The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24


up blanks. all words and figures must be
written in ink.
THE affidavit to the petition must be
signed, as well as sworn to- by the ap.
plicant.
"The affidavit to the schedule of prop
erty, must also be signed, as well as sworr
to, bu the applicant.
There must be two witnesses to tbs
service of the soldiers, or his parole ol
honorable discharge from the Confed-
crate army attached to the petition, in
stead of the two witnesses.
Where the veteran applying is under
the age of 70 years. it is necessary that
the physician of the county board ex-
anime him physically, and certify distinct
ly from what wounds or disease he is
suffering and the extent of his disability.
This physical examination of veterans
OF 10 years or upwards or of widows, is
not essential. because the law fixes their
classification, regardless of any disability.
1t is not legal for county board of
any county TO examine an applicant who
is at the time a citizen of another coun-
ty, and forward his petition to this board.
In liking the valuation of property, its
tair and full market value should be given
and not so per cent of that value, as is
allowed in tax assessments.
We take pleasure in commencing the
careful and most systematic work of the
board of examiners of Madison. Perry.
Piekens and Talladega counties. If ali
the county boards would emulate the
painstaking andfearless discharge of duty
of these boards, the work of the state
board would be comparatively easy and
simple, and many worthy applicants saved
the modification of a rejection
we renew and repeat our recommends
tion of last year that a pension depart
earat I,o I'D Ia. 4
with draft of an act to create it, as
requested by your excellentcy when our
report of 1912 was read and delivered
into your hands.
This proposed law expresses our most
mature thought on the subject and we
hope it will commend itself to your ex-
cellencys judgment.
with much regret we feel it our duty
to call attention to the chronic conten-
ton between the pension examiners of
Randolph county. Their reports to us at
this and former sessions demonstrate that
an irrepressible conflict exists between
them, which neither seem willing to COM
promise or settle. OF the merits of their
controversy we know rothing; but their
constant contention with each other re-
suits in great injury to the worthy vet
Grams and widows of veterans of their
county. If they cannot act in concert,
these examiners should resign; or if they
refuse to resign, they should be removed
and men appointed in their stead who
would labor in harmony for the best in
terest of the veterans and the widows of
veterans.
For many weeks past the work In the
pension bureau of the auditors office has
been unusually severe, and the excellent
clerk, w. B. Moore, Esq. has had more
than one man, however competent, could
reasonably do. With very little aid, as
we are informed, he has done the work.
In our former reports we have shown
what valuable service Mr.. Moore has rem
dered. Since our last session, his duties
have been multiplied and his labor in
creased, but his salary has remained at
the same inadequate figure
Finally. in our effort to purge the pen
sion roll, we appeal to every patriotic
man and woman in the state to give us
their aid. If they can furnish satisfactory
proof that any pensioner on the roll was
a deserter from the army of the Confed-
eracy; or has obtained his pension by per-
Jury, forgery, or fraud of any kind; of II
he knows of one on the roll, whose prop
erty. real and personal. Is more than 5000
we implore them to give us his name. and
also the names of the witnesses to prove
the charge. We beg them tc cooperate
with us in this endeavor to make the pen
sion roll of Alabama, not only one of SUBJ
stantial benefit to worthy men and wom-
en-. but in truth and fact roll of honor.
1--WE tender to Hon. C. b. Smith. the
state auditor, our thanks for the many
courtesies he has shown us.
s.All of which is respectfully submitted,
JOHN c. WEBB. Chairman.
M L. WOOD, M. D..
OF s. tFERGUSON''