New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
m AMEND PENSION LAWS
MEASURE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE BE-
FORE THE HOUSE.
,r 70 INTENDED TO SIMPLIFY AND PROVIDE FOR
WORE EQUITABLE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
srAruTEs-CHAIRMAN PIcKLER HOPES
TO HAVE IT PASSED SOON
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE]

HAVE 1T PASSED SOON
fnY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.]
washington, April 16-It Is expected that eno,'S
~, he made to dispose at this session OF all the
.s,on bills which have been favorably reported
49,, the Committee on Invalid Pensions OF the
uorsa of Representatives. Among them Is one
na,.l hill OF a comprehensive character and OF
go importance which, II enacted into law, VIII
.smove many causes Of complaint and conouce 10
r,ore uniform and equitable administration Oh 'he
tension laws In conversation with tribune COT
rssnondent to-day Chairman Picker OF the COM
-. an Invalid Pensions said that he hoped to
GET this bill through the House WITHIN the next
week ten days
section 1 provides that the soldier VINO nao an
honorable service In and received an honoraoie ais
charge from the Union Army shall not be denied
nenson on account Of prior service IN the oo"-
federate Army. Section provides ina. no peh''o"
shall be discontinued or reduced except ioi iia"u'
o,.rcal error or mistake of fact Section gives to
orsoners whose pensions have been discontinued
or reduced since January 1892 the oenen's Oh ths
act on making application for restoration sec
ton requires that in cases OF alleged irauo 'he
nerson charged shall be confronted with MS ac-
cusers and that Investigations shall be conducted
onenlv and by question and answer. Section D
.holishes the distinction between the oatn OF
commissioned officer and non-commissioneo OIL
cer or private gives equal weight to each ana pro-
vides that no claim shall be rejected because OF the
claimants inability to furnish the testimony OF
more than one credible witness to any material fact
In his case. ,
Section simplifes the taking OF affidavits In
nenson cases and dspenses with that feature OF the
existing method which compels the amant on pain
n, rejection of his claim to make oath 10 MANY
things which would be deemed wholly unnecessary
,n any court or tribunal Section provides that
~. claimant shall be promptly informed Of exactly
yhat evidence is necessary to complete his case.
section requires all papers, memoranda etc. re-
atng to pension case to be kept together IN , tne
onns;on Office and that the claimant or MS attor-
new shall be allowed to examine any paper. memo memo,
randum exhibit or writing In any deparrers GO or
Section enlarges the conditions uhaer wnE line ' Of
duty when disability was incurred but makes o ome
records Of the the W Ssabes Nay Section
10 makes conclusive the former presumpt,oh r .,
Sundnss the seeOn IS aso
the claimant in the matter Of proving iHe he sec
nn !, - provdes that the common law presumption
Of death after the lapse Of seven years w ahsn
in the Administration of the pension LAM LAWS nayns
provso will relieve the GoverHm men nresmpon il
Is afterward proved that the person is alive .h
s eson Of proving marriages on the failure Of the
best evidence The language OF the seSuSh ny
Sdows Of s11 indians and eoored Is sub
santlaily in accord with the rule 10, snd makes
fsr pensonsbe purposes the termination
Of the War Of the Rebellion and eliminates the con-
fusion incident to holding that Inc war an entreV
different time The date that OF Pre Son 'c sum
sons proclamation declaring the re9ein Snr suv
that under the act Of June a. 1890 desertion or dis
ss4 TO penson Il the soldier has
service Of ninety days, and an honorable discharge
from the same This is in accordance with former S
service shown by the discharge certncate re
sive. The section also provides that the dea'n ol
ton Of law. shall be held to be equivalent u Gil "0"
orable discharge. , -. o,a,r,
. ant shall not be compelled TO file a new claim pc
cause he fails in his application 20 use @ pnS ~
Also opera st to reestabsh the rule Of rating pen,
. sons under the act OF June r. 1890. which was IN
Of f ssd U a ao0s ecen @ that when
alleges that his disabilities are not the result VI
this statement win be taken as ts sn
pear from the evidence that the vicious habits are
the proximste cause Of the sect 9Sr as
the claimant is concerned. OF filing new appnca-
ton on the rejection Of the old one. II the pen
the disabilities are shown by the evidence to have
existed. Section IS fixes the maximum annual In
come widow have and at the same time nave
a pensionabe status under the act OF June ~,
1890 While this amount must necessarily be , arb.
certain sum than to leave 1t to the within or caprice
Of the officers who execute the law. The amount
fixed is "a net income of $500 per annum ,.,., 80
act of June q. 1890. until comparatively recent
the matter no longer In doubt Section 20 is in.
serted for the purpose OF protecting the Interests or
Of d'C Veterans Of the late war BY Section q it is
proposed to reverse the ordinary rule which mas
Ons obtained in the common Law to TOW, wit that as
between sovereign and subject the doubt must De
resolved in favor OF the former.