Year: 1877

We are glad so see that our able and viz .lant Representative in the National Congress is at work like a beaver, and determined to secure justice, if possible, to the surviving soldiers and sailors of the Mexican, Florida, and Black Hawk Wars. The following is the bill introduced by him on Oct. 18th, on the first call of the States for bills and joint reso- lutions. The bill was read twice, referred to Committee on Invalid Pensions and ordered printed. We believe the measure will become a law at the present session:

 A Bill granting pensions to certain

 soldiers and sailors of the Mexican,

 Florida, and the Black Hawk wars,

 and certain widows of deceased

 soldiers and sailors of the same.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and

 House of Representatives of the

 United Stat $ of America in Con-

 gless assembled.

 That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place on the pension rell the names of the surviving officers and enlisted men, including militia and volunteers of the military and naval services of the United States, who served thirty days in the war ot eighteen hundred and forty-six with Mexico, or in the Florida war or in the Black Hawk war thirty days, and were honorably discharged, and to such other officers and soldiers and sailors as may have been personally named in any resolution of Congress for any specific service in said war, although their term of service may have been less than thirty days, and who shall subscribd an oath to sup port the Constitution of the United States, and the surviving widows Of such officers and enlisted men as were married prior to the discharge of such officers and enlisted men :: Provided, That such widows shall not have remarried.

 Sec. ?. That this act shall not ap- ply to any persoh who is receiving a pension at the rate of eight dollars or more per month. nor to any person receiving pension less than eight dollars per month, except for the difference between the pension now received and eight dollars per month. Pensions under this act shall be at the rate of eight dollars per month, except, as herein provided, when q person is receiving pension of less than eight dollars per month, and shall be paid to the persons en- titled thereto, from and after the passage of this act. for and during the term of their natural lives.

 Sec. 3. That before the name of any person shall be placed on the pension roll under this act, proof shall be made, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, that the applicant is entitled to pension under the provisions of this act; and any person who shall falsely take an oath required to be taken under the provisions of this acu shall be guilty of perjury; and the Secretary of the Interior shall cause to be stricken from the pension-roll the name of any person whenever it shall appear, by proof satisfactory to him, that such roll through false and fraudu- lent representations as to the right of such person to q pension under the provisions of this act. The loss of certificate shall not deprive the applicant of the benefits of this act, but other proof of services perform ed and of an honorable discharge may be deemed sufficient.

 Sec. 4. That the provisions of sec tions twelve and thirteen of the act entitled "An net supplementary to An act to grant pensions, passed July fourth, eighteen hundred and sixty four, and of sections two, three, and four of the act entitled "An act supplementary to several acts relat irg to pensions" approved June sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty