Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-12-12
REPORT ON PENSION Arr,,,-
Assistant Secretary Reno1d. mn,
the department Is All links

washington, Dec. 6.-The renort
sistant Secretary Of the Interior po,,.- AS
for the present year shows tho DO.us
pursued IN the administration of nans,e.
afalrs. 1t states the important channna
IN the rullngs and practice and tho %,
lowing out of a general Dlan for ioi-
ing equity, uniformity and iust, secur-
the determination of appeals. Tho ~
sistant secretary says: u.s.
1.-THE liberal and generous shirt vb,.,
prompted the enactment of pension lou
has been the guide of the department ~
their construction. Former adiudicat,ons
have not been disturbed save whoro
fraud, error in the law, or mistake was
apparent" VOC
Figures are cited to show the s,pp,s
canoe of the reduction of pending Case.
and to demonstrate that for the first TIM
in eight years the work of the office dur.
ing the past year was devoted to con-
sidering current appeals.
The commissioner of pensions was re-
versed in 2066 of the cases ruled.
The report says: General satisfaction
has followed the recommendation of last
year for sucn legislation which will IN
sure better protection to the pension fund
due to competents and others followed nv
the law directing all quarterly payments
to be made by check"
Gratifying results have followed the
passage of the act of March 2, 1895. which
secured an extension of cases, wherein
payments of accrued pensions could be
made, as we'll as that of the act of March
g. 1885, relating to the commencement of
PENSIONS under act of June o. 1890.
A Number of Suggestions.
The suggestion is again made as to the
a6UiSa bi1itv IF Snch lppCla tion 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 slumbering under legal disa-
bilities. The following also are suggest
ed: That Justice demands the universal
application of the committee on law rule
in proof of marriage; state laws govern
ing and leading to denial Of title in cases
which are equally meritorious; that the
pensionable rights of minor children who
lay claim under the act of June q, $780,
should be defined with more certainty
where the soldier leaves no widow sur
viving. The act of August s. 1892 re-
lates to the pensionable title of those
who served as nurses during the war Of
the rebellion. Title is confined to those
who served in regimental posts, camp or
general hospitals. The refusal of the war
department to recognize those as prop
erly 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 TINS
in order that proper legislation may De
enacted to remove any deserving claim
ant of an unjust and unintentional DIS
elimination.
On the LIST of February, 1896, new d.
vision was organized in the office OF the
secretary by his order and the board
of pension appeals was thereby mergeu
in this new division, which was deslg-
mated the division of pension affairs by
this means all matters relating 10 the
pensions were brought into one DIVISION
and under the assistant secretary sup
ervision. The result has been to harmon,
lie and systematic this branch ana aiso
led to it's greater expedition in the hanuS
of a competent force.