REGULATIONS.

An observance of the following instructions will generally enable a claimant to intelligibly present his claim for pension to the Commissioner of Pensions for settlement.

Declarations and Evidence.

All declarations and evidence must be executed in accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 26, 1892.

Invalid.

Blank forms for a declaration will be furnished to claimants upon application therefor, but will not be furnished to attorneys and claim agents.

The declaration should set forth the company and regiment in which the applicant served, the name of the commanding officer of the company or organization, and the dates of enlistment and discharge. In Navy cases the vessel upon which claimant served should be stated. If the claim is made on account of a wound or injury, the declaration should set forth the nature and locality of the wound or injury, the time when, the place where, and the circumstances under which it was received, and the duty upon which the applicant was engaged.

If the wound or injury was accidental, the applicant should state whether it happened through his own agency or that of other persons, and he should minutely detail the circumstances under which it was received.

If the claim is made on account of disability from disease, the applicant should state in his declaration when the disease first appeared, the place where he was when it appeared, and the duty upon which he was at the time engaged. He should also detail the circumstances of exposure to the causes which, in his opinion, produced the disease. Whether the application be made on account of disability from injury or disease the claimant should state the names, numbers, and localities of all hospitals in which he received medical or surgical treatment, giving the dates of his admission thereto as correctly as he may be able.

The applicant should state whether he was in the military or naval service prior to or after the term of service in which his disability originated.

The applicant should state his post-office address. In cities, the street and number of his residence should be given.

The identity of the applicant must be shown by the testimony of two credible witnesses, who must appear with him before the officer by whom the declaration may be taken.

Nature of the Evidence required to sustain a Claim for Invalid Pension.

As soon as practicable after the receipt of a claim for pension, application will be made by this office, in Army cases, to the AdjutantGeneral and the Surgeon-General of the Army, for a report of the applicant's service and evidence in regard to the disability alleged which may appear upon the rolls and other records in the possession of those officers. In Navy cases application for such evidence will be made to the proper Bureaus of the Navy Department.

When the records of the War or Navy Department do not furnish satisfactory evidence that the disability on account of which the claim is made originated in the service of the United States and in the line of duty, the claimant will be required to furnish such evidence, in accordance with the instructions hereinafter given, compliance with which must be full and definite; and if the disability results from a wound or other injury, the nature and location of the wound or injury, the time when, the place where, and the manner in which it was received, whether in battle or otherwise, should be shown by the affidavit of some one who was a commissioned officer and had personal knowledge of the facts. If the person called upon to give evidence is still in the service as a commissioned officer, his certificate will be accepted in lieu of his affidavit.

If there is no record of the disability claimed, the applicant will be called on to furnish the testimony of the surgeon by whom he was treated, showing the location and nature of the wound or injury and the circumstances under which it was received. If the disability arises from disease, the testimony of the person who was surgeon or assistant surgeon of the regiment to which the applicant belonged, or the vessel on which he served, should, if possible, be furnished, showing the name or nature of the disease, the time when, the place where it was contracted, and the circumstances of exposure to the causes which, in his opinion, produced the same.

The surgeon should state whether, in his opinion, the habits of the applicant had any agency in the production of the disease.

In any claim, whether made on account of injury or disease, if it be shown that the testimony of a surgeon, assistant surgeon, or other commissioned officer cannot be produced as evidence of the origin of the disability alleged, the testimony of other persons having personal knowledge of the facts will be considered.

In a claim on account of disability from disease, he must furnish the testimony of the physicians who have attended him since the date of discharge, explicitly setting forth the history of the disease and disability since its first appearance. It is especially important that the physician who first attended the applicant after his discharge should

state the date at which his attendance commenced and his condition at that time. If it should not be possible for the applicant to show the condition of his health during the whole period since the date of his discharge by the testimony of physicians, the cause of his inability to do so should be stated by him under oath. The testimony of other persons on this point may then be presented. The statement of the witnesses in regard to the manner in which the applicant was affected should be full and definite, and they should state how they obtained a knowledge of the facts stated by them.

Claims for Increase of Invalid Pensions.

A pensioner who may deem himself entitled to an increase of pension should file a declaration setting forth the ground upon which he claims such increase.

Claims for Renewal of Pensions.

Applications for renewal of pension must be made to the Commissioner by a declaration executed as in original claims, setting forth that the cause for which pension was allowed still continues.

In cases of unclaimed pensions, evidence must be filed satisfactorily accounting for the failure to claim such pension; and, in invalid claims, medical evidence showing the continuance of the disability.

Blank forms of declaration will be furnished by this office at the request of the claimant, but will not be furnished to agents or attorneys.

Claims of Widows and Children.

THE DECLARATION.

