PENSION LAWS. AN ACT to equalize pensions in certain cases. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all persons entitled to pensions under special acts fixing the rate of such pensions, and now receiving or entitled to receive a less pension than that allowed by the general pension laws under like circumstances, are, in lieu of their present rate of pension, hereby declared to be entitled to the benefits and subject to the limitations of the general pension laws, entitled, "An act to revise, consolidate, and amend the laws relating to pensions," approved March third, eighteen hundred and seventy-three; and that this act go into effect from and after its passage: Provided, That this act shall not be construed to reduce any pension granted by special act. Approved, June 6, 1874. See sec. 4720, R. S. See Acts. Special AN ACT to increase the pension of soldiers and sailors who have been totally disabled. 4698, R. S. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That See Beca. 4097, section four of the act entitled "An act to revise, consolidate, and amend the laws relating to pensions," and approved March third, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, be so amended that all persons who, while in the military or naval service of the United States, aud in the line of duty, shall have been so permanently and totally disabled as to require the regular personal aid and attendance of another person, by the loss of the sight of both eyes or by the loss of the sight of one eye, the sight of the other hav. See amendment, ing been previously lost, or by the loss of both hands, or by the loss of both feet, or by any other injury resulting in total and permanent helplessness, shall be entitled to a pension of fifty dollars per month; and this shall be in lieu of a pension of thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents per 7018 PEN-37 577 act 16 June, 1880. month granted to such person by said section: Provided, That the increase of pension shall not be granted by reason of any of the injuries herein specified, unless the same have resulted in permanent, total helplessness, requiring the reg. ular personal aid and attendance of another person. SEC. 2. That this act shall take effect from and after the fourth day of June, eighteen hundred and seventy-four. Approved, June 18, 1874. AN ACT to increase pensions in certain cases. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all See seca. 4697, persons who are now entitled to pensions under existing 4698, R. S. laws, and who have lost either an arm at or above the elbow, or a leg at or above the knee, shall be rated in the second class, and shall receive twenty-four dollars per month: Provided, That no artificial limbs, or commutation therefor, shall be furnished to such persons as shall be entitled to pensions under this act. SEC. 2. That this act shall take effect from and after the fourth day of June, eighteen hundred and seventy-four. Approved, June 18, 1874. See R. S. AN ACT making appropriations for the payment of invalid and other pensions of the United States for the year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. Provided further, That the fees for preparing vouchers sec. 4782, and administering oaths, which are now by law thirty cents See sec. 4769, in each case, shall hereafter be twenty-five cents for the same and no more. R.S. Approved, June 20, 1874. AN ACT granting pensions to the widows, children, dependent mothers and fathers or orphan brothers and sisters, of those soldiers who were murdered by guerrillas, at Centralia, Missouri, in eighteen hundred and sixty-four. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the provisions of existing pension laws be, and the same are hereby, extended to the widows, children, dependent moth. ers and fathers, or orphan brothers and sisters, in the order named, of those lately discharged soldiers of the army of the United States, who were murdered by guerrillas at Centralia, Missouri, in eighteen hundred and sixty-four, while being transported on the North Missouri Railroad. SEC. 2. That the provisions of this act shall be construed to extend to the widows, children, dependent mothers and fathers, or orphan brothers and sisters, in the order named, of any member of the Missouri militia who was murdered as aforesaid by guerrillas at Centralia, Missouri, in eighteen hundred and sixty-four. Approved, March 3, 1875. AN ACT to regulate the issue of artificial limbs to disabled soldiers, seamen, and others. 