Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-13
DRY ADVOCATES SEE
EXTRA SESSION HOPE
IN PENSION SHORTAGE
Believe Governor viii Call Leg
isIature Together to Provide
Additional Funds to Pay Con-
federate Veterans

meet their wishes. were very much en-
couraged Friday when they learned tina
the appropriations for Confederate vet
Grams pensions this year were more thar
$4,000 short of the amount required
TO meet the 1917 pensions. -
1t was pointed out that there were bu
three ways to meet the situation, viz
For some generous individual to lOar
the state the sum required without IN
terest, or for the governor to call al
extra session of the legislature to make
an emergency appropriation, or for
large number of pensioners to go with
out their pensions until late in the sum
mer or early in the fall which wouiC
give time for the regular session of the
general assembly to provide the neces
sary funds
WILL RENEW EFFORTS.
Efforts to impress the governor witt
the necessity for calling an extraord.
nary session to pass a bone-dry prohi
bition law apparently has not been a.
successful as those advocating such {
course had expected, but it is under
stood these Will now join with others
in urging an extra session to provide
for the pension shortage and also to en-
act additional anti-liquor legislation.
Just what Governor Harris will d.
with the situation cannot be forecast
but those who know that he has always
prided himself on his loyalty to the ole
veterans are predicting that he will mos
likely yield to pressure in behalf of tbs
pensioners.
The pension deficit was brought t.
light Friday when Pension Commission
err ]. w. Lindsey reported the situation
to Governor Harris, and, after con
ference, both the commissioners and tine
governor gave out statements. In Meth.
er of these statements was references
made to an extraordinary session of tins
general assembly as the remedy, but
both did refer to the fact that, when &
similar situation arose during the ad
ministration of the late Governor JOSEPH
NJ. Terrell, the late James NJ. Smith
came forward and loaned the state
something like $500 to tide it over.
In his report to the governor Judge
Lindsey estimates the shortage at ap-
proximately $4,000, while in his state
meat commenting on the situation Gov
ernor Harris refers to it as $4,000
This discrepancy is explained by the
fact that the governor takes into con
sideration the pension lists of 1916
while Judge Lindsey points out that in
order to care for the $50 new pensioners
added to the rolls for the first time this
year an additional $4,000 will be re-
quired.
Under the law the pensions must be
paid between January l and May l OF
the year in which they are due. Obvi'
ously the governor cannot, without ad-
ditional money, pay all the pensioners
The following letter to Governor Har-
ris from Judge Lindsey explains the sit
uation:
pension Office, Feb. s, 1917.
Hon. n E. Harris, Governor of Georgia
Dear Sir: The total number of pen
sioners on all the rolls to be paid and
accounted for In 1917 is composed of the
1888 paid in 1915, and the $50 approved
to be paid first in 1917; total, 17,449
The estimated loss from the rolls By
death, ETC., at 1-2 per cent. is 1857
leaving on rolls to pay for 1917, 1872
1--WE have checked out on the payrolls
of the several counties, certified and fileC
for payment for 1917 containing on al
the rolls 1851. With the increase OF
the $40 added to each it will require
s1,096, 952.05 to pay. These rolls only
contain those on the rolls heretofore paiC
i'm 1915 The $50 new ones approved anC
"a attached to the rolls to be paid the frs
time in 1917 is not included in the above
figures 1t will require. in addition II
the above. $4,000 to pay them. maGins
total of $1,137,972.05 to pay off the
rolls for 1917.
TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE.
"The total available funds to pay
these rolls for 1917 is stated as follows
THE amount as balance as
brought forward from 1916 S22.2(
ITO amount appropriated
first session 1915. . S75,000.0
ITO amount appropriated in
1916 to pay increase of
SO per capita. 100000 OF
Total amount to pay
rolls .............- 81, $50, S22.2'
Therefore when we subtract the ap
preparation from the amount required
to pay off The rolls we find that we are
confronted with shortage of sS7,129.S5
subject to reduction by refund to b.
made of from $4,000 to $4,000, leaving
approximately $4,000 actually short.
How this shortage is to be met and
the pensions paid within the time fixed
by law, between the date of January
and May / next. 1917, is the question t
be solved. If no way can be found Il
obtain the money, some of the countie!
cannot be paid anything within the time
| We have no law authorizing a prorat
ing. When the state pays a pensionel
he must be paid in full sum of money
esventy dollars, or nothing.
This shortage is not such a defici
as your excellency is authorized by tn
constitution and laws to borrow tn
funds to pay. 1 hope, however, you cal
see your way clear TO do this. AS w,
proceed to pay out the funds appropri
ated we will develop this conoition: TIL,
first installment that we hope will b,
paid on or before the 10th. will consis
! of lightweight counties paid last ii
| 1915 which will require $593,0S2.05 t
| pay. When this sum is taken from tn,
Appropriation it will leave a balance o.
| $452,740 to meet the second and las
payment of sixty-four counties. which
will require S5OS,S70 to pay. These fig
ures do not include the payment of the
$50 new ones, but only embraces tn;
old ones heretofore on rolls.
Therefore, you will see that the
funds in hand to meet the last payment
of the old rolls will be short $46,130 ant
to pay 5S6 new ones will require $41,02(
subject to a reduction of such sums a.
may be refunded, from eight to twelve
thouand dollars. Still this will not re
lieve the situation. The pension rolls
will be confronted with an unusual con-
dition by the failure of the general as
sembly to make a sufficient appropria'
ton to pay them. They readily support
ed the bill for the SO increase in the
pensions for 1917 and then cut the es'
innate submitted to appropriate the