Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-12-20
VOL. Xxx.
4 Word to the Pensioners.

The annual Report of the Commits
sioner of Pensions for the year ending
June 30th, 1877, is out, and contains
some things of especial interest to pen
sioners. From this report it appears
that the general executive order of last
May consolidating the ffty-eight pen
sion officers, then existing, into eighteen
has resulted in saving to the govern
ment Of $4,000 per annum. Had
this not resulted in any expense to pen
sioners, as was claimed by Secretary
Schurz and as is claimed by Commits
sioner Bentley, the consolidation would
have been wise but the facts are that
while the government is the gamer to the
extent of $4,000, pensioners are losers
to the amount of, at least, $4,000. In
formation from reliable and indisputable
sources shows that the discontinued off
GERS paid on an average 750 pensioners
each, personally, or 80, 900 in all. These
pensioners paid no fee for magistrate's
certificates or exchange OH drafts they
now pay fifty cents-twenty-tive cents
exchange and twenty-five cents for atfi-
davits, quarterly. or two dollars
each per annum. Here then is q tax
pat upon 10000 pensioners amounting
to $4,000 per annum III order that the
government may save in the service o.
the department $4,000. If the ad
mInlstration has only the government
interests in view, and that only in pc
cuniary sense, then this consolidation
was wise but if the pension bureau is
run in the interest of, and to do justice
to, the armless and legless soldiers, then
the consolidation was both unwise and
unjust.
Again It appears from this report that
the names of 232, 1O4 pensioners are
now upon the rolls Of the department
The eighteen agents now doing the work
draw from the government twenty-five
cents upon each voucher made out, and
four vouchers are made for each pen
sioner during the year hence the gov
ernment pays these eighteen agents fol
making out these vouchers $232, ,104 pei
annum. In addition to this sam these
eighteen agents are paid salaries ag
gregating $4,000 This added to the
3232 104, rs above, makes the tota
amount paid these eighteen agents
1901, 104, or SIC, ,S9466 each
Now if the government, instead ol
continuing this unwieldy and expensive
system, would establish instead BOO
agencies and fix the total salary of each
agent at 81 ,000 it would then pay fol
this service $500, ,00O-a less sum than
It now pays-and it would then enable
at least 10000 pensioners to draw
their pensions in person and get then
pension checks cashed where they
live, thus saving them an expense
Of s.. each per annum, or $780,
600 i'll all Such system would
in addition to saving 100000 to pen
SioncrS, enable all to get their pay
promptly. where they new wait the
slow course of the mails sometimes fol
weeks. This would also supply gooC
employment to 800 one legged and ONT
armed soldiers, who are not able t(
perform manual labor, but who coulC
and would, gladly fill those positions a:
pension agents; and the salary of 81, 900
together with the pensions these manned
veterans now receive, would give then
and their families comfortabl,
home and comfortable living
Thus the government could with
out additional expense to itsel
save to pensioners not less THAI
100000 per annum--in the cost Of ex
change or drafts and for afidavits-
enable nearly all its pensioners to ge
their quarterly payments the day the,
are due, distribute the present princel,
and extravagant salaries of agent
among 800 competent and worthy arm
less and legless veterans and become
in fact far more nearly, than it now is
the guardian and protector of the ten
of thousands who were rendered nelp
less and manned for live in its service
Under the present system of eighteel
agents, few pensioners, comparatively
are situated near enough to an agenc.
to draw their pensions in person. Nine
" per cent of them have to so befor
court commissioner or magistrat
pay 25 cents for a signature to vouch
er await the regular course of the mail
for draft-not to mention postage
and when the draft is received pa
another % cents exchange. This fou
times year, while the government
at present pays enough in salaries anc
fees to eighteen agents to sufficIentl
compensate 800 agents which woul
place an agent within reach of nearl
every pansloner
SThe Bark is in Him.
Mo,,y yno,,S aOO an arnIlSiDo LITTLE IN