The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-26
BOARD SUBMITS LENGTHY REPORT TO0'NEAL 1858 Applications for Pen- siOns Granted While 954
 Were Rejected 17,934 NAMES NOW
 ON PENSION LIST One of Recommendations Would Pro- vide State Department to Investi- gate Applications Tor Pen
 sions and Purge Rolls 

Montgomery. August 25.-(Special.)- )-1n the report submitted to Governor O'Neal by the state board of pension examiners. which adjourned Friday after a two weeks session. the board made number of suggestions and recommendations which the governor will probably incor porate in his call should he reassemble the legislature.
 The report is one of the most complete that has ever been made covering the disposition of the states pension fund, and shows an exhaustless and painstaSing Investigation of the large number of pen sioners which are on the roll, One of the recommendations embraces the creation of state department, whose duty 1t shah be to investigate all ap- plicants for pensions. and which shall have the duty of purging the roll of any members who are not in need of assist ance from the state.
 Examiners Report The report in part Is as follows: There were submitted by the auditor 2012 applications for pensions. Of these applications 106s were granted, and 95I rejected for reasons briefly set forth on the rejected petitions, respectively.
 "On the date of our meeting there were 16.S76 of all classes on the pension roll. Adding to these the number granted at our present session, we have the aggregate of r, ,934 who are entitled to receive pen sions during the ensuing fiscal year. In addition to this number, there are several hundred widows who have been added to the roll under section 10 of the act. of April 24. 1s11 their husbands having been pensioners at the time of death.
 Tn the first class there are 1234 vet erans over the age of 80 years.
 Tn the second class there are s76l vet erans over 70 years and under 80 years Of age.
 Tn the third class, composed of vet erans under the age of 70 years and widows, there are 12,939
 Pensioners of the first class are en- titled to s10o of the second class ssO and of the third class s64 per annum.
 At this point it is of interest to. call attention to the fact that a very large proportion of the applicants before us are well-to-do taxpayers; a fact that is inconsistent with the idea that they are in necessitons circumstances.
 We recommend that the auditor be au- tborized to publish in pamphlet form a complete list of the names. ages and residence of those now on the roll of pen sloners. The value and importance of such a publication is apparent, and in our opinion would tend to the purifica- ton of the roll. There should be at least 25,o00 copies of this list published. dis frfl. 4oI ha 1f ha efa fa and the utmost publicity given it.
 "The fund which will probably be avail able to pay these pensions is estimated by the auditor at $1,0000oO. It is hardly probable that it will exceed that figure This is about one-fifth of the entire rev. enue of the state, and it's listribuuln should be so made as to render it of sub stantial aid to worthy pensioners. In contemplation of the law, all pensioners are needy, but, in fact, some are more needy than others. It Is in favor of the most needy that this board has applied the principle of equity as hereinafter explained.
 There has been much discussion as to the proper interpretation of the law under which the pension fund Is now managed and controlled. That it Is susceptible of more than one construction, must be admitted. After much and serious re- fIection we as a board. have adopted the following construction of the law and have acted upon 1t:
 According to section ] of the act Of April 24, 1911 any resident citizen of the state who served in the army or navy of the Confederate states or the state of Alabama who did not desert such service, and who does not own property to the value of more than s20O0 is entitled to a pension the amount of the pension de- pending upon the age of the applicant.
 Tn this section, no reference is made to the applicants wounds, diseases or physical condition, and If this section was all of the law. it must be conceded that every applicant who fulfills the conditions named, must be placed on the pension roll
 "section materially adds to. and varies these conditions and seems to be in con flict with the spirit and letter of sec ton !. By section l. the veterans must be worth less than 5000, but section s provides that if his wife Is worth over s2OoO he is not entitled to a pension.
 Again section requires him to give his age the nature of any wounds he received in the service, etc What did the legislature intend by adding these conditions? This section contains a sen tence that. of itself, creates peculiar class When any applicant nas his parole or honorable discharge said instru- ment shall be prima facie of his right to a pension. We construe this to mean that his parole or honorable discharge shall be evidence of his service and f. delity.
 According to section Il. all veteran ap- plicants for pensions must appear be- fore the county board of examiners and submit 10 an oral and physical examina- tion. which must be reduced to writing and submitted to the state board of ex- aminers.