The National tribune., 1904-01-14
UNITED STATES PENSION LAWS
Comprehensive Digest OF Pension Legislation From the Founda
lion of the Government
Copy rieh,cd. 1904, by The NATIONAL TRIBUNE.

wounds was first declared as comforting
pensionable title, on their widows anu chill
dren, by, the act of March 3. 1917. This
law was applicable to service from June
Is, 1872. to January -. 1924, when it
was repealed.
The act of Aug. II, 1S4S. fixed the
final status of widows and children's pen-
sion title where the service of the officer,
sailor, or marine was rendered before
March 4, 1861, and is now embodied in SEC
ton APO, Revised Statutes, which is as
/ follows:
the preceding section has died in the serv-
ice. of injury received or disease contracted
under the conditions therein stated, his
widow shall be entitled to receive half the
monthly pay to which the deceased was
entitled at the date of his death; and i'll
case of her death or marriage, the child or
children under is years of age shall be
entitled to the pension. But the rate of
pension herein allowed shall be governed
by the pay Of the Navy as it. existed in
January, 1885: and the pension of the
widow of Chief Engineer shall be the
same as that of a widow Of First Lieu
| tenant in the Navy. the pension of the
widow of First Assistant Engineer shall
be the same as that of the widow of a
Lieutenant of Marines the pension of the
widow ofsa Second or Third Assistant En-
gineer, the same as that of the widow of a
forward officer; the pension of the widow
of a fireman or coalhCaver shall be the
same as that of the widow of seaman.
But the rate of pension prescribed by this
and the preceding section shall be varied
from and after the 18th day of July. 1866.
in accordance with the provisions of sec
ton 4712 of this Title; and the widow of
| an engineer, fireman, or coalheaver shall
not be entitled to any pension by reason
of the death of her husband, if his death
was va, prior to the 31st day of August,
AT TIE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REBELLION.
When the war of the rebellion began
If fefs the w aet o Hpr a. sS
'Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That
all laws and regulations, relating to the
admission of the officers and soldiers of
the Regular Army to be placed on the pen
sion roll of the United States: shall, and
they. are hereby declared to, relate equally
to the officers and soldiers Of the militia.
whilst in the service of the United States
General Order No. 10 of the War De-
partment, dated May 4, 1861, and based on
the Presidents proclamation of May 3,
volunteers, contained the following:
ANY volunteer who may be received
into the service of the United States under
this plan, and who may be wounded or
otherwise disabled in the service, shall be
entitled to the benefits which have been, or
IL
the regular service: and the legal heirs of
such as die or may be killed in the service,
in addition to all arrears of pay and al
lowances, shall receive the sum of $780,"
This was the first official expression on
the subject of pensions for service. or dis
ability incurred, in the late war of the re-
belliOn, and was substantially enacted into
law by act of July %, 1861.
THE GENERAL Law AS TO INVALID PENSION
The act of July IA. 1862. furnished the
basis Of sections 1923. Revised Statutes.
which are as follows, and constitute the
general law as-to invalid pensions for dis
ability incurred in service after March 4,
1861:
..See. 1862. Every person specified in the
several classes enumerated in the follow
liz section, who has been, since the 18th
day of March, 1861. or who is hereafter
disabled under. the conditions therein stat
ed, shall, upon making due proof of the
fact, according to such forms and regula-
tons as are or may be provided in pur-
suance of law, be placed on the list of in
valid pensioners of the United States, and
be entitled to receive, for a total disability,
or permanent specific disability, such
pension as is hereinafter provided in such
cases; and for an inferior disability, ex-
cept in cases of permanent specific dis
ability, for which the rate of pension is
expressly provided, an amount proportion
ate to that provided for total disability :
and such pension shall commence as here
matter provided. and continue during the
existence of the disability.
See. 4G)J. The persons entitled as bene-
ficiaries under the preceding section are
as follows:
First. ANY officer of the Army, includ-
ing Regulars volunteers, and militia, or
any officer in the Navy or Marine Corps. or
any enlisted man. however employed, in the
military or naval service of the United
States, or in its Marine Corps, whether
regularly mustered or not, disabled by rea-
son of any wound or injury received, or
disease contracted, while in the service of
the United States and in the line of duty.
Second. Any master serving on a gun
boat, or any pilot, engineer. sailor, or other
person not regularly mustered, serving
upon any gunb0at or war-yessel of the
United States. disabled by any wound or
injury received, or otherwise incapacitated.
while in the line of duty, for procuring his
subsistence by manual labor
Third. ANY person not an enlisted SOL
der In the Army. serving for the time be-
ing as member of the militia of any State,
under orders of an officer of the United
States, or who volunteered for the time be-
ing to serve with any regularly organized
military or naval force of the United
States, or who otherwise volunteered and
rendered service in any engagement with
, rebels or Indians disabled i'm consequence
OF wounds or injury received in the line of
duty in snch temporary service. But no
claim OF State mihtiaman, or non-enlisted
person, on account of disability from
wounds or injury received in battle with
rebels or Indians, while temporarily rem.
dering service, shall be valid unless prose-
cuted to successful issue prior to the 4th
day of July, 1874. lAct OF July 4, 1864. }
Fourth. Any acting assistant or con-
tract surgeon disabled by any wound or
injury received or disease contracted in
| the line of duty while actually performing
the duties of assistant surgeon with any
military force in the field or in transitu or
in hospital. (Act of March 3, 1869
Fifth. Any provost-marshal, deputy
provost ma rshal, or enrolling officer dis
| abled, by reason of any wound or injury,
received in the discharge of his duty, to
procure subsistence by manual labor
(Act of yulys25. 1867
Medical cadets in the Army. authorized
by act of Aug. 3, 1861, are regarded as
having been enlisted men and are within
| the general law. Professors in the Mill
| tary Academy and civil engi:e,rs in the
Navy are also within the Eneral law !;
but not naval constructors, or employees
in the Quartermaster's or Ordnance De-
partments.
THE SPANISH WAR.
The act of April %, 1893, provides:
Sec: II. That all officers and enlisted