New-York tribune., 1875-10-13
PENSION BUREAU REFORM
ONE MAN WHO FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE
ABOUT 1T.

CREr SERVICE DIvIsIoN-CONTRADICfoRY AC-
COUNTS ABOUT THE EXTRA PAY AND THE USE
FULNEss or THE SECRET AGENTS.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUNEI
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11.-COmmissioner OF
Pensions Atkinson thinks that injustice has been done
his in recent comments on the Organization OF MS
new Secret Service Division with exsecreaIy Delanos
townsman and particular friend Charles +. Baldwin, az
its head and in the discussion provoked by Acting Sec
Rotary Cowens recent order cutting OF the extra allow
ance granted to clerks detailed 10 duty in the new
division He says that prior to the reorganization OF inc
Special Service Division in July 1875 the division con-
sisted OF chief salary of 800, one oer clerh
of 1S00, three clerks Mt $1,000 two at S12Oo mes
seuger and cOpyis $40 eaeh and one messenger at
S72O making the total paid for salaries in the division
prior TO JAY last $4,000 year. Under the present
organization the force consists of one ohe al Fl'SOo'
two clerks at 500 each two at $1,000 each, ana one
at SS0 making the total paid for salaries SS2iO year
The annual saving salaries ID, therefore, asScred 10
bc 81 $3.50.
In the matter Of the additional compensation, the
Commissioner saws that, besides the allowance OF 50
day to Mr. Baldwin, total allowance OF 81 q day was
granted to the three clerks duty in the Division This
allowance is said TO have been given on account OF the
reduction OF force In the Division and the increased
amount OF work required from the rest aud was regarded
as in lieu OF promotion. Including the time consumed In
the investigation of in tins District which work
has been attended by the clerical force in the DIVISION
it frequently happens the Commissioner says that hcy
ere employed from 10 to - hours day On account OF
this increased work and the reduction OF the f0rcc
small allowance made as additional compensation,
viz, 60 day, which amount was divided between the
three clerks thus employed.
The Commissioner directs attention TO the COM
pcnsation paii to agents in other Departments
OF Tie Government. In tic POstONce Department
the Chief Special gent receives $500 year and 80
day. Two Agents are on duty in the Department at
salary of u, 800 year and SO day. TWO Specml
AGENTS acting rs assistant superntcndonts of railway
mail service with headquarters at Washington, receive
Fl coo and 50 n day and 81 600 and SO day rcspec-
vey Besides these there two Special Agents. with
headquart s Washington in the money 0rccr scilcc
receiving 81 600 year and - day and $1,000 year
and 50 day respectively The Supervising Special
Agent of the Treasury compensation of $40
day In all these cases. the per diem allowance Is granted
for each every day. whether employed here or else
where The Commissioner asserts that TIE interests in-
yoved in the work of the special service Of his office are
of equal importance with those Of other Departments IN
view Of the large number Of frauds discovered every day
by his agents.
The Commissioner furnishes the following comparative
statement OF the work done by the Special Service Dys
ion of the Department under the old organization during
the three months ending June 80, 1879 and under Tie
reorganization during the three months ending sept 80
1875 Number OF names dropped from tie rolls during
April May, and June, 1875, &c; number OF claims re-
eCtCd during the months, oJi nuinner q! nd'H
dropped from the rolls during July, August and sep
tember 1875. So number Of caims rejected, 80. One
hundred and itynne additional eases were investigated
during July, August and September which have not yet
been finally acted upon On Aug. l, the Commissioner
SAYS the force Of agents in the field reduced from
2i to H. and very few details have since been made
Another and somewhat different version Of this matter
ia given out in support OF the criticisms on this new
Secret Service Division and in defense Of Acting oecre
tary Cowens order n regard to It, II is said that prior
TO the reorganization July last the cost OF the division
instead OF 5000 reported by the Comnissoncr WAS
as foows One Chief Of Division 81 500; one clerk at
81 GOO three clerks y 200 oac 50 GO0 copy!st,
5000; one messenger $50; total S37I0 No extra pay
was allowed 10 the clerks for the adHous" duties per
formed by Them although it is said that they did all that
now done, and in addition were required TO examine
the evidence, and pass upor the merits OF the re-
ports Of tho agents and their effect upon the claims
before them; and the Division held responsible for
its action like other adudcang divisions in the Office
Under the Reorganization the duties Of the Special
Service Division have been limited TO the simple routine
OF transmitting the agents in the field the cases 10 be
Investigated making proper record OF the same and re-
turning such the audcatng divisions when the
report Of the agent has been received. The ability to
make an accurate record all that is required for the
proper performance of this duty and yet there are now
employed in this division, according TO official cures:
C. f. Baldwin, Chief OF Division, at salary OF ~ 800
and 81 per day extra, $780, one clerk AT 81 GOO and
So go $50; two clerks at 81 200 eac extra when away,
$2400 and one messenger at $40, making total oi
s. $50.
These gentlemen it is said at the Department arc not
special agents. They simply clerks, performing
clerical duty tie Office, for which they entitled 10
the legal salary Of their grade, and no and any
payment allowance beyond this is msappropriation
Of public funds, for which one should be he'd re-
spOnsible The only law authorizing payment of special
agents ia found in the Revised Statutes Section 4,74i
which reads ~ follows:
The Commissioner Of Pensions is authorized 10 detail
from time time clerks in hs office to investigate sls
pected attempts at fraud on the Government through
and by virtue of the provisions of the Pension law AID
to aid in prosecuting any person 80 offending, wit sucn
additional compensation Is customary III cases OF
special service Auy person detailed shall have the
power to administer Oaths and take aidaVits in the
course OF any such investigation.
in view OF all the facts, it may well be doubted by
high Department officials whether the Government is
likely suer from the actual known transactions
Of these gentlemen from The merely suspected at
teapts ut fraud" which they authorized to inyes
gate.