The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-07
FL0RIDA'S LOOSE CHANGE.
THE QUESTION As TO WHAT SHALL
BE DONE WITH 1T.

War Pension Bill Among the Sur
vivOrs of the Seminole and Civil
Wars-Pension Matters In the
Hands of "A Special Pension Board.
A Complaint of Senator Adams
Fricnds-The Senator One of the
Coming Men of the Stnte--Some
Talk About Omcinl RecOrds-Other
Matters of General Interest.
Tallahassee, Fla, July Soon after
the return of Gov. Jennings from
Washington an unfounded rumor got
afioat that the Treasury Department in
Washington had issued a warrant for
$6S1, 647.02, the amount in full of the
Indian war claim. This does not in
clude the states percentage on land
sales for many years back, amounting
to something like $115,OOO. The Cover
nor has good reason to be we'll pleased
with the success of his trip to the ma
tional capital. 1t will soon be up to
the people of Florida to decide upon
the disposition of their loose change.
The good roads advocates are morally
certain to put in their claim for a
share of the proceeds; the educational
enthusiast is also likely to be heard
from in this connection, while the voice
of conservatism is certain to be raised
in favor of retiring some of the states
bonded indebtedness.
The fact that the Indian war claim
warrant has at last been issued will
allay the apprehensions of those who
feared that the Wales brothers might
in some way secure their commission
on the claim before the money left the
treasury. The heirs of the late Col.
William X. Beard of this city, who
had a half interest in the Wales
Claim We're somewhat apprehensive
on this score, and, it is said. have re-
tanned well known Tallahassee law
yer to protect their interests. This
legal authC rity is reported to have said
that, in his opinion, some action by
the next Legislature would be neces-
sary, but it is safe to say that no
Florida Legislature is likely to pass
bill re-instating this claim.
The fact that Congress recently
passed the Indian war pension bill
seems to have given rise to some I'M
necessary Misrepresentation among the
survivors of both the Seminole and
Civil wars The bill in question ap-
piles only to the survivors of the In
dian war, although, of course, some
of the Confederate veterans may find
themselves benefciaries under the act
But very general misapprehension
as to the proper mode of procedure in
these matters seems to prevail among
those interested.
al
were in the hands Of the adjutant gem
eral, but the last constitutional con-
vention transferred this business to a
special pension board. composed of the
Governor the controller and the At
torney General. Nevertheless, Adjt.
Gen. Foster still finds himself in re-
ceipt of applications for pensions,
which he can dispose of only by turn
ing them over to the board.
The last legislature enacted a bill
bearing on this subject, and with a
view of enlightening those interested
in the matter of the pension board,
through it's secretary, C. H. Dickinson,
secretary of board of pensions, has is
sued a circular letter, in which he saws:
The law provides that The widow
of any soldier or sailor who was re-
ceiving pension under this act, or
from the state by any former act at
the time of his death shall
be entitled to the benefits Of this act
Thus it will be seen that the examin-
ers are limited to applications of wild
ows of soldiers or sailors actually re-
ceiving pensions under our law at date
of death
THE only other question raised on
this subject is covered by the follow
Ing clause of the same section, which
reads, or who would be entitled to APP
ply under this act meaning of course
the widow of soldier or sailor who
would be entitled to apply for a pen
sion under this act. Thus it must APP
pear that the soldier or sailor entitled
to apply under this act was living on
Oct. /, 1901, when this act took effect.
Therefore, the board of pension exam
iEers cannot consider the application
| CT widow whose husband was not liy-
ing on the LIST day of October 1901, I'M
less the husband was receiving a PEN
sion under our law prior to Oct 1.
1901
The language of the above act is SO
| conclusive that but one construction
| can be put upon it-namely, that no
widow whose husband was not living
| Oct. l. 1901, is under its provisions
| entitled to pension. Such is the con-
structlon put upon the law by every
lawyer to whom it has been submit
| ted. Nevertheless, Controller Groom
| from whose office the pension war
| rants are issued-now finds himself
| accused (for campaign purposes only)
| of turning down deserving widows
| While his predecessor, the late w III
| Reynolds, granted such pensions. AS
| matter of fact, Mr.. Reynolds died
months before the act in question went
into effect and neither the present
J controller nor the pension board. of
/ which he is a member, can Justly be
| censured for enforcing the law as they
] find it, and not, perhaps, as it should
, be.
| Some of Senator Frank Adams
| friends, and no man has more or is
! more deserving of them. feel that some
| injustice has been done him by the
| manner in which his name has been
| coupled with that of former Senator
! Call in connection with the State Ex-
! ecutiVe Committee. The Injustice is
| probably more apparent than actual,
| and has evidently arisen from the fact
that MIR. Adams and Mr. Call have both
| either ignored or rebelled against the
| rulings of the committee. Nobody who
| knows the Hamilton county states
| man. who remembers his splendid rec
! ord in the past, his splendid promise
! for the future, will for moment sus-
| pect him of collision with Call Frank
| Adams is one of Florida's coming men
while Call long ago came" came to
| grief, and in the future can only hope
| to be q futility and an element of dis
! cord in the Democratic ranks. The
| former, in a word, seems to have re-
| pudiated the action of the State Exec