The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-06

think the present system Of paying pensions is
not the best which could be devised The act OF Sd
March, 1887, provided that compensation or al
owance shall be made to any persons or corporations
for making such payments, without authority Of law.
This provision has compelled the Department to en-
Pioy either banks or officers Of banks in most in
stances as the agents The actual expenses incurred
by them in transacting the business paid, and
mas, IN many instances, been necessary TO compen-
safe them Indirectly in order to get the business
transacted This could only be done by keeping con-
siderable balances on deposit in the Bank with which
he agent Is connected, and thus when dcPosites are
an object, granting much larger compensation than
would be required to pay person specially Tor trans
acting the business respectfully suggest an al'era
ton of the law in this particular.
1t will be observed that the estimates for the PEN
sion Office larger for the coming fiscal year than
they were for the present This has been rendered
necessary by the act of Sd March last extending the
act granting pensions to widows, &c.
Since the last annual repor there has been con-
siderable reduction in The rumber of uDse tied &C.
counts in the offices ofthe ID and 81 udtors. In the
former Ofi % there .wO hundred and eghtytwo
counts remaining unsettled, all presented within tie
present year. making reduction Of five hundred and
nineiy. In the latter there are nine hundred and
forty-ve accounts remaining unsettled Of which
HUNDRED and sfty EIGHT were presented in 1871
three hundred and seventy five ia l842 and four hum
dfed and two in l843, the reduction being Eve hun
dfed and shlrty-four. Justice to persons having
claims against the Government accounts to settle
with H. iequires that should be provided for the
more PROMPT settlement OF t!ieir accounts The cf
cefs named are using oil the means which they now
possess, with praise&orthy diligence hut they are
nsu ffcient to accomplish the object.
Considering the relations in which the Offices of I'd
and ID Auditors stand to the War Department, their
position is anomalous. They transact the business Of
this Department, and in all matters depending upon
equitable discretion refer to and governed by the
decision of the Secretary Of War. From Lis Ok ston
he must Be best capable Of judging Of the manner in
which they should be oigan,zcd and the business
ducted in them. Yet, % to thsst they are entirely
under tho control Of another Department Of the Gov
ernment. II would be more systematic to make them
tranches Of this Department, leaving the I'd Comp
troIler, an officer Of the Treasury to decide, ultimate
W, as he now Does upon the business transacted by
them. q e44 Aa 3e i@}r - 5A s+.e..
The building al present occupied as the Depart.
ment of War; is insufficient for the purpose, and does
possess the security Of being fire proof 1t only
accommodates the War Department proper, the
Commanding General, Adjutant General, Quarter
master General, Commissioner Of Indian Affairs and
Cd Auditor. The business of seven important bu-
reaus of the Department, to wit: Of the Paymastsr
General, Surgeon General, Engineers, Typographical
Engineers, Ordinance, Commssary General of Sub
sistence, and Commissioner of Pensions is transacted
and their records kept in rented buildings, separated
from the public edfce and still more insecure than
it. The safety of the pubic records and convenience
in the transaction Of business, require that secure
building should be erected sufficiently large to ac-
commodate the entire business of the Department.
This subject has been repeatedly brought to notice,
thus far without effect It is again brought to view,
under the hope that the remedy Of these evils may
not be further postponed.
| take this opportunity to state that | have been
greatly aided in performing the labors of the Office
hold, by the Commanding General and the heads of
the several bureaus of the Department, whose ASH
duty and promptness in their attention to business
deserve all praise J. M. PORTER,
Secretary Of Var.