Case Name: HATTIE A. BURNETT v. THE UNITED STATES
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1885-12-21
Citations: 21 Ct. Cl. 494
Docket Number: 
Parties: HATTIE A. BURNETT v. THE UNITED STATES.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 21
Pages: 494–494

Head Matter:
HATTIE A. BURNETT v. THE UNITED STATES.
(20 C. Cls. R., 190; 116 U. S. R., 158.)
On the claimant’s Appeal.
An officer, for permanent specific disability, is allowed a pension of |72 a month. After his death his widow is allowed $30.
. The court below decides—
(1.) A widow is entitled, under Revised Statutes, section 4702, to the same pension that the husband “would have been entitled to had he been totally disabled," and not to the pension that the husband was receiving.
(2.) The policy of the pension laws is to equalize the means of support for the three classes of pensioners designated in Revised Statutes, section 4692. When death ensues, the financial loss to the family being the same in each class, the same pension is allowed to the widow, viz, that given for “ total disability.”
The judgment of the court below is affirmed on the éame grounds.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice HarlAN
delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court, December 21, 1885.