Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1907-07-09

In The Times Union Of July 1th
Hon. Francis p. Fleming. former Gov
ernor of Florida, and one OF the most
highly houorsd and beloved Confeder'
ate veterans in the State. has the fol-
lowing to say regarding the new pen
sion law:
II presume no one will question
my loyalty to the interests OF the
Confederate veteran. l devote no IN.
considerable part Of my time to pro
noting the welfare of those who have
found refuge in the Confederate
Home in this city. 1t is because
hold 20 sacred the honor Of those
survivors of the lost cause that l
am impelled to comment upon the
pension law enacted by the Legisla-
ture which has just adjourned.
The first Confederate pension act
OF the State of Florida was passed
In 1855. providing pension OF s.
month. and was limited to those unht
to perform manual labor by reason
Of wounds received in line OF duty
and to whom such pension was neces-
sary for support. This act was
amended, or new acts passed from
time to time, somewhat increasing
the amount and charging the class,
finally extending to al those disabled
from any cause-but there was al.
ways Q property or income qualifica.
ton. In other words, 1t was the
wisdom OF all Legislatures acting on
the pension Law. except the last. to
provide aid only to those who. BY
rsasou Of physical disability and in
digsncy. stood In need Of It. The last
Legislature makes no such Limitation.
bot provides, besides those suffering
iron disability. that ali Who are sixty
years Of age shah be entitled to
pension. The var ended forty-two
years APO. % that . person Who was
eighteen years Of ase At that time Is
now sixty years oe age: Il win. there
fore. readily appear that the sixty.
year provision viii take in nearly all
the Confederate veterans in the State.
and In four years win take In practi-
celly all.
"The act also provides for the levy
Of . state tar Of four mills. which
under the present assessment. with
doe allowance for the usual insolvent
list. win yield . Sum Of $500. 900 per
annum. an amount more than SUI.
Acient . few years ago to have run
The whole state Government. The
levy. Of course. bears upon the poor
widow and other persons Of small
means. ~ well a. The wealthy. BY what
process Of reasoning the Legislature
came to the conclusiou that II was
psopsr to tax the people Of the State
70 pay pensioas to Confederate SOL
diers, without regard to their property
income o. ability to earn . living Is
di4lcul 70 understand. God has
bleseed me with the means OF earning
= support for myself and family, and
! know Of numbers Of Confederate
veterans who are wealthy and many
others who make good hvings. Why.
] ask In al reason. should the tax.
payers Of the State be required TO
pay . fo9r-mill tar to enable me, a.
veil ~ others who do not need II
for support. to put my hand in the
pablo crib and draw out 500 a year.
On the sole ground that I served In
tAs Confederate army. performing
nothing more than my duty II may
b answered that need not apply
Tor . peasiou. That 10 true. but the
Legislature. which gives me the legal
right 70 the pension. can take no
credit II do not avail myself Of IL.
UnAoubtedly many Who DO not need
II will avail Themselves OF the law.
Il do not disfavor . pension to the
veteran who II INDECENT and whose
physical condition 10 such as to pre-
vent him from earning . living. but.
giving the Legislature credit for the
best tntentio0s, In my opinion this
pension lav - wrong and tends to
bring Confederate veterans into dis
favor and to lower him from the high
standard which he should occupy.
Let a. hope the next Legislature will