The Portland daily press., 1896-04-25
GENERAL PENSION BILL.
Text Of New Measure Before Con.
greSS.
DISSATISFACTION WITH MANAGE
MENT OF PENSION OFFICE.
This the Cause of the Proposed Law-Of
Interest to the Veterans of Late War
Texas Solitary Republican Member
Interesting Sketch of Judge Noonan.
ESPECIAL TO THE PRESS ]

Washington, April 24.- The
general pension bill, which has
beens under discussion this week, is a
measure which has been brought about
by the general dissatisfaction with the
management of the pension Office by the
present administration. The first section
provides for pensions for such men as left
the Confederate service to enlist in the
Union army, and incurred disabilities
in the Union service. Other sections pro-
vide against the arbitrary descontlnuanoe
of pensions, make less rigid the proofs of
marriage required by widows, etc No
new class of pensioners. as such, are to
be added to the pension roll. The bill
may not pass the Senate this session, but
it probably will pass during this Con-
gress:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress Assem- bled,
That no person otherwise entitled to a
pension by virtue of any law of the Unit
ed States shall be disqualified from re
celv1ng the same by reason of any prior
service in the Confederate army or navy
during the war of the rebellion, nor shall
the widow, children, or dependent rela-
t1ves OF such person be deprived of q
right to pension by reason of such ser-
vice: Provided. That no pension shall
be granded by virtue of this section for
disability contracted or incurred while
aiding or abetting the late rebellion
against the authority of the United
States.
SEQ. .. That from and after the pas
sage OF this Act no pension heretofore
granted or which may hereafter be grant
ed under the pension laws shall be re-
duced or discontinued except for fraud,
clerical error, mistake Of fact, or recovery
from disability: Provided, however,
That nothing herein contained shall be
construed to entitle any person to more
than one pension, or as allowing more
than one pension for the same service,
u or to affect or enlarge the pension rights
of widows and others under sections
forty seven hundred and two, forty seven
hundred and six, and forty-sev hun
dred and eight of the Revised Statutes of
the United States and acts supplemental
to and amendatory thereof.
Sec. 3. That all pensions reduced Or
discontinued since January seventh,
eighteen hundred and ninety three shall
upon application. be reconsidered and ad-
Indicated in accordance with the provis-
ions of this Act, and the pension. if re-
stored or allowed, shall commence from
the date of such reduction or discontinue
ance, or from the date subsequent thereto
at W hich the disability is shown by the
evidence to have existed: Provided
That in the event of the death of the pen
sioner after such reduction or discontinue
ance, any accrued pension that may be
found due under this section shall be paid
as provided by existing law in cases of
death.
Sec 4. That hereafter in the admins
tration Of the pension laws, all investi-
cations into the merits of any pension
previously allowed shall be by question
after due notice to the person or person,
who may be affected thereby TO be press
ent personally or by attorney; and such