By act of April 19, 1908, pensions are granted to widows upon proof that the sol dier or sailor served at least 90 days dur ing the Civil War and that he was honorably discharged or is dead, but his death need not have been the result of service and it may be presumed. Also, that she was mar ried prior to June 27, 1890.
Pensions to Minors Since March 4, 1861. Pensions are provided under R. S. § 4702, 4703, for minor children of one who died of disability in the service and in the line of duty, and by the act of June 27, 1890, as amended May 9, 1900, minor children have title under these acts upon the death or re marriage of the widow, but where the widow of the soldier or sailor did not marry prior to June 27, 1890, and his death-cause did not originate in service or in the line of duty or where she has lived in open and adulter ous Cohabitation, the minor takes title, even though the widow be alive and unmarried.
Pensions to Helpless Children. The act of June 27, 1890, as amended May 9, 1900, con tinues the pension of a minor child who is insane, idiotic, or, otherwise physically or mentally helpless, after it becomes 16 years of age and during its lifetime or during dis ability, and the benefits of this act are ex tended to all pensions granted before June 27, 1890, or thereafter granted under any statute. The helplessness of the child must have originated prior to 16 years of age and must have continued thereafter.
Pensions to Dependent Relatives. By 'R. S. § 4707, where a soldier or sailor died of a disease contracted in the service and in the line of duty, a pension is provided for the dependent mother, whether he left a widow or minor or surviving children, the mother being a widow or abandoned by her husband and unable to support herself. Provision is also made for a dependent father and de pendent minor brothers and sisters, if the soldier or sailor was a celibate. No distinc tion is made in the pension laws between brothers and sisters of the half, and those of the whole blood.
The act of March 3, 1901, amending R. S. § 4708, and the act of February 28, 1903,. pro vide for the restoration of pensions to cer tain remarried widows on renewed widow hood.
The act of August 5, 1892, provides pen sions for army nurses.
The act of March 3, 1899, provides for the division of pensions under twenty-one rules, as to which reference must be made to the act.
Inmates of the Government Hospital for the Insane. By act of February 2, 1909, the pension accruing to an inmate of such hos pital must be paid to the Superintendent or disbursing agent and used for the benefit of the pensioner, and in the case of a male pen sioner, his wife, minor children and depend ent parents, or, if a female pensioner, her minor children, if any, in the order named.
By act of May 11, 1912, any person who served 90 days or more in the military or naval service during the Civil War, who was honorably discharged, and has reached the age of 62 years or over, is entitled to a pen sion according to a sliding scale beginning with 62 years of age Elnd 90 days' service with a pension of $13 a month, and increas ing to 75 years of age and service of two years or over with a pension of $30 a month. If wounded, and by reason thereof not fit for manual labor or by reason of disease in curred in service or in the line of duty, the maximum pension is $30 without regard to length of service or age. And any person Who served 60 days or over in the Mexican war and has been honorably discharged shall be entitled to $30 a month.
By R. S. § 4741, officers and men on rev enue cutters co-operating with the navy are placed on the navy pension list. Special acts provide for a navy pension fund and a privateer pension fund and the pensioners thereon.
No person can draw a pension as an in valid and the pay of his rank for any period, unless his disability caused his, employment in a lower grade or in the civil branch of the service; R. S. § 4724; and no person can draw two pensions ; R. S. § 4715. No pension shall be paid to any person or to the widow or children or heirs of any deceased person who voluntarily engaged in or aided or abet ted the rebellion ; R. S. § 4716 ; unless such person afterwards voluntarily enlisted in the army or navy and incurred disability there in ; act of March 3, 1877, amended August 1, 1892.