The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-31
COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.

COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.
Section 40, Revised Statutes, as
amended by the act of March ), 1881, pro-
vides:
There shall be in the Department of
the Interior a Commissioner of Pensions,
who shall be appointed by the President.
by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, and shall be entitled to receive
a salary of $1,000 q year."
Section All, Revised Statutes. provides:
1.-THE Commissioner of Pensions shall
perform, under the direction of the Sec
rotary of the Interior, such duties in the
execution of the various pension ana
bOunty-land laws as may be prescribed by
the President"
DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS OF PENSIONS
Section 472, Revised Statutes. as amend
ed by the acts of March 5, 1881, ana Au-
gust 5, 1882. provides:
There shall be in the Department or
the Interior a First Deputy Commissioner
of Pensions and a Second Deputy COM
missioner of Pensions, who shall be ap-
pointed by the President, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate. VINO
shall be charged with such duties in the
Pension Bureau as may be prescribed
BY the Secretary of the Interior or may
be required by law; and in case of death,
resignation, absence. or sickness OF the
Commissioner his duties shall deyoive
upon the First Deputy Commissioner until
his successor is appointed or such absence
or sickness ceases, and in case OF like
absence of the Commissioner and First
Deputy Commissioner the Second Deputy
Commissioner shall act as Commissioner
in like manner
| MEDICAL REFEREE.
Section 4716, Revised Statutes. prov
ides:
THE Secretary of the Interior is au-
thorized to appoint a duly qualified Sur
geon as medical referee, who under the
control and direction of the Commissioner
of Pensions, shall have charge of the ex-
animation and revision of the reports of
examining Surgeons. and such other du-
ties touching medical and surgical ques-
tons in the Pension Office as the interests
of the service may demand.
SALARIES IN TIE PENSION BUREAU.
The provision of law as to the number
and salaries of officers and employees OF
the Pension Bureau is substantially as fol-
lows:
The Commissioner of Pensions. $1,000:
First Deputy Commissioner, S3.6OO; Sec
ond Deputy Commissioner, $4,000: chief
clerk. Sc. $50: assistant chief clerk, $1,000;
medical referee, $1,000; assistant medical
referee $3.50; two qualified surgeons.
who shall be experts in their profession,
at So 600 each; So medical examiners, who
shall be surgeons of education, skill. and
experience in their profession, at Sl.SUO
each; 10 chiefs of divisions, at $1,000
each; law clerk. $1,000: 5S principal ex-
aminers, $4,000 each; 20 assistant chiefs
Of division. at 81 800 each; three stenog-
raphers, at 81 600 each; 30 clerks Of class
four; So clerks of class three; $50 clerks
of class two; 43S clerks of class one. 2oI
clerks at $1,000 each one superintendent
of building, 81 400; two engineers, at
81 200 each; 175 cOpyists; 33 messengers;
- assistant messengers; ~ messenger
boys at $4OO each; one painter, skilled in
his trade, $500: one cabinetmaker, skilled
in his trade, $500; one captain of the
watch. $40; three sergeants of the watch
at $3.50 each; 20 watchmen: three fremen;
25 laborers; FIVE female laborers, at $500
each; and Is charwomen; and also loo
special examiners for one year, at sal
airy of 81 800 each; and no person SO ap-
pointed shall be employed in the State
from which he is appointed: and any of
those now employed in the Pension Office
or as special examiners may be reap
pointed if they be found to be qualified:
Provided, That two special examiners or
clerks detailed and acting as chief and as
sistant chief of the division of special ex-
aminers or clerks detailed and acting as
chief and assistant chief Of the division of
special examiners may be allowed, in ad-
dition to their salaries and in lieu of per
diem and all expenses for subsistence.
sum sufficient to make their annual COM
pensation $1,000 and 81 800. respectively
And whenever it may be necessary for
either of them to travel on official business
outside the District OF Columbia by spe
cial direction Of the Commissioner, he
shall receive the same allowance in lieu
Of subsistence and for transportation as is
provided for special examiners and de-
tailed clerks engaged in field service.
SIGNING OF COMMISSIONERS NAME.
Section 473, Revised Statutes provides:
1.-THE Commissioner Of Pensions is au-
thorized, with the approval Of the Secre
tary of the Interior. to appoint a person
to sign the name Of the Commissioner to
certificates or warrants for bounty lands.
and certificates or warrants so signed shall
be as valid as if signed by the Commits
eioner."
INSPECTION OF PENSION AGENCIES.
The act Of August 8, 1882, amending
Section 4766, Revised Statutes, provides:
The Commissioner Of Pensions may,
when in his judgment it shall be deemed
necessary or proper, visit In person, for
the purpose of examination and inspection,
Or may send any one or more Of the Off
GERS Of his Bureau for that purpose, any
OF the pension agencies or medical exam
lining boards or surgeons; and the neces-
sary and actual expenses of such visits
shall be paid by the Secretary Of the In
terror, upon properly executed vouchers,
out of the contingent fund Of said Bureau"
PRINTED INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMS.
Section 474S, Revised Statutes, prov
ides:
The Commissioner Of Pensions, on ap-
plication being made to him In person or
by letter by any claimant or applicant for
pension. bounty land, or other allowance
required by law to be adjusted or paid
by the Pension Once, shall furnish such
person, free of all expense, all such
printed instructions and forms as may be
necessary In establishing and obtaining
such claim and on the issuing Of certifi-
cate Of pension or OF a bounty-land war
rant he shall forthwith notify the claim
ant or applicant, and also the agent or at
torney In the case, il there be one. that
such certificate has been issued or allow
ance made, and the date and amount
thereof"
INVESTIGATION OF PENSION CASES.
As shown above, provision Is made for
the appointment Of number Of special
examiners" for the investigation of pen