The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-04-09

~ DRAINAGE DISTRICTS
bt b Section s1l Genelal Statutes Relative 10
etsader Purchasing Eighty Acres Of Land at
twenty-five Cents an Acre-Lands IN Drainage District
be Excluded.
Section GA General Statutes authorizes certain per.
purchase as much az eighty acres at % cents an
acre. Il recommended that such section be amended 90
not to apply 70 lands situated IN any drainage District
cablished which may be established By the Board
Drainsge Commissioners. These lands are now being
drained ont Of the pFOcees Of the saes Of lands Should
many choice selections be sold at % cents an acre, 1t
gould seriously hamper the work Of the Trustees.
PENSIONS
Report OF Pension BOard-DeAcieney in Pension Fund
How Met-Part Of Health Fund and Part Of Convict
Fund Might Be Appropriated for Paying Pensions
Pension Statistics From Other Southern States.
Ia reference to Pensions, the following report Of the
Board Of Pensions is submitted in full
"Tallahassee, Florida, March /, 1909.
Honorable Albert W. Gilehrist, Governor,
Tallahassee, Florida.
Dear sir;-In compliance with Section IA, Chapter
5000 Of the Laws of Florida We the State Board Of
Pensions submit the following report:
There are now seven thousand Eve hundred and seventy
(7,570) names on the pension roll Of Florida.
Pension claims filed under the Act Of 1907 from May
- 1907 TO March 1909 four thousand hundred and
nyentyAix (4,176).
Pension claims allowed under said act, from May 90
1907 to March l. 1909 three thousand six hundred six
R0Os).
Pension claims pending FIVE hundred seventy (57O).
seventy-6ve (75) pensioners who had been dropped
from the roll account Of property restriction to
draw pensions from the United States for Mexican OF
Indian war service have been restored to the roll.
Two hundred and fOrtyeght 24s) pensioners died dur
ing the year 1908 The roll is not materially decreased
however, by death, the pensioners widow generally
takes his place ON the roll
mn
Pension warrants issued during the year 1908 1851
Pension warrants issued during the months
Of January and February 1909. ........ 1s7,275O5
Deficit in Pension Fund March l. 1909. ... 2119419l
There was balance Of 31S69 in the Pension Fund
May 81 1907. This amount together with the levy
Of four mills allowed under the present law has fallen
short Of meeting the roll shown by the deficit in the
fund March l. 1909.
Che levy Of four mills will produce annually the
sent valuation, approximately &64OOOOOO. During
the year 1908 the payment for pensions amounted to
$3.50, 1851.
One hundred and twenty new claims fled during
the months Of January and February 1909 average Of
sixty per month There will be sufficient money in the
fund when the 1908 taxes In the State Treasury to
make two quarterly payments, but there will not
be sufficient to make the third payment which will be
due September 80 1902 and the attention Of the Legaa
ture should be directed to this fact that pro
vision shall be made for the quarterly payment due Sep
TENDER go 1909, and December 81, 1903.
The amount needed for pensions will be increased from
tie following causes
Men who enlisted as boys in organizations Of Home
Guards will be eligible they attain the required
are Of sixty years the rate per annum will be increased
from one hundred to hundred and fifty dollars per
annum pensioners increase in age and its attendant
inrmites soldiers from other States who have not been
residents Of this State ten years will be eligible as
they establish the required period of citizenship and
widows Of deceased pensioners they have been
married the required period Of ten years.
II will require levy Of six mills the taxable prop
ery OF this State to produce sufficient funds to meet the
payments during the years that will intervene between
the sessions Of the Legislatures Of 1903 and 1911 unless
the Legislature by revision Of the law limits restricts
the granting Of pensions and decreases the present roll