Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-11

swer questions or give information, freely
approached, and, in word, a gentleman 1
par excellence, is Hon. E. b. French, |
Second Auditor of the Treasury. We !
may name, as some of the most obvious
causes Of delay in the transmission OF ac-
counts through this Office, the great num-
Der to be settled, and the scant Of proper
information ard data upon ,Chich to
base settlement
The neglect, but more frequently the
inability, of company and regimental
officers to make necessary returns, is
fruitful and annoying cause of delay.
The death of soldier occurring, often
times, at home on furlough, or in hospi-
tails away from their commands, renders.
it frequently impossible to obtain the
necessary information to adjust the claim
of his heirs, until some months after his
decease. 1t will be readily seen that no
soldiers heirs or representatives, claim
can be settled or adjusted, until there is
some official notification Of has death.
In a majority of the cases now on file,
it is found that official notice of the sol
dier's death has not reached the office
until some four or sir months after his
death.
To illustrate: suppose a soldier dies,
say in the early part of the month of No
vsmber; the rolls which should show his
death-dnd upon achich alone the set
Element can be made, are not made out
until the thirty-frst day of the December
succeeding, thereby causing an unavoid-
able delay of nearly two months Then,
again, these December rolls are OTTER re-
tanned by the Paymasters some two
months more before they are returned
to the Paymaster Generals Office for ex
animation, where there is frequently 6
delay of two months more, in order tha
the Paymaster's account may be exam
ined 1t is not until after the company
rolls have passed the Paymaster Gener
: ais office are they accessible to the Sec
ond Auditor, which, as we have jus
shown, is from four to six months, sub
sequent to the soldiers death In the
settlement Of officer claims there is evel
more delay, from the fact that in add
ton to the delay occasioned by the abov
named causes, there is, in many of tn
cases, fled, unsettled accounts with th
Quartermaster's department. Exper
\ ence has shown, too, that sufficient tim
should elapse between the death of tn
soldier and the settling of the claim, t
: allow the righJul heir to claim tn
: arrears of pay and bounty.
9 Not unfrequently two or more apple;
lions by different parties are filed in til
same case, thereby causing an inyestig;
- ton to be had to determine which one
e the lawful heir. A Just and consciel
: tious regard for public economy, as we
q as the honest dues of the soldiers heir
require that great care and prudence /
exercised in the settlement of this ella.
l. of claims. The Second Auditor is nj
r insensible to the fact that there is grei
: necessity for speedy settlement Of th
class of claims, and every effort in h
u power is being made to adjust them ,
e fast as is consistent with the public we
e fare. l have taken pains to thus e
i plain the causes of delay in the settl
ment of this class of claims, that you
readers may know the reason for the d
!. lay, and to relieve the department frol
that censure SO unjustly and undeser
edly bestowed.
/, A glance at the business to be tran
4 acted in the Second Auditors ofic
. brings home to the spectator the paint
reality that we are at war! Then com,
o the inquiry, why the war? Upon whoi
e hands are these blood-stains2 Why
n our fair country, once peaceful and ha
II ~, shaken to its very center? Why th
= whole face of our country ridged up vii
J. rudely formed graves? Why the wi
P ow's sorrow and the orphans tears ar
r and want2 Let the instigators and syn
y pathizers with this mighty rebellio
answer these solemn inquiries, remen
y bering to tremble, as they reply, We
|, geance is mine, saith the Lord; | wi
/ repay" OccIDENT