The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-02-05
PASSED THE HOU Sc.
The Bill Increasing the Pension to
Two Hundred Thousand Dollars.
BUT FIVE VOTED AGAINST IT.
The House Stood Ga!;ant,y by the
Old Heroes OF this State
Who Risked Their AL
Tor Theic Country.

week Mr.. Rucker'S bill to increase the
pension fund for the Confederate sol
diers was called up by the author. 1t
had received an unfavorable re-
port.
Mr.. Rucker called up his bill increaS-
ing the pension to old soldiers to $780,
900 and addressed the house upon the
bill. He said in part;
AT the last session Of the house the
bill Of the gentleman from Greenwood
was amended from $4,000 to $780,
600. but it was reduced in the senate to
sl50.C00. the bill under discussion
raises the amount back to the amount
voted by this body last year. 1t can
not be said that the old soldiers have
worried the legislature with petitions
for increase Of pensions. On the con-
trary they have waited patiently for
over 40 years for some adequate rccog-
milton Of the services rendered by
them to their State. They are fast
passing away. II we are to do any
thing for them we must do it now.
We cannot afford to wait. We are
constantly erecting monuments to
commemorate the valor Of those who
true to the instincts Of their birth:
faithful to the teachings of their faith
ers; constant in their love for the
State, died in performance OF their
duty But these become almost
sham and nockery when we allow
men who did much to demonstrate
southern heroiSm and southern tidel-
ity, to become inmates Of county poor
houses. or to suffer for the necesSaries
Of life. They have never shown any
disposition to make raid upon the
treasury Of the State. Georgia ap-
prosriates, I am credibly informed,
SS0O,0OO. Considering our population
and wealth we would upon the same
basis that exist there appropriate
about $500. 900, and yet we are not
asking for that amount nor for half OF
it. The bill simply asks for the
smallest amount, $500, GOO, which will
furnish our old soldiers with the actu-
al necessities or lie.
'iAt Charlottesville, it is said that
the morning after Stonewall Jackson
was shot. the cry ran along the Con-
federate line Remember StoneWall
Jackson and with that cry upon
their lips they marched on to victory.
Today say to you gentlemen, re,
member the poor privates who are no
longer able to provide for themselves:
who are already treading down the
dusty road to death. Let US by ouI
votes show that we intend to protect
them in their old age: that when they
come to cross over the river it shall be
after having their needs ministered to.
and their wants supplied; that there
shall be no suffering for the necessities
Of life amongst the old soldiers OF the
State"
Mr.. Mayson on behalf of the commit,
tee on militery affairs explained the
unfavorable report. He had heard OF
no universal demand for an increase in
the pension fund. He intimated that
the committee was more inclined tc
ward the soldiers home bill.
Mr.. Dean of Spartanburg. one who
fought, favored the bill in an impas'
stoned speech. 1t is not enough fol
South Carolina to 90. First into the
Confederacy she should not be the last
to recognize the valor other sons The
proposed appropriation Of 100000 is
not enough.
He bitterly referred to the existing
soldiers home which is the poor
house, where the needy veterans must
90 because the State does not give
them enough to keep up their declin-
ing DAYS. While the bill does not pro-
vide enough he believes that it would
put a stop to old soldiers being forced
to go to the poor house. He referred
to the fact that there are names on
the pension rolls which should not be
there, sometimes even deserters get
on the rolls. There should be some STOP
to this way of depriying the valiant
Of their dues. He closed by recitirg ir
an impressive way quotation from the
old hym THE Home Over There" the
soldiers home for which they are wait
ing.
Mr.. Weston made splendid appea
for the old soldiers, referring beauti-
fully to thir unselfish devotion to theil
State. 1t istrue that the pension fund
was but $4,000 at first, but it will be
but right to make it $780, 900 now. He
argued that the State can afford it:
and if something else has to go undone,
let it 90 undone. These veterans vii.
not be here long. let's help them while
they are here and not be always sing
ing praises to them.
Mr.. Ashley declared he had always
opposed anything which would put
taxes or his people. But we take care
of our rich young men in college, why
not take care OF the crippled old sol
diers." He opposed the soldiers home
proposition and favored Mr.. Rucker'>
bill. He likened the soldiers home
unto pOorhOuse.
Mr.. Mcleod referred in an eloquent
way to the four years OF service gfver
the Stateand asked what was the com
parison Of their service with LITTLE
appropriation Of 100000. Mr.. Nc
Leod's speech was a fine argument
clothed in splendid sentences.
Mr.. Logan Of Charleston opposed
the bill as it would conflict with the
passing OF the bill to create soldiers
home. The soldiers home will not DC
a door house, but a place to which the
State could point with pride.
Mr.. Cooper favored the bill. Ii
should be passed unanimously. He
would favor the soldiers home PROPOSE
tion also. but not if it is to take away
from the regular pension fund.
Mr.. Fox Of Colleton had seen some
thing Of the. war. though not oie
enonoh TO take part in it. and though