New-York tribune., 1876-02-28
TIE PAYMENT OF PENSIONS.

THE PAYMENT OF PENSIONS.
TALKED-0F PLANS FOR SAVING Monty IN THIS
BRANCH OF THE sERvICE-PAYMEST BY CHECKS
-TRANsFER OF THE BURRAUs-vIEws OF SEC
RErARY BRIsrow, CHANDLER, AND BELKNAP.
lFROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The proposition to
transfer the business Of the Pension Bureau from the In
terror Department to the War Department, nd pay
pensions by means OF checks sued by the Treasurer OF
the United States has been engaging the attention OF the
Senate Committee on Reorganization Of the Departments
since ts appointment a the extra session OF the Senate
last Spring. Mr. Brstow responded to letter from
Senator Outwen, Chairman OF the Committee suggest
ing the payment of pensions by Of checks last
December in letter suggesting plan of which the fol
lowing are the details:
First: The Treasurer of the United States TO be dc
clared by law the only dsbursng agent fr pensons.
to certify to him list oi pensioners with full informa-
Second The seere ary OF the Interior 10 be required
Third: Te Treasurer OF The United State to have au-
thOry upon concurrence OF the secretary OF the Treas
ury 10 designate number of clerks, not 10 ed ,
who shall be authorized to sign all checks issued for pen
siOns
Fourth: Every check 10 be made payable within three
months from its issue, this Limitation as well as the
offices where payable to be printed on each check
Fh: Any check not presented for payment within the
time mentioned TO BE- paid only al the office OF tne Treas
urer OF the united STATES at Washingoh but he should
be authorized to issue in Its place another check of like
import, under such regulations 10 its issue and pay
ment the secretary OF the Treasury shall prescribe
S,rth The Treasurer 70 render at the close OF each
quarter, the Third A. dtOr account with vouchers.
Seoenh Provision 10 be made for the additional cleri-
cal force which will be required.
BY paying pensions In this manner the risk OF losses
account OF defaulting agents viii be avoided ana t
the samo time the expenses oi paying pensions can prob
100000 per annu Experience shows thai checks pay
able ut the cities oposed can be gotiacd at al times
and IN any part OF tie country without much, II any,
trouble or expense To the holders n as to time and
place of pa ment will be necessary, in order that duIli
cate checks may with safety be issued
Secretary Chandler, Ia ply 10 the suggestion that the
Pension Rureau might be transferred to the War part-
men writes TO Senator Boutwell, that in his opinion the
same considerations OF public policy which operat IN
bring about the transfer OF jurisdiction in 1919 would
apply his Judgment with equal force at the present
time He dues not understand that tho administration Of
the pension aws has he unsatisfactory 10 the people at
large and says that unless they can be administered
economically with greater advana TO pension
and claimants by the War Department the Proposed
transfer docs not appear t0 him advisable.
In regard 90 the argument advanced in favor ~ the
change based upon the fact that the records OF service
upon whlc the adjudication OF many claims depends, are
file in the War Department, and that by the transfer
great amount OF correspondent would oe saved secr-
tary Chandler says that II would have force all such
records file the War Oce but such Is not the
Certain records to be found at the second Auditors
Office others at che third Auditors Office and Others st
at fourth Auditors Office, that the transfer would
not ohviae the necessity OF correspondence with bureaus
OF the Treasury Department and the biance of SAVING
clerical labor that mlht result would be too small in
his opinion to justify revolution.
Secretary Chandler does not favor the proposed pay
Of pensions by Of checks sent through the
mails 10 the pensioners pOsJce ad res AMI says that
from the peculiar nature OF pension plynrnts they
could not be made IN the manuer proposed witLout III
volving much loss To the Government and unnecessary
trouble Pension payments are frequently varied IN
amount by contingencies that arise, and which cannot b.
eas ly forcseen by the Government In many pen
siones during the quarter. entire cessation Of
dis .biy occurs; widow pensioners remarry abandon
minor children; minor children die, or attain tine OF
years Such contingencies the Secretary thinks could
be provided against Ter the proposed plan, aud
while II might work more economically at FL than tie
psent 1t would I'm all probability prove more sX-
pcnsive in the end II has been proposed 10 dispense
with the biennial examination Of inv hid pensioners
provided by existing law. but Secreiary Chandler Ia OF
opinion that the cost OF examinations ts mdfc than
saved by reduction in the amount Of pensions caused
by them
The Secretary Of War; I'm giving ms opinion on the
same subject incOses letter from the AGlutantG Gen
eral, bureau the transfer would naturally ~
The Adjutant says that tho change would re-
quire two additional officers and an additional
force clers and messeugrs siRce the present fore"
could not undertake any additional branch Of duties
The difficult question 10 solve, he says is that G
payment to pensioners, and he mentions several obiec
Ona the present system, a. the sane time suggesting
two substute-. Tnc first Ia To charge postmastcrs with
the payment. After fully considering this proposuOh'
lac the cOnclne on that the pdn IL open 10 very
serious objections The economical, simple, and
efficient mode Of payment would by army aymaster-
The appointment Of a few more officers ID this corps
would be required but this, he thinss, would he better
than other disbursing officers 10 mix up their
duties with these, ana thus tO perform nethcr prop
ery. The country shond for this purpose be divided
into districts. paymaster could be stationed II
central point within district and would be IN cor
respond-nce with all pen iouers who lived within bis
district giving them information, furnishing them blanks
showing them how To prepare claims and enabling them
to dispense with irresponsible clam agents altogether.
Tho paymastcis could also personally investigate doubt
full claims aud with the aid Of detectives could discover
frauds and remedy them short time The payinase-s
would visit sections of their districts at stated
times for making payneno and mt those times the
sioncrs could meet him. Secretary Belknap adds:
"In my opinion. based upon the knOwecdge OF Tho
fact thai the records OF the Medical Depar nent under
the AdutantGeneaPs otice furnish all OF the Required
evidence Inch form baris upon which pension claims
allowed aud that large fore those otices Is eli
gagged matter pertaining to thc settlement of pcI-
al nr, the transfer would simply the labor Ic-
CURED to apply the pension laws to those who cnt
Tied to receive the bounty Of the Government would be
far more economical"
CONTINENTAL OFFICERS PAY