The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-06
Important to Pensioners.

L. L. Whitford, pension agent, writes as fol-
lows in the Concord IN. H. Monitor The
proposition for the abolition OF the different
pension agencies, and the payment OF all pen
sions from the United States treasury, appears
to be under serious consideration by the inva-
lid pension and appropriation committee OF the
house OF representatives at Washington. The
honorable commissioner of pensions, as having
the best information regarding the matter at
his command, has been called upon to state his
views relative to the proposed plan, and in
letter of considerable length shows the work.
ings of the present method of making pay
ments at the several agencies, which appears
to be satisfactory In every respect to the bene-
ficiaries of the government 10 1877 the num-
Der OF agencies for paying pensions was reduced
which the system of payments has become 80
perfected that more than eighty per cent OF the
entire roll Of pensioners are paid within the
first ten days after the payment becomes due
in each quarter. At this agency. of the 1882
payments during the month OF December last,
more than four.fifths of the number were paid
in the first five days, as follows: December
4th, 534; December 9th, 2 $50; December 9th,
2,419 December 7th, 2,078; December 9Th, 800
From the statements made by the honorable
commissioner, which 1t is unnecessary to give
at length in this communication, 1t appears to
be shown conclusively that the proposed change
would be not only to the great inconvenience
OF pensioners by causing great delay in pay
ments, but that the actual cost to the govern
ment OF making the disbursements, which is
now, including postage on checks and vouch-
ers to pensioners less than one-half OF one per
cent, would be considerably increased. The
government is now secured against loss by
bonds Of the agents, aggregating upwards of
two million dollars, which must necessarily be
dispensed with under payments from bureau
Of the treasury department at Washington
The comparative cost of the disbursements to
pensioners is illustrated by that OF disburse-
ments to the army, which, during the last year
was, approximately stated, from two and
one-half to three per cent And even II 1t could
be shown that 1t were possible to reduce the
cost OF disbursement, the interests OF the hun
dreds of thousands OF pensioners should be
considered, and they have an undoubted right
to be heard in the matter by congress- by pro-
test petition, or otherwise. For this reason,
and in the interest of upwards OF ten thousand
pensioners on the roll of this agency, venture
to suggest that, in some way, you call atten-
ton to the present situation relative to the pro-
posed change, and assure all pensioners who
may be sufficiently interested that II they will
indicate their preferences In regard to the
change, whether for or against it, by transmit
ting to this agency any letters, petitions, or
protests relative 10 the matter, the same will
be duly transmitted for presentation to con-
gress through the honorable commissioner OF
pensions 1t is further suggested that such
action in this matter as may be decided upon
by pensioners be taken at once, as the pension
appropriation BILL to which legislation of this
nature will be likely to be attached, will un.
doubtedly be among the first to be reported
from the committee"