The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-21
The Ruling of the State Pension Board

To the Editor:-In your issue of the
18th | notice, and have read carefully,
ar article written by DR.. b. +. Dixon
explanatory of the distribution Of the
Confederate pension funds. / think the
State Pension Board should not be criti
cised on account of the distribution of
the fund, and the explanation made by
the Auditor on behalf of the board should
be satisfactory 10 all concerned, but
respectfully submit that the decision of
the board ordering return of the war
rants is subject to criticism. the Legis-
lature must have meant the payment TO
be for the year following the passage of
the act, like the school fund; to be
paid out of the taxes for the current year.
the board holds, as I understand from the
Auditors letter, that the pension war
rant issued December 18th, 1901, is TO
60 towards the support of the pensioner
to December 18th, 1909, and if he died
before December 18th, 1901, his warrant
must be returned TO the Treasury TO be
cancelled. Nov suppose the warrant was
mailed to the pensioner on the 18th Of
december, he receives it on the 10th and
dies on the 18th according to this ruling
in the case of a pensioner, who receives
twenty dollars per year, he would clearly
be entitled to only 1871 cents. and it
would be the duty of the Auditor, ac-
cording 10 said ruling to institute an ac-
tion to recover the remainder, $19.18%
from the estate of the deceased pension
er, if he had any estate. We presume
many OF our old veterans will pass away
before the 18th of December, 1902, for
the march continues and they are fast
touching elbows through the valley and
the shadows of death. I submit that the
luling of the board in reference to the
return of the warrants of deceased vet
Grams is supported, neither by logic. rea-
son nor precedent. So far as ! know or
can ascertain, all pensioners (both Fed
eral and State) have always been paid
for time elapsed and not in future. If
il was not so before. the act of 1879 made
i, So for it plainly provides for the pay
ment, from the last payment up to the
time of the death of the pensioner, but
ain informed by the communication OF
the Auditor that this law of 1895 has
been II dead letter. Why is it dead
letter? It has certainly not been repealed
but seems to have been enacted to rem
edy and 10 prevent such q construction
as he board has now placed upon the
law, FIR what more humane pur-
pose could the small pittance that an
old veteran was adjudged to be entitled
by both County and State Boards than
to apply it to the payment OF the ex-
penses of his last sickness and for his
grave clothes and coffin and it should be
remembered that these old veterans who
have died since their claims were allowed
leave dependent widows also. No one
would for moment assert that Dr. Dix
on or any member OF the State Board
oil Pensions would do an injury TO any
body. they are all brave. noble and pa
triotic men and we all love them. but
their ruling has caused chill in this
county and is indeed very much deplored
by every Confederate veteran in Wa
tauga county.
Very respectfully.
L. +. LONII4L.
Commandant Camp. No. 1878. L. c. Y.