4788, 4789, 4790, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That See secs. 4787, every officer, soldier, seaman and marine, who, in the line 4791, R. S. of duty, in the military or naval service of the United States, shall have lost a limb, or sustained bodily injuries, depriving him of the use of any of his limbs, shall receive once every five years an artificial limb or appliance, or commutation therefor, as provided and limited by existing laws, under such regulations as the Surgeon-General of the Army may prescribe; and the period of five years shall be held to commence with the filing of the first application after the sev enteenth day of June, in the year eighteen hundred and seventy. SEC. 2. That necessary transportation to have artificial limbs fitted shall be furnished by the Quartermaster-General of the Army, the cost of which shall be refunded out of any money appropriated for the purchase of artificial limbs: Provided, That this act shall not be subject to the provisions of an act entitled "An act to increase pensions," approved June eighteenth, eighteen hundred and seventyfour. Approved, August 15, 1876. AN ACT to perfect the revision of the statutes of the United States, and of the statutes relating to the District of Columbia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of correcting errors and supplying omissions in the act entitled "An act to revise and consolidate the Seo. pealed. Sec. amended. 4770 re statutes of the United States in force on the first day of December, anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three," so as to make the same truly express such laws, the following amendments are hereby made therein: Section forty-seven hundred and seventy is struck out. Section forty-seven hundred and eighty-seven is amended 4787 by adding at the end of the section the following: "The provisions of this section shall apply to all officers, non-commissioned officers, enlisted and hired men of the land and naval forces of the United States, who, in the line of their duty as such, shall have lost limbs or sustained bodily injuries depriving them of the use of any of their limbs, to be determined by the Surgeon-General of the Army; and the term of five years herein specified shall be held to commence in each case with the filing of the appli4789, 4790, 4791, cation for the benefits of this section." See secs. 4788, R. S. Section forty-seven hundred and ninety is amended by inserting, in the second line, after the word "rebellion" the words "or is entitled to the benefits of section forty-seven hundred and eighty seven." Section forty-seven hundred and ninety-one is amended by adding at the end of the section the following: "The transportation allowed for having artificial limbs fitted shall be furnished by the Quartermaster-General of the Army, the cost of which shall be refunded from the appropriations for invalid pensions." Approved, February 27, 1877. See secs. 4007, 4698, R. S. AN ACT to allow a pension of thirty-six dollars per month to soldiers who have lost both an arm and a leg. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all persons who, while in the military or naval service of the United States, and in the line of duty, shall have lost one hand and one foot, or been totally and permanently disabled in both, shall be entitled to a pension for each of such disabilities, and at such a rate as is provided for by the provis ions of the existing laws for each disability: Provided, That this act shall not be so construed as to reduce pensions in any case. Approved, February 28, 1877. AN ACT equalizing pensions of certain officers in the Navy. R. S. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of see sec. 4695, the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passage of this act, the pension for total disability of passed assistant engineers, assistant engineers, and cadet engineers in the naval service, respectively, shall be the same as the pensions allowed to officers of the line in the naval service with whom they have relative rank; and that all acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith be, and are hereby, repealed. Approved, March 3, 1877. AN ACT amending the pension-law so as to remove the disability of those who, having participated in the rebellion, have, since its termination, enlisted in the Army of the United States, and become disabled. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That these sec. 4716, law prohibiting the payment of any money on account of pensions to any person, or to the widow, children, or heirs of any deceased person, who, in any manner, engaged in or aided or abetted the late rebellion against the authority of the United States, shall not be construed to apply to such persons as afterward voluntarily enlisted in the Army of the United States, and who, while in such service, incurred disability from a wound or injury received or disease contracted in the line of duty. Approved, March 3, 1877. [Not held to apply to Navy cases.] AN ACT to amend section 4778 of the Revised Statutes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever during a session of the Senate a vacancy shall occur in the office of Pension Agent, by reason of resignation, death, removal or expiration of the term of office, or where any such agent lawfully appointed shall have failed to qualify and assume the duties of such office, the President may when the public exigency requires it, designate any officer of the United States to perform the duties of such office, but such designation shall not be for a longer time than twenty days, and such officer so designated shall give bonds if required by the President for the faithful discharge of the said duties and the Secretary of the Interior |