The blank form of declaration, with the accompanying notes, which is furnished by this office upon the request of a claimant, sufficiently indicates the facts which should be stated by the widow or guardian.

EVIDENCE.

The facts relating to the cause of the soldier's death on account of whom the pension is claimed, including his last illness and date and place of death, should be set forth fully and in detail, and should be proven by the physicians who attended him during his illness; but when that is impossible, the testimony of other persons who are acquainted with the circumstances may be furnished.

PROOF OF MARRIAGE IN WIDOWS' CLAIMS.

The marriage of the applicant to the person on account of whose service and death the claim is made should be shown

(1) By a duly verified copy of a church or other public record; or (2) By the affidavit of the clergyman or magistrate who officiated; or (3) By the testimony of two or more eye-witnesses to the ceremony; or (4) By a duly verified copy of the church record of baptism of the children; or

(5) By the testimony of two or more witnesses who know that the parties lived together as husband and wife, and who will state how long, within their knowledge, such cohabitation continued.

Special provision, however, is made by section 4705 of the Revised Statutes in regard to the character of the evidence which shall be required in the claims of widows and children of colored and Indian soldiers and sailors.

PROOF OF THE DATES OF BIRTH OF CHILDREN.

The dates of birth of children should be proved

(1) By a duly verified copy of the church record of baptism or other public record; or

(2) By the affidavit of the physician who attended the mother; or (3) By the testimony of persons who were present at the births, who should state how they are able to testify to the precise dates.

If any child of the person on whose account the claim is made died after the date at which the widow's pension will commence, the date of the death must be shown.

CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF MINOR CHILDREN.

In claims on behalf of minor children the guardian must furnish proof upon the following points:

(1) A copy of his letters of guardianship, bearing the seal of the court making the appointment, together with the certificate of the court that such appointment has not been revoked; which certificate should also state the amount of the guardian's bond.

(2) The cause and date of the father's death, the marriage of the . parents, and the dates of birth of the children must be proved. When, however, satisfactory proof upon these points has been furnished in the - claim of the widow, it will not again be required in the claim on behalf of the minors.

(3) If the mother of the children is dead, the date of her death must be proved. If she remarried, her remarriage must be proved in the same manner that her marriage to the father of the children is required to be proved. If the claim is made on account of the widow having abandoned the children, or on account of her unfitness to have custody of them, the abandonment or unfitness can be shown by the certificate of the court having probate jurisdiction or upon the presentation of satisfactory evidence thereof to the Commissioner of Pensions.

(4) If the mother of the children died before the father, it must be shown whether he again married.

(5) It must be shown whether the father left any other pensionable child than those for whose benefit the claim is made; and, if so, why such child is not embraced in the application. A guardian is not entitled on account of a child which died prior to the date of the application.

Claims of Dependent Relatives.

DEPENDENT MOTHERS.

A mother must show her relationship, the date and cause of the son's death, and whether he left a widow or minor children surviving, and her dependence upon him for support at the time of his death.

In proof of dependence it must be shown that previous to the date of the said son's decease her husband had died, or that he had permanently abandoned her support, or that on account of disability from injury or disease he was unable to support her. If the husband is dead, the date of his death must be proved. If he abandoned the support of his family, the date of such abandonment and all the facts of the case, showing whether he ever returned or ever afterward contributed to the support of the claimant, must be fully set forth. If he was disabled, the nature and cause of the disability and when and to what extent it rendered him unable to support the claimant must be shown by the testimony of his physician. The extent of his disability during the period from the son's death to the present time should also be shown.

The value of the property of the claimant and her husband, the income which they derived therefrom, and the other means of support possessed by them while she was receiving the contributions of her said son, and from that time to the present, should be shown by the testimony of credible and disinterested witnesses, who must state how they know the facts. The value of property assessed for taxation may be shown by the testimony of the officer having possession of the records relating thereto. The true as compared with the assessed value should be stated.

It must be shown to what extent, for what period, and in what manner her said son contributed to her support, by the testimony of persons for whom the son labored, to whom he paid rent, of whom he purchased groceries, fuel, clothing, or other necessary articles for her use, or of those who otherwise had a knowledge of the contributions of the son, and who must state how they obtained such knowledge. Any letter from the son bearing upon the question of support should be filed. If the son, in any other manner than by actual contributions, acknowledged his obligation to support his mother, or was by law bound to such support, the facts should be shown.

DEPENDENT FATHERS.

A father claiming pension on account of the death of his son, upon whom he was dependent for support, must prove

(1) The cause and date of his son's death; that said son left no widow or minor child surviving him; the cause and extent of his disability during the period in which the son contributed to his support, and from that time to the present; the amount of his property and all other means of support possessed by him during that period, and the extent of his dependence upon his son for support. The facts of the case in these