Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-30
PENSION RULINGS
That Make It Easier for a Veteran
49, with a Claim.
SPIRIT OF THE LAW Is THE BASIS,
As Claimed by Assistant Secretary of the
Interior Davis-Important Notifications
of the Rules-Navy Construction Trou-
bles Increased by tlss Klondyks Craze
Internal Revenue Order That Will Make
the Brewers Melancholy.

Washington. July sO.-A revision Of
the rules governing the adjudication of
pension claims under the second sec
tion of the act of June q. 1890, has been
made by Assistant Secretary Of the In
terror Webster Davis. and a sweeping
modification in the present practices is
the result. Assistant Secretary Davis
holds that the very nature Of pension
cages forbids the Application Of the
strictness and technically of court pro-
ceedings, and that it was not congress
intention to hedge the adlninist aticn of
these laws with the difficulties and pit
falls Of any system Of special pleading.
whose technicalitiesa esapdrefinements may
tend to practical defeat OF the govern
msnts benevolent purposes. The modi-
hcaticns are made in six rules, and for
mer rules ard decisions in conflict with
them are set aside.
The NEST importsnt change is made in
the following rule: Il. Every application
for pension under the secend section Of
the act of June q. 1890. should state that
the same is made under said act. the
dates Of enlistment and discharge, the
Eame or nature of the disease. wounds or
injuries by which the claimant is dis
abled. and that they are not due to vic
fess habits; provided. however that the
omission Of any Of these averments shall
not invalidate the application the intent
TO claim pension being manifest and the
declaration being executed in accordance
with law), but such application shall be
subject to amendment by means cf a
supplemental affidavit. intthe particulars
wherein it is defective: said supplement
tai amendments or efffdavits to be read
in connection with and as a part of the
application itself; and provided further
that deolarat ton in the terms Of the act
shall be sufficient" Rules 2, 3. 5 and 6,
the last two relating to vicious habits
and increase claims. are largely reitera-
tions Of present practices.
In Case of Wounds Not Specified.
Rule makes essential notifications
and is a follows: Should a wound, in
jury or disease not specified in the origi-
nal or amerdatory declaration, but dis
covered on medical examination, be
shown to have existed at the time when
the original declaration was filed and it
Is found not to be due to vicious habits,
it shall be taken into account, the same
as if formally specified in the original
application in estimating the degree of
the permanent mental or physical dis
ability to which it contributes. Should
1t be'found, however. not to have existed
was filed. but from subsequent date
application, in estimating the degree OF
at the time when the original application
of the disa ability of the applicant being
below the maximum rating, may be in
creased accordingly from the date wher
y,
disease contracted. provided the degree
Of disability from all contributors
causes is thereby enhanced toa sufficient
extent to justify higher rating Should
1t be found impossible to fix the exac
date when such wound or injury wa:
received or disease contracted, the high
er rating shall commence from the date
OF the certificate Of medical examination
showing its existence.''