The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-03-01

Il :
passed the House and is now before the
prompt passage.
! BILL
Making appropriations for the payment
of invalid and other pensions of the
United States for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1907, and for other pur-
poses.
| BE it enacted by the Senate and House
| of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, That
the following sums be, and the same are
hereby. appropriated. out of any money
priated, for the payment of pensions for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907. and
for other purposes. namely:
For army and navy pensions. as fol-
lows: For invalids. widows. minor chill
dren and dependent relatives army
nurses, and all other pensioners who
are now borne on the rolls. or who may
hereafter be placed thereon, under the
provisions of any and all Acts of Con-
gress. $139,00O.O00: Provided, That the
appropriation aforesaid for navy pen
sions shall be paid from the income of
the navy pension fund, SO far as the
same shall be sufficient for that pur-
pose: Provided further. That the
amount expended under each of the
above items shall be accounted for
separately: And provided further, That
age Is permanent specific disability
within the meaning Of the pension laws.
For fees and expenses of examining
surgeons. pensions, for services render
ed within the fiscal year 1907 100000.
And each member of each examining
board shall. as now authorized by law,
receive the sum of 50 for the examina-
ton of each applicant whenever five or
less number shall be examined on any
one day, and 81 for the examination of
each additional applicant on such day:
Provided. That if 90 or more applicants
appear on one day. no fewer than 20
shall. If practicable, be examined on
said day, and that if fewer examinations
be then made, 20 or more having ap-
peared. then there shall be paid for the
first examinations made on the next ex
animation day the fee of 81 only until
90 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
sisting in the examination of applicant:
And provided further, That the report
of such examining surgeons shall spe>
officially state the rating which in their
judgment the applicant is entitled to,
and the report of such examining sur
geons shall specifically and accurately
set forth the physical condition of the
applicant. each and every existing dis
ability being fully and carefully de-
scribed. The reports of the special ex-
aminers of the Bureau of Pensions shall
be open to inspection and copy by the
applicant or his attorney, under such
rules and regulations as the Secretary
Of the Interior may prescribe: And pro-
vided further, That no pension attor-
ney, claim agent, or other person shall
be entitled to receive any compensation
for services rendered in securing the
introduction of bill or the passage
thereof through Congress granting pen
sion or increase of pension; and any
person who shall, directly or indirectly,
contract for, demand. receive, or re-
tain any compensation for such ser
vices shall be deemed guilty Of an Of
Tense. and upon conviction thereof
shall, for each and every such offense,
be fined not exceeding $500 or fmpris-
oned not exceeding two years. or both.
in the discretion of the court.
For salaries OF Is agents for the pay
ment of pensions, at $4,000 each, $72,-
900.
For clerk hire, and other services
$435,000: Provided, That the amount
of clerk hire, and other services, for
each agency shall be apportioned as
nearly as practicable in proportion to
the number of pensioners paid at each
agency, and the salaries paid shall be
subject to the approval of the Secretary
of the Interior.
For rents, New York, $4,000: Wash
lnStOn, $Z.5OO, In all $7,OO0.
For stationery, fuel. lights, and other
necessary expenses. $4,000.
For examination and inspection of
pension agencies, as provided by the
final provision of the Act OF Aug 8,
1882, amending section 1865, Revised
Statutes, $500.
The main feature of interest i'm this
bill is the provision THAT age is
meaning of the pension laws" This
specifically enacts Order No. IS and
| places the principle underlying 1t upon
| the Statute Book beyond the reach of
change of mind of any future Commits
| sioner OF Pensions, Secretary Of the
| Interior or President of the United
States, even. 1t will become part Of
| the laws of the land and settle definite
| ly that every veteran who served 90
days i'm the army or navy of the United
States during the war Of the rebellion,
was honorably discharged, and has at
| tanned the age of 60, is entitled by those
facts to be placed upon the pension
| roll. In the report of the House Com
| mittee accompanying the Appropriation
| Bill Order No IS is described as fol-
| lows:
Under date of March Is, 1904, an
| order was issued to take effect April
Is, 1904, providing that in the adjudi-
| cation Of pension claims under the act
of June q, 1890. as amended, it should
be taken and considered as an evil
Dental fact, If the contrary did not ap-
pear, and If all other legal require
ments were properly met, that when a
claimant has passed the age of So years
he would be disabled one-half in ability
to perform manual labor and would be
| entitled to be rated at Sc per month
after IS years, at So per month; after
6S years. at $40 per month, and after
| 20 years, at $12 per month";
| Pension Commissioner Vespasian
Warner has accepted this order COR
daily and is endeavoring to faithfully
carry out its spirit and at once apply
it's benefits to all who are entitled to
them. The allowances under the Or
der from the date of it's issue April 13,
1904, to Jan. 81, 1906, inclusive. indi-
cate this very clearly, as the following
table of allowances under 1t will show: