[Return to Hamilton Letter, Smith's in the Civil War]

ACT APPROVED MAY 11, 1912

That any person who has served ninety days or more in the military or naval service of the United States during the late Civil War, who has been honorably discharged therefrom, and who has reached the age of sixty-two years or over, shall, upon making proof of such facts, according to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may provide, be placed upon the pension roll and be entitled to receive a pension as follows ^{[see Table]}:  In case such person has reached the age of sixty-two years and served ninety days, thirteen dollars per month; six months, thirteen dollars and fifty cents per month; one year, fourteen dollars per month; one and a half years, fourteen dollars and fifty cents per month; two years, fifteen dollars per month; two and a half years, fifteen dollars and fifty cents per month; three years or over, sixteen dollars per month.  In case such person has reached the age of sixty-six years and served ninety days, fifteen dollars per month; six months, fifteen dollars and fifty cents per month; one year, sixteen dollars per month; one and a half years, sixteen dollars and fifty cents per month; two years, seventeen dollars per month; two and a half years, eighteen dollars per month; three years or over, nineteen dollars per month.  In case such person has reached the age of seventy years and served ninety days, eighteen dollars per month; six months, nineteen dollars per month; one year, twenty dollars per month; one and a half years, twenty-one dollars and fifty cents per month; two years, twenty-three dollars per month; two and a half years, twenty-four dollars per month; three years or over, twenty-five dollars per month.  In case such person has reached the age of seventy-five years and served ninety days, twenty-one dollars per month; six months, twenty-one dollars and fifty cents per month; one year, twenty-four dollars per month; one and a half years, twenty-seven dollars per month; two years or over, thirty dollars per month.  That any person who served in the military or naval service of the United States during the Civil War and received an honorable discharge, and who was wounded in battle or in line of duty and is now unfit for manual labor by reason thereof, or who from disease or other causes incurred in line of duty resulting in his disability is now unable to perform manual labor, shall be paid the maximum pension under this Act, to wit, thirty dollars per month, without regard to length of service or age.

That any person who has served sixty days or more in the military or naval service of the United States in the War with Mexico and has been honorably discharged therefrom, shall, upon making like proof of such service, be entitled to receive a pension of thirty dollars per month.

All of the aforesaid pensions shall commence from the date of filing of the applications in the Bureau of Pensions after the passage and approval of this Act:  Provided, That pensioners who are sixty-two years of age or over, and who are now receiving pensions under existing laws, or whose claims are pending in the Bureau of Pensions, may, by application to the Commissioner of Pensions, in such form as he may prescribe, receive the benefits of this Act; nothing herein contained shall prevent any pensioner or person entitled to a pension from prosecuting his claim and receiving a pension under any other general or special Act:  Provided,  That no person shall receive a pension under any other law at the same time or for the same period that he is receiving a pension under the provisions of this Act:  Provided further, That no person who is now receiving or shall hereafter receive greater pension, under any other general or special law, than he would be entitled to receive under the provisions herein shall be pensionable under this Act.

Sec. 2.  That rank in the service shall not be considered in applications filed hereunder.

Sec. 3.  That no pension attorney, claim agent, or other person shall be entitled to receive any compensation for services rendered in presenting an claim to the Bureau of Pensions, or securing any pension, under this Act, except in applications for original pension by persons who have not heretofore received a pension.

Sec. 4.  That the benefits of this Act shall include any person who served during the late Civil War, or in the War with Mexico, and who is now or may hereafter become entitled to pension under the Acts of June twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and ninety, February fifteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, and the joint resolutions of July first, nineteen hundred and two, and June twenty-eight, nineteen hundred and six, or the Acts of January twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, and February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven.

Sec. 5.  That it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Pensions, as each application for pension under this Act is adjudicated, to cause to be kept a record showing the name and length of service of each claimant, the monthly rate of payment granted to or received by him, and the county and State of his residence; and shall at the end of the fiscal year nineteen hundred and fourteen tabulate the record so obtained by States and counties, and shall furnish certified copies thereof upon demand and the payment of such fee therefor as is provided by law for certified copies of records in the executive departments.