Mexican War, Service Pensions. By act of January 29, 1S87, officers and enlisted men in the military or naval service for 60 days or who were in battle and honorably discharged or who were personally named in any resolution of Congress are entitled to a pension at 62 years of ; or, if not, upon proof of pensionable disability and depend ence.
By act of January 29, 1887, the pension commences on that date if the pensionable condition existed at that date, in 'survivors' claims, by reason of age or dependence; if not, then on the date the applicant became 62 years of age or dependent or disabled. The rate was $8 a month, irrespective of rank. It was increased by the act of Jan uary 5, 1893, to $12 a month, but its bene fits were limited to those who were pen sioners• on that date. To secure the increase there must be disability for manual labor and such destitute circumstances that $8 a month is insufficient for the necessities of life. The act of April 23, 1900, removed the limitations imposed by the act of January b, 1893.
The act of March 3, 1903, pensions all sur vivors of the Mexican war at $12 a month, but does not increase the pension to a widow.
By act of April 19, 1908, a widow's pen sion was increased to $12 a month.
By act of February 6, 1907, any person who served 60 days in the Mexican War in either service and was honorably discharged and has reached 62 years of age is entitled to a pension irrespective of rank: At 62 years $12 a month; at 70 years $15 a month, and at 75 years $20 a month.
Pensions for Disability or Death Prior to March 4, 1861. Soldiers wounded or injured or who contracted disease in the line of duty are entitled to a pension corresponding in degree to the disability. Those in the naval service receive a like pension, except engineers, firemen or coal-heavers, for dis ability incurred prior to August 21, 1842. The widows or children under 16 years of age of soldiers who served prior to March 4, 1861, are entitled to a pension, if the sol dier's death was due to causes contracted in time of actual war. Widows or children under 16 of sailors who served prior to March 4, 1861, are entitled to pensions only when the sailor's death occurred in the serv ice and in the line of duty. There is no law granting a pension to parents. brothers or sisters.
Invalids Since March 4, 1861. . R. S. §§ 4692, 4693, provide for applications setting forth the company and regiment of service, or of the vessel if a sailor, and the nature of the wound and how received, etc. The act of June 27, 1890, as amended May 9, 1900, provided that any officer, soldier, sailor or marine who served 90 days or more dur ing the War of the Rebellion and was honor ably discharged and was suffering from a permanent disability not the result of vi dons habits, which incapacitates him for manual labor in such degree as to render him unable to earn a support, is entitled to a pension of not less than $6 nor more than $12 per month. The act of May 9, 1900,
amending the act of June 27, 1890, provides that each infirmity shall be considered and the aggregate of the disabilities shall be rated.
The act of February 6, 1907,•provided that any person who served 90 days or more in either service during the Civil War and was honorably discharged is entitled to the following rates irrespective of rank : At 62 years of age $12 a month ; at 70 years of age $15 a month ; at 75 years or over $25 a month. A pensioner may file an application for an increase of invalid pension.
Navy Service Pensions under R. S. §§ 4756, 4757. Pensions for 20 years' service and for 10 years' service respectively are allowed by the Secretary of the Navy to enlisted men and appointed petty officers who have not been discharged for misconduct.
Pensions to Widows Since March 4, 1861. To obtain a pension under R. S. §§ 4702 and 4703, it must be shown that the soldier or sailor died of a disability contracted in the service and in the line of duty. Mar riage may be proved in the usual way and by the testimony of two or more witnesses who knew that the parties lived together as husband and wife and were recognized as such; and as to the claims of widows and children of Indian and colored soldiers and sailors, there need be only proof that the parties were joined in marriage by some ceremony deemed by them obligatory, or habitually recognized each other as man and wife, and were so recognized by neighbors and lived together up to the date of enlist ment When the husband died in the service, or, if otherwise, to the date of his death. By act of June 27, 1890, as amended by act of May 9, 1900, pensions are granted to wid ows upon proof that the soldier or sailor served at least 90 days during the War of the Rebellion, that he was honorably dis charged and was dead, but his death need not have been the result of his service (un der the act of March 13, 1896, his death may be presumed) ; that the widow is without support except by daily labor and that her actual net income did not exceed $250 per year and that she married the soldier or sailor, prior to June 27, 1890.