The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-03-18
MOST NOTABLE
Ruling In Pension Matters
Since the War.
Old Age Declared TO Be a Dis.
ability Under the Law.

ANT %hooN AoNeO-N A
of the union soldiers of the civil war,
that the pension bureau has
made in a great many years, has
been promulgated by authority of
the commissioner of pensions and ap-
proved by the secretary of the inter
ior. The ruling practically accom-
plishes. in part, what was sought to
be accomplished by the proposed SER
vice pension bills now pending in
congress.
The effect of the ruling is to de-
clare old age disability within the
meaning of the act of June %, 1890,
and to rate the pension according to
the age of the applicant. 1t is
broad and generous Interpretation
of the law designed to do justice to
the old soldiers and modifies some re-
strictions and rules that had been
made by former administrations of
pension bureau and never, until this
time, fully relaxed by succeeding ad-
Iministrations.
Whereas the act of June q, 1890, as
amended, provides that the claimant
shall .sbe entitled to receive a pen
sion not exceeding ei2 per month and
not less than IS per month, proper
toned to the degree or inability to
earn a support, and in determining
such inability each and every in
, trinity shall be duly considered, and
the aggregate of the disabilities
shown to be rated"
Whereas old age Is an infirmity, the
avSI age nature and extent of which
the experience of the pension bureau
r has establishment with reasonable GER
tainty, and
IL Whereas by act of congress In 1887
r when thirty-nine years had elapsed
= after the Mexican war, all soldiers o.
E said war who were over sixty year
E tof age were placed on the pension
: roll, and
,.I Whereas thirty-nine years vii
a have elapsed on April Is, 1904, sine
: the civil war, and there are man,
n survivors over sixty-two years o
Iage, now therefore.
ri Ordered: Q). In the adjudication
> iof pension claims under said act O
n June q, 1890. as amended. 1t shall b
a taken and considered as An evident
+ ial fact, If the contrary does not ar
q pear, and If all other legal require
9 ments are properly met, that, whe
81 a claimant has passed the age @
!. sixty-two years, he Is disabled ons
r, b alf in ability to perform manual L
Il Dor, and is entitled to be rated at Z
d per month. After sixty-ive years >
q % per month. After sixty-eigh
" years at so per month, and afte
e seventy years At el2 per month.
Isl (2l. Allowances at higher rat,
" not exceeding ei2 per mouth, wi
a continue to be made as heretofol
ls where disabilities other than az
a show a condition of inability TO pc
s. for N manual labor.
;kI (3l. This order shall take efet
e April l3, 1904, and shall not be deen
N e d retroactive. The former rules {
n the ONCE fixing the min'mu an
" maximum at sixty-6ve and sevent.
D. i've years respectively, are hereh
n. modified as above. Eff. Ware, Con
ID missioner of Pensions.
r Approved: E A. Hitchcock, Seer
-itary.
{, The ruling is identical with th
object of TIE bill introduced In th
house by Chairman Sulloway, of th
. COMMITTEE on invalid pensions. Fc
months Mr.. Sulloway has been
OF consultation with Officers of th
10 Grand Army and with the friends G
OF the old soldier in congress upon tn
n subject Last week IL was given ou
from the White House that ther
IN would be no service pensions bill =
s. this session and that Chairman Su
III loway acquiesced in the program {
non-action- At that time Il was sal
that the president had captured Nj
Sulloway, but the Developments I,
day show that Mr.. Sulloway had cal