Year: 1873

hundred dollars, who shall be charged


with such duties in the Pension bureau al


may be prescribed by the Secretary of the


Interior or may be required by law; and


in case Of the death, resignation, absence


or sickness Of the Commissioner, his duties


shall devolve upon the Deputy Commits


sioner until successor shall be appointed


ur such absence or sickness shall cease.


SEC. 80. That the Commissioner Of Pen


sions is hereby authorized and empowered


to detail, from time to time, clerks in his


Office to investigate suspected attempts al


fraud on the government of the United


States. through and by virtue Of the prOvi


sions of this or any other act of Congress


providing for pensions, and to aid in prose


cutting any person so offending, with such


addinonal compensation as is customary in


cases of special service: and that any person


so detailed shall have the power to admin


isrer oaths aud take atfiGavits in the course


Of any such investigation.


SEC. 81. That no agent OF attorney OI


other person instrumental IN I0osecutlng


anv claim tor pension OF bounty land shall


demand or receive any other compensation


for his services in prosecuting Claim for


pension or bounty land than such as the


Commissioner CT Pensions shall direct to be


paid to him. not exceeding twenty-five dol


y


person instrumental in prosecuting any CLAIM


for pension or bounty land, who shall direct


~ or indirectly contract for, demand, or re-


ceive or retain any greater compensation for


his services or instrumentality in Prosecut-


ing a claim for pension or bounty land than


is einbefore provided, or who shall


wrongiully withhold from a pensioner or
claimant the whole or any part Of the pen
sion allowed and due such pensioner or
claimant, or the land warrant issued to any
such claimant, shall be deemed guilty Of a
high misdeneanor, and, upon conviction
thereof, shall, for every such Ottense, be
fined not exceeding five hundred dollars,
or imprisoned at hard labor not exceeding
two years, or both, at the discretion OF the
court. Aud if any guardian having the
charge and custody of the pension OF his
ward shall embezzle the same in violation
Of his trust, or iraudulently convert the
same to his own use, he shaN be punished


ty fine not exceeding two thousand dol
lars or imprisonment at hard labor for a
tenn not exceeding i've years, OF both, at
the discretion Of the court.


Sec. 50. That any pledge, mortgage, sale,
assignment or transfer of any right, claim
or interest in any pension which has been
or may hereafter be granted, shall be VOID
and Of NO effect: and any person acting as
attorney to receive and receipt for money
for and IN benalf of any person entitled to a
pension, shall, before receiving said money,
take and subscribe an oath, to be filed with
the pension agent, AID by him 20 be
transmitted, with the vouchers now re-
qnired by law, to the proper accounting
terest in said money by any pledge, mort
gage, sale, assignment, or transfer, and
that he does not know OK believe that the
same has been go disposed Of to any per
son; and any person who shall falsely take
the kaid oath shall be guilty Of perjury,
and, On conviction, shall be liable to the
pains and penalties of perjury.


SEC. g. That any person who shall
knowingly Or wiilfully in any wise procure
the making or presentation Of any false or
fraudulent affidavit concerning any claim
for pension or payment thereof, or pertain.
ing to any other matter within the juris-
eiction OF the Commissioner of Pensions, or
shal! knowingly or willfully present or
cause to lie presented at any pension
agency any power OF attorney, or other
paper required as voucher in drawing a
pension. which paper shall bear a date
subsequent 70 that on which it was actually
signed or executed. such person so offend.
ing shall be deemed guilty of high mis-
demeanor and shall, on conviction there.
of. be punished by a fine not exceeding
five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment
for term not exceeding three years, or by
both, at the discretion of the court before
whom such conviction shall be had; and 60
sum OF money due or to become due, to any
pensioner under the laws aforesaid. shall be
liable to attachment. levy or seizure. by or
under any legal OF equitable process what
ever. whether the same remains with the
Pension Office or any officer or agent thereof,
or is in course OF transmission to tho pen
sioner entitled thereto. bu. shall inure
wholly to the benefit Of such pensioner.


SEC. "a. That in all cases of application
for the payment CT pensions to invalid pen
sioners to the fourth day Of September of
an odd year. the certificate Of an examining
surgeon duly appointed by the Commits
sioner Of Pensions, or of surgeon OF the
army or navy. stating the continuance Of
the disability for which the pension was
granted idescribing it), and the
degree of such disability at the time of
making the certificate, shall be required to
the vouchers, and duplicate
thereof shall be filed in the office of the
Commissioner of Pensions: and if in a case
Of continued disability it shall be stated
at degree below tina. for which the pen.
sion was originally granted. or was last
paid, the pensioner shall only be paid for
the quarter then due at the rate stated in
the certificate; provided, that when pen.
sion shai! be granted for disability conse-
quent upon the loss of limb, or other es-
sential portion OF the body, or for other
causes which can No. in whole or in part be
or when disability is certified
BY competent examining surgeons, to the
satisfaction OF the Commissioner of Pen
sions, to have become permanent in de-
gree equal TO the whole rate Of pension, the
above certificate shall not be necessary to
he En-
vided further, that this section shall not be
construed to prevent the Commissioner of
Pensions from requiring a more frequent
examination if. in his judgment. it is neces.
,ary.


SEC. 35 That the Commissioner of Pen
,lons be, and he is hereby, empowered to
appoint, at his discretion, civil surgeons to
make the periodical examin ations OF pen
,iOners which are, or may be, required by
aw, and to examine applicants for pension,
where he shall deem an examination by a
surgeon appointed by him necessary; and
he fee for such examinations, and the re-
Iuisite certificates thereof in duplicate, in-
,luding postage on such as are transmitted
% pension agents. shall be two dollars,
which shall be paid by the agent for paying
pensions in the district within which the
)ensiOner CT claimant resides, out OF any
money appropriated tor the payment of
pensions. under such regulations as the
of Pensions may prescribe.


Sec. 36. That the Commissioner Of Pen.
lions be authorized to organize. at his dis
;retion, boards Of examing surgeons. not to
exceed three members, and that each mem
DER of q board thus organized who shall
lave been actually present and made, in
with other members or member,
IN ordered or periodical examination, shall
,e entitled to the fee of one dollar, on the
eceipt of proper certificate of said exam
nation ny the Commissioner of Pensions.


SEC. 81. That examining surgeons duly
appointed by the Commissioner of Pen
ions, and such other qualified surgeons as
nay be employed in the Pension Office, may
,e required by him, from time to time, as
le shall deem for the interests Of the gov.