Laws and abstracts of laws relating to Army and Navy pensions

AN ACT further extending the term of half-pay pensions to the widows and orphans of officers, seamen, and marines who died in the public service, approved January 22, 1824.-(Revised Statutes, vol. iv, chap. xv.)

widows and chil

who &c.,

died

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases, where provision has been made by law Five years' halffor five years' half-pay to the widows and children of pay pension to the officers, seamen, and marines, who were killed in battle, dren of officers. or who died in the naval service of the United States in the service, exduring the late war; and, also, in all cases where pro- tended. vision has been made for extending the term for five years, in addition to the first term of five years, the said provision shall be further extended for an additional term of five years, to commence at the end of the second term of five years, in each case respectively, making the provision equal to fifteen years' half-pay; which shall be paid out of the fund heretofore provided by law; and the said pensions shall cease for the causes mentioned in the laws providing the same respectively.

Act of March 3,

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passage of this act, the act entitled "An act to 1817, repea.ed. amend and explain an act giving pensions to the orphans and widows of persons slain in the public or private armed vessels of the United States," passed March the third, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, be, and the same is hereby, repealed: Provided, however, Proviso. That nothing in this act contained shall be construed to prevent the payment of any pension already granted, 30 until the full expiration of the period thereof; nor to affect or impair the rights of any person or persons which may have accrued during the existence of the act hereby repealed, as aforesaid.

Approved January 22, 1824.

335

The act of May 23, 1828, extends the term of years of all the widows and orphans provided for by prior navy pension laws.

The act of June 28, 1832, extends as above for another term of five years, and also grants the same to the 40 widows of all those who may have died of wounds received during the war of 1812.

The act of June 30, 1834, also extends the benefits of the act of June 28, 1832, to widows, for another term of five years, and grants the same to the widows of those 45 who have died in the naval service since January 1, 1824, or may die in said service by reason of disease contracted, or of casualties or injuries received; pension to commence from date of the act, and to cease upon the death or remarriage of the widow.

Pension laws ex

eers, firemen, and

their widows and children.

Rate of pension.

AN ACT renewing certain naval pensions and extending the
benefits of existing laws respecting naval pensions to engineers,
firemen, and coal-heavers in the navy, and to their widows,
approved August 11, 1848.-(Revised Statutes, vol. ix, chap.
elv.)

SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, That engineers, tended to engin firemen, and coal-heavers in the navy, shall be entitled coal-heavers, in to pensions in the same manner as officers, seamen, and the navy, and marines; and the widows of engineers, coal-heavers, and firemen, in the same manner as the widows of officers, seamen, and marines: Provided, That the pension of a chief engineer shall be the same as that of a lieutenant in the navy; and a pension of the widow of a chief engineer the same as that of the widow of a lieutenant in the navy; the pension of a first assistant engineer the same as that of a lieutenant of marines; and the pension of the widow of a first assistant engineer the same as that of the widow of a lieutenant of marines; the pension of a second or third assistant engineer the same as that of a forward officer; and the pension of the widow of a second or third assistant engineer the same as that of a widow of a forward officer; the pension of a fireman or coal-heaver the same as that of a seaman; the pension of the widow of a fireman or coal-heaver the 25 same as that of the widow of a seaman: And provided further, That an engineer, fireman, or coal-heaver, shall not be entitled to any pension by reason of a disability incurred prior to the 31st August, 1842, nor shall the widow of an engineer, fireman, or coal-heaver, be enti- 30 tled to any pension by reason of the death of her husband, if his death was prior to the said date. Approved August 11, 1848.

Proviso.

ows, &c.

JOINT RESOLUTION to grant pensions to masters and other
officers upon the gunboats in the service of the United States,
approved July 16, 1852.-(Revised Statutes, vol. xii, No. 59.)

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Title of masters, the masters serving on board of gunboats employed in &c.. and their wid- the service of the United States shall be entitled to all the benefits, including bounty and pension, provided 40 for in an act entitled "An act to grant pensions," passed during the present session of Congress, and the widows, mothers, and heirs of such officers shall be entitled to all the benefits of said act.

Approved July 16, 1862.

AN ACT to amend certain acts in relation to the navy, approved

March 2, 1867.-(Revised Statutes, vol. xiv, chap. clxxiv.)

Disabled persons

in the navy or ma

from naval pen

their rating when

vol. 12, p. 607.)

How and by

SECTION 6. And be it further enacted, That, in order who have served to carry out the provisions of the 11th section of the as enlisted persons "Act for the better government of the navy of the rine corps for 20 United States," approved July 17, 1862, directing the years, to receive surplus income from the naval pension fund to "be ap- sion fund half of plied to the making of further provision for the com- discharged. (1862, fort of disabled officers, seamen, and marines," there ch. 24, sec. 11, shall be paid out of said fund to every person who, from age or infirmity, is disabled from sea service, but who has served as an enlisted person in the navy or marine corps for the period of twenty years, and not been 15 discharged for misconduct, in lieu of being provided with a home in the Naval Asylum, Philadelphia, if he shall so elect, a sum equal to one-half the pay of his rating at the time he was discharged, to be paid to him quarterly, under the direction of the Commissioner of whom to be paid. 20 Pensions, and applications for such pension shall be made to the Secretary of the Navy, who, upon being satisfied that the applicant comes within the provisions of this act, shall certify the same to the Commissioner of Pensions, and said certificate shall be his warrant for 25 making payment as herein authorized: And provided further, That any disabled person who has served in serving for not less the navy or marine corps as an enlisted man for a period than ten years, not less than ten years and not been discharged for mis- for aid from surconduct, may apply to the Secretary of the Navy for aid plus income of na30 from the surplus income of the naval pension fund, and the Secretary of the Navy is authorized to convene a board of not less than three naval officers, one of whom shall be a surgeon, to examine into the condition of the applicant, and to recommend a suitable amount for his 35 relief and for a specified time, and upon the approval of such recommendation by the Secretary of the Navy and certificate thereof to the Commissioner of Pensions, the amount shall be paid in the same manner as is provided in this section for the payment to persons disabled 40 by long service in the navy, but no allowance so made shall exceed the rate of a pension for full disability corresponding to the grade of the applicant, nor, if in addition to a pension, exceed one fourth the rate of such pension.