New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05
VETERANS ANXIOUS FOR THEIR PAP.
BEsEIGING THE PENSION OFFICE ALL NIGHT
SCENES IN THE EARLY MORNING.

BEsEIGING THE PENSION OFFICE ALL NIGHT
SCENES IN THE EARLY MoRNIsG.
1t was a pretty cold day that dawned yesterday on
couple Of hundred United States pensioners. who could
not get their nvincibe habit OF sitting on the steps
OF the Pension Office In Canas the greater part OF the
previous night waiting for the door open for quarterly
pension payments Yesterday at a. when the De-
cember payments began there were at least 600 worn
and battered relatives Of veterans equally
battered and lined up along the south side OF
Canas between Laght and vesry sts the head Of the
column surging back and forth mpaently against the
Pension Office doors Not that there any need to
stand out in the bitter cold and stamp ones feet
and wait for the officer to open. Ike
theatre ticket booth. where the last
corners are sure 10 get standing room only
Pensions yesterday may be collected on any day OF
the month, but whether the old pensioners think tne
Treasury is like an ordinary savings bank OF no esap
beeee sed to this early morning vigil and pride
now. like the NewYork medical students in getting IN
first there is a welldeveloped sentiment amongst them
that the who does not line up aud make break Tor
door with the rest deserves TO be cut of on half pay
Il was nOtceably manned and armless crowd OF vet
that swarmed about the offices of the Pension Build
ing The men were chiefly soldiers of the Civil War but
most OF them were broken and aged with pvation and
illhealth. few grayhaired and totterng veterans
dated back to the Mexican War, but none appeared
who could show from the War OF ISL
mefe anu ihis ns S ana RardoInh hale bIusterine
fellows with flushed cheeks and fiery red few
stood about shyly. widows apparently In sadly
shabby clothing. with thick wells drawn over their faces
and nephews who could look uncOncerned and jest with
one another about scars and wounds
Testing and wranging beating ones chest and stamp
ing the feet the only things in fact that the pa
tent holders OF pensions could do 70 keep away the cold
There were many frosted toes and sthened fingers when
the doors ened last about five minutes after o.
by the big German janitOr He boldly blocked the rush
line street and held part OF 1t at bay at least
with success Each applicant was required TO show
yellow ticket or pension paper before ne could gei
through Finally the German relented ana
everybody that had place on the steps was let IN to the
weu-warned hall and Offices The payingcerk room Is
big square the first floor heated by huge iron
stoves and filled around the edges with OF benches
where the pensioners wait III the middle lot OF desks
are arranged circle clerk each. and the names
OF the applicants called of in order and checked in
biz book when his allowance Is paid once inside, where
it was warm least although the air got thick and
foul all the hurry Of the owd seemed to disappear The
old soldiers hudded together the benches and dozed
away until the payngcerk found IL necessary 10 wake
them again. The widows made their way upstairs and
we're paid off there.
Fully four hundred veterans were In the lower room
all the morning and the sitting atmosphere grew almost
uncomfortable According 10 one OF the clerks about one
thousand pensioners were paid yesterday MOST OF lhe
draw from $50 TO $3.50 quarterly.