The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-24
Washington Correspondence.
The Rash tor Ollce.-.PenSiOnS
nnd PenSlOnerS...Why so Many
Clerks were Discharged...OhiO
Politics.

The Rash tor Ollce.-.PenSiOnS
nnd PenSlOnerS...Hh so Many
Clerks were Discharged...OhiO
Politics.
WASHINGTON, May 90, 1877.
Correspondence Of tho IntelllUnssr;
This will be lively week at the White
House, il yesterdays rush Is to be taken
US a sample Of what Is to come. Owing
to the Presidents absence last week 10
New York, the viciAity OF the Executive
Mansion worclau almost funereal aspect,
but for the next few days things will be
at high tide.
Distinguished visitors are ushered into
the Presidents Office through the room OF
his Private Secretary, Col. Rogers, but
the great mass Of the callers present their
cards to the attendant at the main door
OF the office, and are received In q body
when the more prominent ones have de.
parted. Not less than one hundred per.
sous were yesterday awaiting their turn
in the hall at the main door, and when
the signal was given they swarmed in iu.
riously. The crowd was motley one,
and it was noticed that large proportion
was made up Of women and young girls,
who had lately lost their places in the
departments, and who now sought
Presidential aid TO secure their reinstate.
ment. One sad.faced woman, accompa.
MED by two young children and nearly
grown up daughter, was particularly no.
ticeable for her pitiAble manner and the
despairing way in which she begged to
be given employment. II any one de.
served recognition, doubtless she did.
One white haired gentleman with a
seedy look and q rather egotistical man.
ner sent in his card as Henry Schrieffer,
Duke OF E.penburg, Germany" We
didn't think the President was particu.
larry impressed with the Duke" Doubt.
less more consideration was bestowed
upon the Individual Who came next-an
old colored chap, armed with set Of
musly credentials which related ITO
whom It may concern that Uncle Abra.
ham Dufour had been bitten by three
different snakes, shot four times IN the
breast, legs and arms, and otherwise mu-
tilated, and therefore he wanted "a chance,
Massa Hayes, for to do some lightsweep.
in work around de buildin'."
Two Georgetown ladies we're present
who brought along darkey aged ITO,
who claimed the privilege Of shaking
hands with Mr.. Hayes, as he had done
with every President since Washington.
And 50 on through the chapter. Il was
a curious throng. differing however, only
in excessive numbers from the crowd that
daily seek to see the President.
PENSION AGENCIES.
Many protests are received here from
DAY to day in opposition TO the plan OF
consolidating agencies. many OF which
seem to be written by persons who do not
understand the workings oil either the
old or new plan. No inconTenicncies or
hardships will be experienced under the
reduction OF the number OF agencies
the only persons to be incommoded are
the agents who will be thus legislatcd
out OF 81 800 Offices. Senator Blaine is
now here, it is understood, with view TO
prevent two Of his friends in Maine from
being onsted in this way from two fat
offices; but the Fat has gone forth and
there will be only one agency hereafter
in the Pine Tree State in lieu OF three as
there has heretofore been.
As the Law now stands, each pensioner
is paid by the check Of the agent drawn
on some government depository, and sent
to him by mail or handed to him il he
chooses to call at the agency in person.
AT each payment he gives a receipt and
proves his identity by his own affidavit
and oaths of two Witnesses. II thewitnesses
go 10 the agency the oath costs nothing,
otherwise it costs % cents. Ohio and
Illinois, Of all States west Of New York
and Pennsylvania, give the best opportu.
nifty for pensioners to apply in person,
and yet only. twelve per cent apply in
person; In Indiana, only five per cent,
Under the consolidation Of agcrcies nine.
ty-fve per cent Of pensioners wall receive
their pay through the mail as hereto.
fore. The agencies Of the great cities oil
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Pitts.
burgh, Washington, Detroit, Milwaukee,
Louisville and St. Louis are left, and
these make no more personal payments
than the other iOrty.seyeu agencies all to.
gether.
One great evil Of the old system is The
issue oil many checks upon some local
national bank, for the collection OF which
the pensioner often has to pay from a
quarter 10 a half dollar; under the new
plan, by making all the checks on the
principal cities, this collection fee will be
saved to the soldiers. The pensioners
when they understand the plan, will like
1t. OF course the agents and their friends
who thus lose their S4,5O0 salaries will
think the consolidation plan a humbug
The government will save $3.50, 900 year
by the consolidation, which is an item mol
to be despised in these hard times. The
Secretary Of the Interior is anxious to
have the new plan understood, and sc
many are interested in the change that il
becomes matter Of widespread import
aHce.
NOT THE REAL REASON.
Large reductions in the forces in the
various departments are being made
from time to time, and many papers give
as the reason therefore the statement thai
more persons have been employed here
tofofe than were necessary to do the
work, aud that under the new admins
tration OF the departments these super
iuous employees were being dismissed
This ia q great error, and does former
Cabinet officers an injustice.
The truth is there we're not Too mani
clerks employed heretofore at all, nor are
upeaaous ones being discharged. These
discharges are made simply because the
last Democratic Congress, in its picayune
and senless attempt at economy, refused
to appropriate the money absolutely
necessary 10 carry on the departments
and having no funds, heclerks cannot be
paid. There is not q bureau where there
ls sufficient help to do the work properly
AZ Ia hakfaA