An Act To pension widows and minor children of officers and enlisted men who served in the War with Spain, Philippine insurrections, or in China.
| Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passage of this Act if any volunteer officer of enlisted man who served ninety days or more in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States, during the War with Spain or the Philippine insurrection, between April twenty-first eighteen hundred and ninety eight, and July fourth, nineteen hundred and two, inclusive, service to be computed from date of enlistment to date of discharge, or any officer or enlisted man of the Regular Establishment who rendered ninety days or more actual military or naval service in the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps in the War with Spain or the Philippine insurrection, between April twenty-first eighteen hundred and ninety eight, and July fourth, nineteen hundred and two, inclusive, or as a participant in the Chinese Boxer rebellion campaign between June sixteenth, nineteen hundred, and October first, nineteen hundred, and who have been honorably discharged therefore, has died or shall hereafter die leaving a widow without means of support other than her daily labor, and an actual net income no exceeding $250 per year, or leaving a minor child or children under the age of sixteen years, such widow shall upon due proof of her husband’s death, without proving his death to be the result of his Army or navy service, be placed on the pension roll from the date of the filing of her application therefor under this Act, at the rate of $12 per month during her widowhood, and shall be paid $2 per month for each child of such officer or enlisted man under sixteen years of age, and in case of the death or remarriage of the widow, leaving a child or children of such officer or enlisted man under the age of sixteen years, such pension shall be paid such children until the age of sixteen: Provided, That in case a minor child is insane, idiotic, or otherwise permanently helpless, the pension shall continue during the life of said child, or during the period of such disability, and shall commence from the date of application therefor after the passage of this Act: Provided, further That this Act shall not be so construed as to reduce any pension under any Act, public or private.
SEC. 2. That no agent, attorney, or other person engaged in preparing, presenting, or prosecuting any claim under the provisions of this Act shall, directly or indirectly, contract for, demand, receive, or retain for such services in preparing, presenting, or prosecuting such claim a sum greater than $10, which sum shall be payable only on the order of the Commissioner of Pensions; and any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this section, or shall wrongfully withhold from the pensioner or claimant the whole of any part of a pension or claim allowed or due such pensioner or claimant under this Act, shall be deemed guilty or a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall, for each and every offense, be fined not exceeding $500 or be imprisoned not exceeding one year, or both, in the discretion of the court. Approved, July 16, 1918. |