The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-01
HOUSE PASSES
 PENSION BILL Makes Three Classes of
 Beneficiaries, PROPERTY LIMIT IS RAISED Widows of Deceased Veterans
 Profit by Measure. Proposed Law is cemplete---overhauI- ing of All Existing Enactments Vote on Final Passage
 Unanimous.

The general pension bill. providing for the relief of needy Confederate soldiers and sailors and their widows, was passed by the House yesterday afternoon, by unanimous vote. The only discussion on the measure was in regard to some features that 1t was proposed by some of the members to place in the bill, but which were deem ed inadvisable by the majority.
 The measure as 1t passed the House provides much more liberal pension laws than have heretofore been in eff feet The various pensioners are ad- vanced in class. so that in the future. there shall be no fourth class pension CTS. The veterans who have hereto- fore been in the first and second classes are combined in the first class; those who have been in the third class are advanced to the second; and those who have been in the fourth class heretofore are placed in the third.
 The minimum pensions fixed by the. bill are SIP per year for those in the first class. s54 per year for those in the second class, and $36 for those in the third class. These sums are to be paid to the pensioners in semi-annual installments of half that amount at each payment, thus getting the money to the old soldiers in smaller sums, as it is needed.
 Features of New Classification.
 A feature of the new classification is that old soldiers who have property of not to exceed $150 in value. may be admitted to the second class. as may also widows Of deceased yeter- ans. who have not formerly been eligi- ble to that class. The property limit of $400, which acts as bar to an old soldier receiving a pension, Is raised by the bill to s750.
 The new bill abolishes the State Board of Pension Examiners entirely, and makes certain changes in the local boards. A lawyer Is added to each of the local boards, and they are given power to pass on applications for pen sions.
 In view of the fact that veterans of the War Between the States are becoming fewer, 1t is deemed best to repeal that provision of the old law which requires two witnesses who can testify as to service. In the future if two witnesses are not available to the applicant for pension, any proof that is sufficient to satisfy the local board of the reality of the claims submit ted will be accepted.
 The bill overhauls all the existing pension laws, and makes numerous changes beside those noted. The meas ure was presented as a substitute bill for House Bill No. 5s, by MT. Bulger of TalLapoosa, but is intended as substitute for all pending pension measures of the same general char acter It was prepared by sub-eom- mittee. of the Ways and Means Com mittee, consisting of Messrs. Sample of Morgan. Hughston of Lauderdale, and White of Perry.
 Speaker Martin was still too i'll to attend the sessions, and Speaker pro tenn Carmichael presided over the ses- sions
 The House was called to order promptly at 10 o'clock by Acting Speaker Carmichael. Rev. W. J. Price, at Girard, representative from Russell county, Ouereu the openluS iHNOSd- tion. Seventy-six members answered to their names on roll call. As usual, the journal was approved without reading.
 Grant Leaves of Absence.
 Leave of absence was granted Mir. Foster of Tuscaloosa indefinitely, be- cause of illness. and to MT. Bloch of Wilcox for the day.
 The tax coemission bill was then taken up and debate on 1t occupied the attention of the House for several hours.
 During the morning session, the privileges of the floor were granted several prominent citizens, as follows; on motion of Mir. Crawford of Walk CT, to Hon. Rufus A. O'Rear of that county a former member of the House; on motion of MT. Williams of Barbour, to Hon. A., A Evans, Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit; on motion of MT, Steagall of Dale; to J. A. Adams. of Ozark; on motion Of MT Ballard of Autauga, to Mir, A. Graham, of Autauga County; on motion of Mir. Bulger of Tallapoosa, to Hon. George B. Ward. Mayor of Birmingham.
 Tha repOrtq 0f fbe sfandine commit