The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-01-18
new PENSION law.
Some of the Provisions of the New
Law Recently Passed by
Congress.
HELP WIVES AND CHILDREN

New Pension Law Makes Generous Pro-
visions for the Care of Dependent wives
and children of Soldiers Drawing
Pension Under the Act-The Pensions of
Soldiers in State and National Homes to
Go to the Support of Children.
At the request of a number of the
old soldiers of the city we publish the
following section from the pension
law, il which PROVISIONS made for the
care of the wives and children of de-
pendent soldiers. 1t is reported that
the different relief committees of the
city and county have several cases
under their consideration which will
be affected by this law.
Section Alto, title 81, of the revised
statutes of the United States, was re-
vised and amended by adding to it the
following additional provisions and
provisos, to wit: Provided further,
That in case a resident pensioner of
| the United States shall for period of
| over six months desert his lawful wife,
! she being woman of good moral
| character and in necessitous circum-
stances, or, if he have no lawful wife,
shall desert his legitimate minor child
or children under sixteen years of age,
! or his permanently helpless and de-
pendent child, the Commissioner of
Pensions is hereby directed, upon be-
| ing satisfied by competent evidence of
such desertion, to cause one half of the
pension due said pensioner during the
continuance of such desertion to be
paid to the wife, or in case there is no
wife, to the legal guardian of the child
or children.
| Provided further, That when the
soldier or sailor enters a State home
for sailors or soldiers as an inmate
thereof, one half of his pension accru-
| ing during his residence therein shall
be paid to his wife, she being a woman
of good moral character and in neces-
sitcus circumstances, or if there be no
wife, then to his child or children I'M
der sixteen years of age, or his per-
manent1y helpless or dependent child,
if any, unless such wife and children
be also inmates of the same institution
or of some home provided tor the wives
and children of soldiers and sailors.
Provided further, That if any such
pensioner is or shall become an inmate
of National soldiers home, one half
of the pension drawn in his behalf, or
to which he may become entitled dur
ing his residence therein, shall be paid
by the treasurer of that institution to
such pensioners wife, she being in
necessitous circumstances and
woman Of good moral character, or, if
there be no wife, to the legal guardian
of the minor child or children, or the
permanently dependent child or chill
dren of such pensioner, on the order of
the Commissioner of PENSIONS.
Provided further, that hereafter no
pension under any law of the United
States shall be granted. allowed or
poid to the widow of a soldier, sailor,
officer, naval or military, marine, ma
rine officer, or any other male person
entitled to pension under any law of
the United States, unless it shall be
proved and established that the mar
rage of such widow to the soldier.
sailor, officer, marine or other person
on account of whose service the pen
sion is anded, was duly and legally
contracted and entered into prior to
the passage of this act, and unless such
wife shall have lived and cohabited
with such soldier, sailor, officer, ma
rine, marine officer or other person
cont nuous1y from the date of the mar
riage to the date of his death, or unless
the marriage shall take place hereafter
and prior to, or during the military or
naval service of the soldier, sailor,
marine. officer, or marine officer serv-
ing, or who has served in the war be-
tween the United States and the King
dom of Spain.
In all cases the questions of deser-
ton, entrance into home, necessitous
circumstances, and of good moral
character shall be ascertained and de-
termined by the Commissioner of Pen
sions under such rules aud regulations
as he shall prescribe and the treasurers
and governors of the several soldiers
and sailors homes shall be advised of
such action from time to time''.
Approved March 8, 1899.