The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-12
The Pension Once I'm this City.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
IiNIrnp SrArna PENSION AcxSCy

NIw YoRE, Sept IL, 1906.
Ny attention has been called to certain paragraphs
which have recently gone the rounds OF the daily papers
with reference to the in which the business OF
the Pension Agency In this city IL conducted; com
mentng thereon in some instances In severe terms and
by implication attaching blame either 70 me- as the
ocer having charge Of the agency the government
For the purpose Of refung these charges and putting
the general public possession Of the real facts Of the
case append the following statement, and beg to avail
myself Of the columns of your journal for publication Of
the same
There upwards OF three thousand five hundred
pensioners OF all classesincluding nvads widows and
mothcrson the roll OF this agency The army pensions
payable March and September in each year and
the navy pensions on January and July l. The nva
Ids have 10 most cases TO undergo biennial examna.
purpose.
Il is the duty Of the ponsioner when he comes for
payment to bring with him his pension certificate and
voucher properly signed and to, containing copy
Of his certificate and in the Of invalid requiring
medical examination the certificate Of the examining
surgeon attached thereto These papers are examined
by me, and, II correct duplicate receipts made and
signed by the pensoner and no fee whatever charged
am instructed by the department at Washington that
is no part OF my duty 10 prepare this voucher
In cases whero the pcnsioncr comes TO the oce with
out having provided himself with the voucher properly
made out, he has either to away and get the
prepared by lawyer lat expense OF two to FIVE dol
@ Sy e a Undsr mS ae e
seldom brought and the general custom is for II to be
prepared In my office, aud the oath TO be administered
there. The charge made by for this service is from
twenty five 10 fifty cents only. similar fee for this
service charged by all the pension agents in the United
States and far concerned II is done with the
knowledge VI the department at Washington. This
charge Is innovation, but has been customary
since the pension agencies were established by the
government, as believe.
The machinery for protecting the government against
fraud is made as simple possible; but IL will be
that IL Is still somewhat complicated but necessarily
The utmost has to be observed in the examination
OF the papers 10 that the requsons OF the depart
ment complied WITH the forms varying each class
OF pensions Each recipient required to-sgn his name
three times and has to be instructed where TO sign and
this alone occupies considerable time all not
pedious penmen.
The large proportion Of the pensioners poor and
in actual need Of the money as soon as it is payable,
which occasions q great rush and orowdng pay day
and the first week thereafter To meet this demand
ONCE s open at A. NJ, and from that time until
six r. NJ After the 4,h inst paid each day all
themselves and in the six days past paid
seventeen hundred and thirty pensioners and disbured
in sums varying from $2 to $500 each, the aggregate
There is not so much delay In the payment Of pen.
sioner there In the payment at the Sub Treasury Of
holders OF interest coupons when the preparation and
animation Of the vouchers In the case OF pensioners is
taken into consideration.
The line of pensioners waiting for payment has
at any time been so long as that Of the people waiting
for the same purpose at the Sub Treasury on May aud
il is as unreasonable TO expect that all the pensioners
should be paid In one day as to expect that all the
holders Of interest coupons or the soldiers Of the United
States army recently disbanded should have eir claims
attended TO In the same period OF time.
Ny ONCE consists Of three good sized rooms, reason
ably well lighted and having ave largo windows opening
doors with venators at the top, and IL sufc emily
comodious for the business Of the agency, except
the Of the few days Of pressure above referred
to This last week the office has certainly been close
but II the elsewhere In tho city, owing TO the
unusually hot weather.
may mention that for the past year have been en-.
deavorng 10 induce the department TO arrange 10 pay
widows In month and invalids the next and believe
that this plan will be adopted. II IL will do much to-
wards remedyng the evil complaaed Of and will be
accommodation 10 all parties.
yield 10 none in my sympathy with the soldier dis.
ablcd In the service OF the country In sympathy with
those widows and mothers WIN have been called upon
by tho exigences ~ar TO part with those dear 10
them And duringthe whole Of the period Of my hold.
ing the Office Of Pension Agent have seadfastly devoted
my whole time 10 the furherance OF the interests OF tho
pensioners and with that object have been attendance
at my Office from halfpast eight NJ until half past
five NJ the year round and was absent therefrom but
four business days during the three years.
Complaints from the pensioners have not only been
few-not more than one in thousand-but n body
they express themselves pleased aud grateful for the at
tention they receive at my hands am sir respectfully
yours, ALPHEUS FOBEs, Pension Agent