The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-12-25
Reversed a.oss Cases.

The report of Assistant Secretary of the
Interior Reynolds for the present wear
shows the policy pursued in the admins
tration of pension affairs. 1t states that
the important changes were in the rulings
and practic eaud the following out of ger
eral plan for securing equity. uniformity
and Justice in the determination ofap-
peals. The assistant secretary says the
liberal and generous spirit which prompt
ed the enactment of the pension laws has
been the guide of the department in their
construction. Former adjudications have
not been disturbed save where fraud, err
ror in law. or mistake were apparent.
The number of pending appeals on the
docket, April 10, 1898, when the assistant
secretary took charge of this work. was
1866. Since that Gate 17.755 new cases
have been filed, making a total of -, 100 to
be acted upon by the department. OF this
last number, %. .l9l have been disposed of,
leaving 529 now pending, with the
work of the office during the last year
devoted to the consideration of current ap-
pealS, this condition existing for the first
time in the last eight years.
The actiod of the bureau was reversed
in 2,O66 of the cases since April 10. 1895.
The amount of work has been unpre-
cedented in the history of this branch of
department business, showing that about
1900 more cases were disposed of since
a pri II. 1898, than had been in any like
period To that time.
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 payment to be made by ch9cz,
says the assistant secretary.
"Gratifying results have followed the
passage of the act of March >, 1895, which
secured an extension of the cases wherein
payments of accrued pension could be
made. as well as that of the act of March
| g. 1896, relating TO the commencement OF
pension under the act of June ~, 1890.
The suggestion is again made as to the
adviSablity of such legislation aS will
| lodge in the federal courts the right of any
| one 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 application
of the conm mon law rule in proof of mar
| riage: state laws govern and lead to de
| lial of title in cases which are equally
merituriouS: that the pen sionable rights of
minor children who claim under the act Of
| June -, 1890, should be defined with more
certainty where the soldier dies leaving no
widow surviving.
The act of August :. 1Sg2, relates to
! pensionable title of those women who ser
| we'd as nurses during the war of the re-
| beIIioL. Title is confined To- those who
served in regimenIal, post. camp, or gen.
! eral hospitals. The refusal of the war
| department To recognize those properly
| employed who served in 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 NAV be en-
| acted to relieve any deserving claimants of
| unjust aud unintentiOnal discrimination "
The secretary of the interior, in com
| menling 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 passing
upon the many troublesome questions of
| administrative policy in pension matters.
| Almost the entire time of the assistant
! secretary is required to attend to the af-
| fairs of this branch of the department"