The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-07-31


ter
stats OF NEw JERsLy, }
ADJCrANr GENERALS OFFICE,
TRENTON, June Ii, 1852
W. DAnRows, Esq,
Davenport, lowe.
:-Iours Of the llth lust ad-
dressed to Governor Olden has been hand.
ed by his EsceIIcucy TO this Off for an
answer.
ln reply beg leave to say, that the
only basis 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 found
ed on the general authority given to the
Governor by the Legislature to ''look az
ter" the interests of the volunteers from
this State, and that other general author
i'y vested in him to further, by all prop
err means. the interests Of the State and
her citizens
The universal ignorauoe prevailing
among the people as to the proper course
to be pursued in the collection of these
claims, led to multitude of applications
to this Department. To give this infor.
nation, required au amount of time and
labor in many instanc.s greater than VOC
have been required to prepare the a?plI
cation, and after it was given, the people
lin a majority Of the cases very poor
we're left to the tender marcies Of the
lawyers and local agents, who were charg
ing them cxhorbitaut fees for preparing
their claims. It was evident that much ;
could be saved to tho heirs by having
some systematic mode Of collecting their !
claims, and as this Department was the !
point to which nearly all their inquiries
were directed, and as the Adjutant Cen
eral was willing to answer these in addi-
ton to his other duties, the matter was
placed in his charge.
As these claims could not be collected
in any event without some expense to the
claimant, arrangements were made with
responsible parties at Washington, who
agreed to attend Gin that city, to the
prosecution of the claims, furnishing oil
necessary blanks and instructions, and re-
tanning fire per cent. of the amount col
lected as their fee.
Now, when parties apply to this Office
for information, blank form is filed up
and sent them with letter Of instructions
az to how to proceed in executing them.
When the papers are received here duly
executed, they are mailed to our agents
in Washington, 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 generally unable to
bear it. Much of the information as to
the enlistment as well as death of the sol.
der being only procurable in this office,
it can as we'll be given incorporated in an
application as in letter to some other
party.
Thus the facilities that the Adjutant
Generals Department of any State must
possess, point to it as the proper depart
ment to take charge of such a matter,
while the interests Of the citizens, and
the duties that every State owes to those
who fight aud fall in her defense, would
seem sufficient reason for rendering every
facility to their heirs in procuring their
just dues.
If I have not misunderstood your
questions, they are answered.
If there are any points and details upon
which l can give you information, it will
afford me pleasure to do so.
Very respectfully your obi serv't,
TSisncdl r.. r. STOCKTON. in,
Asst Adj't Gent N J.
IF this arrangement is 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 a
certain rate, and, to great extent, pre-.
vent impositions.
Upon conclusion Of this arrangement
another circular will be published, with
full directions.
n. b. BAKER,
1t Adj't Gent Of Iowa.