The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-03-27
PENSION LEGISLATION.
An kct to Provide for the Payment Of Ac-
erued Pensions to Certain Cases.


We print herewith the act for the pay
ment of accrued pensions in certain cases,
which will be of interest 10 a large num-
Der Of our readers. This act repeais all
laws relating to the payment of accrued
pension. and thereby clears away the OBJ
scurity that has more or less involved the
laws now rendered imperative by this
act.
Judge John NJ. Reynolds, Assistant
Secetary of the Interior, is the father OF
this act, and its paternity Is due to the
fact that he found, upon induction into
office. decision dated Sept. 2s, 1892,
under which. i'm many instances, the pen
sion reverted to the Government instead
of going to the widow or minor children
of the decendent, or to the person who
bore the expense of the last sickness and
burial of the pensioner. This matter re-
ceived his careful consideration, and he
made an elaborate report To the Secretary
of the Interior, in which he expressed
the opinion that the benefits of Section
AIS, r. s. L. 3, ought TO be extended to
minor children and widows and depend
ent relatives, under the terms stated in
this bill, but doubted whether there was
any authority for it under the law; there
fore he recommended the~enactment 10y
Congress of bill which he drew after an
exhaustive examination of all prior laws
bearing on the subject. His bill was Sen
ate bill No. 1876. which finally became
law, though it was one of the last meas
ures to be signed by the President. In
this connection it is but just TO state that
the efforts of Assistant Secretary Reynolds
did not cease with merely preparing the
bill and recommending its passage. After
this bill passed the Senate, it was referred
to the appropriate House committee, and
said committee adopted substitute in
lieu of it, by which reimbursement claims
had precedence over those ola widow or
minors of a soldier. Upon having his at
tention called 10 the matter, he earnestly
urged the adoption of the original meas
ure. claiming that the rights of widows
and minor children ought 10 have priori-
ty, and pointing ont other defects in the
substitute. The result was that the House
committee accepted his views, and, under
the management Of the Hon. Mr. Strong
and other friends of the measure, the bill
passed at the closing hours Of Congress
and received the prompt approval of the
President and until this was done the
Assistant Secretary's efforts in its behalf
were not relaxed.
Ii will be observed that more liberal
clause than that contained in the former
law appears in the provisions Of this
statute that the mailing of pension
check at any time after the execution of
the voucher shall constitute payment in
stead of such mailing constituting pay
ment only in case that occurred before
the death of the pensioner.
The act is as follows:
Be Il enacted 5y tie Senate and House 81
Representatives Of thc United states u
4 iHtericd iR Congress assembled, That from
and after the 2sth day OF September, lS!s22,
the accrued pension TO the date OF death
OF any pensiOner, or of any person enti-
tied 10 . pension having an application
therefor pending. and whether certifi-
cate therefor shall issue prior or subse-
quent to the death OF such persons, snail
IN the case of a person pensiOned, or ap-
plying for pension, OF account OF his dis
abilities or service, be paid, first, to his
widow; second, if there i no widow. to
his child or children under the age OF ii
years at his death; thild. in case OF a wild
! ow, TO the minor children under the age
| of I6 years at her death. Such accrued
pension shall not be considered a part oi
| the assets of the estate of such deceased
person, nor be liable for the payment %
| debts of said estate in any case whatso-
ever, bat shall inure TO the sole and eX-
elusive benefit of the widow or children.
And if no widow or child survive such
pensiOneT, and in the case OF his last sur
ViVing child who was such minor al his
death. and in case OF a dependent mother,
father sister, or brother, no payment
whatsoever of their accrued pension shall
be made or allowed except so much rs
may be necessary 10 reimburse the per-
son who bore the expense of their last
sickness and burial, If he did not leave
| sufficient assets to meet such expense.
And the mailing of a pension check,
drawn by pension agent in payment OF
pension due, to the address OF a pen
| sioner, shall gopstitute payment in the
event Of the death of a pensioner subse-
| quent 10 the execution of the voucher
| therefor. And all prior laws relating tC
| the payment Of accrued pensions are here
| by repealed,