The National tribune., 1906-11-01
PENSION POINTERS.
INQUIRIES Answered and Suggestions
Made.

p. G. s.. Brooklyn.-An officer of the
Marine Corps is entitled to have his
longevity pay computed from the date
! he accepted his appointment, and not
from the date he took the oath of Office.
as the provision requiring him to take
the cath is directory only, and not con-
dition precedent to his rights to COM
pensation.
L. N, .Middlebury, VT. There is
no law granting pension to a widow of
| the Spanish War soldier unless her
husbands death was due to his service.
/ .. The act of March 3, 1899. does not
require that she must have been the
wife of the soldier during the Spanish
| American War. g. The rate for a
widow of private in said war is s12
per month 4. If a civil war soldier
| married subsequent to the act of March
| 3. 1893, the widow would have title to
pension under the general law, provid-
ed she lived with the soldier contin-
uously up to the date of his death, if
otherwise entitled. 5. A widow would
have no title under the act of June 81.
1890. If married after the passage OF
the act of that date. 6. The rules of
the Pension Bureau require that before
claim will be made special proof must
be furnished showing that the claimant
"a destitute and unable 20 earn a sup
port or sick and not expected TO re-
cover. 7. Wa u3Is~"talI tt..t 1-lpclls
| to the Secretary Of the Interior are
| now acted upon in from 30 to 80 days,
according to the number of casee
| awaiting action in the Board of APP
peals. (3} Application should be made
| to the Auditor for the War Department,
U. S. Treasury Department, for any pay
| that 4 soldier did not receive during his
military service.
]. g.. Conneautville, Pa-Asks the
date that the first pension law was en-
scted. Cur pension system, is older than
| the Declaration OF Independence The
Pilgrims in 1886 agreed that any man
| who should be sent fortl, as q soldier
ard returned manned should he main
| tained competently by the colony dur
ing his life This was in all probabili-
ty the first sembiance of a pension law.
In 1876 the committee of the General
Court of Massachusetts, Bay Colony
/ held regular meetings in Boston
Tcwne House. to consider applications
| Ali wounded soldiers were relieved. In
i fe44 the Virginia Assembly passed 2
disability pension law. The law pro,
vidcd for the RELIEF of the indigeat
! families of soldiers who should be slain.
This was probably the first act that
provided for widows. In the latter part
of the 18th century Maryland and New
York passed similar acts. Rhode Island
appears to be more liberal than any OF
| the other colonies. In 1T1S there was
! enacted pension law which provided
that every officer, soldier or sailor en-
! Dioyed in the cciony's service who
should be disabled by loss of limb or
| otherwise from gaining livelihood for
himself and family or other dependent
| relatives should have his wounds care
! fully looked after and healed at the
| colony's charge, and should have ar
annual pension for the maintenance oi
| himself and family or other dependent
relatives. The first National pension
law was that of Aug. 26. 1875, which
promised half-pay for life or during
disability to every officer, soldier ol
| sailor losing limb in any engagement
| or being so disabled in the service oi
| the United States as to render him in
capable of earning a livelihood. Or
| Aug. "a, 1880, the pension was extend
| ed to widows and orphan children. This
! is the first National pension law ir
behalf of widows and children. Or
/ April %, 1882. Congress provided that
the sick or wounded or those unfit foI
/ duty should be discharged and pen.
stoned at the rate of S5 per month. II
| appears that Congress was more liberal
! with promises than with the money
/ as the pensions were not always paid
| Many received CON mutation certificates
4 payable TO them or bearer and drawine
| interest at six per cent. but no provi-
| sion was made for paying either. Many
/ were compelled to sell their certificates
| for one-half or one-third of their face
| value.