The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-07-19
TUCKER O. BROOME
ON PENSION LAW,
"Ths Host Liberal Pension Bin Ever
Given to Soldiers"
[FrOm ths Timea-UnIon.I

Mr.. Editor-I notice that Conrade F.
P. Fleming avails himself Of the col
umns of the Times Union to condemn
the Florida pension law of 1907 and
criticise the Legislature for passing it.
Until the adoption of this act, ANY
person who enlisted and served in the
military or naval service of the Confed-
crate States or of this State during the
war between the States of the United
States. and did not desert the Confed-
crate or State service, and who was a
bona fide citizen of this State January
/. 1895. who has since continued 70 be
citizen Of this State, who lost limp
or limbs, an eye or eyes, or. VINO Is per
nahently disabled by reason OF wounds
or disease to gaip a livelihood oy man
ual labor, or who, being more thaLl
siytv-five wears old, is, by reason OF
age, incapable OF providing lor hlInselI'
shall be entitled TO receive each per an
r,1nn. IN quarterly payments, the. fol
lowing amounts, te-wit: For total loss
Of sight, $4,000 for loss OF one eye,
S2s. 90: for loss of one foot or leg,
$50 90: for loss of hand, SSO.0O; for
loss of both hands, 10000; for loss OF
both feet. 500. 90; for loss of one hand
and ore foot of same person, $lOO.OO;
for personal injuries, disease or age
whereby the person is unable to earn
livelihood by manual labor, $50. W.
Widows of such soldiers and sailors
would receive 5000 per annums pro,
vided they did not own property, real
and personal, or real or personal, 10 the
value of $500. 90. mo person who, or
whose wife. or any widow who owns
property, real or personal, or real ana
personal, to the value OF S6OO.UO, or As
otherwise enabled or in position 10
earn a livelihood, or who has an income
from any source sufficient FOR support
shall be entitled to receive pension.
Now, have never before crlticlseo
this pension law, but look it square in
the face and tell me, does it not mean
that soldiers and sailors of the Conted-
erats States and their widows who are
paupers may have pension by making
strict proof of the fact. God bless
your soul, conrade, all civilized States,
and especially Florida, take care OF
their paupers, regardless of their past
lives or the country from which they
came. But the last Legislature OF Flor
ida (may heavens richest blessings
abide upon them), desiring to show
Substantial recognition of the services
and sufferings of the Confederate vet
Grams. passed law at once dong honor
to our great State and placing the SOL
diers and sailors of the Confederacy
and their widows upon the roll OF honor
and the pedestal Of fame.
| have long loved Florida, but never
so much as now. Not for the pension
she offers me, but for the gracious
manner in which she has moulded into
l.. ,,lannA in aVpFlQQtlnU
remembrance her love and value OF the
Confederate veterans and their widows.
Comrade Fleming stands in a class
almost. if not entirely, alone. we
made him Governor for four years, and
he has held other lucrative positions
besides. he is q man of wealth and nigh
legal attachments and has a large IN
come. Doubtless he would decline
Gift of a hundred dollars from any
Source. Not so that old veteran past
sixty who gave his years Of his young
life TO the Confederacy and missed the
opportunity to get an education; whC
at the close of the greatest struggle oil
modern times returned ragged and pen
niless to his former abiding place, an(
who. having reared his family, look
back upon the years OF toll ana econ
omy necessary TO educate his children
and, although his little farm and othel
possessions are valued at more thai
$500. 90, still, to him, the State s free
will Offering comes as a God-send. Nov
he or she can buy little medicine o.
food or clothing, which before the.
could not get. No, no! don't repeal tn
law. 1t was enacted by Leglslatur
which for morals and intellectually ha
never been surpassed by any that ha
assembled at Tallahassee. / woub
gladly take each one of them by tn
hand, who voted for this law, an
greet him with a fervent God bles
YOU" venture the opinion that Their
are not one hundred benehciaries o
this law in Florida who do not need
to make better their declining years
We are a band Of brothers swiftly pass
ing away. This act of the people o
Florida, sOlemnly enacted by her au
thorized assembled wisdom, is more en-
during than brass or marble. Let
stand forever! EPPEs TUCKER, SR.
Editor Times nion--In your issue 9
the 7th appeared an article over IN
signature of ex-Gov. +. =. Fleming
cTiticising the Florida Legislature 9
1907 far passing a pension law leavin
out the property qualification, Coy
Fleming tells US that previous Leeisk
lures OF Florida gave Us pension law:
and adds: "But there was always y
cluded in these bills a property qualif
cation" and continues his arRumer
against the bill for the reason, primo