The National tribune., 1900-02-08
PENSION COMMITTEE RULES.
Regulations Adopted Concerning the Consid-
erations of Applications for Special PEN
sion Bills

Regulations Adopted Concerning the Consid.
erations of Applications for Special Pen.
sion Bills.
On motion of Chairman Gallinger the
Senate has adopted the following rules fol
the government of the Pension Committee
The same will be adopted for the House
Committee on Invalid Pensions:
I. No bill will be considered by this Com.
mittee unless application for pension OF
increase of pension has first been made to
the Bureau of Pensions, nor while the
claim is pending in the Bureau, except in
cases where conclusive proof is presented
that the claimant has no pensionable status
under existing laws. Claims passed upon
by the Bureau, whether allowed or re-
Jected,>will not be given consideration until
a period at of least one year has elapsed:
PrOrided, hOlreUer, That in case of persons
over 20 years of age, or claims which have
been rejected because they do not techni-
cally come within the provisions of ex-
listing law, the requirement as to time may
be waived.
2. Where original pension or increase
OF pension has been allowed by special
act, no proposition for additional pension
will be entertained.
3. In no case will the allowance of arrears
be recommended in special pension bill.
q. Bills proposing to pension sons or
daughters of soldiers will not be enter
talned except in cases where the bene-
hclary has been idiotic, deformed, or other
wise mentally or physically incapacitated
from birth or early childhood, and then
only In cases of destitution. In such
cases the rate allowed shall not exceed
$12 per month.
b. Bills for increasing pensions which
have been granted by the Bureau at the
maximum rate under the act of June 81,
1890, Will not be given consideration except
in cases of actual destitution or extreme
nhNElcal Ho1 Ena 'b,@
where pension has been allowed under the
act Of June 27, 1890, and rejected claim
exists under the general law, the equities
IN the latter claim may be considered in
connection with the bill.
q. Where pension has been allowed at the
rate OF IS per month under the law of 1887,
granting service pensions to soldiers and
widows Of soldiers of the Mexican War, no
proposition for increase will be entertained
until after application has been made to the
Pension Bureau and action taken thereon
under the amended Mexican pension law
granting S12 per month to such as are
wholly disabled for manual labor and in
destitute circumstances: PrOuided, hou-
eoer, That If application for increase has
been pending in the Bureau for the period
OF one year the provisions of this rule may
be waived.
z. Bills proposing TO pension men who
were not mastered into the military service
except hi cases where in emergencies they
performed military duty and were wounded
or unless some special or extraordinary
service was rendered in connection with the
Army, are not admissible.
8. No widows pension will be recon-
mended IN excess of the maximum rate
allowed by law, except in cases Of desttu-
ton or extreme physical disability, 10 be
substantiated by sworn testimony, in
cluding the claimants affidavit; and in no
case VIII pension be recommended for a
widow at a higher rate than $50 per month.
8. Consideration will not be given to any
bill which proposes to restore TO the roll the
name OF widow whose pension was for
feited by remarriage unless she was the wife
OF the soldier during the period of his mill
tary service, and is now a widow in actual
need.
10. Bills proposing TO pension brothers or
sisters OF soldiers are not admissible
IL. Bills for original pension will ordi-
narily be considered by this Committee in
preference to those for increase.
II. Upon request of a Senator any bill
Will be promptly referred TO subcommittee,
but the bill must be reported back to the full
committee for consideration and action.
13. An authorized statement by men,
Der OF the Committee, or by the Senator
introducing bill, as 10 the circumstances
OF the claimant, will be required when salts
factory evidence does not appear among
he papers accompanying the bill.