Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-02-21

occasion to notice.
Mr.. BELL wished to inquire Of the
Chairman of The Committee of Ways and
Means whether the Treasury Department,
had any Information which was IN his
Mr.. JoNEs's] possession, as to the present
ability OF these pension agents to pay the
funds hitherto deposited with them, or
whether applications had been made from
any quarter for indulgence or time
Mr.. JONES said that he was not aware
that the Secretary 'of the Treasury had
any such information in his possession.
Mr.. BELL. Then | understand that
these agents have perfect ability to pay out
a II the funds now in their hands.
Mr.. JONES. IF any person is not able
to paw out the funds placed in bis hands, it
is q fac: which is not within my know
edge.
Mr.. Curtis hoped the Chairman Of the
Committee of Ways and Means would
consent to lay this Dill aside wiho taking
The question, in order that the House might
be placed in possession Of Information
which, judging from the course of his re
marks, the Chairman was not now able TO
give. Mr.. G.. desired the gentleman to
be able 10 state distinctly whether there
were funds enough IN the hands Of the pen-
sion agents to meet the demands.
Mr.. JONES said it seemed TO him that
the information sought by the gentleman
from New York Mr. CrRrIs) was already
in the possession Of every gentleman.
There was a statement before he com.
mlttce showing the amour; of moneys ap.
In, NJ far ho covorol ,h;,,t, ,,f
bill at he las, session of Congress. There
was also a sta ement showing the unex.
pended amounts under each head, and it
clearly appeared that, for three classes of
pensioners provided for in the third section,
there was not enough by one or two hun.
dred thousand dollars, This informal on
was derived from the Commissioner of
Pensions.
Mr.. CURTIS. Then he gives inc the
information which is contained in this bill
which is
[Mr. jones. No: there is the nforma-
| ton contained IN the estimates accompany.
ing the bill.
Mr. CURTIS. And no other. This book
| [holdng up the estmatesJ showed that
there was no present necessity for an ap.
preparation of more than two or three
hundred thousand dollars and the bill
proposed to appropriate about three mil.
lions.
Mr.. G. well remembered The course Of
this bill last year, and he well remembered
the remarks made by one of his colleagues.
When the bill came in two years ago, the
then Cha rman Of the Committee of Ways
and Means, [Mr. CAMBRELENG.] at late
hour, proposed that 1t should be taken up
out of its order, as it had been on the pre-.
sent OCCASION and that it should be forth.
with passed; because, as he said, there
was no money TO pay the poor soldiers.
The Revolutionary soldiers and officers, he
said, were daily demanding payment, and
there was no'h,ng to give them.
His Mr.. C.'s attention had at that time
been drawn 10 the subject, and he had felt
bound to call the notice Of that gentleman
to the state Of the documents from the War
Department, which had the control OF this
! fund nrh I. CN- ~ L-a ueuu dUle ~
aIlege, as the result OF his examina,o ion,
that there was, at that time, the sum of
two millions OF dollars in the hands of pen.
sion agents. This statement was roundly
denied by the gentleman Mr. CAMBRELENG
IN the way so peculiar to himself 1t was
denied also by very respectable gentle.
man from Baltimore, who, on the very
next day, came here and stated that he had
made personal examination into the facts
at the War Department and at the Pension
Office. He then admitted that there was
proof that nearly two millions of dollars
we're in The hands Of pension agents, and
he then proceeded 10 say that it was the
practice of the War Department to put the
agents in possession Of funds from four to
SIX months in advance of the time of dis.
bursement ; and he justified it, as gentle
men have justified it to-day, on the ground
that it was proper, by way Of compensate ion
for the services rendered. The then chair.
man of the Committee Of Ways and Means
produced and had read several letters from
pension agents /; and he [Mr. c. remem
bered that several Of them were letters
calling upon The Secretary of War for
remlt'ances of funds TO their hands and
several Of them went so far as to say that
they would not hold the Office unless more
money was placed in heir hands by way
Of compensation. One of these agents,
residing in The State Of Vermont. said hat
he understood there was a bill pending
before Congress providing for the compen.
sation of pension agents, and that, if no
more salary was given than shat which was
contemplated, (which was fifteen hundred
or two thousand dollars year,] it was not
worth while 10 keep the office. That par.
| tcular agent failed The next week. The
Government instituted suit against him.
and Mr.. G. was happy to say. either had
or would receive the money. The Govern"
ment had not been so fortunate in relation
to pension agent at Boston. Persons had
sought the Offices OF pension agents on the
ground that they could do the business as
the United States Bank, and that they
were wiling to do it on the same terms.