The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-13
PENSIONS FOR SOLDIERS.
Text of the Measure Endorsed BY the Indiana
Service Pension Association.

dOrsed:
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives of the United
States of America III Congress assembled;
That the Secretary of the Interior be, and
he is hereby authorized and directed, TO
place on the pension roll the names of all
the surviving officers, soldiers, sailors ana
marines II served in the army or navy
days or more, or who were disabled in the
line of duty between March 4, 1861, and
July /, 1855, upon application therefor. and
who are honorably discharged therefrom.
under such rules and resq, ntari0s
may. prescribe. And all said officers;
soldiers, sailors and marines when so placed
on said roll. shall receive a service pension
of eight dollars per month during their
lives. And all officers, soldiers, sailors ana
marines now legally borne on the rolls as
pensioners, at a rating of less than eight
dollars per month, shall, from the taking
effect of this act. be advanced to the rat
ing of eighS dollars per month on the Tolls
where the period of service was in excess
of 500 days, the service pension granted
by this act shall be paid to all officers.
soldiers, sailors and marines aforesaid, at
the rate of one cent per day for each days
service IN excess of 500 days; payable from
and after the passage of this act, for and
during the natural lives OF the persons en-
titled thereto, as may be shown from the
muster Tolls On HE IN the w at department..
Sec. 2. In order to do justice and provide
for the proper relief of persons named IN
Section 1 OF this act, who are now or may
hereafter become disabled from performing
labor, necessary to procure subsistence,
from any cause-not the result of vicious OF
immoral habits, it is provided and is the
intention and meaning of this act, that 1t
shall be in force and effect as to all such
disabled persons described In Section OF
this act, from and after its passage. with
m ra Uor ri 70 m And ~ Ia nrnvidQ6 that
the persons named in Section l of this act,
desiring to avail themselves of its provls-
ions and benefits, who are disabled from
any cause now existing. or that may here
after exist. which prevents them from
earning q fair subsistence from their labor,
or usual Occupation-not the result OF
vicious or immoral habits, shall receive
additional disability pensions" as follows.
within the rates provided by this act, to-
wit:
For a disability rated at one-half the
total rate the pension shall be increased
seven dollars (S7) per month. For q disa-
bility rated at three-fOurths the total rate,
the pension shall be increased twelve dol
lars (S12) per month. and for a disability
totally incapacitating now or hereafter any
of the persons named in Section / of this
act, from obtaining a support by their La,
Dor, or usual occupations, the pension shall
be increased twenty dollars tS20) per month,
payable for and during the natural lives Of
persons entitled thereto. Blu this act shall
not be so construed as to change the rat
1ngs OF pensioners now on the rolls, or tnat
may hereafter be placed on the rolls at
higher rates for loss of limbs OF eyesight.
the result of injuries received in the service.
Sec. 3. All the persons named IN Section
2 of this act, and who have not prior to
the passage and taking effect of this act, re.
ceived arrears of pensions, shall be paid
date of discharge, or occurrence of the dis
ability for which pension is claimed.
Sec. 4. The production of an honorable
discharge from the United States service,
or marines muster into the United States
service, within the time named in Section
/ of this act, from the Adjutant-generaPs
Office of the State from which such persons
enlisted. shall be accepted as prima facie
in health and limbs at date OF such enlist
ment into the United States army or navy
but no increase of the pension provided
for in Section 2 of this act, snail be granted
upon claims for disability, until such per
sons have been examined by the medical
officers of the pension boards now author
lied by law, in the county or district where
such persons reside. and for the preventing
of fraud or imposition upOn the United
States the medical officers of examining
boards may require such proofs of the
claimants disability as may be necessary
under the forms of law to aid such boards
in fixing the rates of pension. provided for
in Section 2 of this act, and the officers of
such boards are hereby empowered to sum-
mon witnesses and administer oaths, in
order to assist said boards in fixing such
rates of pension as will be just and equi-
table. but this act shall not be construed as
preventing claimants from further applica-
rates provided by this act. accustomed by
increased disability not the result of vicious
or immoral habits.
Sec. 5. That if any honorably dis
nhnnnn1 Afhnn nm an1iota1 M 80 fha nil
itary or naval service of the United States,
who was married prior to the passage of
this act. and who served during the period
specified in Sec. 1 of this act, has died,
or shall hereafter die leaving q widow,
such widow shall be placed on the pension
roll upon her application. and due proof of
husbands death, at S12 per month, payable
during her life or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
that all pensions granted to widows under
this act. shall take effect from the date of
And the minor children of all such persons
deceased, as aforesaid described in Sec.
/ of this act, shall receive pensions at the
rate of s. per month for each minor child
up to and including the age OF sixteen
years.
Sec. 6. That if any honorably discharged
officer or enlisted man of the military or
naval service of the United States, who
served as specified in Section l of this act.
has died or may hereafter die, leaving q
child who is deformed or crippled. or of I'M
SOUND mind, said child shall be placed upon
the pension roll at the rate of Slipper month
for life, or SO long as said child is so afflicted.
Said pension to be paid first to the widow,
or second to the guardian of such children
only, upon execution of a bond to the
United States with security for the reason
able care and comfort of such children dur
ing their lives. when not confined within
asylums provided by the States.
Sec. 2. That If any honOrably discharged
officer or soldier of the military ornaval serv-
ice of the United States who served during
the period specified in Section / of this act.
has died, or may hereafter die, leaving no
widow or minor child, but who may leave
or has left a dependent parent, either moth
sion roll at the rate of S12 per month, to be-
gin from and after the passage of this act.
to the father of such soldier. to continue
during such dependency.
ficer OF enlisted man shall not be considered
in applications under this act.
Sec. 9. That Section 4716 of the Revised
Statutes is hereby repealed so far as the
same relates to this act or to pensions un-
der this act; Provided, That this act shall
not apply to those persons under the politi-
cal disabilities imposed by the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution of the
| United States.
Sec. 10. That the Secretary of the Interior
be and is hereby authorized and directed
TO employ such force as may, in his discre-
ton, be deemed necessary. additional to
those now employed in the Pension Bureau,
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