The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-04
RELIEF OF NEEDY
CONFEDERATES
New Bill Has Been Passed BY
The Legislature.
SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES
Provides For Two Examiners of PEN
sions in Every County, Including
Physician to Pass Upon
All the Applications.
SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES

mccoy confederate soldiers ana sailors anu
their widows who are in destitute circum-
stances.
The bill was prepared by Auditor w. S.
White, and when introduced into the house
was referred to a special committee, con-
sisting of eleven Old soldiers. This commit
tee reported the bill favorably with but
single amendment.
The bill makes many important changes
from tho old law. 1t provides for the APP
pointment of two examiners of pensions In
each county, one to be a physician and the
other Confederate soldier, to pass upon
the applications for pensions. 1t further
provides for a state board of examiners Of
pensions. to consist Of three members
one to be q physician and two ex-soidiers,
which has final jurisdiction in passing on
applications There was little opposition to
the measure on the floor of the house, and
after a short debate it was passed by vote
of 81 to Z.
A full text of the bill is quoted below:
"Section l. Be it enacted by the general
assembly of Alabama, That any resident
citizen of this state on the first day OF
January, 1889, and who is resident citizen
at the time of fling his application who
while in the military or naval service Of
this state, or the confederate states, lost
a leg or an arm, or the use thereof, or
who from wounds received while in such
service, or who from sickness or old age,
or who is blind, or deranged and unable at
the time to make a living by physical
labor, by reason of his permanent dsa-
bility, and who did not desert the service
of the confederate states or the state Of
Alabama, and who does not now own prop
erty to the value of three hundred dollars,
and who has 10 children living with him
upon whom he can depend for support
and whose salary or income does not ex-
coed three hundred dollars per annum,
shall be entitled to the provisions Of this
act, as hereinafter provided, and the widow
of any soldier or sailor of this state or
of the confederate states, who has not
married since the death of such soldier or
sailor, and whose husband did not desert
the service of the state or of the confed-
crate states and who was a resident citi-
zen of the state on the first day of jan
uary, 1899, and who is a resident citizen of
the state at the time of fling her applica-
ton, and who does not own property to the
value of three hundred dollars, shall also
be entitled to reYef upder the provisions of
this act, as hereinafter provided.
Sec. g. Be it further enacted, That
within sixty days after the passage of this
act the governor shall appoint for each
county in the state two examiners, whose
term of office shall be for six years from
the date of appointment, one of whom
shall be a practicing physician of good
standing with his profession, and the other
an ex-confederate soldier sailor of good
moral character; the two shall constitute
board of examiners of pensions for the
county in which they are appointed, and as
such shall discharge all the duties pre-
scribed for said board by the act provided,
that before entering upon the discharge of
the duties prescribed for the county board
by this act, each of such appointees shall
file with the judge of probate of the coun-
ty an oath in writing, to be administered
by such judge, that they will honestly and
faithfully discharge all the duties that
may devolye upon them as such ex-
amners.
Sec g. Be it further enacted That with
in ninety days after the passage of this
act, the governor shall appoint three resi-
dent citizens of this state, whose term Of
office shall be for six years from date of
appointment, one of whom shall be prac-
ticing physician of good standing as such
in the state, and the other two ex-confeder-
ate soldiers of good moral character. The
three shall constitute state board of ex-
aminers of pensions, and as such shall dis
charge the duties of such board as herein
after provided by this act. Each of such
appointees before entering upon the duties
of such examiners shall file In the office of
the secretary of state written oath that
they will honestly and faithfully discharge
all the duties that may devolve upon them
as member of said state board of exam
liners. All vacancies that may occur in
either the county or state boards of ex-
aminers shall be filled by appointment made
by the governor as the original appoint
mentS were made.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That upon
the first Monday in June after the passage
of this act, and upon the same date in each
year thereafter, the county board of ex-
aminers shall meet at the county seat of
their respective counties and open an office
for the examination of applicants for PEN
sions under this act They shall give due
notice by publication in some newspaper
published in the county, or by posting at
the court house door of the county and five
other public places, for three weeks, of the
time and place of their meeting. They
shall keep their Office open for the exami-
nation of applicants from O'Clock a. m.
until o'clock p. IN. on week days for the
first ten days after said first Monday in
June, 1899, after which they may keep open
for such time as may be necessary to ex-
anime the applications filed with them
'Sec. .. Be 1t further enacted, That the
state board of examiners snail meet at the
capitol, in the. city of Mon tgomery, on the
second Monday in June, 1899, and on the
same day in each year thereafter (they
having been notified by the auditor that
there were applications to be passed UPON,
for the purpose of examining applications
submitted to them as hereinafter PROVIDED.
They shall continue in session during week
days until all applications flied with l..em
shall be passed upon; provided, they shall
not receive pay for more than thirty days
during any one year.
Section 6. Be it further enacted, that any
soldier or sailor who served in tho Confed-
crate army, or in the militia, home guards,
or reserve forces of the state Of Alabama,
who deems himself entitled to the benefit
If this act shall file with the county board
of examiners his application in writing
upon blanks to be furnished him by the
Judge of probate of the county In which he
resides, setting forth that he was soldier
OF sailor in the service of the state of
Alabama, that he did not desert the service,
that he is not possessed either in his own
name nor that of his wife property to the
value of $780, that his income does not ex-
coed $500. from salary or otherwise; that he
has no children upon WHOM he can depend
for support; that, owing to his disabled con-
dition he can not make living by manual
labor; he shall also state in what company
aoir he Wa In "a raQi-