Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-11-03

PENSION AlEIDMBNI.
The following vigorous appeal to
the electorate OF the State TO support
Constitutional Amendment No. z, pro-
viding for increase in pension fond
allowed Confederate Veterans, IL re-
produced from the Louisiana Demo-
erst Of Alexandra, and We understand
4 from the pom Of Col. w. g. Mobley,
Commander OF JeffiDavis Camp, No.
6. United Confederate Veterans, and
Q member of the Tensss Cavalry. We
cheerfully endorse Col. Mobley's ut
tersnces and sincerely hope Amend
ment:.No. 2 will carry by large ma
jority;
The'various newspapers of:the State
are now Publishing eighteen amend
ments to the Constitution, submitted
TO the electors for ratification or re-
lection at the November election-as
NAV seem best to them-by the Leg
is]sture ct its recent session. One OF
thsm IL OF supreme and overshadow'
ing Importance TO the Confederate
Veterans of Louisiana, or at least 10
that remnant OF them, who arc forced
TO apply for pensions. I refer TO Act
No. 1Ol, House Bill No. 10, known az
the Fields-Nix Bill, which provides
pensions to a certain class Of Confed-
crate Veteransrand widows of de-
ceased Veterans, and establishes re-
quirements % to eligibility therefor.
This amendment is intended TO rem
edy defect in and supersede the pen
sion amendment ratified at the No
vember election of 1914.
The present amendment, in the judg'
ment of the Legislature, was rendered
imperatively necessary, by reason OF
the fact that the Amendment of 1914.
which authorized the collection of a
/ mill tax on all taxable property OF
the State, for the payment of pensions,
and to be known as "Confederate Vet
Grams Pension Fund.-" restricted the
amount dedicated therein to payment
OF such pensions as $3.50, 600, any sur
plus arising from the collection'of such
tax in excess of said amount to "be
turned oyer to the common school
fund"
BY whatever term it may be desig'
mated, whether as a defect, oversight
or error of Judgment, is now imma-
teriol and unimportant, az the start
ling fact confronts the people Of this
State that amount, $3.50, 900, to which
sum the payment of pensions was linn
tied, hsa been found tO be absolutely
inadequate for the purpose, as shall
proceed to show.
In such o contingency, unless the
people of Louisiana have forgotten
the trsnscendent and immortal SER
vices OF these MANNED, infirm and
aged survivors to our beloved South
land more fifty years ago-which do
not for q moment believe-an increase
OF the pension fund must he devised
as speedily a. possible.
The pension fund. as constituted by
the Amendment of 1914, is insufficient
to pay, even the limited allowance OF
$500 per month, which is provided for
hereunder.
In the submission of the present
amendment, the Legislature has en-
desvored to supply this deficiency,
and ct the same time render any flu
ture legislation on this subject entire
ly unnecessary. This disideratum has
been or will be accomplished by the
dedication of the entire proceeds OF
the one mill tax to the payment OF
pensions henceforth, which it is be-
lieved will be sufficient In the future,
upon the assumption that the assess
ment OF the State will gradually in
crease, while the pension roll from
the ravsges Of time, will just as sure
" decrease In the same ratio. The In
crease of pensions from eight dollars
per month, provided for in the pres
emit amendment, Is to be effected grad
ually, a. the pension fund increases
and the pension roll diminishes and
does not swell the tax the burdens OF
the people In any manner.
At the recent session of the Legis'
lature, . special committee was ap'
pointed to investigate pension affairs
I now quote from the report of thit
committee, In support Of the allega'
ton, that the pension fund is made
quste. It shows the number of pen
sioners then on the roll to be 5,S42
consisting 2,o4s Veterans and 3,7s4
widows of Veterans, with monthly
allowances to each of $500. The num-
Der of approved pension applicants
not on the pay rolls is 365.
After giving the smount-$556, 46.1s
realised from the one mill tax fol
pension-revenuss Of 1915 to June 1st
1915, and Q further sum of $7,576.6l
expenses of maintenance, the com
mittee concludes % follows:
"a mere mathematical calculation
will show that II the 365 approved
opplicAnts for pena1onB now on the