The National tribune., 1900-04-19
DEPARTMENT AND
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS

DEPENDENT PARENTS PENSIONS.
SPANISH WAR.-On April u the House
passed, without amendment, the bill (Sen-
ate No. 1886 which provides: That
Section 4716 of the Revised Statutes be,
and the same is hereby, repealed so far as
the same may be applicable 10 the claims 10
pension of dependent parents of soldiers,
sailors, and marines who served in the
army or navy OF the nlted States during
the war with Spain"
Section 4716, Revised Statutes, referred
TO, is as follows: NO money on account of
pension shall be paid to any person, or TO
the widow, children, or heirs Of any de-
ceased person, who in any manner volun-
tarily engaged in, or aided or abetted, the
late rebellion against the authority of the
United States" (By ac.s Of March 3,
1877, and Aug. 1, 1892, persons who after
disloyal service voluntarily enlisted in the
army or navy and incurred disability in line
of duty, are excepted from the foregoing
statUte.)
The above bill is the first general pension
bill TO receive final favorable consideration
by the present Congress. Quite a number
of bills have passed one branch or the other,
but have as yet failed TO receive the APP
proval of both branches of Congress.
MEXICAN WAR SERTICE-PENSION.-
On April 8 the House of Representatives
passed a bill (House Bill $3.50 which pro-
videS as follows: That the benefits of the act
entitled An act granting increase of pension
to soldiers of the Mexican war in certain
cases. approved Jan. ), 1893, be, and they
are hereby, extended to all survivors of the
Mexican war who are pensionable under
existing Mexican war service-pension laws,
and vino have become or may hereafter be
come wholly disabled for manual labor and
in such destitute circumstances that IS per
month are insufficient to provide them the
necessaries Of life, irrespective Of the date
of the granting of the said service PEN
cir 'hn lnT of IDI rFfa
was so worded as TO provide for the increase
of the pension of only such Mexican war
service pensioners as were on the roll on
Jan. >, 1893. The bill now goes to the
Senate for concurrence.
TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES.-O April
S The Senate passed a bill (Senate No.
36f6) which provides: That when the
Secretary of War, in the exercise Of his
discretion, has directed the discharge of any
enlisted men of the regular or volunteer
forces OF the army, and the orders or in
structions directing such discharge stated
that such enlisted men were entitled to
travel pay, such order or instruction shall
be sufficient authority for the payment to
the soldiers OF the travelling allowances
provided for by section 1890 of the Re
vised Statutes. And officers of the Pay
Department Of the Army shall have credit
in the settlement of their accounts for all
payments made III obedience to said orders
or instructions of the Secretary of War:
Provided, That soldiers discharged under
snch orders or instructions, which stated
that such soldiers were entitled TO travel
pay, and who were absent by authority on
the date of the muster ont Of their regiments
or of discharge, are entitled TO and will be
paid travelling allowances from the place
Of muster out Of their regiments OF the
places designated in the final statements
as the place Of discharge TO the place Of
enlistment or enrolment: Provided fur
ther, That the provisions Of this act shall
apply only TO cases that have arisen or shall
arise under orders or instructions for dis
charge with travel pay issued between
April p, 1898, and the date of the passage
of this act: Provided further, That il
shall not be held as applying to any case
in which the order directing the discharge
did not set forth that the soldier was en-
titled to travel pay" The bill now goes 10
the House for concurrence.
ADDITIONAL NATIONAL HOME.-On
April u the Senate passed bill providing
for an additional branch Of the National
Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. TO
be located at Castle Pinckney, Charleston
Harbor, or elsewhere at or near Charleston.
5. G. The bill now goes 10 the House for
concurrence.