Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1870 — The New Pension Act. [ARTICLE]

The New Pension Act.

The new Pension act, which went into qffect July 8, contains the following provisions: Section 1. Pension agents shall prepare and transmit, within fifteen days preceding the 4th of March, June, September and December in each year, vouchers for the quarterly payment to pensioners direct, who, on or after said 4th days named, may execute and return said vouchers, and none other, to said pension agents. Sec. 2. Upon the receipt of such vouchers, properly executed, and the establishment of the identity of the person entitled to the pension, the pension agent shall immediately forward by mail, to the said pensioner direct, and to no other person, a check payable solely to the order of said pensioner, except when the pensioner is required to appear personally and receive the pension. Sec. 3. No pension shall, under any circumstances, be paid to any one but the pensioner entitled thereto, except in case of persons legally disabled, when payments may bs made to guardians; and in case of persons resident abroad, when payment may be made as provided in the previous acts.

Bkc. 4. Pension agents shall receive for all services rendered to pensioners, including postage, thirty cents, payable by the United States, and not more shall be received by them under penalty of SSOO. Skc. 5. The Secretary of the Interior shall provide blank vouchers to be used as above Stated, and regulations therefor. .yfiEC.A , Pension, agentsand their author-,' ized clerks-shall take and certify affidavits of all pensioners-who shall appear before them for that purpose, and give the check for the pension ta.the pensioner personally, and for taking any such affidavit falsely and corruptly, the affiant shall be deemed guilty of perjury, the penalty of which shall be imprisonment for five years or less, and a fine not exceeding SI,OOO. Sec. 7. The fee of an agent or attorney for the prosecution of a claim for bounty land shall not exceed $25. The agent or attorney must file (without cost to claim ant) with the Commissioner of Pensions duplicate articles of agreement, duly attested, setting forth the fee agreed upon. When nosuch agreement is filed or approved by the Commissioner, the fee shall be $lO, and no more. Bec. 8. For contract for demand, or receipt or retention of any compensation greater than above stated, the penalty shall be a fine of SSOO or less, or imprisonment for five years or Jess, or both. Sec. 9. The Commissioner of Pensions shall forward to the pension agents, withthe certificates of pension, one of the articles of agreement, if approved by him, and directions as to the pavfnent of fees. 8«c 10. The pension agents shall deduct from the amount of pension due the amount of , fee, if any, and forward the same (less thirty cents) as directed by the Commissioner.