The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-16
CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
Breakdown of Louisinna's Attempt to Pro-
vide Pensions for Them.


New ORLEANS July l5.-Atter making des-
pcrate attempt to carry out the aim and our
pose OF the Louisiana Constitution in regard
to Confederate veterans. the Board Of Pension
Commissioners has declared that it is impos-
sbe to do so. The State Constitution saya
that Confederate veterans una io to work
shall be provided for and shall receive not less
than SO n month. There il another provision
that the total amount extended in any one
year for.pensons:shall not exceed $4,000. 1t
10 this Limitation that has caused the trouble.
The Constitutional Convention hoped that
tho commission would DO able to cut down the
number Of Confederate veterans very greatly.
The conditions on which Il PENSION is granted
are many ami strict The applicant has to
provo that he was honorably discharged. that
his pres nt inca paci;y WAS caused during the
war; that he has been resident OF Louisiana
for fifteen years and that he is physically un-
able to support himself BY rigorous en-
forcement OF these provisions. and by keeping
the money only for the most deserving cases.
it was thought that the Board Of Pension Com.
the pension fund broke down completely;
When the hoard met at Baton Rouge 1t found
that III new anplicatons had come 10 during
the past two months and only twenty live pen
sloners had died. In spite Of all the efforts
81 the beard it h T2s not a2Is t" reduce re
these were: equally entitled TO assistance
and cannot indeed get along without II. As
a conseauenc: the board , vas s2m 2ellfd to Cyl n
1900 ths PENSION fsoal year).to 81 month.
those $50 totally disabed S0 month mo or Sis
year. 20 those erinpled but not completely
year to- aSe
veterans unable to support themselves, :,
The only other suggestion the board could
make was to send a request to the several dis
irict courts Of Louisiana, asking the district
Judges to charge thoir respective Grand Juries
rupt and wlful oath to obtain a pension I'M
der the act Of tho Louisiana LEGISLATURE is
have a tendency to proven. any fraudulent an
pltcations for mansions The fraud element.
Neey p.ed y'r psrson would 20 throur ali ths
formalitiss for from $50 to.S54:a year. The fact
seems to be lost sight OF that the tnrfeaerats
them are able 10 do work Of any kind.
AS II mas become quite obvious that It is i'm
Grams by means Of pensions. various other
plans are Proposed 7" pre sa suffering on
hold only 200 and It is always nlled to over
Mas to Ind YORK for
this Is every day being found more difficult
ta:k because Of the age "a and isehIsnsss Of h
offices but IatterIv they have b.en crowded out.
and only this week tho Confederate Veterans
leans were discharged on the ground that they
were not suited for the work, and the action
was over thirty. four years ago and should not
determine the choice Of EN- poyees to-day.
The Confederate Employment Bureau has
finally hit upon novel idea OF how tho vet
Grams are to be cared for The proposition 10
to purchase and open o large farm for the vet
Grams. and several subscriptions have already
been made toward the purchase OF the farm.
The veterans will he allowed to reside on II,
with their families. and will be provided with
Agricultural implemants and such other things
as they may need until they are self -sustain-
M II Is thGu9ht tn9t ,sHtIe as tney are 1hey
OF work TO raise vegetables and other articles
for their support, which. will at least reduce
a crippled or disabled veteran to support a
family on S42 a year. but he can como much
nearer doing so II he has free quarters and
enough land to cultivate. II this project does
not succeed II 10 impossible TO say what will
be done for the veterans. Some mode OF re-
lief will have to be found or great deal OF dis
tress will follow.