The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-11
TREATING SOLDIERS WELL.
INDIANA AND THE PENSION ROLL.
Over ZOO New Claims Allowed From This
state Alone Under Democratic Admins
Misunderstanding About the Bust
ness of the Indianapolis Agency.


Iained such proficiency under Cox c. 4. ZoI-
hnger that il now stands at the head OF all the
agencies Of the country IN the matter Of rapid
payments. For some time Columbus, O, en-
loyed this distinction, and there was great
rivalry between the agencies of the Buckeye
and Hoosier states but ultimately Col. Zol-
b-eers clerical force, by close application and
thorough work, proved its superiority, and
now holds EndispU;ed possession OF first place.
The agency has coalnodi0us quarters. excel
ently fitted mp, in the Union block Mary
AMIDST. and rast amount Of important busl-
ness is there transacted. Thirteen clerks, with
Mr. Joseph l. Kelley as chief clerk, are en-
plOyetl i'm lie office, and the work they perform
requires very careful attention and accuracy, as
thousands Of dollars are distributed, and the
slightest mistake IN making payments would
DC detected. The matter or signing checks IS
IN itself IN ar,ldOaS task, rs Agent LOlhnger Is
compelled 10 write lis name at least 1860
~ a year, over 1900 times month il is
,he general nT rcSSIJu at the public that pen
sions are only uaid quarterly, but such is not
the case New pensions granted are paid
livery day; also. the increases. The increase
Eases D rot swell the number OF pensioners,
out the rate OF pension. The system OF this
agency i very perfect. Letters OF inquiry as
o pensions arc not pigcon-holcd, bur are
answered promptly and every effort possible is
nlale by the agent to see that pensioners are
isirIy aud speedily cared for.
There were the first day of April 7,37 pen
,iouers on the roll Of the indianapolis agency
This is an Increase OF over seven thousand dur
ing the democratic administration. and Is over
Hhemiug proof OF the lihcraiity cf the present
government toward soldiers. u IS not generally
known but nevertheless true, that Indiana, in
proportion 10 the number OF soldiers furnished
ny her for the war OF the rebellion, has a
greater number OF pensioners than any other
state in The uniun- II Is a fact that offers ma
4 al slnrH4a
he truest-exp!anation OF il is that Indiana
.oldiers were fighters Tl;cy were IN the thick
est OF the fray, and at the front constantly,
lhuy eXp0Siu@ themselves not only 20 death
5ealing bullets OF the enemy, but also 10 the
harti>ilips incident 10 actual warfare The
claims are, therefore of the most meritorious
character. as a rule, and receive prompt and
deserved attention at the hands OF the pension
bureau.
Speaking OF the increase in the nuInber.of
pensioners, tlr Ed L. Thompson, who IS aSsO-
slated with Cen. kHeficr, cx-pension agent, in
Inc claim business, said 10 n SENTINEL
porter: Within the last icW years old soldiers
IRE taking "A more sensible view Of this matter
Of pensions. Formerly only those who were
actually IN need applied for pensions, while
sfheTs who We're wounded or contracted disease
curing the war were too proud TO accept
money from the government. They thought it
Eoud place them in the attitude of objects of
sharity when, on the contrary, IL would simply
be receiving that which was honestly due
ssem. Now they are accepting the money as
he payment OF q debt long deferred. Then
The appointing of examining boards in the
various counties aids old soldiers greatly in
occurring pensions. Their work of proving
their claims is comparatively easy since the
natter Of securing pensions has been smplihed
AID reduced 10 a system. Mr.. Thompson
hOught that the Indiana soldier had been par
lcularly fortunate.
In 1887 S6.6sj, 6.13 was paid ont by the In
5lanapoils pension aSency-an average OF over
5j7,600 per month. In January, February
md March, 1SSS, 81 ,674 As. - was paid-anaver-
age of over S55s, 90 per month. The disburse-
nents by months were as follows:
January ...s POI 7o3 o, September 49,. 800 IS
s:e6rqary 20 20 rs n, q October 2g.,.l2 81
apriL- S95'5!s 46 December -, 2i7,39s p
Nav ..........-... 27l, 16S Is lSSs.
