The National tribune., 1896-01-16
REPRESENTATIVE PICKLER's BILL.

Chairman of the House Committee oil
Invalid Pensions, introduced the follow
ing bill, which was read twice, and re
ferred to the Committee on Invalid
Pensions:
A BILL TO prevent discontinuance of pen
sions. TO restore pensions discontinued, t.
establish uniform rates of pension, {,
facilitate the allowance of pensions il
matters of proof, and for other purposes.
BE IL enacted BIZ the Senate and House OF
Representatives. of tie United States Of 1me,9-
ca an Congress assembled. That no person
otherwise entitled TO a pension by virtue Of
any law of the United States shall be dis
qualified from receiving the same by reason
of any prior service of such person in the So
called Confederate army or navy during the
war for the Union, nor shall the widow,
children, or dependent relatives of such per-
son he deprived of a right to pension by
reason Of such service
SEC. q That hereafter when proof OF
marriage shall be required in the administra-
ton of the pension laws of the United States.
marriage may he proved without other evil
dence than satisfactory proof that the parties
we're joined in marriage by some ceremony
deemed by them obligatory, or habitually re-
cognized each other rs husband and wife,
and were so recognized by their ncighhoTs,
and lived together az such up to the date of
enlistment when such soldier or sailor
died in the service, or, if otherwise, to date
Of death: and the children born of any mar
riage so proved shall be deemed and held to he
lie lawful children of such soldier or sailor.
SEC. 3. That from and after The passage of
this Act no pension heretofore granted or
which may hereafter be granted under the
pension laws of The United States shall be
discontinued or reduced except for fraud.
SEC. 4. That all persons whose pensions
have been reduced or discontinued. except
for fraud. since March 4, 1852, shall be
restored TO the pension rolls at the rate the
pensioner was receiving Mt the date of such
reduction or discontinuance: said restoration
10 take effect as Of said date. unless such
pensioner shall at the time of the passage OF
this Act be receiving pension equal 10 or in
excess of the amount received at the date of
such reduction or discontinuance: Proridcd,
That in case of the death OF any such pen
sioner subsequently 10 the reduction or dis
continuance Of his pension. the accrued pen
sion under this Act shall be paid to his
widow or heirs, in like manner rs the same
would have been paid had no reduction or
discontinuance been made.
SIC ). That the common-law presumption
of death, after the lapse of seven years with
ont news or tidings of the missing person,
shall obtain and he Of force in the administra-
tion Of the pension laws Prorjdcd, That If
such person shall afterwards be discovered
to be alive any pension that may have been
granted account of his death shall there
upon cease.
SEC. 6. That in all claims for pension or in
crease of pension. wherein the person on
whose service the claim was based was present
with his proper command at The time when
disabilities claimed for were incurred. TIE
soldier, sailor or marine shall be presumed TO
have been in line of duty, but such prcsump-
ton may he rebutted IrOuidcd, ho,oeUcr,
That the records of the War or Navy Depart
ment showing disabilities to have been in
CURED or contracted in line of duty shall be
conclusive
SEC. Z. That in all notifications from the
Bureau Of Pensions TO the claimant his atto.-
ney or other person entitled 10 be informed Of
the status of a case, such notification shall set
forth each and every fact upon which furthcr
evidence is required to complete the same, and
the character of evidence necessary to estab-
lish such fact.
SEC 6. That every claimant for pension or
increase under the pension laws shall have the
right IN person or by attorney, to examine
and inspect each and every paper. memoEln-
dunn, writing or thing in any Department,
bureau. division, court or Office of the United
States which has or may contain any reference,
allusion 10 or bearing upon the claim of such
claimant.
SEC. g. That in all applications for pension
or increase. and evidence submitted in sup
port of any claim under the pension laws Of
the United States, the oath of person who
has served as private or noncommisSioned
officer shall not have any less weight than if
such applicant or witness had served as a COM
missoned officer: Prouided, That nothing
herein contained shall be construed TO require
a greater number of witnesses than heretofore
for the establishment of any fact in relation to
such claim
SEC 10. That in considering the claim for
pension of any soldier or sailor under the Act
entitled IAN Act granting pensions to soldiers
and sailors who are incapacitated for the per-
Torrance Of manual labor, and providing for
pensions TO widows, minor children and de-
pendent parents" approved June 81, 1890,
service Of 30 days in the Army, Navy, or
Marine Corps OF the United States during the
war for the Union. and an honorable dis
charge therefrom, shall be sufficient TO give
title to pension undersaid Act, notwithstanding
o prior or subsequent service from which the
soldier or sailor was not honorably discharged
and the service as shown in the discharge GER
tiiicatc shall be conclusive rs determining en-
listment and discharge: Presided, That the
death Of a soldier or sailor while in the serv-
ice of the United States shall he construed
and held as equivalent to an honorable dis
charge in determining title to pension in
behalf of any person claiming under said Act
on account of the service of such soldier or
sailor.
SIC. II. That an application under said
Act of June %. 1890 shall be sufficient, to all
intents and purposes, if the applicant alleges
therein the existence Of disability which
renders him unable 10 earn a support; and
every disability found to exist which is re
congnized as pensiOnable under the general
laws shall be taken into consideration in de-
termining the degree of disability of such APP
plicant and the same rate of pension shall be
allowed for the same disability as under the
general laws. not to exceed S12 per month:
Prorided, That pensions heretofore allowed
under said Act at a rating less than herein
provided shall be rerated and the pensioner
shall be paid from the time Of failure to rate
as hereinbeiore provided.
SEC. - That in all claims for pension or
increase of pension under said Act of 1890
the presumption shall be that the disabilities
alleged are not the result of vicious habits;
but such presumption may be rebutted: Pro-