New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-09
4 WISE ORDER.

The order recently issued by the Secretary or
War requiring that record Of the physical con-
dtion Of every volunteer soldier at the date
Of his discharge from the military service or
the United States shall be made and preserved
among the permanent records Of the War De-
partment is IN exceedingly important one, the
value OF which, both to the soldier and the
Government. VIII hereafter DO fully recognized
and Appreciated The list Of claims for pen
slons on account OF death or disabilities In
Cured in Tie service by volunteers in the war
against Spain will DO n long one. About two
hundred and fifty such claims have already
been received by the Commissioner or Pen
slons Of which forty-five per cent are for In
valid pensions and the remainder death claims
filed in behalf OF widows, minor children and
other dependent relatives Experience since
the Civil War. and especially during the last
twenty years. has shown that the number of
pension claims on account Of deaths in the
service and of soldiers discharged thcrefrom on
surgeons certificates Of disability constitutes
relatively small proportion of the total Of such
claims and indicates that a steady stream OF
applications for pensions will flow into the
Pension Bureau for years TO come In behalf OF
the survivors Of the recent war and their
Already. even before the first regiment Of
the volunteer army has been mustered ont OF
the service. pension attorneys, whose sympa-
thirs I'm behalf Of the patriots who compose 1t
are oulckened and stimulated by lively OK
pectation OF fees. arc busy collecting lnforma-
ton 10 Law the foundation for claims. Their
circulars are found In every military camp
among tho regiments that are soon to no mus
- t,It f1stg liz
compiling lists Of men who have been treated
in camp and general hospitals. as well as OF
the names and home postoflicc addresses or
members Of volunteer organizations generally.
4 lively pension campaign Is impending, and II
seems wise for the Government 10 he prepared
for II. both I'm It's own interest and that Of
the volunteer who has been honorably dis
charged from It's service not account Of
physical disability. That many soldiers VIII he
TINS discharged whose health has become I'm
paired in the military service there need he no
doubt and in some cases this impairment will
result In permanent and reasonable dsabill-
ties. This makes II Mi the more important
that the exact physical condition OF the soldier
when no leaves the Army should he ascertained
and record Of It preserved.
The order Of the Secretary Of War presTlbes
that this record shall consist, ilrSt, or me sol
dicr's own declaration rs 10 his physical con
dition and OF any reasons why. In his opinion.
1t has become impaired as result OF his mill
tary service. second Of the statement and
certificate Of his company or other immediate
commander respecting the case. and third. OF
the certificate Of n surgeon. who IS 10 make
thorough physical examination. II a physical
disability Is claimed which the surgeon cannot
find or which, being found. did not in his
opinion originate In the service in line Of duty.
the soldier will not be discharged until after no
shall have been examined Ivy board OF three
other medical officers who shall make full
report Of the case The records thus obtained
and preserved VIII greatly facilitate the settle
mcnt Of pension claims on account Of the
recent war aud also provide the Government
with an additional safeguard against fraudu-
lent claims II such records had been made of
fine soldiers who were discharged from the ser
vice otherwise than on surgeons certificates or
disability during and after the civil War the
last pension claim filed on account Of that war
might and would have been adju1catod years
ago and nj an enormous saving both 10 the
Government and pension claimants.