Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1873 — The New Pension Law. [ARTICLE]

The New Pension Law.

T\E print the following sections from the- act of Congress approved March 8, 1873, entitled “an act to revise, consolidate, and amend the laws relating to pensions” wliicl/ embrace the additional pensions granted to the soldiers of the late war:■ ■ Sac. 3. That for Pie period commencing July fourth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and ending June third, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, those persons entitled to a less pension than hereinafter mentioned who shall ,linVo lost both feet in the military or naval service and in the line of duty, shall lie entitled to a pension of Twenty dollars per- month; lor die same period those persons who, under like eitvuntstflnrcs, shall ImvrTDst both hands or the sight of both o.yes, shall i»c entitled to a pension of twenty-five dollars per month; -mid for the period commencing March third, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, and ending June third, eighte'en hundred and seventy-two, those persons who under like circumstances shall have .lost one hand and one foot, shall be entitled to a pension of twenty dollars a month; and for the period commencing, June sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and ending June third, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, those persons who Under like circumstances shall have lost one liand and one foot, shall be entitled to a pension of fifteen dollars per month; and for the period commencing June sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and ending June third, cigßteenhundred and seventytwo, those persons entitled to a less pension than hereinafter mentioned, who by reason of injury received or disease contracted in the military or naval service of the United States,and in tlie line of duty, shall have been permanently Imd totally disabled in both hands, or who 1 shall have lost tiie sight of ond eye, tire other having been previously lost, or who shall have been otherwise so totally and permanently disabled as to render them utterly helpless, or so nearly so as to require regular' personal aid and attendance of another person, shall he entitled to a pension of twenty-live dollars per month; and for the same period those who under like dreuiMtanees shall have been totally and permanently disabled in both feet, or in one hand and one foot, or otherwise so disabled as to lie incapacitated for tlie performance of any manual labor, but not so much as to require regular personal aid and attention, shall tic entitled to a pension of twenty dollars per month; and for the same period all persons who under tike circumstances shall have been totally and permanently disabled in one hand, or one foot, or otherwise so disabled as to render their inability to perform manual labor equivalent to tlie loss of a hand or foot, shall tie entitled to a pension of fifteen dollars per month. Sec. 4. That from and after June 4th. eightecu hundred ana seventy-two, all persons entitled by law' to a less pension than hereinafter specified, who, while ijuthe. military or xulviil sCrvieo-of the United States; and in the line of duty, shall have lost tlie sight of both eyes, or shall have tost the sight of one eye, the sight of the other having been previously lost, or shall have lost both hands, or shall have lost both feet, or been permanently and totally disabled in the same, or otherwise so permanently and totally disabled, as to render them utterly helpless, or so nearly suits to require tlie reguc lur personal aid and attendance qf another person, shall lie entitled -to a pension of thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents per month; and at! persons who, under like circumstances, shall have lost one hand and one foot, or been totally and permanently disabled in tlie same, or otherwise So disabled as to be Incapacitated for performing any manual labor, hut not so. much as to require regular personal aid and attendance, shall tie entitled to a pension of twenty-four dollars per month; and all persons who, under like circumstances, shall have lost one hand, or one foot, or been totally and permanentlv disabled in the same, or otherwise so disabled as to render their incapacity to perform manual labor equivalent to the loss of a liand or foot, slialtJie entitled to a pension of eighteen dollars per month; Provided, That all persons who, under like circumstances, have lost a leg above the knee, and in consequence thereof are so disabled Hint they cannot use artificial limbs, shall he rated iu the second class and receive tiventy-four dollars per month; and all personswho, under like circumstances, Shall have lost tlie hearing of both ears, shall he entitled to a pension (if thirteen dollars per month; Provided, That the pension for disability not permanent, equivalent in degree to any provided in this section, shall, during the continuance of the disability in such degree, lie at tlie same rate as that herein provided for a permanent disability of 1 ike degree; "Provided, farther, That, except in eases of permanent specific disabilities, no increase of pension shall lie allowed to commence • prior to tlie date of the examining surgeon’s certificate establishing the same; and that in tliis as well as all other eases, the certificate of an examining surgeon, or of a board of examining surgeons, shall lie .subject to tlie approval of tlie Commissioner of Pensions. , Sec. 17. That it shall he the duty of the Commissioner of Pensions, upon any application by letter or otherwise by or on behalf of any pensioner entitled to arrears of pension under tlwr fifteenth section of this net, or, if any such pensioner should have died, upon a similar application by or on behalf of any person entitled to receive tlie accrued pension due such pensioner at his or her death, to pay of cause to tie paid to such pensioner,-or other person, all such arrears of pension as the pensioner may be entitled to., or (if dead) would have been entitled to under the pro visions of. said section had he Or she survived; and no claim agent or other person shall be entitled to receive any compensation for services iu making application for arrears of pension.