Live Oak daily Democrat. (Live Oak, Fla.) 190?-190?, 1907-10-25
AGAIN THE PENSION LAW.

federate comrades have testified their
faith in him by electing him to the
highest Office in their gift, that of
Commander of the Florida Division
of Confederate Veterans, and of his
intense fidelity to their interests
there is not aAQuestion among them.
What he says ION pensions or any
other matter affecting them, will re-
ceiye earnest and respectful con-
sideration, and in his address at the
Annual Reunion now in progress i'll
Pensacola, he has said some things
about the present State pension law
startling enough to arrest the atten-
ton of every taxpayer in Florida
That law has been criticized in very
gingerly fashion by both press and
politicians, for it was considered
dangerous to NEEDLE with. especially
by office-seekers who needed the old
soldier vote. But when General
Jewell. the official head of the Con-
federate Veterans of Florida, tells US
that this law, in the language of the
Pensacola Journal. permits and is
used for unneeded benefactions to
men of wealth at cost of men who
really need and are entitled to the
honorable aid OF the State" it is time
to do some serious thinking. When
he tells us that over fifty per cent
OF the applicants for pensions under
the new law are from those who are
above the need of this aid and not a
few from those who are considered
men OF wealth, it looks very much
like that law could be revised and
amended with large benefit to the
men who really need its aid I'm
doubtedly there is a strong sentiment
in the State TO that effect which has
been hesitating to express itself. and
now that General Jewell has spoken
SO plainly, it will perhaps pluck up
courage and begin to call for Iegis-
lation revision. From General
JEWELS address, we take the follow
ing:
Il have obtained from a reliable
source some information regarding
pension matters which | now Law he
fore you Under the old law there
were $500 pensioners at an expense
to the State of something over $500
0C0. Up 20 a week or two ago there
had been 2,40O new applications filed
under the new law and more con
5tantly coming, in. Under the usual |
generous allowance or average, about |
ninety per cent of these will be al |
owed by the Pension Board. Several /
hundred of the new applications are
on the pension roll and
others being constantly added. Il
VIII require approximately $4,000 /
o pay of the pension roll UP to Sep
ember 80, 1907. To settle the
,laims to December u will require
about 100000 and by the next
quarter about 100000 will be !
needed. regret to say that care
III estimate Indicates that over fif;y
'er cent-oyer one half of the new
LpplIcattOns-are from those who are
Dove the need OF this aid from TN,
state and not few from those who
re considered men of weaItho. What
nj be the effect of this when th,,
act-if indeed it proves to be 2 farT
becomes generally known 10 the
uDIlc2 Your commander does nor
intend TO express his personal views
5 to the merits or dement's OF the
eW pension law, nor to criticise any
'mrade or other person members
State troops or others. who being
Dove the need of a pension have an
lied for it. But so far as this mat
'r AFFECTS our standing as an organ-
alton before the world il is a duty
lat We see TO 1t that no harm comes
Us as body or TO our members
We Of the South have for
'ars heaped scorn upon our breth- /
n OF the North for what We be- '
eyed was the graft pracIced in a.. 9
after OF Federal pensions. Shall.
lie finger scoru Ice Vet pointed at
; for similar greed?"
The farmer who farms with BRAN