The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-09-28
Increased Pensions for Widows Of
Soldiers,

washington since the passage OF tne
Ashbrook widows pension law ask
ing what are the terms of the mea-
sure and what it really does. Few
pieces of legislation Of the past ses-
sion have seemingly attracted the
notice this one has. Certain it is that
the new law comes home to great
numbers of widows of old soldiers all
over the nation, by far the larger part
of them being favored by it.
The new law does not apply to
Spanish war widows. but widows of
wars except the Spanish are bene-
fciaries, including the civil war, In
dian wars, the Mexican war, and the
war of 1912. And there are still a
few survivors of the 1912 war.
"The bill provides that all widows
who were the wives of soldiers of the
civil war during the period of their
service shall be entitled to $50 per
month.
"This is regardless of whether they
have reached the age of 20 or not.
TN fact, all widows who were the
wives of soldiers while the soldiers
were in service are entitled to $50
per month, regardless of age
Author Explains 1t.
In making this statement, it has
to be borne in mind the new law does
not apply to Spanish war widows in
any sense.
The following statements about
the bill are on the authority of Rep
resentative Ashbrook Of Ohio, author
of the measure:
ut raises the marriage restrictions
from June II, 1890, to June 81, 1905
that is, fifteen years.
cit restores to remarked widows
their former pensionable status re-
CARELESS of other marriages.
"Widows who have been or may
be divorced without fault on their
part are also entitled to a pension.
All such widows under the age Of 10
are entitled to $12 per month and
all over 10 years old are entitled to
$40 per month.
"All widows who we're the wives
of soldiers during their service are
entitled to $40 per month whether 20
years of age or not.
'Widows of all wars except the
Spanish war are beneficiaries, includ-
ing civil, Mexican, Indian and the
war of 1912, of which there are still
a few survivors"
Widows Up To 1905.
By raising the marriage restric-
tons to June q, 1905, is meant
that a widow who married prior to
that date under the terms of the law
shall have title to pension. Under
the law hitherto the date was June
81, 1890.
Practically the chief features of
the law may be summed up in this
way: , Widows heretofore receiving
$12 get $40, if they are 70 years of
age or were the lawful wives of SOL
diers during the period of service;
the bar is removed on remarked
widows and those divorced without
fault on their part, and the marriage
restrictions which formerly began in
1890 do not apply until 1905.
Widows on the pension roll when
the law was passed, Sept. 8 of this
year, will not be required to file an
other application, and their increase
begins the date the law was passed.
They will however, be required to
prove their age where the age restric-
ton applies in the same way as SOL
diers under the Sherwood law. Those
not on the pension roll, but who are
an application.
Pension agents and attorneys are
allowed to charge a fee of $40 for
original claims, but can make no
charge for those already pensioners.
The house has passed the Key bill
which provides for pension of $12
per month for Spanish war widows
and Senator Lewis has announced he
will press this in the senate next ses-
sion.
Text of the Bill.
Following is the language of the
Ashbrook bill, copies of which are
asked for from the pension Office by
the hundred and the thousand from
all parts of the country:
An act Oh. r. HOOD to amend an
act entitled can act to increase the
pensions of widows and minor chill
dren, etc., of deceased soldiers and
sailors of the late civil war, the war
with Mexico, the various Indian wars,
etc., and. to grant a pension to GER
tain widows of the deceased soldiers
and, sailors of the late civil war;" ap-
proved April 10, 1908, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted, etc., that from and
after the passage of this act the rate
of pension for widow, now on the
roll or hereafter to be placed on the
pension roll and entitled to receive a
less rate than hereinafter provided,
who was the lawful wife of any offic
er or enlisted man in the army, navy,
or marine corps of the United States,
during the period of his services in
the civil war shall be $40 per month, !
and the rate of pension for a widow !
of an officer or enlisted man of the
army, navy or marine corps of the
United States who served in the civil :
war, the war with Mexico the war |
Of 1912, now on the roll hereafter
to be placed on the pension roll and i
entitled to receive a less rate that |
shall hereafter reach the age of 70 |
years shall be $40 per month. and
nothing herein shall be construed to
affect the existing allowance of 81
per month for each child under the !
age of Is years and for each helpless
child; and all acts or parts of acts
Inconsistent with the provisions of
this act are hereby reDealed: PrOyid-