The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-11
nrclNIoN, 0N rhNAlONS.
Two Important Kanngs Of Far. Reaching
Proportions.

WASHINGTON. II. c.. Sept. l0-TVo
decisions. fal-rcachug in their results,
l4se just been rendered 10y ASSIST Hl
secretary Reynolds of the interior l,,-
psrtm,ut constituting the act of june -,
Iru. lu It's relation 10 the general pens ."u
system. as affected by section 4'lh "I l.e
Revised Statutes, which piohlolla inc pa| -
mrut 9t money oh account Oh I'"N 'I.
10 any person who voluntarily mdei "i
.utcttrd the rebellion, and as c'nuo"'4
hy the provisions of section fIN REVISED
Statutes. relative to the payment oi az
IL was held by the late Assistant Sec
rotary. General Bussey, that lhe dct %.
June e. 1890 was legislation Of special
nature. aud that the pensi0uahlc status,
a- prescribed In the second section OF tnc
.ct. Was made regardless alike OF sec
INC ,ffact Of this Interpretation was 90
allow pensions for disabilities of whatever
character. including gun-shot wounds
CtiNel in prior service In the 'uhIcd-
crate army, as in the case OF George W.
CofItN wherein IL was held thdt tnc TACT
that the claimant served M the tgnIed-
crate army prior t. service IN the Union
army did not impair his pcnslonaDie
status. and that the only question is
whether the claimant served ninety Gays
in the Union army ana was hoAoI si"iF
discharged. A further enect was 10 dchy
The payment Of the accrued pension 10 tle
widow and children OF "a pcuSlOucr, under
the act Of June a. 1880 VINO mad served
faithfully in the Union army. ana 10 dis
paIi the expenses of the last sickness and
flrl OF such soldier. where he did not
le.t. widow or minor children OF sum
Client assets 20 meet the expenses.
Ilr present rulings of the Department
OF tI. Interior reverse these decisions
ami regulates the proposition thal lhe
act OF June r. 1890, Is 10 pe SonSi Dtv'
independently Of all other pension ltsla-
lafipn. 10 is held that the AZ Is but Il
pant of the general pension code, ana D.
% De- construed ~ conne'uol WI" "l
existing laws on me sam. SupJCo. , ,a
ruling win allow hundre3 of cases re-
1..t.l since September >, lS52, ana con
tirue the allowance indefinitely IN the
future. IL will deny pensions 70 lhose
VINO. prior or subsequent 10 their ser
we 0f ninety days In the army OF inc
United States. voluntarily engaged IN OF
allotted the late rebellion
lf harmony with the same ruling IL mas
a. ID been held by the departmental me
t.. uf Milo OustcrhOUt who deserted
while "a urisoncr OF war ana Joined inc
Confederate army. and was Tccapiuicd
hf the Union forces IN arms uealH9l the
Government, held for some time az
Confederate prisoner Of war, ana released
Son June. 10. On taking the oath OF allie
glance NAT enlistment In the Confederate
service ht prisoner OF war Is huch
aiding and abetting the rebellion as for
fclts the ritht 10 pension for disability
incurred ln prior service In the Union
army. unless 10 be satisfactorily shown
That Nuch enlistment was for the purpose
Of making au escape 20 the Union lines.
The department thereby returned 10 the
rule followed in AN similar cases by Sec
Tef8riea Usher Cox, Delano Chandler,
Schurz. Klrkwood. Teller. and Lamar-in
fact. by every Secretary Of the Interior
since me war. except Secretary Noble.
Under previous rulings. notably IN the
case Of Louis Perles, although il was
conciDsiyely shown by the record and
admitted by the claimant that the dis
eb!ity for which he claimed a pension was
Incurred while he was actually serving in
the Confederate army, pension was al
lowed. and also In numerous other cases
upon the unsupported statement that de-
sertion and Joining the ranks OF the enc
my was Intended as "A device Of escape
thus there were placed on the pension
!olls class OF men who deserted The
Union cause for the Confederate service
and were held as prisoners OF war at The
close or the rebellion; or began service In
the Confederate army ana enlisted later
IN the Union army, when II was apparent