The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-21
PENSION AMENDMENT.
/. y.r.II Argues It Would BE a
Bad Thing.
. ! REAGAN AGREES WITH HIN.
wnny Reasons which An.
@ uip. Good Ones Why 1,
ssouid lie Defeated.

III, for the giving of pensions to
..rate veterans in lieu of malctan-
/ 4 .bs Confederate home, it becomes
"a more apparent that those mostly
.,.i therein because of their con-
N. ~;,h the late war and the part
.sed therein are anyth dag but agreed
M efect of said amendment. Judge
n Terrell is one of those opposed TO
s,dnent. His views with regard
IN as expressed to The Post CORE
Lam. ale as follows
a. amendment to the constitution
| \ nrouoses 10 give pensions to Con-
~ so,a.ers raturaliy appeals TO
sutimept in behalf Oh the heroic men
A Inst Cause. introduced in the leg
I,r,c the bill to establish our Conted-
1, home and urged its passage. If more
n. are needed, they should be estab-
N hut the door TO fraud that pension
votld open is q wide one and / think
ssper,ment dangerous. The experience
NJ United States in such matters is not
- ring. More men are now drawing
Llons from the United States than
I,r,l Grant had in his army any year
M the war. The Republic of Texas once
Lsi pension law for the soldiers Of the
81 revolution and was compelled to
a II. think that when it was repealed
n were more applicants for pensions
mere were men in Texas during. the
kutlon. Judge Reagan has been in
Id for nearly sixty years and can tell
nj ABOUT this. |, VIII pay taxes as
kfully as any man in Texas to establish
y homes for my old comrades in arms
are destitute, but / look upon the pro-
h amendment TO pay pensions with
tus,."
blowing Judge Terrell's suggestion The
correspondent asked Judge Reagan for
views on tie subject and this is tho
be expressed himself:
concur in the statements and conclu-
y Of Judge Terrell. AS | think the adop-
! d the proposed amendment might lead
Unexpected and unfortunate results |
hot hesitate to express my opinion
h II,
suppose no one viii doubt my strong
|pstay with the veterans who served
|be armies of the Confederacy and their
bTs, or my wish that the State shall do
|that can be reasonably doL,e for their
fort In their declining years. To this
the establishment of our soldiers
(e had my hearty approval, as an act
@edCm and justice to those soldiers
have no homes or who are unable to
for themselves.
Fne proposed amendment provides,
pc other things: That the legislature
grant aid to INDECENT and disabled
Iederste soldiers and sailors who came
|exas prior to January l, 1850, and VINO
|o'er 90 years of age, or whose dis
tiles Is the ploximate result of actual
fee In the Confederate army for Il
pa OF at least three months, their
pxs In INDECENT circumstances who
never married and who have been
nde residents of the State of Texas
March !, 1850, and who were mar
osuch soldiers anterior to March l.,
provided, said aid shall not exceed IS
|montn; and, provided further, that no
|opfiation shall ever be mode for the
~ herein before specified in excess of
PWo Tor any ore year. And also grant
10 the establishment ard maintenance
nome Tor said soldiers and sailors, un-
such regulations and limitations as
De provided by law provided, the
y 70 aid said home shall not exceed
L.o Tor any one year.
Inc proposed amendment au .horlzes the
ksture to grant aid to INDECENT and
Ped Confederate soldiers and sailors
10 their widows in INDECENT circum-
tss' II contains no definition of in
FccN TO govern conclusions or TO whom
(crs might be given. Possibly the
.alure might remedy this. But the
y VINO came to Texas prior to jan
!; $780, might raise doubt whether
lug provision for those who entered
se'V'ce from Texas. or only for those
came to Texas. Ard it would not ap-
10 native of Texas. by the ordinary
OF construction. After providing for
Il 70 soldiers SIS above, it is added in
.nennment. or, in the alternative,
~ disability is the proximate result
kksusl service in the Confederate army,
period OF at least three months This
|sepsrate reason for giving the pension.
4 AZ thirty-three years after the
" me war, there are but few men,
ss.Neu IN that war, not suffering from
IInln mites of age or from other causes.
PROVISION, II adopted. would probsb bly,
sNlhg very nearly a service pen-
al, our soldiers who served in that
suu ! can not suppose that it was the
['se ol the legislature 10 go to that ex-
see the statement made in the news-
IA some one who seems 10 have
"a eareiully into the facts, that we
N piooaoly have over $4,000 pensioners
4 a s9e year each would require
,SvvV'ooo for their annual payment.
aoi say whether this is an excessive
n r. II is understood that Texas had
soialefs in the armies OF the Con-
I1.s. we DO not know what portion OF
iseNiNed the war, nor how many of
~ died since the war: but we know
M p see that the sdoption of this
a eht would be a leap IN the dark,
/, mlght Involve an enormous outlay
|h IN. oh the people. II it be said this IS
n 49, oy the limitation Of the amount
NJ appropriated 10" any uAS
~ should not lose sight OF the fact
advises the public that we pro-
IA ant pension system which
\ involve an expenditure of an un-
n. sa"ouht' which would tempt the i1-
nm class to organize themselves for
OF t3king advantage thereof.
\ Hness daily the effect of such a
N ns Federal government, under
roWer has grown up which dictates
s.sppropriation congress shall make
"a ,' which Is r0bhirg the people,
o,m ~ law, qrd hes debauched and
-, ~" s'slation TO such an extent as
,,,on', public rherty ana has become
vnai scandal and disgrace.
a., anop' this proposed constitutional
i ~ may we not lay the foundation
m errl'ion Of things in this STATE?
a, me prnper caro- for those SOL
a., ,sSss and their unmarried willows
s,c, unable to take care OF themselves
.en duty devolved on the State,
If*'s OF n foundation fnr the 0rTi n