CHAP. 420.- An Act To revise and equalize the rate of pension to certain soldiers, sailors, and marines of the Civil War, to certain widows, former widows of such soldiers, sailors, and marines, and granting pensions and increase of pensions in certain cases.
| Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That every person who served ninety days or more in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States during the Civil War, and who has been honorably discharged from all contracts of service, or who, having so served less than ninety days was discharged for a disability incurred in the service and in the line of duty, or is now on the pension roll as a Civil War veteran, under existing service pension laws, shall be entitled to and shall be paid a pension at the rate of $75 per month.
SEC. 2. That every person who served ninety days or more in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States during the Civil War and who has been honorably discharged from all contracts of service, or who, having so served less than ninety days, was discharged for a disability incurred in the service and in the line of duty, or is now on the pension roll as a Civil War veteran, under existing service pension laws, and who is now or hereafter may become, by reason of age or physical or mental disabilities, helpless or blind or so nearly helpless or blind as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, shall be entitled to and shall be paid a pension at the rate of $100 per month. SEC. 3. That the widow or remarried widow of any person who served in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States during the Civil War for ninety days or more and was honorably discharged from all contracts of service, or regardless of the length of service, was discharged for or died in service of a disability incurred in the service and in the line of duty, or who has heretofore been allowed a pension as a Civil War veteran, under existing service pension laws, such widow having been married to such Civil War veteran prior to June 27, 1905, who is now or who may hereafter attain the age of seventy years, shall be entitled to and shall be paid a pension at the rate of $40 per month; and nothing herein shall be construed to affect the additional allowance provided by existing pension laws for a helpless child or child under sixteen years of age: Provided, That hereafter the service pension laws applicable to Civil War widows shall extend to the former widow of a Civil War veteran, such widow having remarried either once or more than once after the death of the veteran, if it be shown that such subsequent or successive remarriage has been dissolved either by the death of the husband or husbands, or by divorce on any ground except adultery on the part of the wife. SEC. 4. That there should be no recovery of pension payments from any beneficiary of the Bureau of Pensions, who in the judgment of the Commissioner of Pensions is without fault, and when in the judgment of the Commissioner of Pensions such recovery would be contrary to equity and good conscience. SEC. 5. That the increase of pension herein provided shall be effective from and after the fourth day of the month next after the approval of this Act and, as to those then in receipt of pension and shown to be entitled to such increase, shall commence from such date; and, as to those not then entitled, the increase shall commence from the date when the requisite condition is shown: Provided, That as to those not now in receipt of pension and who may be entitled to pension under this Act, such pension shall commence from the date of filing application therefor in the Bureau of Pensions, on and after the approval of this Act, in such form as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior: Provided further, That the pension paid under this Act to any Civil War veteran for any period during which he was actually residing in the United States Soldiers’ Home or in any National or State Soldiers’ Home shall be reduced at the rate of $25 per month. SEC. 6. That no claim agent or attorney or other person shall be recognized in the adjustment of claims under this Act, except in claims for original pension, and in such cases no more than the sum of $10 shall be allowed for service in preparing, presenting, or prosecuting any such claim, 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 under this Act, shall be deemed guilty of 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. SEC. 7. That all Acts and parts of Acts in conflict with or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified and amended only so far and to the extent herein specifically provided and stated. Approved, June 9, 1930. |