Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-12-13
MONEY ISREADY
FOR PENSIONERS
Checks To Go Out By End Of
Week-May Repeal Increas-
ed Allowances


.orsion lists can do their Christmas
sborping the Is or 16 of this month.
From the governors office comes
,ba statement that, If the pension
.or,nissioner should present his
von,,isition for the pension fund it
!. ao,,ld he met at once, since conclusion
- tba negotiation of discounting 3d..
zoo GOO of W. and A. rent security
warrants. -,
commissioner John w. Lindsey will
have prepared his calculations and
the reouisition for presentation to the
Governor Immediately the money on
That transaction reaches the treasury
ord checks will be held heady to for
ward to the ordinaries of the several
counties for distribution among the
pensioners.
There are II counties in the state
where no payment at all has been
made on the pension rolls this year,
the other counties having been given
early in the year their portion of the
fnnd allotted to the "old'' pension
ors exclusive of the SIS and $25 in
creases. Sumter is not among the
number, however. Under the distri-
hinton now to be made, coming from
the railroad rent negotiation, some
pension money will go into every
comfy in the state, since there is
enough of it to complete full pay
ment of the old roll, and also to pay
that fund set aside by the legisla-
ture for the new class pensioners
for 1921. All of these past due sums
aggregate total of 1924, 760,
which is just little in excess Of the
round figure calculation of $780,
600 used in discussion of the nego-
tiation of the railroad rent fund.
Clean Pension State.
Under the interest rate of 5.95 at
which this paper is to be negotiated,
the interest total on the $2,700,000
will run about 100000 which will
leave for distribution on the states
debts which now stand unpaid ~of
about $2,300,000. The difference be-
tween what will be required to absorb
1920 and 1921, and thereby make a
clean slate" on January /, 1922,
all the unpaid pension claims for both
in the pension office, will be credited
to the public school appropriation,
that credit amounting to about $685.
600 or a little more.
This state of affairs will yet leave
the new class" pensions, as well
as all increases since 1919 on the
"old class" pensions one the list pro-
yided for in 1922 and 1928. When
h the last general appropriation bill
y was passed by the legislation a pro-
viso was written into the 1922 and
1923 pension appropriation especial
ly providing that the fund should be
used solely for payment of those pen
sons and at the same amount as were
on the pension lists in 1919. In that
connection it has been made clear
that the state pension department
will present this condition to the leg
lSlature when it meets next summer,
and ask that an emergency appro-
pnation be passed to make up the diff
ference; that is to pay "new" class as
well as the SIS and $25 increases
given by constitutional amendment
TO the "old" classes, and thereon is
bound to come vigorous legisla-
tive fight.
Already there is a strong DISPOSE
ton to believe that influence will be
brought to bear on the Legislature to
repeal the law which provided for
the increases in the old pensions and
TO repeal as well that provision which
let down the bars and added the new
class to the list. That some such
intention was in mind is held to be
evidenced from the fact that the leg
stature this year wrote in such rigid
restrictions around the distributor of
Inc fund it appropriated for pensions
IN 1922 and 1928.
Wants Debt Wiped Out.
Another significant thing is, the
tact that in conversation Governor
hardwlck strongly referred to that
part of his administration policy
winch seeks to bring the state out of
oeot by the end of the present admin
iSCfatlon and, if possible, to establish
IN the treasury at least a small sur
PluS to work on. He has declared
ne uoes not believe it right or proper
IDaC the state should carry in the
treasury any considerable surplus,
pUI' as matter of good business, it
should have just enough surplus to
oLing to an ending the custom of
MIlhg' from time to time during
Ohe year to make ends meet.
In reference to the possibility of
emergency" appropriations being.
passed up by the next session, the
governor dropped the remark that if
any such money bills are passed the
|. legislature had "better be sure it
passes them by two-thirds vote of
DCth houses, because that's what they
Y Sin be required to do with any fur
II appropriations which do not
" come well within the scope of actual
necessity" In other words, he has
S"'d pretty plainly, in effect, that the