The National tribune., 1896-05-28
THE pIcKLER PENSION BILL.

|
we republish herewith the Picker PEN
sion Bill in full. This bill, which was
prepared after the most laborious and
thorough consideration, was passed by
the House by large majority, and is
now before the Senate Committee on
Pensions. Its author, Col. j. A. Picker,
of South Dakota, is one of the best in
formed men on pensions in, the country.
He is distinguished for his intelligent
and untiring zeal in behalf of veterans.
He prepared the bill after the fullest
consideration of all the evils and Unjust
ices of which pensioners and claimants
complain, and its purpose was to give
them adequate relief 1t is most
meritorious measure, and should become
a law without delay:
BILL relating to Pensions.
BE it enacted By the Senate and House Of
Representatives. of The United States Of America
IN Congress assembled, That no person other
wise entitled 10 pension by virtue of any
| law of the United States sba | be dlsgualil lied
from receiving the same by reason of any
prior service in the Confederate army or
navy during the war of the rebellion, nor
shall the widow, children or dependent
relatives of such person be deprived of a
| right TO pension by reason OF such service:
| Prorided, That no pension shall be granted
by virtue of this section for disability con-
tracted or incurred while aiding or abetting
! the late rebellion against the authority OF
the United States.
Sec g That from and after the passage of
this act 10 pension heretofore granted or
which may hereafter be granted under the
pension laws shall be reduced or discon-
iinued except for fraud, clerical error, mis-
lake of fact, or recovery from disability:
| Ir0Uidcd h0tceUer. That nothing herein con-
tanned shall be construed TO entitle any
person to more than one pension, or as al
lowing more than one pension for the same
service, nor to affect or enlarge the tension
rights of widows and others under sections
1902, 4706 and 47O9 of the Revised Statutes
OF the United States and acts supplemental
TO and amendatory thereof.
Sec 3. That all pensions reduced or dis
continued since Jan. Z, 1893, snail, upon
application. be recousidered and adjudicated
in accordance with the provisions of this act,
and the pension, if restored or allowed, shall
commence from the date OF snch reduction
or discontinuauce, or from the date subse-
quent thereto at which the disability is
shown by The evidence 10 have existed:
Procidtd, That in the event of the death of
the pensioner after such reduction or dis
continuance, any accrued pension that may
be found due under this section shall be
paid as provided by existing law IN cases OF
death. ,Ia., 70
Sec. a. That hereaftert in the administra-
ti0n of tie pension laws, all Investigations
into the merits of any pension previously
allowed shall be By question and answer,
under oath, i'll omen session, after due notice
to the person or persons who may be affected
thereby TO be present personally or by at
torney: aud such person or persons shall have
the right % cross-ex anime and fair and full
opportunity 10 rebatfor snbstaniate any
ficis alleged or disputed; PrGuided. That
when fraud is alleged the allegations shalt
be reduced TO wiring and under oath aud
the person or persnIs affected thereby shall
be furnished with ceFtined copy OF the
charges made, together with the names Of
the persons making the same at least 30
days prior to such investigation, and shall
be furnished with the names of the wit
nesses by whom said charges are to be proved
at least five days prior To their examination
such investigation TO be conducted at the
County-seat of the County in which the per-
son aif, cted resides, and the dispositions of
witnesses residing outside of said County
shall be taken as near rs may be in accord
ance with the practice Of the State or Terri
tory in which said witness resides.
SEC. ). That in the administration of the
pension laws the oath Of a person who has
served as a Don-commsSioned officer or pTi-
vatc shall not have any less weight than if
such person had served as "a commissioned
officer: Provided, That no claim shall be re-
jected because OF Claimants inability to
furnish as to any material fact in the case
the testimony of more than one credible
witness having knowledge Of such fact
Sec. 6. That in the administration OF the
pension laws an affiant shall be required. only
10 make oath that said afliant has read or
heard read the subscribed affidavit, that the
same was prepared in his or her presence at
his or her dictation. is IN atlantis own Ian
guage, and that the matters and things
therein stated are true.
Sec. 4. That all nOtlDcdtlonS from the
Bureau of Pensions as 10 the status of any
case shall set forth each and every fact upon
which further evidence is required to COM
plete the same.
Sec. 8. That all papers, memoranda writ
ings, letters, or exhibits received by the Bu
reau of Pensions relating to any pension
or claim shall be preserved and filed with
papers in said case, and every pensioner or
pension claimant shall have the right, in
person or by attorney, to examine and in
spect each and every snch paper, memOran-
dunn, writing, letter, or exhibit which has
any reference TO or bearing upon his or her
pension or claim.
Sec g. That in all claims for pension or
increase of pension the records of the War or
Navy Department showing disabilities to
have been incurred or contracie ed in line Of
duty shall be conclusive OF that fact.
Sec. 10 That the comm0n-law presump-
tion of death, after the lapse of seven years
without news or tidings of the missing
person, shall obtain and be of force in the
administration of the pensiOs~-faws: Pro-
uided, That if such person shall afterwards
be proved TO be alive, any pension that may
have been granted on account of his death
shall theTeupon cease.
Sec. II. That hereafter in the administra-
ton of pension laws the fact of marriage may
be prima iacie proved by satisfactory evil
dence that the parties were joined in mar
riaue by some ceremony deemed by them OH