The National tribune., 1904-04-28
EXAMINING SURGEONS.
Tnly %, 1882. provides:

-n- 'uy %, 1SS2, provides:
The act 49, dow; =; boro
by authorized to appoint surgeons W.,
under his control and direction, shall make
SUI. eAanl.na ..o-i o, pensioners and claim
ants for pension or increased pension as
he shall require; and he shall organize
boards of surgeons, to consist of three
members each. at such points in each State
as he shall deem necessary, and all eX-
aminations, so far as practicable, shall be
made by the boards, and no examination
shall be made by one surgeon, excepting
under such circumstances as make 1t I'M
practical BILE for a claimant to present him
self before a board: Provided. That the
Commissioner may, when in his opinion
the eXigencies of the service require it. or
gaHiZe n board of three surgeons, who
under his direction, shall review the work
of any regularly appointed board or sur
geon: Provided further, That all eXami-
nations shall be thorough and searching
and the certificate contain full descrlp-
ton of the physical condition of the claim
ant at the time, which shall include all the
physical and rational signs and Il state
ment of all structural changes.
THE Commissioner may. when in his
Judgment the degree of disability cannot
be determined truthfully or satisfactorily
excepting by expert examination employ
geon, to make the examination; and the
fee for such examination shall be So:
Provided, That the fee for and expert eX-
animation shall not be paid to any regu-
larly appointed examining surgeon.
1.-THE fee for the examination of claim
ants who reside out of the United States
shall not exceed $40, which shall be paid,
upon the presentation of satisfactory
vouchers, out of the appropriation for the
annf Of ftn amin
through the United States consulate near
est to the claimants place of residence.
The act of March 6, 1896, provides:
Each member of each examining board
shall, as now authorized by law, receive
the sum of 81 for the examination of each
applicant whenever FIVE or q less number
shall be examined on any one day, and one
dollar for the examination of each addi-
tional applicant on such day: Provided.
That if 20 or more applicants appear on
one day. no fewer than 20 shall, if prac-
ticable. be examined on said day, and that
if fewer examinations be then made. 20
or more having appeared, then there shall
be paid for the first examinations made
on the next examination day the fee of 81
only until 20 examinations shall have been
made: Provided further. That no fee shall
be paid to any member of an examining
board unless personally present and as
ssting in the examination of applicant:
Provided, That the report of such ex-
nmining surgeons shall specifically state
the rating which in their judgment the ap-
plicant is entitled to-"
INSPECTION OF REPORT.
The act of July Is. 1904 provides:
That the report of such examining sur
geons when filed in the Pension Office shall
be open to the examination and inspection
of the claimant or his attorney. under such
reasonable rules and regulations as the
Secretary of the Interior may provide"
EXAMINATION AT HOME.
The act Of July %. 1882 provides:
when a claimant is so disabled as not
to be able TO present himself to a board
Of surgeons for examination, the Commits
sioner may order q surgeon to make the
examination at the claimants residence:
-, in addition to the payment Of the &C
tual travelling expenses Of the surgeon"
EXAMINATION BY CIVIL SURGEONS.
II there is no board of surgeons or duly
appointed single surgeon. within 100 miles
of the residence of a claimant an order
for examinat ton may be secured before a
physician in the immediate vicinity if the
facts are shown to the Commissioner of
Pensions. This is under the authority of
section ATT, Revised Statutes, which pro-
yides:
THE Commissioner Of Pensions is en-
powered to appoint, at his discretion. civil
surgeons to examine applicants
for pension where he deems an examina-
ton by a surgeon appointed by him nee
essary: and the fee for such examinations.
and the requisite certificates thereof, in
duplicate, shall be 50. which shall be paid
Nv no fnr in no
district within which the pensioner or
claimant resides, out of any money appro-
priated for the payment of pensions. I'M
der such regulations as the Commissioner
OF Pensions may prescribe
CLAIMANTS RIGHTS AS TO EXAMINATION.
In addition TO having the right to ex-
animation at his home if physically unable
tn report to the nearest board or single
surgeon, and not being obliged to travel n
long distance to be examined, a pension
claimant is not obliged to report to any
board or single surgeon through whom he
has reason TO believe he cannot obtain JUS
tice.
Nor is he obliged to report for examina-
ton within the time specified in the order
sent him. III, however. he fails to report
within the time specified. he cannot be ex-
emined without obtaining new order,
which may be had on proper showing.
4 decision rendered June 80, 1896.
holds:
Il. Whenever q claimant shall have
been ordered, and appears before a board
OF examining surgeons for examination,
all the members of such board shall par
ticipate in such examination. and no GER
tiicate from such board will be accepted
which fails to show this fact, save only
In cases where claimant on appearing.
and finding a less number of surgeons than
the full board present shall consent. in
writing on such certificate. To he examined
by the members of said board then pres
ent.
20. The secretary of the board shall
certify on the back of the certificate the
names Of all the members of the board who
were present and participating i'm such ex-
animation, and when full board have
participated i'm the examination, the GER
tifcate of the secretary OF the board will
suffice; but in case full board is not
present the applicant may refuse to be ex-
amined. and appear at later day before
full board.
-. These rules shall take effect only
from the LIST day of October, 1896, and are
not intended to disturb cases heretofore
adjudicated, in good faith. according to
the practice heretofore existing in the Blu