The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-07-12


oun sls BARS ~
~ Net Is lset s.
nan Is rlptids 81
thte vetefan circles Ren
p. flamin 1rn
at.,la. Fh6rofoFt 8 b{ - f&I41
from him relative % TIA etottIY
~ nonsIon lev win ~ With
- ~ eqexv FIond6 f8&peyt
,IR D HE eomunuicekIon 81 re
FLORIDA FENnloN Law
NtIIfor Times Unions I pfeBgU1o 10
az ill dohsfion nay loyalty % the a.
fr 81 the Confederate veteran
fnle 10 Uncomfortable part n ~
|,a ~ promoting the welfare q llosR
In have found : refuge M tte Con
gate Home IN this city n -
s hold 50 eacre6 k1e horror q
~ Survivors of the lost touee' thar
ia 1lnnalled 20 continent opnn tte pen
tk lat enacted by tho ~ EislakuFc
h has Just adjourned
I,,o fraf Conf defate pension net o.
- fIaln 81 Florida was passed "a 1880
sina pension Of 50 mouth, and
limited 70 tllpee un1 70 pdttOrm
"A HInal labor BY reason 1t wounds re-
tt1 n line Of duty ard 70 whom
ifh nenslon was necessary for sup
mort This act was amended, or new
4tlE PASSED. from time to tine some
hat increasing the amount and en-
2fn4 the class. finally extesl1lEg 70
~ a bied from any cause but there
b always a property or income quail
cAfiOn II other words, q was the
lad0m Of 81 Legislatures acting on
- oension law, except the last, 70
provide State AID only p those VINO, ~
taeon OF physical disability and ipdi-
encv. stood n need Of Il. The last
6iaturs makes no such limitation,
hnE provides, besides those euncrine
ffem disability that al who are sixty
rafn Of age shall be entitled TO = pen-
Hoh The war ended fofty-two years
NO. 50 that q person who was eighteen
years 81 age at that time e now sixty
aeafa Of aye. II viii, therefore, reAdi-
IA appear that the sixty-year provision
fl4 take IA nearly all the Confcl lorate
p@tarans IA the State, and ii four years
win take IN practically all
TIE act also provides for the levy 81
a bfate tax Of four mills, which under
the present assessment, with due iloW-
c6 for the usual inaolv6nt Sls viii
yieId sym Of $500. 900 per annun, en-
amount more than sufficient few years
ago to have run the wholestate govern
ment. The levy, Of course, bears upon
the poor widow and other perpons o.
ANAL means, as well aa the we4itny
BY what process OF reasoning the legis
lefuFe came to the cOnclusion that It
We proper 70 tax the people of the
state to pay pensions 70 Confederate
soldiers, without regard TO their prop
ertv income or ability 70 earn living
Is difficult 20 understand God has
blessed me with the means Of earning
: support for myself and family, and
know of numbers of Confederate yete-
rams who are wealthy and many others
who make good livinge. Why, ! ask 81
az reason, should the tax-payera o. the
state be required to pay four-mill tax
% enable me, as well as others who 90
not need IL for support, TO put my hands
In the public crib and draw out 500 4
wear, on the sole ground that / served
h the Confederate army, performing
nothing more than my duty, It may be
answered that need not apply for q
pension. That Is true, but the legisla-
lure, which gives me the legal right q
the pension, can take no credit Y ia
not avail myself Of Il. Undoubtedly
many who do not need II will aYai
themselves Of the law.
ALI RIGHT FOR iNDIGENrs
] do not disfavor a pension to tbs
Veterans who is INDECENT and who's,
pnysicaI condition is such as 20 prevent
him from earning living, but, giyin1
TIE legislature credit for the hest ID
tea.tions, in my opinion this pension Law
!, 4 wrong and tends to bring Confedefetl
Veterans into disfavor and TO lower hin
from the high standard which be shoiii,
occupy Let as hope the next iegisle-
tufe viii correct this evil and elimlnatl
from the pension rolls all those who n
not need such state aid
=. r. FLEnNc
gN.~-~y~S<recy~ y
hkrahafn Liheetn