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House Bill No. 88.

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The State of Illinois.
HARRY WOODS,
SECRETARY OF STATE.
House Bill No. 88 In Senate
48th G. A.
1913

Reported from House May 20, 1913
Read a first time, ordered printed and to a second reading.

COPY OF LAW

A BILL

For an Act to make an appropriation for the expenses of veteran soldiers residing in the State of Illinois, who were participants in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2, 3, 1863, to enable them to attend the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of that battle, to be held on the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1, 2, 3 and 4, A. D. 1913.

WHEREAS, The fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg is to be held upon the battlefield at Gettysburg, in the State of Pennsylvania, July 1, 2, 3, and 4, 1913, and is to be made a national event, under the direction of the Federal Government and in which veterans of both the Federal and Confederate armies will participate; and

WHEREAS, There are many of said veterans residing in the State of Illinois, the average of whom is 72 years, who, because of their advanced age and physical debilities incident to, and resulting from their service in behalf of their country

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would require a traveling companion in attending said celebration, the cost of which would be beyond their means; and

WHEREAS, It is desired that the State of Illinois be represented at said celebration by as many of the surviving soldiers of said battle as possible, and that said attendance may not be a drain upon their resources but that they may once again visit the scene of the great conflict (the decisive battle of the Civil War), and meet in spirit of friendship and brotherhood those they met as enemies upon the field of carnage half a century ago;

THEREFORE, To help those who sacrificed so much, for the nation, to attend the Gettysburg celebration (the crowning event of their lives) and to show proper appreciation of the services rendered on one of the hardest fought fields of the Civil War, and to furnish them with the means and comforts of travel:

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That there be and is hereby appropriated the following sums, to wit: for providing transportation, and expenses to the Gettysburg celebration, July 1, 2, 3 and 4, A. D. 1913, for such honorably discharged veterans of the Civil War, who participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863, and who are resident of the State, the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).

Sec 2. No part of said thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) shall be used for the payment of salaries, fees, commissions or any purpose whatsoever other than is provided for in this Act; that the sum allotted to each approved applicant shall consist of his actual car fare from his residence, or nearest railway station thereto, to Gettysburg in said state of Pennsylvania and return, at the rate of fare provided by the railroads over which lines he is to travel for the general public on corresponding dates, and the additional sum of ten ($10) dollars to each veteran so attending for expense money.

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Sec 3 That all applications on behalf of veterans who desire to avail themselves of the provisions of this Act shall be made to the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois, who shall thereupon satisfy himself as to the merits of said applicants and who upon finding that the applicants come within the provisions of this Act, shall issue an order for the amount of said transportation and cause the same to be purchased for the round trip from the place of residence of said applicants or the nearest railway station thereto, to Gettysburg and return, and for the sum of ten ($10) dollars to be delivered to each of them, through the clerk of the county court in the county in which he resides, not earlier than the day before the time of his departure.

Sec 4 The sum of five hundred ($500.00) dollars is hereby set aside out of said appropriation of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for the use of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois in providing proper blanks for applications and for postage and stationery and additional clerk hire, if such be necessary in taking care of the correspondence and in performing the additional work incident to the enforcement of the provisions of this Act.

Sec 5 Any funds so appropriated that are not actually used including any portion of the five hundred ($500.00) dollars set aside for the Adjutant General for the performance of the duties incumbent upon him by reason of this Act shall immediately after July 1st 1913 revent to the general funds in the treasury of the State of Illinois.

Sec 6 The Auditor of Public Amounts is hereby authorized and directed to draw his warrant upon the State Treasurer for the sum herein specified upon the presentation of proper vouchers certified to by the Adjutant General and approved by the Governor and the Treasurer shall pay the same out of the moneys hereby appropriated.

Sec 7 WHEREAS An emergency exists, therefore, this Act shall be in force and effect from and after its approval by the Governor.

APPROVED JUN 3 — 1913