The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-19

pectAons vlertAnsd doubtless more with reereace 10
what ought 10 be dons than what will be under existing
regulations. as-.sss
The act under consideration has been the law OF the
land about ninety days yet not warrant had been Issued
when the COMMITTEES last heard from tina, bureau nor are
they advised when il will commence the issue. Over
thirty thousand applications have reached the oIhce, and
they are rapidly accumulating
is not pretended as will hereinafter appear that this
expected delay Attributable TO want OF clerical force
at all, but other and entirely different reasons are gwen
The Fsl alleged is, thai upoa which topnt
The blanks have been ordered, and have not been inr
nshed The late Commissioner, Edwards. who was
called before the committee, states that all the
made without consulting him. and that had he been
med he could have issued with much less force than
has been in the Pension Office Tor month past about two
thousand five hundred warrants. The committee have mol
been able learn why shoud take ninety days 10 pro-
cure engavngs and consequently feel compelled 70 regard
this for such long delay as Insufficient and unsas
factory. sss ue,l tf
Pension Office and which has mIsled many members OF
Congress as well portion OF the committee until The
facts investigated is, that II was useless to com
mence the issue the Third Auditor who has charge
oil Of the rolls where the have to be
made only examine and certify limited number daily.
and that when they do commence the issue, they
despatch much more rapidly than the Third Au,
return them from his office The committee find
this reason destitute of foundation They must be
allowed to remark that they found little justification the
apparent condition and efficiency 81 the pension bursap 70
may be the condition OF The Third Auditors office OF
which tie committee will speak hereafter. the respons
bdiy for The delay 10 the Issue OF these warrants WI
be actually obs,suced brought 10 stand in the
ton of this law by delay in the Third Auditors Office,
then the responsibility may be thrown upon II; hui When
the former lis preparation to discharge lis duties
relation this law, had only sent 10 that oce about
fifteen hundred OF thirty thousand on hle about
half OF which had been compared with the rolls anu re-
turned, there is little cause the committee think, IN
either bureau Tor amy display as 10 Capacity 10 despatch
bu-iness.
h. nj
cessary practice OF sending all cases ndscrninaley,
whether accompanied by the original certificate OF DIS
charge Or not to the Third Auditors Once % De com
brace the OF 1914 and back TO l79Oas the roll,
covering this period, If in existence, are IN that office
hspracuce, at the SUGGESTION OF the commee 50 lar
relates TO those having original ceifcales OF DIS
CHARGE has been discontinued. 1t Is believed by Inc
committee that about One-touIth OF the whole number
OF this character In addition TO these mere Is all
OF that class OF growing out OF the war subsequent
1912, embracing the SeAnole the Greek, the Florida
the Black Hawk and perhaps other Indian wars, the rolls
pertaining which in the Second Auditors or Adu
tant Generals otce and not under the control OF the
Third Auditor Ii the committee are right in their esii
of the number of accompanied with discharges
ney learn from the registering clerks at the Pension
Office. they have made it low enough) there are now on
file that Office not less than seven thousand i've hun
bred such Add to these the number eferabe TO
the other bureaus which considerable and there
eight thousand nine thousand cases IN the Fen
Office ready far the authorization OF the cases
Is
think that with this advantage in favor of the THIRD Au
dtor il will not be difficult Tor hun 10 keep ahead OF The
Pension Oce in the discharge OF his are oil the duties
II suggested however by the clerk who seems tn
be al the head OF business has been done that Of
ce looking to the execution OF this law. that rule OF
Secretary OF the Interior required to be taken
up the order they filed, and that therefore cases
authenticated by discharges must await their proper turn
and could taken up advance oil Others previously
filed. and authenticated. 1t is obviously very
proper upon these cases, as is consistent
with the public interest," according TO priority OF filing,
but the committee think should not be held invio-
liable TO allow this business to be brought to dead
stand.
The recent change of officers in the pension bureau
some what embarrassing to the committee IN the as
ceranment OF facts to the actual state OF it's business
and what would be proper to be done ~ the premises
Such correspondence and testimony had and taken
appended but the committee learned much more by
personally looking into the office and conterng with is
cesks They regret TO say that they found It IN much
apparent confusion and represented by the present
chief clerk, greatly in in its current business
will be by the Commissioners letter that be rec
ommends reorganization OF the whole bureau The
committee did feel authorized, under the resolution OF
their appointment. TO entertain the proposition They
conceived their duties confined iothe single
OF the bounty land law, and the provision OF ways and
execute it; and they have endeavored 10 per-
form this SERVICE interfering little possible with the
existing current duties oil that bureau with which they
think the administration OF this law should be connected
little possible If il is TO be executed with vgor
Ii appears by reference TO the Commissioners letter
that since the first of October thirty clerks have
eculion OF this bounty land law.
"This force (says the COMMISSIONER with the egh-
teen clerks who have been heretofore employed upon the
bounty land business under the act OF the 18th OF Feb
Iuary, lS47 of whom can~ke transferred from tba,
business, IL is drawing To a close, IT is thought
will be sufficient" This makes the whole number OF
clerks in that bureau sky five Some OF the committee
thong this extravagan, force but ~ view Of the
gent and paramount necessity OF having this law exc
cuted without delay, II ~ thought best 10 authorize
u, or, other words, legalze, 80 lar as the mum
Der is concerned the appointments already made,
Ii Congress furnishes the means stated by the
proper executive department TO be necessary for this
object, the responsibility will then rest in the right
ar,er, and the committee are disposed TO leave them
W ithout excuse on this point
Inasmuch however as this bounty land business has
no connexon with the other and current do-
ties OF that bureau and athe committee regard The speedy
execution of this law for the time being Of more i'm
porsnce than It's other business. they have in de-
gree provided BY the bill which they present. have il a
separate organization This arrangement meets the veS
OF the Secretary OF the Interior and the bill agreed upon
is approved in this respect by that officer II provides for
principal clerk to take charge oil this business, at sal
AIRY of sixteen hundred dollars per and assist
ant clerk at salary OF fourteen hundred dollars per
and five clerks al four dollars per day. and thirty al
third eentshe principal clerk 10 be authorized 10
sign the warrants and frank all mail matter pertaining to
his business This organization. II has proper head.
in believed will greatly facilitate and expedite the issue
OF warrants Much depends upon the head however; he
should be a man who would bring inio the office an
amount OF vgor and energy which does not characterize
the ordinary current business in that bureau The law
main in lees than two years. The application. on file
should be acted without delay. and the business
brought up. and kept up thai benehcares could avail
themselves Of the advantages Of early location Of their