The Delta independent., 1890-07-22
THE DEPENDENT PENSION BILL.
Text as Agreed Upon III Conference
and Signed by the President:

Text as Agreed Upon il Conference
and Signed by the President:
The dependent pension bill, which
became . law by the President affixing
his signature to it only few days ago
reads as follows, as it was finally passed:
An act granting pensions to soldiers and
sailors who ara ihcnpaeits.tsd for the
performance Of manual labor and pre-
viding for pensions TO widows, minor
children, and dependent parents:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives Of the United Ststes Of
America Id Congress assembled:
Section l. That in considering the PED
sion claims Of dependent parents, the fact
of the soldiers death by reason Of any
wound, injury, casualty, or disease, which
under the conditions and limitations of ex-
| isting laws would have entitled him to an
| invalid pension, and the fact that the SOL
dier left widow or minor children having
been shown as required by law, it shall
be necessary only to show by competent
| and sufficient 'eyidents thas srch parent
| or parents are without other meats o.
| 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 filing of the application here
under and shall continue no longer than
the existence Of the dependence.
| Sec. 2. That all persons who served
ninety days or more in the military or
naval service Of the United States durinS
the late war of the rebellion, and who
| have beeen honorably discharged there
from, and who are now or may hereafter
6e suffering from mental or physical
disability OF q permanent character, not
the result Of their own vicious habits,
which incApacitates them from the per-
formance of manual labor in such q de-
| gree as to render them unable TO earn q
support, shall. upon making due proof Of
the fact according to such rules and regu-
lations a. the Secretary of the Interior
| may provide, be placed upon the list OF
invalid pensioners Of the United States,
and be entitled 10 receive Q pension not
| exceeding Sl2 per month and not less than
% per mouth, proportioned to the degree
| OF inability to earn support; and such
pension shall commence from the date Of
| filing of the application in the pension
office, after the passage Of this act, upon
| proof that the disa bility. then existed, and
shall continue during the existence of the
same, provided that persons who are now
| receiving pensions under existing laws,
or whose claims are pending in the pen
sion ofdce, may, by application to the com
missioner of pensions, IN such form as he
may prescribe, showing themselves en-
titled thereto, receive 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 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
| man who severed ninety days or more in
the army or navy of the United States
during the late war of the rebellion, and
who was honorably discharged, has died,
or shall hereafter die, leaving q widow
without other means of support than her
daily labor, or minor children under the
| age OF 10 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 pension
| roll, from the date Of the application there
1 Tor under this act at the rate Of tS per
month, during her widowhood. and shall
also be paid :. per month for each chilu Of
| such othcer or enlisted man under 10 years
OF age, and in case Of death or remarriage
OF the widow, leaving child or children
OF such of6cer or enlisted man under the
age OF 10 years, such pension shall be paid
such child or children under the age Of ID; !;
provided, that in case o minor child II in
sane, idiotic, or otherwise permanently
helpless the pension shall continue during
the life of said child or during the period
OF such disability, and this proviso shall
apply to all pensions heretofore granted
or hereafter to be granted under this or
any former statute, and such pensions
shall commence from the date Of applica-
tion therefor after the passage of thus act.
And provided further that said widow
shall have married said soldier prior to
the passage OF this act
Sec. 4. That no agent, attorney or other
person engaged in preparing, presenting
or prosecuting any claim under the pro-
visions of this act shall, directly or indi-
| rectly, contract for, demand, receive or re
tain for such services in preparing, pre-
senting or prosecuting such claim q sum
greater than $40, which sum shall be pay
sioner Of pensions by the pension agent
making payment of the pension allowed,
and any person who shall violate any OF
the provisions OF this section, or who shall
wrongfully withhold from . pensioner or
claimant the whole or any part of pen
sion or claim allowed or dine snch pension
| er or claimant under this act shall be
| deemed guilty Of q misdemeanor and upon
conviction thereof shall for each and every
such offense be fined not exceeding $500,
or be imprisoned at hard labor not exceed
| Ing two years, or both, in the discretion Of
the court
The provisions of the dependant pension
AAW mAhe slt easy LOT CIAlm0ntS 70 com
blete their cases and receive pensions
without the employment Of agents. Claim.
| ants can apply for blanks and instructions
direct to the pension commissioner at
Washington, stating whether it is desired
10 apply for an original pension or increase
| of pension; also whether it is for u depen-
dent parents pension or the pension Of q
child Of soldier, sailor or marine, aud
the proper blank will be mailed promptly.
Everything sent out by the commissioner
| Of pensions goes under frank, free, and
| it is not necessary to enclose q postage
stamp. The blanks which are now in use
state that the declaration or application
| for . pension Is to be executed before a
court Of record, or some officer thereof
having custody Of the seal. The new law
makes 1t much easier for applicants to
prepare their papers, as the statements
| named in the blanks can be sworn to be-
fore anyone authorized TO administer
oaths and having seal. This includes
all notarics public, ard IN most States Jus
sices Of the peace or other ofiicers Of the
same rank This places an officcr in every
community. Any applicant OF ordinary
intelligence can AL ou, the blank.