The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-24
PENSION CHANGES.
TEXT OF.THE BILL ASST PASSED THE
HOUSE,

COLUMBIA, Feb. 2O.-The following
is the full text Of the amendatary pen.
sion bill as it passed the House:
Section 1. That section 943 of the
revised statutes OF 1893, as amended
by an act approved the 9th of March,
1896. relating to pensions, be, and the
same is hereby, amended ty striking
out said section and inserting the fol.
lowing, which shall be section 943:
Section 943. The examining board
of pensions for each township in the
several counties of this State shall be
composed of three ex-Confederate
soldiers or sailors, who shall be nom
applicants for pensions, if available.
otherwise to be composed of reputable
citizens thereof, to be elected as here
matter provided, to which all appi-
cation for pensions shall be made,
whose duty it shall be to decide to
which class said applicant belongs;
and in case of any contest it shall be
referred with all the facts to the coun-
ty examining board, which shall be
composed of four ex-C Confederate sol.
diers or sailors, who shall be non.ap
pGcants for pensions, to be elected as
hereinafter provided, whose decision
shall be final. The several township
boards shall meet at such time and
place most convenient before the first
Monday in April. 1897, and on the
third Mondays of January, OF each
succeeding year, for the purpose OF
considering applications, and within
10 days thereafter the county examin-
ing board shall meet at the several
county seats to settle all disputes and
contests. Itshall be the duty of said
board to examine each applicant or
his application under rules and regu-
lations prescribed by the secretary of
state, the attorney general and comp
troller general, who are hereby Great
ed a State board of pensions, giving
in detail the reasons which have in
fuenced them in granting or rejecting
said apple atoms, accompanied by all
the evidence upon which they acted,
after first being duly sworn fairly
and impartially to discharge the duties
herein prescribed for them to the best
of their ability; and after said oaths
are duly filed in the Office of the clerk
of the court the members OF said town.
ship boards of pensions shall meet as
soon as practicable for the discharge
of the duties herein imposed upon
them. In selecting pensioners from
among the applicants the board shall
have regard to their physical condi-
ton and financial means, and also to
the financial condition of their near
relatives, allowing each applicant so
selected the sum of $6, 81 and s. per
per month, as they may be entitled
under the provisions of this act. A
majority ofthe members of the said
board shall constitute quorum who
may determine any matter presented
by them, subject. however to right of
review by the State board. As soon
as such township and county boards
complete their List, as above, giving
the names of the pensioners, their
residences and the amount per month
to which they are entitled, they shall
certify the same to the State board Of
pensions to be reviewed by them. The
State board of pensions shall thereup
on pass upon the names contained in
said list, and shall certify to the clerks
OF the court OF the several counties the
list of the names and amounts ap-
proved BY them and the said clerks of
court shall record the same in a book,
and the said roll so made up shall be
designated approved pension roll for
1S-," and such pension shall consti-
tute the pensioners entitled to receive
the aid herein provided for the cur
rent year. That the members of the
several township boards shall serve
without compensation.
Section Q. That section 951 of the
revised statutes of 1893 and the act
amendatory thereto approved the 9th
of March, 1896, be further amended,
so as to read as follows:
Section 951. That on some convent
ent day prior to April, 1897, and prior
to August of each succeeding year,
the surviving soldiers and sailors who
were in the service of the Confederate
States or of this State in the late war
between the States, residing in the sew
eral townships of the coutnties of this
State shall meet at such place in their
several townships as may be most con-
venient, and after organizing and
electlng a chairman and secretary
shall elect a majority vote of three of
their members, who are not applicants
for pensions, to constitute and be
known as the township examining
board; that the said township boards
snail elect one of their members chair
man. 1tshall be The duty of the chair.
man of the several township boards
to meet at their respective county seats
within 10 days thereafter and organ.
ize by electing from among their num-
ber chairman and secretary, and
when so organized shall elect by
majority vote four of their members
and regular practicing physician,
who shall constitute and be known as
the county examining board of PEN
sions. The said county examining
board shall meet on salesday in April.
1897, and on salesday in August OF
each succeeding year: Provided,
however, That in those townships
where such survivors fail or refuse
to comply with the provisions
of this act the State board of pensions
shall appoint three ex-Confederate
soldiers or sailors, who shall be nom
applicants for pensions, when availa-
BILE, and when not, to appoint three
reputable citizens of said township as
n, am haas of sold tnmnshin In boards who