assistant Secretary OF
The Interior and The Commissioner Of Pensions.

Rulings and Decisions by the Assistant Secretary or
the Interior and the Commissioner OF Pensions.
Assistant Secretary Bussey of the Interior
Department, has reafirmed recent decision
Of the Pension Office In rejecting the appeal of
Oliver L. Beaslcy, late private, general service,
United States Army. The soldiers chiri iur
pension WAS based upon injuries received un.
der the following circumstances:
While being transported as recruit upon the
cars from Davenport, Iowa to Fort Lcaven-
worth, Kan. aud standing upon the platform
of 81 car. looking at "A COW that bad been run
over by the train, he WAS struck on the head
by the side timbers Of a bridge through which
the train passed. and knocked Off the car, there
by breaking the bone In his right leg and par.
TALLY cutting OF his right ear, from which he
sustained permanent aud serious injuries.
The pension was rejected originally upon the
ground that the alleged injuries were not re-
ceiyed in the line of duty. Claimant in his
motion for reconsideration contendod that
under recent rulings Of the Department he
should be held TO have been ina line OF duty at
the time he received his injuries, aud THAT in
doing as he did lac did not think be was VIC.
lating any general order army rule or reguIa-
ton, or any orders or instructions Of his snpe.
rioT officers.
In disposinR OF che case Assistant Secretary
Bussey says that the claimant was in position
where he had no business 10 he when on the
platform OF the car and, ia the second place
IL Is manifest, he says. that the injury cam-
ant received was solely the result of his own
carelessness aud reckless conduct aud had no
connection with relation To his military
duty, but was in direct violation Of t. Ito
holds that the former decision was nnaues.
tiOnably correct.
The Assistant Secretary OF the Interior. Gen.
Bussey, has reversed "A decision Of the Pension
Office in rejecting the claim of Jasper A. Mon
roe, late Surgeon. 49th Ind for a pension on
account Of rheumatism contracted in the scry.
ice. The claim was rejected by tho Pension
Ot1ce upon the ground that the alleged rheu-
n.atism WAS not contracted in service aud line
Of duty. and that any disability claimant NAV
have had in service was evidently due 10 his
bad habits"
Gen. Bnssey discusses the evidence In the
case and Teverses the action of the Pension
Office, on the grounds that the claimant WAS
evidently sound man at the date OF his en-.
trance into the service; that after a continuous
laborous and efficient service Of months dura.
ton, attending night aud day several hundred
sick men, claimant WIS compelled 10 tender
his resignation on account of broken health
nervous pr0straton, and rheumatic disease
that inasmuch as he was free from these dish.
bilities at the date Of enlistment the inference
is irresistible that he contracted them in and
by reason Of the service, and that claimant has
been continual sufferer from chronic and
acute rheumatism ever since nc resigned from
the service Gen. Bussey says that the point
made against claimant that he occasionally
INDUCED in the use Of intoxicants, cannot be
accepted as the cause OF his alleged disability
inasmuch al 10 does not appear that such occa.
sonal use impaired the efficiency of claimants
service as Surgeon.