The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-01-10
MEETING OF THE CONFEDERATE
VETERANS

Marion camp -NO' % LSIu I'D ACSH
lar meeting at the city council rooms |
Tuesday morning at Il o'clock.
In the absence of the commander, |
Comrade J. H. Livingston was called |
to the chair.
The following comrades answered
the roll call: J. NJ. Martin, H. w.
Long, c. c. Priest, D. A. Miller, J. H.
Brooks. William Hadsock, E w. Nc
Donald, V. NJ. Seckinger, F. w. Bitch,
L. D. Beck, E. T. Williams. R. A. Kel-
sey. ". E. McGahagin. r A. Carlton,
Frank A. Lyle, Henry Clay Gates.
Comrade Henry w. Long read a
letter that he had written to Col.
Robert J. McGiH of Jacksonville, Fla,
and the sentiments contained in it
we're unanimously endorsed by the
camp, and the letter was ordered
placed in the camps archives. The
following is a copy of the letter:
Letter to Col. r. J. McGiIl
Martel, Fla, Jan. 6, 1908.
Col. Robert w. McGiI, Jacksonville,
Fla:
Dear Colonel am in receipt Of
your favor OF the 5rd inst, and of
copy Of General Order No. 2, of the
major general of the division L. G. Y.
of Florida, and note the contents of
each. The matter of unworthy pen
siOnors getting on the pension roll is
of serious import, but how to remedy
it is question to solve.
AS chairman OF ghe board of county
commissioners for a number Of years
in the past l gave this matter close
attention Under he pension law as
it then existed, l had reason to believe
that a number OF applicants strained
their conscience as to the value OF
their property, and others as to their
inability to support themselves by
manual labor. In these cases repu-
table men swore OD the valuation OF
applicants property, or a reputable
physician to the Inability to make a
living by manual labur. have never
noticed an application for a pension
where the proof was not conclusive of
the services rendered as a Confeder-
ate soldier
The late pension law having remov
ed from ineligihility TO draw a pen
sion both property valuation" and
inability to make a support by man
ual labor" the only thing that is left,
as i see it, is absolute proof OF ser
vices rendered, an honorable dis
charge, anu residence IN Florida the
requisite number Of gears. In Ma
rion county at least fifty per cent. Of
applicants did service IN the Confed-
crate army as citizens Of other states.
and in such cases where the proof is
full and complete as to the service,
etc. l see no remedy TO prevent the
approval.
am disposed TO believe that there
is an undue apprehension of vast
numbers Of unworthy applicants get
ting on the pension list by fraudu-
lent means. l would rather that few
unworthy applicants get on the pen
sion list than to see worthy applicants
barred by reason of undue proof re-
CURED. Our members are constantly
growing less, the remaining members
Of companies and regiments are now
so scattered as, in some instances, to
make it almost impossible to locate a
comrade and secure his affidavit as
to services rendered.
My opinion is that our present pen
sion law is a good one, and that We,
as veterans, should stand by it and
sustain IT, at the same time throw our
full force and strength against all
fraudulent claimants.
Fratenally yours,
(Signed) H. w. LONG.
This is TO certify that at a regular
meeting o Marion Camp No sc, L. c.
V, held at Ocala. January Z, 1908, the
foregoing letter was read and unani-
mOusly endorsed by the camp.
(Sgned) E. T. WILLIAMS,
Adjutant.
Adjutant z. T. Williams then read
General Order No. >.
General Order No. will be pub
lished in this paper tomorrow
The order was ordered filed.
COmrade Long offered the following
resolution which was unanimously
adopted:
Resolved, That the committee on