The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-03

the old soldiers have received less for the fourth quarter than for each of the first three quarters of the fiscal Is that the fund was consolidated in the state treas ury and the money used for other pur- sons wrong themselves and wrong the old soldier by making any such statements; but for the man who has taken the trou- ble to see what the official figures show, knows the full appropriation Is being paid each fiscal year. and he who in the face of that knowledge attempts to incite in the minds of the old soldiers a feeling of discomfort and a belief that they are not appreciated by the state and are not re- ceiving their just dues, all this for the purpose of coining the discontent thus engendering into political capital have the greatest contempt. Certainly 1t should be the wish of every one to administer, as far as the state is able, to the physical wants of the old soldier and as far as every one of us is individually able. to his mental happiness and his feeling that the state does appreciate him and the services he has rendered.
 At the time this appropriation was made and the provision for quarterly payments made. the legislature had be- fore it complete history of the pension department of our state and the history of the Mexican pensioners and of the civil war pensioners of the United States. There were on the rolls at that time, If my recollection serves me correctly, about 15,3o0 Confederate pensioners in Alabama,
 Number of Pensioners
 From the data above referred to it was estimated that the maximum number ol this states pensioners would be 16000. That number has grown to above 17.000. Whether this difference resulted from a bad estimate on the part of the legislature or from lax administration on the part of the pension boards is not for me to say. but 1t is a simple problem in division that the same gross appropriation will not give as much per capita to each pensioner when 1t is divided between 1000. as it will when it is divided between 16,000. Fur thermore, at the last extraordinary ses- sion, a bill was passed arbitrarily advanc-
 ing all pensioners 80 years of age to the first class, that is, from the $50 class to the s100 class. An advance of this kind is like adding a new name to the pension roll, being double what fourth-class pen sioner receives"
 William Waldrop Talks
 William J. Waldrop, clerk in the office of probate judge of Jefferson county said Tt is to be hoped that the present agita- ton of the pension question will bring about some better system of payment 1T believe that a majority of the pen sioners themselves would prefer that war rants be issued to them once year in stead of quarterly. l believe this would be a much better plan that that in vogue at the present time.
 "A lump sum of $40, $50 or $75 paid al one time, say in the fall, when people are most in need of money, would do more good in a majority of eases than larger aggregate sum paid in installments during the year. -@ This plan would also save the expense and inconvenience to many people who live some distance from the county seat of coming after the warrants more thar one time during the year.
 Another plan that 1 would suggest, bu one that does not affect the amount of ths pension drafts, is that 1t might be more convenient for all parties concerned ane l especially the pensions, to have the war rants mailed out from the state depart ment direct to the pensioners. Fms would save the long trips that many have tt make to the county seat
 | "In any event. I hope the present agi tation of the matter will bring about som' | re-adjustment that will not only pencil | the Confederate veterans, but eliminate the element of disappointment that natur ally attends the present system"