The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-09-13
WIDOWS Who MARRIED
AFTER 1879 DROPPED
Explanation of tension Boards Act
ion Made by Secretary Hickman.N

on the pension rolls of Tennessee VIII
were married subsequent to 1875
some time ago were ordered droppe
from the. rolls of the board of pensio,
examiners as the result of an Opinion
delivered by Frank NJ. Thompson, at
torney-general of the state. This &C
ton has occasionetd much common
and many of those involved are no
familiar with the facts and Legislation
leading up to the issuance of the ordet
In order to enlighten those who ma,
be laboring under a misapprehension
Secretary John P. Hickman of til,
board is sending out the following
statement and letter to all involved fol
their information and guidance:
Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 20, 1918.
Dear Madam:-You will please reac
my letter to General Frank M. Thomp.
son, encouragement of Tennessee
and his opinion on the act of 1917
Both my letter and the opinion arr
self-explanatory:
Nashville, Tenn, Aug. "a. 1918.
Hon. Frank M. Thompson, Attorney.
General of Tennessee, Nashville, Tenn
My dear Sir:-During the session Of
the legislature of 1917 the pension
committee thoroughly and exhaustive.
ly examined the office of the board Of
pension examiners, and moreover, ex-
amined large number of pension ap-
plicants to see whether they had been
justly added or dropped from the roll.
After its examination it made a very
full report to the legislature and which
can be found beginning on page 514 Of
the State Journal.
In its examination it found a mum.
Der of widows on the roll who had been
born since the war, and who had been
added under the act of 1911, and which
provided that widows should be added
to the roll who married prior to 1890.
To change this, the committee, in its
report above referred to, recommended
the following: Section of said re-
port, page 526, Senate Journal: 1--WE
recommend that hereafter no widow
of Confederate soldier shall be enti-
tied to, or eligible for, pension I'M
less she was married to such Confed-
crate soldier prior to the year 1892
In conformity to said recommends
ton, the legislature passed the follow
ing act:
Section BE it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of Ter
nessee; That hereafter no widow of a
Confederate soldier, in the late war
between the states shall be entitled to 70
eligible for pension, except those wild
ows who married prior to 1890"
The said pension committee told
the board of pension examiners re-
peatedly that its recommendation, nor
the act, referred to the widows then
On the roll, and who had married af-
ter 1879 and bfore 1890, but that no
more widows should be added to the
roll who were not married before
1880. However, it is not insisted that
he board of pension examiners. under
said recommendation and act, shall
lave dropped from the roll all wild
'ws then on the roll and who did not
marry prior to 1880, the instruction of
he committee to the contrary not
outstanding.
The pensions are due and will be
aid on September LIST, and thereafter
We ask, an immediate opinion. If the
7idows now on the roll, and who did
OF marry before 1880 should be drop
ed from the roll, the board will so
rider. Otherwise they will be allow
d to continue to draw.
Hoping to have an early opinion.
nd with assurances of highest es-
'em, ! am very respectfully,
JOHN P. HICKMAN,
Secretary.
General Thompson's reply is as fol-
WIS:
Chattanooga, Tenn, Aug. 81, 1918.
on. John P. Hickman, Secretary Bd.
of Pension Examiners, Nashville.
Dear Sir:-I have your favor of
ugust "a, calling my attention to and
noting from chapter SO of the acts
1917, which deals with pensions to
le widows of Confederate soldiers.
fter referring to this act and also !;
ting and referring to the report of
lie special committee on pensions
ade to the legislature in 1917, and !
be found in the Senate Journal of
lat year beginning on page 514, YOU
len say:
9TH said pension committee told
e board of pension examiners repeat
lily that its recommendation, nor the !
t, referred to the widows then on !
le roll, and who had married after
'79, and before 1890, but that no wild !
US should be added who were NOT :
arried before 1880. However. it Is
wv insisted that the board of pension i
under said recommendations
ID act, should have dropped from the =
ii all widows then on the roll and !
no did not marry prior to 1880. the /;
struction of the committee to the !
'ntrary notwithstanding. The PEN !
ons are due and will be paid on the
st OF September, and, therefore, we !
* an immediate opinion" {
General Thompson then quotes ex-