The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-01-12

held under advisemcnt .n
The amour of Allotment Fund paid
| into the Treasury by Pay Agents dur.
ing theyear was SO, ,251 ,4S0 l6. Near
~ halfa million has been added since
the 18th Of Novcmbe ber; and additional
amounts are on the way which will
swell the amount to about three mil
lions One item which has swelled
this amount is the large payments to
substitutes and local bounties to re-
crults, which were not paid to the men
until mustered in here, and forwarded
to their regiment. The amount col
tlccted 1t tho barracks in this city, on
this account, has nearly equallcd the
whole amount Of collections last year.
Owing 10 the constant moving OF
the armies during the summer cam
paign, 1T was impracticable to pay the
troops. The payments were crowded
into the fall months, AND the pay
agents were hard pressed in making
collections and in many cases, scri-
ously, and, in somo, dangerously de-
layed in making their returns. The
.amount of this fund in the Treasury
on the 18th of November was S753, ,SG5
"a; ofthis the sum OF S530,571 S5 was
paid in between the 1st and 18th Of
November; S279,S03 80 was paid in
between the month of October, and
tho balance during tho month Of Sep
tember. 9....
While / desire TO be fairly under
stood as not impeachng, or desiring
toimpair, tho value ofeither of the as
soclatos laboring for the relief of our
soldiers, | still adhere to the opinion
expressed toyou last winter, that more
real good can be accomplished, at less
expense, through the State agencies
and our Aid Societies, than in any
other way. While extending our own
operations, L have carefully watched
those four sister State of Indiana and
| have found that her system. merits
tho strongest Communications. 1t is
simple in its character. A central So
ciety at the Capital under the immcdi-
ate care Of tho Governor, receives all
the contributions from the various aid
societies within the State. These are
classified and distributed to the several
State agents according to the wants in
their respective departments, who in
turn distribute them among the men.
The State provides u fund that aids in
the purchase ofarticles not contributed,
and pays. the transportation. There
is no expensive machinery about it,
no waste, and no extravaganza, 1T
has been objected to as being local and
selfish in its character; but this is not
the fact. While the first care OF the
agents is for Indiana men, no Ohio
soldier IN want or distress has ever, to
my knowledge, appealed to an Indi-
ana agency without having his wants
relieved. The Indiana agents have
frequently divided their stores with
the agents Of Ohio; and we have al
ways tried to reciprocato the kind
ness. ...'
There arc many benefits attending
this system, which should not be dis
regarded. ...'.1 -.' 10 I.-. m
lst. 1t is decidedly the most cconom.
ical way of aggregatipg and distribu-
ting the contributions of our people,
and oXpending tho means appropri-
atcd by the State for this purpose.
I'd. 1t renders certain the distribu.
ton of all supplies to the objects and
purposes for whjM they are intended.
There is hardly II possibility for mis-
appropriation. There is no machin-
cry about it to be kept lubricatcd, and
70 class Of middle men to levy toll
upon 1t. .........
Sd. By proper care and manage
mcnt-it is made moro prompt and en-
ergetic than any other mode; and, by
beng moro systematic, will be more
general and appropriate in its relief,
4th. 1t fosters and gratifes the
State pride of our soldiers. 1t comes
nearer to the feeling Of Home An
Ohio soldier regards an Ohio Agency
as Il place he has q right to enter, and
expect welcome. II he is in want.
there is no system of orders or rcqui-
sitions for him to 60 through-no pry-
ing and unpleasant catcchism for him
to submit to. The supplies furnished
by his State and his people are there;
and he feels that he is no object of
charity when he partalcs of them
His rcmcmbrances Of home arc fresh
ened-his attachment TO his State is
quickencd and incrcased--and he goes
away feeling that he is not neglected
OF lorgotten--that the cause of tho
country is still worth upholding and
the dear old State still worth defend
ing from the oncroachmonts of the
rebel adversary. And this is doubly
the case when tho agent passes almost
daily through his hospital-bcnds over
the bed on which he is stretched with
sickness or wounds-inquires kindly
into his wants, and ministers unto
them from the btnefactions of his pco.
pie, and the libcrality of his State
Surely this spirit is worth cherishing
and preserving, .... ........ ..
| recommend that bureau be es-
tabIishod under the control Of an off.
Ger TO be styled tho auditor Of Sold.
iers Claims to be appointed by the
Governor, with the advice and con-
sent Of the Senate; that he be required
to give sufficient bonds and pass his
money transactions through the State
Treasury. The salary should be in
creased above the present rate, and he