The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-11-15
G0VERNOR MAY FAVOR
PENSION LAW CHANGES
.c17EvED MACON SPEECH
poPTENDS RECOMMENDED
TON TO LEGISLATURE.
prH DO NOT NEED STIPEND
u.i+ber Does He Believe Young Wo-
men Who Marry Old Veterans With
nne Foot in the Grave Should Be
p.refciaries of Tax Money.


pare6ciaries of Tax Money.
ATLANTA, Ga.-Whether Govern
Hardwick's reference to pensions
4 +bo need of pension reforms, made
:. his speech at the state fair in Ma
-, recently is forerunner of recon-
..cdations to the next general assem-
Nv that the present pension laws be
.,r;sed and modified is matter OF
.ne difference of opinion in official
circles. :,
In substance, the governor said in
1, Macon speech that he believes IN
.as;ons for those veterans who have
odeauate means of. their own, or
" Lose properties are not sufficient to
w, w, care OF them. Especially, he SAID,
ss does not believe III pensions Tor
.sot class of women he termed So
.a ,T widows of Confederate veterans.
T 1S,,, he described as women who,
I .@l alter the war had ended, have
msrr;ed veterans with both feet IN
b ,e' crave" for the purpose OF sooner
~ bier becoming "the widow of vet
.r,n" with the privilege OF drawing
opnsion. All of these two classes, the
sorsrnor said, he would not tax the
ssSooIe Of the state of Georgia one red
9ennv in order to pay them pensions.
These declarations by the governor
have given rise to some discussion. OF
tbe matter in which the pension lists
n the state were increased by legls-
b,;ve action and ratification OF a con-
laitutional amendment two years ago.
Tbrough these changes there was a
general letting down of the bars to all
widows" of veterans, practically re-
g,rdIess of the time of marriage, ana
Stewise there was complete removal
n the property ownership limitation
which heretofore restricted pensions:
In round figures Georgia's pension
Gt now consumes $2,225,00O, and that
will be automatically increased IN view,
Of the fact that the legislature devised
olan whereby there is added not only
be new list pensioners" but an an
mail increase of SIS year on all pen
,iors At the time the state is approx
matelv a million dollars behind in pay
ment of the legitimate pensions, as
provided by the legislature for this
year and last.
PAYMENT of this debt is to be made
from the fund hoped to be realized
rom negotiations of advance paper 10
Be drawn against five years rental on
NE Western and Atlantic railroad, but
m, matter is not yet determined as
10 legality by the supreme court, De,
fore whom the test case was argued
some weeks ago. At the time that case
Twas taken to the appellate court from
|be Fulton superior court, which de-
,idad in favor of the legality OF the
,lan, if was more or less generally uh,
|ierstood a decision could be expected
|,bort October IS. That date, however,
has Dassed and there is yet no indl-
lrston nj day on which the decision
will come, and, after it does, the aeal
|ior floating the paper Will nave 70 pc
NEGOTIATED. In the consideration OF the
bending case it is understood that an
Exhaustive study is being made OF the
plroad and securities issued against
/ ii which date back to the date OF the
ssue manv wears ago of mortgage
against the property, and the question
Il whether the bonds which that mort
age secured were fully paid on OF
'Thether they were taken care OF by d
Tissue. -. H.
This incident has to do with the
question of pensions only as pertain
\ ng to the payment OF pension claims ;
+ br 1920 and 1921, as they may stanu
unpaid. and cannot and will not nave
bearing on the future pension ,approrc
NiatiOns except as a matter then ol
history for the reason it never mas
I been contemplated that this particular
negotiation would extend into the tu-
{ ture.
legislative consideration, if the mat
E ter is pressed to the next session dS
+ has been indicated, will be directed 10
wards either maintaining the same
Status now existing, without, limit 10
The matter OF who is entitled to pen
SionS, or one of undoing what pre-
I vOuS legislature and the people at tI III
{ ballot box have recently done; o
meet Gov Hardwick's ideas, and II Is
found that they are pretty well COM
I cded with in many official posts, there
would be a repeal of the recent constr
utional amendment on PENSIONS re-
Establishment of the property owner
ship limitation and revision OF the
Inestrictions as to date OF marriage
That any or all OF these things can
Be gotten through a session wnicn
Clearly is going to be pitched on q
plane OF even more rigid economy ana
fetrenchment than the one this sum sun,
ner is entirely predetermined. The
Psychology of the situation, though,
with the matter of scant revenue ana
The question OF radical tax reform up
pTmost. would seem favorable to pen,
son reforms almost as radical as tha'