Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-01
EX-coNFEDERATE SAYS
LAW SHOULD BE STRICT

To the Editor Of The Journal:
notice in the published proceedings or
the lower house of the general assembly,
18th instant, among the bills passed is one
by Mr.. Steed, of Taylor, providing that
certificates issued by ordinaries of this
state to Confederate soldiers, etc, shall
be taken as conclusive evidence that such.
soldiers have license to do business. /
presume the bill makes material changes
in the law as II now stands, but it does
not so appear in the proceedings as pub
lished.
AS a Confederate soldier, I have for
some years been in favor of change,
either in the law as to free license or in
the law governing pensions. The former is,
In the opinion of many, not sufficiently
strict in it's requirements, or the latter is
too much so. They should be placed more
ION a parity" so to speak.
Reference to the code of 1895, sections
1851, 1253 1855, 1857 and 1910, will show the
careful reader that it is difficult, even
now, for many old veterans. however wor-
thy, to prove their service, and as our
ranks are becoming decimated more and
more each year, 1t will very soon be i'm
possible for a new applicant to comply
strictly with the provisions Of the law.
No doubt now many worthy old soldiers,
much in need of this pittance, are suffer-
ing in consequence Of being unable to find
a commissioned Object OF llIGC
bers" (perhaps even one member) of his
"old company to certify as to his service
in the defense of his state or the Con-
federacy. It will be seen further that even
If the ordinary is fully satisfied and ap-
proves the application so far as to vouch
for the standing and integrity of the wit
nesses, 1t is possible that another obsta-
Gle may be found on it's reaching the cap
ital, as the governor may demand other
ND Cd oOf IN, ar o6Sa xvh ha
may have reason to suspect that the claim
is not meritorious." Then he may be
stricken from the roll If the grand jury
finds cause for such recommendation.
Again, section 433 requires the proper
county authorities" to ascertain whether
a poor old fellow is properly entitled
to food and clothing" from the poor
fund of the county instead of being sent
as other paupers lover the hill to the
poorhouse." This is a good law, and a
monument should be erected to its author.
We old soldiers are not complaining Of
the laws mentioned as being too strict
in their requirements. We want them
strict that impostors be kept off the pen
sion roll We do not like to be looked upon
as a set of dead BEATS" But many Of
us want the requirements equalized more
than they now seem to be.
l now refer to sections 1642-1645 of the
code. An exemption from the payment of
a license fee is an indirect pension, and
If studied carefully, / think 1t will be
seen it appears even a greater burden on
our neighbors than a pension. A pension
is paid. from a fund raised by a taxation
of all the people of the entire state. If
get a certificate from the ordinary of
any county in the state, this certificate
entities me to transact any line of busi-
ness without further license from any
city. town or other authority. All I have
to do to obtain this certificate is to make
affidavit that was a Confederate soldier.
No proof is required. To illustrate, our
little city requires license to carry on a
certain line of business. for which the
applicant must pay fee Of $50. If I en-
gage in that business. by showing my GER
tificate pay no fee whatever. Ny fmme-
date neighbors and business associates
are taxed extra to make up this dencit.
Viewing this matter in this light is not
the exemption a pension, indirectly given,
and should / not be required to prove my
service in the one case as well as in the
other?
/ am also interested in the Confederate
roster bill of Mr.. Carswell, and suppos-
ing the details OF the bill are all right, /
hope it will become a law. Many of us
have never been burden on the tax
payers, and we think our lawmakers
might cheerfulIy appropriate the small
amount asked for in the bill to cheer us
in our declining years, If not for the saw
ing in the pension fund, as claimed by the
advocates of the bill.
1 feel sure all veterans will cheerfully
aid in the preparation of the roster as far
as possible. 1 will gladly furnish that of
my old company &C" Eighth Georgia in
fantry), and believe that Of every COM
pany in that and the gallant old Seventh
could be furnished Others can speak for
themselves. D. G. FLEMING.
Hawkinsville, Go.