The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-12-16
Rsrsrsas a.osa Cases.

The report of Assistant Secretary of
the Interior Reynolds for the present
year shows the policy pursued in the
administration of pension affairs. II
states that the important changes in the
rulings and the practice of the following
out Of a general plan for securing equity,
uniformity, and justice. in the determine
ton of appeals. The Assistant Secretary
says the liberal and generous spirit
which prompted the enactment of the
pension laws has been the guide of the
department in their construction. For
| mer adjudications have not beeu dis
turbed save where fraud, error in law, or
mistake was apparent.
WORK PERFORMER.
The number of pending appeals on the
docket April Is. 1888, when the Assistant
Secretary took charge of this work, 1896.
Since that date 1875 new cases have been
filed, m king a total of 2e.720 to be act
ed upon 10y the Department. or this last
number, 22,l9I have been disposed of.
leaving $50 now pending with the work
of the office during the past year devoted
TO the consideration of current appeals,
this condition existing for the first time
in the past eight years.
The action of the Bureau was reversed
in ,0i9 of the cases ruled upon by the
Department since April -, 1893.
The amount o: work has been unprece-
dented in the history of this branch of
departmental business, showing that
about 5000 more cases were disposed of
since April I6 1898, than had been in any
like period prior 20 that time.
LEGISLATION ENACTED AND RECON-
MENDED.
General satisfaction has followed the
recommendation of last year for such leg
islation as would secure better protection
to the pension fund due incompetents
and others, followed by the law directing
all quarterly payments to be made by
check.
Gratifying results have followed the
passage of the act of March ,, 1895, which
secured an extension Of cases wherein
payments of accrued pension could be
made, as well as that of the act of March
G. 1886, relating to the commencement of
pension under act Of June 27, 1880.
''rhe suggestion is again made as to the
advisability of such legislation as will
lodge in the Federal courts the right Of
anyone on behalf of the government to
ask better protection TO the pension fund
of those laboring under legal disabilities
The following also are suggested That
justice demands the universal applica-
ton of the common law rule in proof OF
marriage: State laws govern and lead
10 denial of title in cases which are
equally meritorious that the pension
able rights of minor children who claim
under the act of June q, 1890, should be
defined with more certainty where the
soldier dies leaving no widow surviving.
"The act of August 5, 1892, relates TO
pensionable title to those women who ser
we'd as nurses during the war of the rebel
lion. Title is confined to those who served
in regimental, post, camp, or general hos
pitfalls. The refusal of the War Department
TO recognize those as properly employed
who served il the first three classes
mentioned tends to defeat their title and
renders this portion of the act nugatory.
Attention is invited to this in order that
proper legislation may be enacted to re-
lieve any deserving claimants of an un-
just and unintentional discrimination.
sEcRETARY's REPORT.
The Secretary of the Interior, in COM
menting upon the work OF the Assistant
Secretary, says in his report:
The report of Assistant Secretary Rey-
nOlds gives evidence of the pains-taking
care with which that official has endeav-
ored TO be both liberal and just in pas
sing upon the many troublesome ques-
tions coming before him. To him have
been assigned many questions CT admin
istrative policy in pension matters. Al
most the entire time of the Assistant Sec
retary is required to attend to the affairs
of this branch of the Department.