OF THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNING THE GRANTING OF ARMY AND NAVY PENSIONS AND BOUNTY-LAND COMPILED, BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, INTRODUCTION. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, PENSION OFFICE, SIR: You are hereby assigned to the special duty of preparing a digest of the laws, decisions, rulings, and orders, now in operation, governing the adjudication of pension claims. An efficient amanuensis will be detailed to assist you in the preparation of the work. Very respectfully, Mr. F. B. CURTIS. JOHN C. BLACK, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, PENSION OFFICE, Washington, D. C., December 4, 1885. SIR: On the day of its date I had the honor to receive the order above set forth. In obedience thereto this digest has been prepared, and it is now respectfully submitted for your consideration and approval. Acting under your verbal instructions Mr. William H. Webster, chief of the "Old War and Navy Division" of this office, has compiled all the laws, regulations, orders, decisions, and rulings appearing herein, which refer to bounty-land, old war and navy claims, and to him belongs all the credit for that portion of the work. The system of granting pensions and bounty-lands, in prescribed cases, has become so thoroughly incorporated into our policy, that, if there be any who desire, they can never expect to see its discontinuance. Originating in 1776, every change in it down to the present time has had for its object the embracing of more numerous classes, until now there is hardly a neighborhood in the United States which does not contain one or more persons directly interested in some of the benefits thus conferred. In most instances pensions have, at the commencement of each war, been promised for disabilities or death incurred in its prosecution; though as to Revolutionary soldiers and their widows, pensions, without regard to disabilities, were provided long after the rendition of the service. Pensions for disabilities incurred in that war were provided by resolution of Congress, passed August 26, 1776, and in September of the same year the benefits of that resolution were extended back to include 293352 3 |