The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-07
THE PENSION POLICY.
"Liberal and Generous Spirit Has
Prompted the Administration

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The report of
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Rey-
nolds for the present. year shows the pol
icy pursued in the administration of PEN
sion affairs. 1t states the important
changes in the rulings and practice and
the following out of general plan for
securing equity, uniformity and justice in
the determination of appeals. The assistant
secretary adds: The liberal and generous
spirit which prompted the enactment of
the pension laws has been the guide of
the department in their construction.
Former adjudiciations have not been dis
turbed save where fraud, error in law or
mistake was apparent"
Figures are cited to show the significant
reduction of pending cases and TO demon
strate that for the first time in eight
years the work of the office during the
past year was devoted to considering cur
rent appeals. The action of the commits
sioner of pensions was reversed in 2,066 of
the cases ruled. The report says: General
satisfaction has followed the recommends
ton of last year for such legislation as
would secure better protection to the PEN
sion fund due incompetents and others, fol-
lowed by the law directing all quarterly
payments to be made by check. Gratifying
results have followed the passage of the
tension of cases wherein payments of ac-
crued pension could be made. as well as
that of the act of March g. 1896. relating
to the commencement of pension under act
of June 21 1890.
The suggestion is again made as to the
advisability of such legislation will lodge
in the federal courts the right of any one
on behalf of the government to ask bet
ter protection to the pension fund of those
laboring under legal disabilities. The fol-
lowing also are suggested:
That justice demands the universal ap-
plication of the common law rule in proof
of marriage. State laws govern and lead
TO denial of title in cases which are equally
mertorious.
THAT the pension rights of minor chill
dren who claim under the act of June %,
1890 should be defined with more certain
ty where the soldier dies leaving no widow
surviving.
The act of Aug s. 1892. relates TO PEN
sionable title of those women who served
as nurses during the of the rebellion.
Title is confined to those who served ir
regimental posts. camps or general hos
pitals The refusal OF the War Department
10 recognize those as properly employed
who served in the first three classes men,
toned tends to defeat their title and rem
ders this portion of the act nugatory. At
tention is invited TO this in order that
lieve any deserving claimants of an unjust
and unintentonal discrimination.
On the 1st of February 1896. a new divi-
sion was organized in the office of the sec
sion appeals was thereby merged i'm this
new division, which was designated the
division Of pension affairs. By this means
all matters relating to pensions were
brought into one division and under the as
sistant secretary's supervision. The result
has been 10 harmonic and systematize this
work and has also led to it's greater ex-
pedition in the hands of n competent force.