The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-26

uced In the mouse OF representatives py
representative Mcqueen, of Jefferson
ounty, within the next few days. 1t was
prepared by Major General Fred S. Fergu-
lon of the United Confederate Veterans of
Alabama at the request of ninety-nine con-
federate camps in this state.
A BILL
To Be Entitled an Act for the Relief of
Confederate Veterans
Section BE it enacted by the gen.
eral assembly of Alabama that all SOL
diers and sailors of the confederate
states army and navy, who served hon
orably therein, and who are resident
citizens of Alabama at the time of the
passage of this act, and who are %
years of age and upwards, and whose
prperty of all kinds Is with less than
81 900 dollars in the aggregate, shall be
exempt from the payment of any license
tax, state, county or municipal, now or
that may hereafter be required by law
for engaging in or carrying on any busi-
ness, trade or profession except the
manufacture or sale of spirituous, vim
Gus or malt liquors, or patent medicines.
Veterans Favor 1t
81 was requested to prepare this BILL"
.aid General Ferguson in discussing the
matter yesterday, practically by every
have endeavored TO make it as fair as pos
sible A careful study of it will show all
.axpayers and others interested in the mat
ter that it is perfectly just, and under no
probable circumstances can it injure any
one
According to the latest returns from the
various camps of the state, there are now
in round numbers about 5000 soldiers and
sailors of the confederate states service
now living in Alabama. Many of them are
wealthy More of them are in good circum-
stances. But there is a minority that need
he generous assistance of the state.
."rhe text of the bill will show that no
man can take advantage of 1t unless he
shows that at the time the bill passes that
he Is a bona fide citizen of the state, that
all his property is worth less than $l'OOo
that he served honorably in the service OF
the confederate army or navy, and that ne
is over so years of age.
..rrhe foregoing conditions being fulfilled
the applicant is exempt from the pay men,
of all license taxes for engaging IN or car
rying on any business or profession, Ioi
which a license tax is now or may mere
after be required by law. The Dill gives
relief to old soldiers in all businesses ex-
cept the manufacture or sale Oh liquors.
''In other words, it proposes TO give the
confederate soldier of the state an oppor-
tunity to make living for himself ana
family without paying license tax except
in the few cases mentioned.
Similar Law In Other States
.srhe states of Georgia, Mississippi, Louis
lana. Texas and South Carolina are among
the southern states which already have
laws similar to this. There may be other
states which have them that l am not ac-
auainted with.
"Then. again, most of these states give
their old soldiers pensions ranging all the
way from $50 to $50 year, while Alabama
pensions her soldiers to the amount OF only
S12 to about $20 l realize that Alabama is
doing about as much for her old soldiers
as it can In its present condition of
finances; but the measure suggested in the
bill have drawn offers relief which will
be very much in the nature of pension
and yet which will scarcely be felt as a
ISIS from the state treasury.
"Out of the entire 5000 or more veterans
now living in the state don't believe that
over a thousand of them will take advant-
age Of this law. However this thousand
are men who are really in need OF the as
sistance that will be given them by this
law 1 have great hopes that the measure
VIII pass, for am sure that every think
ing citizen of the state who has at heart
the welfare of the old soldiers who wore the
gray will favor the bill, and l am equally
sure that the legislature will respect their
wishes"