The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-03-24
The NEW PENSION LAW.

O.,
ioucned until to morrow at noon.
The NEW PENSION LAW.
It Is More Complicated Than tne One It
Supersedes.
COLUMBIA, Marc1 19.-The latest
pension law is creating more compE,
cations than the previous one, which
it was supposed 10 simplify. In tact
there are SO many irregularities and
inc onsistencies in it that it is doubtful
if pensioners will get their money be-
fore some time in August, though
there is some chance of them getting
if about the latter part Of July. The
contemplation of the law is that pen
sioaers should receive their quota IN
June, but in the new law the year IS
made 1896 instead of 1897. This is an
error from carelessness and will not
affect the payment in the least. but
there are other things to be considered.
The township boards are required to
meet oa May | aLd the County Board
meets ten days late. All pensions al
lowed will then have to pass the in
sDec:ion of the Ssata Board, and as
there are 50 many OF them, it will be
utterly impossible to have the lists
ready by June Is, as required by law.
Another complication srises from
the formation OF new counties and the
division of townships As it is likely
that but one or two of the new coun-
ties will BE- organizad By May l, it is
not kaown exactly what procedure
shall be taken towards organizing
county boards. Com otroller General
Norton IS giving the subjec. serious
study and it may result in him ignor-
ing the fact that new couuties have
been formed and have the townships
organize just as if they had no! been
cut off from the original county.
Again, there are many townships,
especially in the lower section OF the
State, where there are practically no
Confederate soldiers, and il they do
not organize township boards the Safe
Board is required to do SO. Thus the
latter board, before acting, will have
to ascertain all these facts and that
means further delay.
The State Board mad all its blanks
printed and sent out to the various
counties before the new law was pass
ed, aud these blanks had nothing about
township boards. Mr.. Norton hopes,
however, to make them answer all pur'
poses and save the printing of addi-
tional ones.
The whole machinery OF the pension
department has to be done over by
reason of the new law and while there
was great deal of kicking last year
over delays, there is likely to be q
mighty howl this year. Bat it can't
be helped.
The following is brief synopsis O.
the law:
l. The surviving soldiers and sail
ors who were in the service OF the
Confederacy or the State during the
late war between the States are to
meet on convenient day prior to
May, 1897, in the several townships
of this State, and after organizing by
the election of a chairman and secre'
tary, they shall elect by a majority
vote three of their members or reputa
BILE citizens who are not applicants for
pensions, who are to constitute the
examining board OF pensions for each
township.
3. The township boards are to elect
one of their members as chairman.
8. All applications for pensions are
to be made to the township boards
whose duty it shall be to decide to
which class the applicant belongs.
4. The several township boards are
to meet before the first Monday IN
May, 1897, for the purpose of consid
ering applications, and within ten
days thereafter the county examining
board shall meet to settle all disputes
and contests.
5. II selecting pensioners from
among the applicants, the board shall
have regard 10 their physical condl
ton and financial means, allowing 10
each applicant so selected the sum OF
Sc, 81 and s. per month, as they may
be entitled to under the law.
&. The mem bers of the township
boards are to serve without compensa
ton.
Z. The chairman OF the township
boards are to meet at the county seat
within ten days after their own eIec'
ton, and shall organize by electing q
chairman and secretary. When or
ganized they are ID elect four OF their
mem bers and a regular practlclng
physician, who are to constitute the
county examining board, which IS tc
meet on the first Monday IN May,
1897.
s. The members of the County
Boards are to re i've 81 per day ano
cents per mile one wsy,the per diem
and mileage 40. to exceed IS each IL
year.
9. The pensions are to be paid no
later than June 15.-Register.
Charcs For Some Town.
COLUMBIA, S. c., March 1S-"A
the annual meeting of the South Car
olina State Teachers association 9
committee OF three men was appointed
to see what could be done tewart
securing permanent home-ground:
and building-ior these annual meet
ings, such homes as the teachers O.
North Carolina and Georgia have
From 300 to 800 teachers from ths