The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-04-21
Col. Rrailsfora Raps Pension Board

Mr.. Editor:-L have no desire t. " en-.
gage in q newspaper controversy, but
don't propose to allow the pension
commissioners of Clarendon TO reject
my application for Il pension, with 'uf
ventilatiny the matter considerably.
Ny pecuniary condition entitled me
for several years past to a pension, but
/ never spilled. When the recent
legislature increased the appropriation
fif5y thousand dollars, A. ). Richbourg
one of the board, wrote me saying l
should apply COW, and sent me the
form of application filed out and I had
only to sign and have it witnessed and
to return to him with blank form for
Mr.. Henry Ipman to make out, being a
wounded veteran OF the weScern army.
They were both carried TO him By Mr..
Inman to be laid before the board the
day after. He did so and MIR. Inman's
was readily granted and mine rejected.
RIGHT bourg says he met bitter opposl-
tion from D. J. Bradham and one
Geiger who struggled over here from
Orangeburg. They referred to the
auditors hooks, no land, but only four
mules, upon which I paid taxes This
was the, fly in the ointment, wheb
truth to say, Two Of them belonged to
the generous and considerate firm of
David Levi Company Of st. Paul, to
whom surrendered five and the junior
member G. NJ. Mason, selected the two
finest and returned to me 10 be paid
for when able. am still not able but
the mules are here. The other pair
beiorg to my brother bachelor W.. N
Graham, without dollar paid on them
and they TOO are here TO stay. That
disposes of the mules. bought az
old ramshackled buggy four years ago
for ten dollars and have not paid
dollar on it. I have been making
strenuous effort to buy a COW for i've
years. but it is clear TO me now l will
have 10 be content with 8 nanny goat.
The home I occupy was the property
OF the late Hon. George r. Jones, my
kind friend and brave comrade. Upon
the division of his estate. it is now
owned by his worthy son L. NJ. Joaes
CT Alcolu, who will sorrowfully testify
7 owe him two years rent Now this is
nv financial condition today. Now
lets look over the condition OF those
veterans the board has clasped to their
breast and put in class A, and given
modest little bonus of S96.00-S. j.
Bowman is head of the class. He has
been receiving for quarter OF CEN
tnry fine salaries as postmaster and
court house official. He was a dill
gent and efficient officer; his pre6oml-
nating trait was economy and soorlety.
1t is natural therefore to presume that
in this long term OF years be salted
down a fine bank deposit. In addi-
sion to this he owns houses and lots 10
Manning. Yet our county board OF
commissioners in forwarding his name
TO the State board at Columbia swore
that his income would not amount to
seventy Eve dollars, the limit.
The next OF the destitute old soldiers
in class A. is one Turbeyille. He is one
of the family OF Turbevilles who own
the town of Turbeville and the Bank
of Turbeville. AS part owner OF
town and bank, it is clear TO infer
that his income would exceed by sew
eral thousand the sum that a veteran
is allowed? But the board OF PEN
sioners again swears it does not.
There are three more favored ones
OF this class, but we will pass them
with the fair presumption that their
incomes will equal the two we have
discussed, for wise and considerate
board would not mix class A. and
class C.-No. they could not oe con-
genial.
Now I will show some Of the discrim-
inatiop of the board for and against
applicants. T. E. Brailsford was told
by Mr.. Richb,urg that his wife owning
q home would debar him from q pen
sion. Another identical case was that
of Bob Abrams, whose wife was born
upon and owns her place today, he got
his pension without hitch.
Another instance is that OF w. w.
Brailsford, whose wife owns a truck
farmland he is passed as Confederate
veteran, while he was never IN the
Confederate army one hour. Another
instance here is that of ]. }. Ross. He
mas recently been admitted as Con-
federate veteran though never IN the
army an hour. Now every one that
knows w. W. Brailsford and Jeff Ross
esteem them as gentlemen; they have
simply been misIed in taking State
service for Confederate service. AS
State troops they did faithful and ar
duous service guarding sixty thousand
prisoners at Florence.
I don't suppose the board will nave
the temerisy to defend themselves or
the condutc of their Office. l have
shown that they have been negligent,
preiud:ced, bias and perfectly ineti-
cient.
If they can point out today a poorer
|vete0an than l, then I will throw up
the sponge. If they can point out q
youth younger than L, when | dorned
the gray, will take off my hat 10
them. There has been wide spread
dissatisfaction with their conduct OF
the Office for years Governor Mau-
ming has far more prorocatina 10 order
them before him than he had with the
Barnwell county dispensary board.
The graceful and proper thing for
them to do IS TO promptly res:go,
make restitution to honest applicants,
return all money you paid TO well-oil
veterans. to be humble and stay at
home and hide your diminished head.
DAVID W. BRAILSFORD.