The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-02-20
Sl2 Pension to all Soldiers Widows

Congressman Boohers bill to increase
the pensions of widows and minor chill
dren of soldiers and sailors of the late
Civil War, the war with Mexico and
the Indian wars, passed the house last
Friday and will without doubt pass the
senate as it will have favorable report
from the senate committee. The bill
went through the house with but few
minor amendments, the latter in no way
changing the intention of the bill as
originally presented by Mr.. Booher.
This act will be of great Importance
to the dependents of the nation and a
specially good feature is that it removes
the property disqualification which
heretofore had made it impossible for
widow to secure pension who had an
income of $3.50 per annum. The bill
was introduced January 20, and so we'll
was it regarded that it passed the house
week later. The bill follows:
Be it enacted by the senate and house
of representatives of the United States
of America in congress assembled, that
from and after the passage of this act
the rate Of pension for widows, minor
children under the age Of sixteen years
and helpless minors, as defined by ex-
listing laws, now on the roll or hereafter
to be placed on the pension roll and
entitled to receive loss rate than
hereafter provided, shall be twelve dol
lars per month; and nothing herein shall
be construed to effect the existing al
lowance of two dollars per month for
each child under the age of sixteen
years and for each helpless child; and
all acts or parts of acts inconsistent
with tho srsN - oo4
hereby repealed: Provided, however,
that this act shall not be so construed
as to reduce any pension under any act,
public or private.
Section 2. That if any officer or en-
listed man who served ninety days or
more in the army or navy of the United
States during the late civil war and
who has been honorably discharged
therefrom has died or shall hereafter
die, leaving widow, such widow shall,
upon due proof Of her husband s death,
without proving his death to be the re-
suit of his army or navy service, be
placed on the pension roll from the date
Of the application therefor under this
act at the rate Of twelve dollars per
month during her widowhood, provided
that said widow shall have married said
soldier or sailor prior to June q, 1880,
and the benefits of this section shall in
clude those widows whose husbands
are given a pensionable status under
the act Of February Is, 1895, and the
joint resolutions of July 1, 1902, and
June %, 1906.
Section 3. That no claim agent or
attorney shall be recognized in the adj
Indication of claims under the first sec
ton of this act, and that no agent, at
torney, or other person engaged in pre-
pairing, presenting, or prosecuting any
claim under the provisions Of the sec
ond section of this act shall, directly or
indirectly, contract for, demand, re-
ceive, or retain for such services in pre-
pairing, presenting or prosecuting such
claim sum greater than ten dollars,
which sum shall be payable only upon
the order of the commissioner of pen
sions by the pension agent making pay
ment of the pension allowed; and any
person who shall violate any of the pro-
visions of this section or who shall
wrongfully withhold from the pensioner
or claimant the whole or any part of a
pension or claim allowed or due such
pensioner or claimant under sthis act
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemean-
or, and upon conviction thereof shall
for each and every such offense, be fined
not exceeding five hundred dollars OF
be imprisoned at hard labor not exceed.
ing two years, or both, in the discretion
of the court.