The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-07-11
The New dependent Law.
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND SOLDIERS,
WIDOWS, MINORS AND PARENTS PENSION
ED.

THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND SOLDIERS,
WIDOWS, MINORS AND PARENTS PENSION
An Act. granting pensions to sold
ieis and sailors who are incapacitated
for the performance of manual labor,
and providing for pensions to widows,
minor children and dependent parents.
Be it enacted, etc, That in consider:
ing the pension claims Of dependent
parents, the fact of the soldiers death
by reason of any wound, injury, cas-
ualty, or disease which under the con
ditions and limitations of existing laws
would have entitled him to an invalid
pension, and the fact that the soldier
left no widow or minor children having
been shown as required by law, it shall
be necessary only to show by compet-
eut and sufficient evidence that such
parent or parents are without other
present means of support than their
own manual labor or the contributions
of others not legally bound for their
support: Provided, That all pensions
allowed to dependent parents under
this act shall commence from the date
of the fling of the application here
under, and shall continue no longer
than the existance of their depend
ence.
Sec. 2. That all persons who served
ninety days or more in the military or
naval service of the United States dur
ing the late war of the rebellion and
who have been honorably discharged
therefrom, aud who are now or who
may hereafter be suffering from a
mental or physical disability of per.
manent character, not the result of
their own vicious habits, which inca.
pacitates them from the performance oi
manual labor in such degree as to
render them unable to earn support,
shall, upon making due proof Of the
fact according to such rules aud reg.
ulations as the Secretary of the Inter-
ior may provide, be placed upon the
list of invalid pensioners of the United
States, and be entitled to receive a
pension not exceeding $l2 per month,
and not less than Sc per month, pro.
portioned to the degree of inability to
earn support; and such pension shall
commence from the date of the filing
of the application in the Pension Office
after the passage of this act, upon
proof that the disability then existsd,
and shall continue during the existence
of the same: Provided, That persons
who are now receiving pension under
existing laws, or whose claims are
pending in the Pension Office, may, by
application 10 the Commissions, of
Pensions, in such form as he may pre-
scribe, showing themselves entitled
thereto, receive the benefits of this act;
and nothing herein contained shall Q
so construed as to prevent any pen
sioner Hereunder from prosecuting his
claim and receiving his pension under
any other general or special act:
Provided, however. That no person
shall receive more than one pension
for the same period. And provided
further, That rank in the service shall
not be considered In applications filed
under this act.
SEC. 8. That if any officer or enlisted
mau who served ninety days or more
in the Army or Navy of the United
States during the late war of the re.
bellion, and who was honorably dis
charged, has died, or shall hereafter
die, leaving a widow without other
means of support than..her daily labor,
or minor children under the age of six
teen years, such widow shall, upon due
proof of her husbands death, without
proving his death TO be the result of
his army service, be placed on the pei
sion-roll from the date of the applica-
ton therefor under this act, at tue "a Q
of SO per month during her widow
hood, and shall also be paid $2 per
month for each child of sLch officer or
enlisted man under sixteen years of
age, and in case of the death or remar-
riage of the widow, leaving a child
or children of such officer or enlisted
man under the age of sixteen years,
such pension shall be paid such child
or children until the age of sixteen;
Provided. That in case a minor child
is insane, idiotic, or otherwise perman-
emily helpless, the pension shall con-
tinue during the life of said child, or
during. the period Of such disability,
and this proSiso shall apply to all peG-
sions heretofore granted, or hereafter
to be granted under this or any form, r
statute, and such pension shall COM
mence from the date of application
therefor after the passage of this act:
And provided further, That said widow
shall have married said soldier prior to
the passage of this act.
SEC. A. That no agent, attorney or
other person engaged in preparing,
presenting or prosecuting any claim
under the provisions of this act shall
directly or indirectly, contract for, de-
mand, receive or retain for such servi-
ces in preparing, presenting or prose-
cutting such claim, sum greater than
$40, which sum shall be payable only
upon the order of the Commissioner of
Pensions, by the pension agent making
payment of the pension allowed, and
any person who will violate any of the
provisions OF this section, or who shall
wrongfully withhold from a pensioner
or claim allowed or due such pensioner
or claimant under this act, shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof shall, for each
and every such offense, be fined rot ex.
ceeding $500, or be imprisoned at hard
labor not exceeding two years, or beth
in the discretion of the court
The Queens Prize Competition.