The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-19
NATIONAL WASHINGTON o. THURSDAY NAY H. 1901
UNITED STATES PENSION LAWS.
Comprehensive Digest Of Pension Legislation From the Founda
ton of the Government
Otyrighted. 1904. by The NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
ILLEGAL ATTORNEY FEES.

person iIiStruHiental III prosecuting all!
claim for pension or bounty land, who
shall, directly or indirectly. contract for.
demand, or receive or retain any greater
compensation for his services or instru-
mentality in prosecuting claim for pen
sion or bounty land than is provided i'll the
title pertaining to pensions. or who shall
wrongfully withhold from n pensioner or
sion or claim allowed and due such pen
sioner or claimant. or the land warrant
issued to any such claimant. shall be
deemed guilty of a high msdemeanor. and
upon conviction thereof shall for every
such offense he fined not exceeding $500.
or Imprisonment ut hard labor not exceed
ing two years. or both at the discretion of
the court"
The pension act Of June p. 1890. pro-
vidcs:
"Sec. 4. That no agent. attorney. or
other person engaged in preparing. pre-
stnting. or prosecuting any claim under
the provisions of this act SHALL directly or
indirectly. contract for. demand. receive.
or retain for such services in preparing.
presenting or prosecuting such claim
sum greater than $40. which sum shall be
paya bic only upon the order Of the Com
missioner of Pensions. by the pension
agent making payment OF the pension al
lowed. and any person who shall violat"
any Of the provisions Of this section or
W Hu SHUi WTousIufJS NttHH'i HUM
pensioner or claimant the whole or any
part of pension or claim allowed or due
such pensioner or claimant under this act.
shall he deemed guilty of q misdemeanor.
and upon conviction thereof shall. for each
and every such offense. he fined not ex-
ceeding $500. or be imprisoned Mt harl
labor not exceeding two years. or both. III
the discretion of the court"
The armv nurses pension act OF AL
gust :. 1892 provides:
"Sec 3 That no fee. compensation. or
allowance shall he paid to. received. or
accepted by any agent. attorney. or other
person instrumental in the prosecution OF
any claim for pension under this act: and
any person who may make any claim upon
any applicant for any fee. COMPENSATION.
or allowance shall he guilty of misae.
meanor. and unon conviction shall he fined
not exceeding 500. or imprisoned ut hard
labor not exceeding ore year. or both. in
the discretion of the court: ard it shall he
the duty Of the Interior and War Depart
ments to render all proper aid to appll-
cants under this act"
Section 5JO1, Revised Statutes, pro
vides
Every officer Of the United States. AMI
every person acting for or on behalf "f
the United Stntes i'm any official capa city.
under or fy virtue of the authority of any
Departmeiit on office Of the Government
thereof: and every officer or, persOn acting
for or ON behalf Of either House OF Con
gress. or If aUx committee of either House
or of hotli1 Hauses thereof who asks. ac-
cepts. or receives any money or any con
tract. promise! undertaking. Obligation
gratuity. or security for the payment OF
money or1for Abe delivery or CONVEYANCE
of anything Of value. with intent to have
his decision or action on any question
matter. cause. or proceeding which may at
any time be pending. or which may be by
law brought before him in his official ca
nacity or IN his place Of trust or profit.
Influenced. thereby. shall be punished as
prescribed in the preceding section.
(The preceding section. $500. Revised
Statutes. imposes q punishment by fine
not more than three times the amount
asked. accepted. or received. and by inn
prisonment rot more than three years.
Section 5451. Revised Statutes. pro-
vides:
''Every person who promises. offers. or
gives. or causes or procures to be promised.
offered. or given. any money or other thing
of value. or makes or tenders any contract.
undertaking. obligation. gratuity. or Sc
curitv for the payment OF money. or for
the delivery or conveyance of anything OF
value. to any officer of the United States.
or to any person acting for or on behalf of
under or by authority of any Department
or office Of the Government thereof. or
to any officer or person acting for or on
behalf of either House of Congress. or of
any committee Of either House or
both Houses thereof. with intent to
influence his decision or action on
any question. matter. cause or proceeding
which may ut any time be pending. or
which may by law he brought before him
i'm his official capacity or in his place OF
trust or profit. or with intent to influence
him TO commit or aid in committing. or to
collide in or allow any fraud. or make
opportunity for the commission of any
fraud. on the United States. or to induce
him to do or omit to do any act in viola
ton of his lawful duty. shall be punished
as prescribed i'm the preceding section"
CThe preceding section. $3.50. Revised
Statutes. imposes a punishment by a fine
not more than three times the amount Of
money or value of the thing so offered.
promised given. made. or rendered. or
Used. given. made. or rendered, and shall
he. moreover. imprisoned not more than
three years.
FALSE PRESERVATION OF GOVERNMENT
OFFICER.
The act of April Is, 1884. provides:
Every person who. with intent to de
fraud either the United States or any per
son, falsely assumes or pretendS TO be an
officer or employee acting under the au
tllority of the United States. or any De-
partment or any officer of the Govern
ment thereof. and who shall take upon
himself to act as such, or who shall in
such pretended character demand or oh
tain from any person or from the United
States. or any Department or any officer
of the Government thereof, any money,
paper document, or other valuable thing
shall be deemed guilty of felony. and SHALL
Oh conviction thereof. be punished by a
fine of not more than 81 900 or imprison-
ment not longer than three years, or both
said punishments, in the discretion of the
court
no FEE TO GOVERNMENT OFFICERS IN PEN
- Sion CLAIMS.
Section 1882, Revised Statutes, pro-
vides:
mo SerntT. Representative, or Dele
gate. after his election and during his con-
tinuance I'M ofiire, and 10 head Of De-
partment Or other officer or clerk in the
employ of the Government shall receive or
agree to receive any compensation what
ever, directly or indirectly, for any SER
vices rendered or to be rendered to any
person, either by himself or another. in
relation to any proceeding. contract, claim,
controversy, charge, accusation, arrest. or
other matter Or thing in which the United
States is party, directly or indirectly in
teraSted hefope, any DeD8 mant court-