The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-05-19
Soldiers Claims.
The STATE OF ONO, J
Executive DEPARTMENT
COLUMBUS, April 3, 1865. \

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
COLUMNS, April 3, 1865
To Ohio Soldiers:
The Ohio Legislature, ut its pres.
ent session, has abolished the Ohio
Military Claim Agency at Columbus,
heretofore under the charge of Mr..
James L. Lewis, and established in
its place, n department for the col
lection of claims of Ohio soldiers
against the Government, the procur-
ing Of Pensions, and matters of sim
liar character. Col. Royal Taylor,
formerly Ohio Military Claim Agent
at Louisville, Nashville, and Chatta.
nooga. has been appointed as chief
officer of this Department, and is des
ignatcd as "Commissioner of Sol.
diers's Claims" A copy of the law
is appended, from which it will be
seen that all pending claims, books,
papers and records of the old claim
agency, are passed over into the
hands Of Col. Taylor, and will be ad
iusted by him. II will also be seen
that the money transactions of the
Commissioner will pass through the
State Treasury, and that no fees can
he charged or eSacted for the per-
formance of official duties. Also,
that all moneys so collected and paid
into the Treasury, will be immedi.
ately certified to the Auditor of the
county in which the claimant may re.
side, to be psid TO such claimant by
the Treasury of such county, without
fees or cost of transmission.
The object Of the Legislature in
this enactment, is to render all poss.
iblc aid to tle soldiers in the collec-
tiOn Of their claims against the Gov.
ernment, and to remedy difficulties
heretofore existing I'm this particular
No little embarrassment has arisen
from the want of recognition, ut
Washington, of the claim agency rs
a strictly State Department. That
is now removed, and the acts of the
Commissioner will meet with prompt
recognition and attention
The Bureau OF Soldiers Claims is
being organized by Colonel Taylor
upon n system that will greatly ex.
pediat' the settlement of these claims;
and much of the delay heretofore cx-
pcrienced, it is hoped, will be rene
died. Correspondence will be prompt
ly attended TO, and the situation OF
claims be reported when required
| feel warranted in assuring our SOL
diers that their claims will be ener-
getically prosecuted, and that MS lit
tie delay as possible will occur in this
particular.
An assurance has been given by the
Paymaster General that the assistant
Paymaster at this station, shall he
constantly kept in funds to pay claims
of discharged men, when properly
adjusted. This will remedy n delay
heretofore veXatious, and prevent the
necessity on the part of our men OF
discounting or showing their claims
with banks or brokers.
tits now clearly the interest Of oul
soldiers to forward their claims againi
the Government tor collection. TO the
Commissioner of Soldiers Claims
This can be done by mail or express,
or through any of the Military Claim
agents of the State. A list Of these
agents is appended. Claims deposit
ed with, or sent to Mr.. j. G. Wet.
more, agent at Washington, will bc
collected by him direct, and remit
tances made to the claimants. This
agency also embraces claims for pen
sions of all grades.
No fees or charges, except for rev
enue stamps or similar expenses II
perfecting papers, can legally b'
made by the Commissioner or any o.
the State agents; and any violation
of this regulation should be reported
at once to this department
Th, official character Of this ar
rangemcnt secures il great advan
tages over all individual or local CLAIM
agencies, and our soldiers may re
pose in it entire confidence. Thei
claims will be adjusted, through III
agency, more promptly than in an.
other manner, and without cxpens
to the claimants.
Communications should be ad
dressed to Col. Royal Taylor, Com
missioner of Soldiers's Claims, Go
lumbus, Ohio.
Very respectfully,
JoHN BRoUGH,
| Governor of Ohio.