Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-03-25
a Recent Ruling in the Pension
Office and It's Effect.
NO POLITICIANS NEED APPLY
ps President Cleveland An Executive Or
dor--His Rank Raised Wilson Reappoinl-
ed Southern Pacific Land Grants
Elo His First Decision.

Washington March 24-It hns been
ascertalped today that one Of the most
important rulings ever made IN the Nu'
ministrntiou lust past remained unpru-
mulgntcd 50 far AS the puDhc know
for the last five months pust, ana tnNt
this decision reverses the ruling uhuer
which fully S2,OOO.UOO nave Deeh WIons'
fully paid ont as Il would now appear
The facts are so important as 10 re-
quire statement Mt length:
On Sept y last Assistant Secretary
Buscy made pension decision, hereto
fore unpublished, which radically chahB'
ed the practice Of the department as 70
the disposition OF accrued Penslons ~
certain cases and established new ana
important rules as to the reimbursement
Of Expenses Of last sickness ana burl'
a." under section AIS. revised statutes
Hitherto il has becn uniformly
Reldl that under sect sections 4o W.
4OO3, 47U2 and 4tlS OF the
revised statutes minor grandchildren
Of deceased soldiers, who mt the date
of his death were either Y penAoher
or lawful claimant for invalid pension,
could hold pOnsiOnUblc status as minors
OF soldiers so fur as TO receive the ac
crucd pcnsionNiu case OF hiS death, ana
the death of the parent of the children,
thereby constituting the words of law
ANY person entitled 20 pension 20 up-
PLY not only 10 soldiers but his widow,
children. dependent brothers aud sisters.
or dependent parents. In his decision
Assistant Secretary Buscy says the
words Of ''nny pensioner ., ana any
person entitled 10 pension evidently
means one class Of persons persons VINO
have incurred disabilities IN military SER
yicc-the only difference being that the
first words quoted apply To the person
to whom the pension has already been
granted. while the words secondly quot
cd apply to thg same SORT ol person 70
whom the pension has not been granted,
but who under the law Is entitled to
pcnsion," having application therefor
ucnding based upon wound, injury OF
disease, which under conditions ard lin
itatiOns of such sections. would have
fitted him to invalid pension, had been
disabled, and Furthermore Il Is not OBJ
served that quoted words ANY pensioner
and any person. entitled to n pension
having application therefor pending re-
fcrred exclusively TO a person OF the
masculine gender. inasmuch rs the nc
cruCd pension that will result from death
OF "any person as may leave Il widow
who shnil be entitled "a his accrued
pension. or ~ there Is no widow may
leave a child or children under ~ years
Of age who by reason Of widows death
shall take the accrued pension that would
otherwise 20 10 the widow during her
wldowhood. The assistant secretary
holds that accrued pensions can be fully
paid to grandchildren.
As to reimbursement for last sickness
and burial" the assistant secretary con
cludcs that while only the widow OF
minor children Of the deceased can TAXI
| the accrued pension. the only person foi
| whom the expenses of the last sickness
| and burial can be allowed is the soldier
| himself From the date of and updel
authority Of the opinion by solicitor
| General Phillips. readered Aug. 10, 1876
| until now less sickness and burial eN
| the deceased was I'm impecuniOus pa
! sioner or entitled 20 a pension whethr
soldier. mior children, grandchillrc'
! or dependent parents. IL Is stated full!
| 81 .OOGOO0 have been wrOngfully pui,
| claimants Uudcr the Phillips opinion u
rciuthurscments for last sickness ate
| burial expenses.