The times., 1899-07-17
CONFEDERATE PENSIONS.
Breakdown of Louisiana's Attempt
to Provide for Veterans


New Orleans, July I6.-After making a des-
perate attempt to carry out the aim and pur
pose OF the Louisiana constitution in regard
to Confederate veterans, the Board Of Pension
Commissioners has declared that it is impos-
sible to do 80. The State constitution says
that Confederate veterans unable to work shall
be provided for and shall receive not less than
50 month. There is another provision that
the total amount expended in any one year
for pensions shall not exceed $4,000 1t is
this limitation that has caused the trouble.
The constitutional convention hoped that the
commission would be able to cut down the num-
ber of Confederate veterans very greatly The
conditions on which a penson is granted are
many and strict. The applicant has to prove
that he was honorably discharged, that his
present incapacity was caused during the war,
that he has been a resident of Louisiana
for fifteen years. and that he is physically un-
able to support himself. BY rigorous enforce
ment of these provisions, and by keeping the
money only for the most deserving cases. it
was thought that the Boa-d of Pension Com
missioners could worry through. This week
the pension fund broke down completely.
When the board met at Baton Rouge i, found
that IA applications had come in during
the past lNO HiOHliS. anu Dnil twenty-five pen
sioners had died. In spite of all the efforts
of the board, it was not able to reduce the
2.e5i applicants below I.2s7 pensioners. All
these were equally entitled TO assistance and
cannot, indeed. get along without it. As a
consequence the board WAS compelled to cut
all pensions from July l, 1sJ0, to June 30. 1900
(the pension fiscal year,, TO $3.50 a month,
S54 a year to pensioners OF the first class, those
tU,ully Disabled. So ~ 4 n0Itl. SO a
to those crippled, but not completely inca
paoitated. and TO $3.50 4 month, or $50 year.
to the destitute widows Of Confederate veterans
unable to support themselves.
The only other suggestion tho board could
make to send a request to the several dis
trict courts of Louisiana, asking the district
judges to charge their respective grand iuries
that in law any person making false,
rupt, and willful oath TO obtain 4 pension
der the act of the Louisiana Legislature is
guilty of perjury. 1t is thought that this will
have tendency TO prevent any fraudulent ap-
plcations for pensions The fraud clement.
however. is very small, if it exists Al all. Only
a very needy person would 70 through all the
furmalites for from $50 to 50 year. The fact
seems to he lost sight of that the Confederate
veterans are getting very old and that few Of
them able to do work OF any kind.
As it has become quite obvious that it Is i'm
possible 10 for all the Confederate vet
erans by means Of pensions, various other
plans are proposed 10 prevent suffering on
New Orleans cares for a number bu; it viii
hold cnly 2O) and 1t is always filled 30 over
flowing. \ Confederate employment agency was
organized 10 find work for veterans hut this
is every day being found more diifcult task
because of the age and fceblencSs Of the veterans
They had the preference in civil. offices. but
latterly they have been crowded out, and only
this week the Confederate veterans employed in
the Treasurer office in NV Orleans We're dis
charged the ground that they were not suited
fnr the work, and the action defended
the ground that the Civil War was over thirty
four years ago and should not determine the
choice OF employees today.
The Confederate Employment Bureau has finally
hit upon a novel idea OF how the veterans are
to be cared for. The proposition Is TO purchase
and open large farm for the veterans, and
eFal subscriptions have already been made t0wurd
the purchase of the farm The veterans will be
allowed to reside on il. with their families
and will ha provided with agricultural imple
meuts and zach other things they may need
until they are scli-susJaunE. IL IS thought
that feeble as they are, they will be able, at
the expenditure OF a minimum Of work, to raise
vegetables and other articles for their support
which will At least reduce the cost OF their liv
ing II is very difficult for 4 crippled or dis
ahlcd yeteruu 10 support family on So a year
but he can come much nearer doing so ii he
has free quarters and enough land to cultivate
If this project does not succeed it is impossible
to say what will be done for the veterans
some mode Of relief win have to be found or a
great deal of distress will follow.