The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-24
HOW TO GET A PENSION.
Full Text Of the Confederate Pension
Law,
SHOWING THE METHOD TO Be PURSUED
In Making Application for the PEN
Standardization Necessary.
when to Make Application.


that all applications for pensions under
the Confederate pension law be filed with
him not later than the second Monday in
August. the law. governing the securing
OF pensions is here reproduced for the
benefit of Confederate veterans in Harris
county and throughout the State, showing
them details of the method to be pursued
In making application for the pension
which will be paid, If application be made
in time and approved. on October list;
The law Is as follows:
CONFEDERATE PENSION LAW.
An Act to carry into effect the amend
ment to the Constitution of the State
OF Texas providing that aid may be
granted to disabled and dependent Con-
federate soldiers, sailors and their wild
ows. under certain conditions, and to
make an appropriation therefor.
Section /. Be it enacted by the Legisla-
ture of the State of Texas: That here
after there shall be paid an annual pension
OF eight dollars per month, the same to
be paid quarterly, on the first days of
October. January April and July of each
year. to every surviving disabled and in
dlgent Confederate soldier or sailor who
to Texas prior to January l. 1880, and who
is either over sixty years of age or whose
disability is the approximate result of the
actual service in the Confederate army
or navy for period of at least three
months, their widows in INDECENT circum-
stances, who have never remarked and
who have been bona fde residents of the
State of Texas since March /, 1880, and
who were married to such soldiers or sail
ors anterior to March l. 1866; provided,
that said aid shall NOT exceed eight dollars
per month; and provided further, that in
the event the appropriation made by the
State Legislature for any one year shall
prove insufficient to pay in full said pen
sions. that thereby shall not be created
a deficiency outstanding as a valid claim
against the State of Texas. and each pen
sioner shall only receive his pro rata ac-
| cording to the amount appropriated for
that year.
| Section 2. Each applicant for pension
under this law shall make application in
writing and under oath for the same to
| the county judge of the county of his or
her residence. Such application shall
| state the name, age and residence of the
applicant, and his or her occupation, II
able TO engage in one; his or her physical
). condition, as well as the company and
regiment in which he enlisted in the Con-
| federate army, or where he served in the
Confederate navy, and time OF service in
/
| received any pension or veteran donation
| land certificate under any previous law;
a list OF the real and personal property
owned by the applicant, and the present
value of the same. and what property and
| the value thereof that such applicant has
! sold or conveyed within two years prior
to the date of such application; or what
! income he receives, If any; and shall
further state that the applicant is in in
digent circumstances and is not able by
| his or her labor, to earn a support, pro-
| vided, that the word INDECENT" within
| the meaning of this law shall be con-
| strued to mean, one who is in actual want
and destitute of property and means OF
| subsistence; and that the applicant has
not transferred to others any property
of value of any kind, for the purpose of
becoming beneficiary under this law,
and that such applicant never deserted
/ the Confederacy, but it shall not be neces-
| sary to produce a certificate of discharge
! in order to receive a pension under this
| act and still further. that such applicant
is and has been continuously. since the
lst day of January, 1880, a bona tide resi-
dent citizen OF this State. or that he
originally enlisted in the Confederate
service from the State of Texas, and was
at the date OF the passage OF this act a
bona tde resident citizen Of the State of
Texas, and in addition to the foregoing,
each male applicant shall further state
command he served in. He shall furnish
the testimony of at least two credible
witnesses who personally know that he
enlisted in the service and performed the
duties of a soldier or sailor as claimed
by him. and that he is unable to support
| himself by labor OF any sort; he shall also
/ furnish proof by a reputable physician
OF his county, showing his precise physical
condition and ability to labor at any work
or calling sufficient to earn support for
himself, and II he is not sixty years old,
when. where and how said disability oc-
/ Cured said proof to be made before the
county judge of the county OF the resi-
dence of the witnesses. The papers In
| the case as made by the county judge
| shall be submitted to the county commits
i sioners OF his county at regular term
OF their court, and shall be approved by
them, and they are hereby authorized to
summon and examine witnesses outside
of those examined by the county judge
as above provided for II in their Judgment
any fact materially Affecting the appli-
cant's statements are not clearly set out
| and proven II shall be the duty of the
county Judge and of the commissioners
! court TO take down the evidenc in writing
| of all witnesses examined by them, or
| either of them which shall be done under
! the direction OF the county Judge when
taken before him. and under the direction
! OF the commissioners when taken before
!
! plicant at the rate OF i've cents per one
/ hundred words: provided, that the appli-
cant Is authorized to have such evidence
taken down by his attorney, or by such
I other person as he may employ under the
/ contract of employment TO secure his PEN
! sion; and provided, that no greater fee
than hereinafter provided shall be charged
| by such attorney or representative OF such
applicant; and the county judge shall
I certify to the written statement of the
evidence when taken before him. and the
| commissioners shall certify TO the same
| when taken before them. The appica-
/ ton. affidavit and certified statement OF
4 the evidence, after the same have been
/ approved by the county judge and by the
/ commissioners court shall be forwarded
\ to the comptroller of public accounts of
| the State of Texas. 1t shall be the duty
OF such comptroller TO appoint a COM
peteut person, who shall be an ex-confed-
! crate soldier or sailor and who shall be
| designated as pension clerk. and who
| shall enter upon his duties Immediately
after such appointment and the passage
of this act, and shall take charge OF ac-
| counts and matters pertaining 10 this
act. and shall keep list OF the applica.
! lions for pensions. sent to the comptroi-
Ter. and who shall. with and under the
| direction of the comptroller. examine all
applications for pensions carefully and
| Thoroughly and shall see that such appli-
cations are made in strict compliance with