The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-05
GRATEFUL BENEFICENUE
Veterans Crowd Upon Mr.. Ensley for
Pensions, the Just DesertOf Sacrifice.
Anxious About the Reports Of Reducing the
Roll. the Pensioners Find 1t Untrue-Sto-
nv of the Widow Brides Pension.

The United States pension Office was as
busy as bee hive yesterday. At 6 o'clock
in the morning the doors were thrown
open to the thousands who will in the next
five days receive the quarterly instsllment
of pension money. The number OF callers
was unusually large. due doubtless to the
circulated reports within tho past few
days that many suspensions might be
looked for, and Pension Agent Ensley was
importuned numberless times by anxious
veterans who desired to know the truth OF
the gloomy rumors. But one name among
all the thousands had been dropped. Dnr-
ing the paying hours yesterday over three
thousand vouchers were executed over the
counters aud checks drawn for the varl-
GUS amounts.
From GA NJ until noon the Office was
thropged and jammed with varied class
eran was sbambling about by the aid of
his stick. thankfully accepting the stipend
that perhaps will support him until next
draw day" and carefully pfnning the
check rendered him inside his worn and
frayed pocket. He turns from the counter
and goes his way. not timidly or hesita-
tingly, for he has not been the recipient OF
aims. He fought for this pension and looks
the world in the face with conscious
pride that he has earned his salary. Then
there Is the soldiers widow of declining
years. who steps to the counter with q
tremulOus feeling that perhaps her name Is
not on the list this time. But 1T is there
again. and two or three rosy checked
daughters step forward and testify that
mother has never married again. This Is
satisfactory, and ont comes the rusty old
purse and the check is handed over by
the dspper little clerk. The sol
dier's widow and her fatherless witnesses
withdraw, jealousy guarding the sole sus-
tenance until 1t is safely converted into
cash. Many amusing and peculiar incl
dents are OK perienced by the pension clerk,
and AN unusual circumstances occurred yes
terday. IN which psnsloner had too long
been harassed by the law prohibiting q
soldiers widow from drawing her allow
ance after she has taken another husband.
A few minutes before ii o'clock woman. q
resident of this city, stepped hurr1edly to
she counter and rendered her voucher.
She was apparently in much haste and be-
fore the clerk could prepare her check dis
appeared. Shortly a gentleman came In and
stated that Mrs. =. had deputized him TO
get her check.
But we can't do that" said tho clerk;
"this check must be delivered into the
hands of the lady by US or sent to her by
mail"
"You can't find her by mail" insisted
Mrs. BIS deputy. ''she gets married at noon
To-Day ana Will le8Ne tue CITY.
I'VE can't help that; we will send her
the check under the old name." replied the
clerk.
The lady had evidently refrained from
seeking her hearts desire until she had re-
ceived her pension and had postponed the
engagement until an hour after the voucher
was honored.
There are now 7O.O15 pensioners on
the books of the Indianapolis Office the
great bulk of which will be paid
through the mails. The mail was very
large yesterday, but will commence in
earnest this morning, and the first Install
ment upon which the clerks will go to
work to-day Mr.. Ensley estimates will
weigh at least twelve hundred
pounds. The paper on which
checks are drawn Is of the
lightest quality, but so enormous has the
business grown at this point that over
three hundred pounds of checks will be
drawn up and sent out during the week.
1t required thirty-twO clerks to transact
the business of the Office yesterday, and
several more assistants will be put to work
this morning.
The amounts paid out yesterday. as fur
nished by Agent Ensley. were as follows
Number of persons ut the counter, $685.:
amount paid, Sis. 1860; number of vouch-
ers received by mail. $500; amount paid.
S204. DOC. so; total number of applicants, g.
500; total amount paid. $780,, 206.50.