The Arrears Of Pensions

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and hereby is, appropriated.out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise app1 opriated, the f ollowing sums, namely : Tor the arrears of pensions due on claims in whicli tlie pensions were allowed prior to January 25, 1879, $25,000,000 ; the amounts paid out respectively for ai my and navy pensions to be accounted for separately to the proper accounting offlcers of the Treasury Department. For pensions for army and navy invalids, widows, minors and dependent relatives, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, $1,800,000, in addition to the amounts heretofore appropriated for those purposes; the amounts paid out on account of army and navy pensions, respectively, to be accounted for separately to the proper accounting offlcers of the Treasury Department. For temporary clerks in the pension office, and for fornitura, rent or additional rooms, and other contingencies, $52,200, in addition to the appropriations which have been made under other acts ; the same to be ivailable until June 30, 1880 ; provided that no more than $3,500 shall be used for f urniture, contingencies and rent. The pension agents shall receive for V.ieir services and expenses in paying the arrears upon pensions allowed previous to January 25, 1879, including postage upon the vouchers and checks sent to the pensioner, 30 cents for each payment; and the sum of $15,000, orso much thereof as may be necessary is hereby appropriated for the payment of the same. That the rate at which the arrears of invalid pensions shall be allowed and computed in the cases which have been, or shall hereafter be, allowed shall be giaded according to the degree of the pensioner's disability, from time to time, and the provisions of the pension laws in force over the period for which the arrears shall be computed. That sec. 1 of the act of January 25, 1879 granting arrears of pensions, shall be construed to extend to and include pensions account of soldiers who were enlisted or draited for the service in the War of the Rebellion, but died or incurred disability from a cause originating af ter the cessation of hostilities, and bef ore being mustered out ; provided, That in no case shall arrears of pensions be allowed and paid from'a time prior to the date of actual hostility. Sec. 2. All pensions which have been or may hereafter be granted in consequence of death accruing from a cause which originated in the service since the 4th of March, 1861, or in consequence of woundsor injuries received or disease contracted since that date, shall commence from the c'eath or discharge of the person on whose account the claim has been, or is hereafter, jranted, if the disability occurred prior to discharge ; and if such disability occurred after the discharge, then from the date of actual disability, or from the termination of the party having prior right to such pension. Provided, ;hat application for such pension has 3een or is hereafter filed with the comniissioner of pensions prior to the lst day of July, 1880, otherwise the pension shall commence from the date of ïling the application ; but the limitation here described shall not apply to claims by or in behalf of insane persons and children under 16 years of age. Sec. 3 Section 4709 of the Revised Statutes is hereby repealed.