Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-11

One Of the most unwise moves, as it
seems to us, that Congress could make,
would be to abolish the office of pension
agent, and the substitution of some other
agency for the disbursement Of the pecu-
mary debt which the country owes its
MANNED defenders. In all the essential
characteristics Of security, economy and
celebrity Of payment the present system
seems to us as being as near perfect as any
which could be devised. Especially do we
object to the idea of constituting postmasiers
as agents for the disbursement Of pensions.
Some little excitement has been caused
by the statements Of Mr.. Dawes, 10 the
House Of Representatives, us to the cx.
pcnsc Of the present system. These figures
have been shown TO be grossly incorrect,
and argue very poorly for his Intelligence
in pension matters
Let us look at few figures There are
Gfty-eight pension districts in the country.
The aggregate number Of pensioners paid
during the past year was two hundred and
thirty-eght thousand four hundred and
eleven, and the aggregate amount disbursed
was s29,1S5 ,2S9G2 The expenses Of
these agencies, including rents, fuel, lights,
postage and clerk hire are all paid out Of
the compensation which the pension agent
receives, which varies according to the
amount Of business transacted, from sllj
to $4,000 per annum, the former being the
lowest and the latter the highest paid during
the past year.
10 addition to this, each pension agent
receives thirty cents for every voucher by
him executed and paid This sum would
bring an additional compensation to each
agent Of not far from s2500 each year,
provided each agent did the same amount
Of business But inasmuch as the pay de-
rived from this source is directly in pro-
portion to the amount Of business trans
acted, the greater portion Of itgoes to those
pension agents who have to employ the
largest number of clerks, and whose ex.
penses are the heaviest, and very rarely
does the agent realize a sufficient sum from
this source to pay the ordinary expenses Of
his Office, which in other government offices
are borne directly by the government and
not by the officer himself
Now the Office of pension agent is one
peculiarly laborious, and one which involves
a large responsibility, for which the agent
has to give heavy bonds. Indeed we doubt
if the government disburses an equal
amount of money, over so large territory
and to so many different persons, involving
so much labor and responsibility, in so eco
nomical and safe manner, and this talb
about changing the system of disbursiul
pensions on the score Of economy, is tn,
merest demagogueism.
But the theory of making the postmas
ter the pension agent is particularly un
wise Any one acquainted with the routin
of the postal service, its system of estab
lishments, appointments, bonds, account.
reports, contracts, stamps, registered LEI
tiers, money-orders, locks and bags, and th
thousand details and paraphernalia of tn
post Office department, can well appreciat
the improperly and impracticability {
commingling the duties of postmaster an
, pension agent. A neglect to make quar-
terly reports Of stamps cancelled, arriva
aud departures of mails, and failure to pa
collection orders to contractors, and tn
balances drawn for, ETC., cts, subject II
. incumbent to immediate dismissal, aud Il
y appointment Of a successor. Special agen
4 are constantly on the track of mail depr
Q dations and misconduct Of postmasters, an
Q Of course, would be charged with the ext
s duty of inspecting the payment of pensio
IT ers. What is to become of the pension
e in event OF the removal or resignation
'e the postmaster He would of necessity
Il compelled to wait the action Of the post
D. fee department in order to secure his rigl
o. accruing under another department
RS Then, too, the opportunities for fraud a
n, collision, already almost uncontrollab
ut would be increased hundred.fold, and,
ct sum up, would inevitably result in increa'
re expenditure, and in " confusion worse C,
be founded"
II, All in all it seems wise to let the mat
" remain just where it is, coutent to let g.
enough alone"