Iane Isl 80 o. Ian,ary... IL ISL !5
August 255977 l. Mareh--....... 13i7,55j %
Average increase to roll per month on account
Of pensions granted Tor lS57....-......... 40
Average loss % roll per month on account OF
AVerare inersass to rolI her n,oiij, ~, ocronoi
new pensions granted Jan. Feb and Mar, lSSs $50
Average iOss t" roll per month FOR Jan, Feb
and Mar. i>sS account Of deaths ETC. lis
Average nuHher OF certificates is'Ged per mouth,
Increasing rates OF pensions Tor lsoI........ $40
Average number 0f certificates issued per month,
decreasing rates o. pension, for Jan, Feb and
shaf. tn1t 69J
The work OF the pension bureau at Washing
ngtau i now done with such system and intel
isencs that ulore tlian double the business of
former years Is disposed OF without any in
crease of force. This accounts for the promp-
sesS with which neriioriOus claims are allowed.
In Is entitled to 4 pension is sure to
get 10 wiihnHt unnecessary delay. Every APP
DIcatiou takes IT. turn, aud no amount oil p0-
itica influence can advance il out OF the regIl-
ar oTter. Where absolute distress exists
lain Is So marked by the proper official and
tertihr'l to- and u Is given preference. but in
ordinary eases every application goes through
me regular routine.
The following Is a synopsis Of the report Of
the recs,F'! division ~ Washington for the mouth
oi February, lssS, compared with the CORE
spending month IN 1851:
Original applicatious tla,e var filed e.2s9 $I7i
Applications loT increase Gate ~arl
HE'D .....-...... lj,0j1 bll9
Original applications tMeyicaa VAR
recorded. act Of Jan. ~, iSs5..-. $40 .........
Admitted csis,s t8iexicsta VAR re-
corded act ~ Ian. -. ISL. ,12t .......
Rejected eases tNexic3n war record
Ell, % Jan. -. iSss..-...-...... ia ........
Sum Der clerks employ Ell -..-...-.----.--. 81 IS
Actual working f0rcc......-......-...-. 4s1z 51I2
The foregoing shows an increase during the
month of February, 1855. over the CORES pond
ne month OF $50 0f 3HlS original applications
late war; aud 6,3i3 applications for increase
Of pensions-a total increase OF 94lI applica-
lions.
Since 1885 the classes Of work performed In
the record division have been greatly increased.
Besides that shown above, there were 4, 123
yards written touring the monthly for the army
and navy survey division. These give the NUM-
Der OF claim, claimants name. service ami post
nlIice address also enlistment and discharge.
On Jfny ], 1887. the work OF issuing certificates
Of disability etc, transferred 10 the
record division. During the month OF Feb
quarry there were 3s2 certificates OF disability,
two certificates 81 survey, one certificate of
Heath ard thirty-sevca certificates of removal
- charges 81 deseTtiOn issued TO cllins. The
sbolisIling 81 the miscellaneous division has
also thFsvn vast amount o. extra work on
lhisdisiSioh None of this wOTs1 vas performed
81 this division IN $50. During the month OF
February last the number OF Original appli-
cations fled from four leading states was IS
follows: Ohio ,l34. Indiana SO2: Illinois, 544
New York, 49,. The facts and figures here
given were obtained from The Hon. &. Il.
Faulkner, chief OF Tire record division OF the
pension bureau.
KeeIy and His Motor.
PHILADELPHIA, April I'm pursuance Of
thc decision rendered las: Saturday by Judge
Finlettcr in the court Of common pleas in the
sqaity proceedings against Inventor John ".
Kecly, a formal order was made to-day direct
ing thas Bennett wilson, the plaintiff his attOr-
ney add four gentlemen named as experts, shall
make n full and detailed inspection OF the
Keeiy motor, It's mole of construction and
prin pie of operation within thirty days from
to-day. The four mcE named as experts are
DR. Charles N. CTeSscn, nalytical chemist OF
the city and STATE boards OF health; Thomas
oh, nf