The herald., 1896-12-07
PENSION POLICY PURSUED
Dictated by Liberal and Generous
Spirit
Assistant Secretary Reynolds Reports
on the Work of the Year-He
Suggests Legislation.

WASHINGTON. Dec G. - The re-
port of Assistant Secretary of the Inter-
ior Reynolds for the present year shows
the policy pursued in the administra-
tion of pension affairs. 1t states the
important changes in the rulings and
practice and the following out of
general plan for securing equity, uni
formity and justice in the determination
of appeals. The assistant secretary
says
The liberal and generous spirit which
prompted the enactment of the pen
sion laws has been the guide of the de-
partment in their construction. Former
adjudications have not been disturbed
save where fraud. error in law or mis-
take was apparent.
Figures are cited to show the signifi-
cant reduction of pending cases and to
demonstrate that for the first time in
eight years the work of the office during
the past year was devoted to considering
current appeals The commissioner OF
pensions was reversed in 2066 of the cases
ruled. The report says: General salts
faction has followed the recommends
ton of last year for such legislation
which insures better protection to the
pension fund due to competents and
others followed by the law directing ali!
quarterly payments to be made by check.
Gratifying results have followed the
passage of the act of March 9, 1885 which
secured an extension of cases wherein
payments of accrued pensions could be
made. as well as under the act of March
6. 1896, relating to the commencement
of pensions under the act of June ~,
1890
The suggestion is again made as to the
advisabilty of such legislation as will
lodge in the federal courts the rights
of any one on behalf of the government
to ask better protection to the pension
fund of those laboring under legal dis
abilities. The following are suggested:
That justice demands the universal
application of the committee on law rule
in proof of marriage. State laws gov
erning may lead to denial of title in
cases which are equally meritorious.
That the pensionable rights of minor
children, who claim under the act of
June o. 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 of those who served as
nurses during the war of the rebellion.
Title is confined to those who served in
regimental, post, camp or general hos
pital. The refusal of the war department
to recognize these as 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
the proper legislation may be enacted
to relieve any deserving claimant of an
unjust and unintentional discrimination.
On the 1st of February, 1896, a new di-
vision was organized in the office of the
secretary by his order and the board
of pension appeals was thereby merged
into this new division. which was desig-
mated the division of penson affairs. By
this means all matters relating to pen
sions were brought into one division and
under the assistant secretary's supervis-
ion. The result has been to harmonize
and systematic the work and has also
led to it's greater expedition in the hands
of a competent force.