The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-07-26
STATE OF IOWA.
ApyufAHf GEzEaAls O,rlcs, I

STATE OF IOWA.
81 Apyu9ANf 6.HERALs OYFrCI,
CLINTON, July 10, 1862.
Complaints and statements have been made
n me of extravagant charges made by some
Claim Agents in this and other States, for ser.
ices in prosecuting claims for arrears Of pay,
mansions bounties, &C., due soldiers Of this State,
or to their heira
These statements and complaints call for a
remedy. They are usually made in cases beyond
The control and influence of this Department,
-hicb possesses no power of redress The hon.
a. Of the State lie concerned in protecting from
recunisry loss, ss far a. possible the brave sol
ders who have been disabled in the service, and
il becomes religious duty on the part Of al
vhich is provided for those who have fallen in
their countrys service from being dissipated in
extravagant collection fees.
This matter has had the attention of the Gov
amor. who has referred the same to me for &C.
ton. To prevent the evils complained Of, it is
proposed to appoint one clerk in my Office,
whose whole attention will be devoted to the
subject of soldiers claims. It is believed it will
save to the soldiers and the citizens Of this State
many thousand dollars.
Proposals will be received at this Department
until the 10th day of August, from competent
and responsible parties for attending to such
claims. The parties who propose to do this
business must be responsible and active men,
who have knowledge Of the business, and can
satisfy the Department that they have sufficient
facilities to transact business at Washington,
and at points where paymasters are located for
special objects. This Department reserves the
right to decide in every case. The offer must
hnf oee NY mn nm, onn nj COLL
In order that all may fully understand my OBJ.
jects and intentions, the following letter of the
Adjutant General Of New Jersey is pu5shed.-
This spplies as we'll to this State as any other
II fully explains the matter:
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
ApJurANT GENERALS OFFICE,
TRENTON, July Is, 1852.
W. BARRows, Esq, Davenport, Iowa
Sir:-Yours of the 18th inst, addressed to
Gov Olden, has been handed by his Excellency
70 this Office for answer.
In reply beg leave to cay, that the only basis
upon which the arrangement has been made to
aid the volunteers and their heirs in procuring
the amount of their claims against the United
States, is formed on the general authority given
70 the Governor by the Legislature to "look
State, and that other general authority vested in
him TO further, by oil proper MEANS the interests
Of the State and her citizens.
The universal ignorance prevailing among the
people as to the proper course to be pursued in
the collection Of these elaine led to . multitude
Of applications to this Department. To give the
Information, required IN amount of time and
labor in many instances greater than would have
been required to prepare the application, and
after il was given, the people lin majority of
cases very poor) were left to the tender mercies
Of the lawyers and local agents, who were
charging them exhorbitant fees for preparing
their claims. It WAS evidentthst much could be
saved to the heirs by having some systematic
mode Of collecting their claims, and as this De.
psrtment Was the point to which nearly all their
inquiries we're directed, and % the Adjutant
General Was willing to answer these in addition
to his other duties, the matter Was placed In bis
charge.
As these claims could not be collected in any
event without some expense to the claimant, ar
rangements were made with responsible parties
1t Washington, who sgree to attend lin that
city, to the prosecution Of the claims, furnish
ing oil necessary blanks and instructions and
retaining fve per cent of the amount collected ~
their fee.
Now, when parties apply at this Office for in.
formation, . blank form is filed up and sent
them with letter Of instruction % to how to
proceed in executing them. When the papers
are received here duly executed, they are mailed
to our agents in Arlington, and it is found that
the trouble, annoyance and expense to the State
are actually less than when merely giving them
information, while it cannot be doubted that
much expense is saved TO a class of people gen.
orally unable to bear it Much of the informa-
ton 40 to the enlistment a. we'll % death of the
soldier being only procurable in this Office, it
can % we'll be given incorporated in an applica-
non - In letter to some other party.
Thus the facilities that the Adjutant Generals
department Of any State must possess, point to
1t % the proper department to take charge of
such matter, while the interests Of the citizens
and the duties that every State owes to those
Who fight and fall in her defense, would seem
sunacient reason for rendering every facility to
their heirs in procuring their just dues.
II have not misunderstood your questions,
they are answered.
1t there are any points and details upon which
can give you information, it will afford me
pleasure 70 do %. o -,f
Very respectfully your obt serv's, Sal.
(Signed) RT. SrocKron, Jr.,
80 Asst Adjt GecI New Jersey.
II this arrangement il perfected, it will not
prevent other claim agents from still engaging
in the business, but will give to our soldiers and
their families an opportunity Of knowing that
they have an agent Who will do the business at
. certain rate, and. 70 . great extent, prevent
impositions.
Upon conclusion of this arrangement another
circular will be published, with full directions
N. B. BAkER,
Adjutsnt Genl Of Iowa
Pspers2at county sests will publish once.
The New STAMP Act.
In roreacu.ncs ~ The inAroducfion of nosf-