PENSION. A stated and certain allow ance granted by the government to an indi vidual, or those who represent him, for serv ices performed by him for the country.
The act of August 26, 1776, of the old con gress promised pensions to soldiers and sea men who might be disabled in the war ; and the act of May 15, 1778, promised half pay for seven years after the end of the war to all commissioned officers who should serve until the end of the war. The earliest act of the United States congress was that of September 29, 1789, which directed that pen sions that had been paid by the states should be paid by the United States. The act of July 4,1836, was the foundation of pensions to widows and orphans.
Originally the secretary of war was direct ed to make out the list of pensioners. The law of May 15, 1828, was executed at the treasury department, but by resolution of June 28, 1832, all duties devolved on that de partment were transferral to the war de partment. On March 2, 1833, an independ ent pension bureau was established in the war department. For a time navy pension laws were executed in the navy department, but on March 4, 1840, this was transferred to the pension bureau. The act of March 3, 1849, created the Department of the In terior and transferred the pension business to that Department, where it now is ; it is in charge of a commissioner of pensions.
Pensions have been divided into "invalid pengion," "gratuitous or service pensions" and "land bounties." "No pensioner has a vested legal right to his pension. Pensions are the bounties of the government, which congress has the right to give, distribute, or recall at its discretion." U. S. v. Teller, 107 U. S. 68, 2 Sup. Ct. 39, 27 L. Ed. 352. But by an act of December 21, 1893, payment of a pension cannot be withheld or suspended without notice to the grantee of not less than thirty days.
The following abstract is :taken from a compilation published by authority of the government : War of the Revolution, Service Pensions.
Widows of soldiers who served 14 days or more, or were in battle during the war, were entitled, if not being married, to $8 a month after March 9, 1878, and $12 a month after March 19, 1886. The widow of a soldier who was granted a pension received a pen sion at the same rate, notwithstanding the marriage, upon proof of present widowhood. There is no law granting pensions to the descendants of soldiers. The daughters of Revolutionary soldiers have in some cases been placed on the pension list by special acts.
War of 1812, Service Pensions. Soldiers and sailors who served 14 days or more, or were in any engagement, and were honorably discharged, and the widows of such received $8 per month by the act of March 9, 1878; and by the act of March 19, 1886, such wid ow pensioners receive $12 per month. There is no law granting the service pensions to the descendants of soldiers or sailors.
Indian Wars from 1832 to 1842, Service Pensions. The act of July 27, 1892, provides pensions for surviving officers and enlisted men, including the marines, who were in the service for 30 days in the Black Hawk War, the Creek War, the Cherokee Disturbances or the Florida Seminole War, and honorably discharged, or personally named in any res olution of Congress, and for their widows, if they have not remarried. The amount was $8 a month, irrespective of rank. It was raised to $12 a month for widows.
Indium Wars from 1817 to 1858. The same acts apply to officers and enlisted men, in eluding marines and those in the naval serv ice, who served for 30 days or more and were discharged, in certain speci fied Indian wars. Provision was also made for surviving widows, who had not remar ried.
Indian Wars from 1855 to 1860. By act of May 30, 1908, the provisions of the act of July 27, 1892, were extended to the surviving officers and enlisted men of the Texas Vol unteers, who served against Mexico and In dian depredators and to their surviving wid ows, if not remarried.