The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-04
G. A. R. Men Will
 Raise Fund To
 Fight For Pension
Circular Letter Requesting Contribution Sent 7 to Prominent Members of the Organization in Con necticut.

A fund to defray the expenses of testing the decision of Attorney Gen. eral John H. Light who has declared unconstitutional the recent pension tact passed by the General Assembly, is being raised among the prominent members of the Connecticut G. A. R. The Legislature granted a pension of $50 per year to each veteran of the Civil War who is a bona fide resident of Connecticut The attorney general has declared this act unconstitutional. Judge William F. Henney of Hartford and Judge Alfred B. Beers of Bridge port, have been retained as counsel by an organization of members of the Grand Army who recently met in New Haven.
 It was voted to meet the expense of litigation by raising fund among the prominent members of the organiza- tion in this State. In accordance with this plan the circular letter which fol- lows has been sent to a number of prominent Grand Army men:
 Dear Comrad After holding sew eral meetings in different parts of the State, Comrade Cutbi.l, as an individ- ual, called meeting of veterans at New Haven, November 19, 1911, for the purpose of getting the minds of the comrades as to the advisability after submitting the matter for an opinion to eminent counsel, whether it would be advisable to have suit brought to test the constitutionality of the laws, passed by the last General As sembly for the benefit of all com rades.
 An organization was formed with H. H. Blake, chairman, D. w. Sharpe, secretary and treasurer. An executive committee of five was appointed as follows: Selah G. Blakeman of Shel- ton, Henry, J. Seeley of Bridgeport, R. May Of Meriden, and H. L. Beach of Hartford. There were representatives present from Winsted, New London, .Norwalk, Hartford, Meriden. Bridge port, New Milford, Waterbury. Stam- ford, Derby, New Canaan, Ansonia, Haven.
 After the matter had been fully dis cussed it was unanimously voted to authorize and instruct the executive committee to employ counsel and ob- tain an opinion on the constitutional ity of the soldiers aid law, passed by the General Assembly of 1911, and as to the effect of an adverse decision of the Supreme court, and if the opin- ion is that such decision would rem der the other laws unconstitutional, they are not to proceed with the test Ing Of the law or 1SIl, OCT0rWlS0 lO proceed to test the constitutionality of the law of 1911 by any proceeding rec commended by counsel and to pay the cost, fees and expenses of counsel from the contributions they may receive for that purpose.
 It is the opinion of your committee that in order to carry out. these in structions, we will require all the money we can get and we earnestly urge that prompt and thorough can vass for funds be made in your local ity among all persons who will give us aid at this time and have the same remitGed promptly to the treasurer, as this money must be in hand before the committee. can finally act
 Trusting that the above will meet
 F'raternally yours, in F. c. & L.,
 H. H. BLAKE, Chairman, 134 Cedar Hill avenue, New Haven,
 Conn.
 D. w. SHARPE,
 Secretary and Treasurer,
 9 Wooster street, New Haven.
 The attorneys for the old soldiers have not yet signified their course of procedure, nor have they settled on the veteran in whose name the action will be brought. It is likely, however, that they will first make demand on the comptroller in the name of some veteran and if the comptroller refuses to receive the claim for pen sion the matter will be taken to the Superior court and later to the Su- nreme court for final decision