The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-20
HE HANDLED MILLIONS
Not a Cent Out of Balance Were
Pension Agent Ensley's Books.
u. Van Buren, Spencer Takes Charge of
the Big Agency-A Democratic
Papers Comment.

49, RSA---C-@ 49, 2@
hands yesterday. Martin Var Buren Spen-
Ger, Of Fort Wayne, succeeding Capt. Mich
olas Ensley. who was appointed to the Of
flee by President Harrison in January, 1890.
The transfer was marked by brief mark
on the part Of the retiring agent and his
successor, the former saying TO the clerks
that his relations with them had always
been Of the p~leasantest character, and that
he regarded them as the most efficient
force the Office had even known. Mr.. Spen-
Ger, in his remarks, said that he realized
the responsibility of his rev position, and
told the clerks that changes in the force
would be made slowly, intimating. however,
that they must expect to be displaced by
Democrats sometime in the future. The
addresses occupied but a few minutes, after
which the Office work was resumed as
usual.
Joseph l.. Reilly succeeds Oliver P. Ems
ley as chief clerk, and his experience in
that position under Pension Agent Zol-
linger enabled him to take hold intelli-
gently. Charles Weber, of Fort Wayne,
who has been made a clerk in the Office,
and a young woman stenographer Of this
city also went to work yesterday. All, ex-
cepting one. Of the twenty-eight clerks are
Republicans, and most Of them will eventu-
oily nc ERALC( OS ~
The Indianapolis Democracy is somewhat
warm at Mr.. Spencer for not conceding
Marion county more than three appoint
ments. A number OF Franklin Democrats
called on Mr.. Spencer yesterday TO urge
the appointment of some johnson county
men 10 clerkships. AS the number Of appli-
cants is growing every day 1t looks as If the
new agent would arouse wrath on all sides
through his inability TO give all the counties
representation in his office. Despite his as
surance that Congressman to whom he is
under obligations are to name the APP
pointees IL Is evident that most of the latter
ate vicinity. This freezing out OF the Dem
ocratc applicants from other parts of the
tom and hn cnMH r. gpe a @raff IS pbeaipn dissat tn sS-
perience in advance some Of the cares of
even zen. a LIMITED patronage
Inc record or capt. NICHOLAS EnSley as
pension agent from Jan. q, 1890 TO March
~. 1894, Is one with which he and his friends
nave reason to be satisfied. During that
period he has disbursed SAG, 34l, S77. so. When
he left the office yesterday all OF his &C
counts balanced to a cent. All of his &C
counts are in the hands OF the Auditor of
the Treasury and not a single dollar so far
as passed upon has been in doubt or any
voucher in question. So far as heard from
there is no account to explain. To be able
to square such an account involving 1,131,-
24l different payments, Is a rare achieve
ment.
Wnen CdpJal Ensley entered the office
the list contained the names of 1905 pen
sioners made up of 1881 invalids, 1887 wild
ows without and 1910 widows with pension
mothers, AS dependent fathers, 10 invalids
of the war of 1872. 44 widows Of that war,
767 invali1s of the Mexican war and 319
the pension roll contained 1885 names as
follows: $3.50 invalids. IL nurses, 5.09S wild
ows without children, La widows with
pendent mothers, AS dependent fathers, 26
dependent sisters. Under the act of 1890:
16, $50 invalids, 1874 widows without children,
27s minors. IA dependent mothers, 2Si de,
pendent fathers, s helpless children; war
of 1872: POS widows; Mexican war: 67 sur
ivors. 34 widows; Indian wars: % surviv-
ors, 20 widowS-1. G6.
During Captain Ensley'S term he received
81. 217 new certificates, the estimates of the
money needed for the payment of which he
was required to make. During his term OF
service ne received 1,131, 241 vouchers which
weighed in the aggregate fifteen and a half
tons and he sent out through the mails the
same number OF pension certificates and
checks weighing eighteen and a quarter
tons. The number of vouchers increased
rapidly with each three months OF his adj
mfnistration, beginning with 5000 and get
ting UP to 1880 this last quarter. The
weight Of the vouchers for each quarter
ranged. on those received, from 1,451 to
2.O9I pounds. and on those sent out from
LBS to 2.452 pounds.
Third Auditor covered II, 161 immense sheets
of paper, weighing $50 pounds, or more
than a quarter of a ton. The sheets used
increased in number from 52S to 745, the
| latter being the number used In the abstract
/ for the last quarter. The weight increased
from 26A pounds to 3712 pounds. There
were seventeen Of these abstracts made
| during Captain Ensley's term
Other interesting statistics are as follows
Number of checks signed by Captain Ems
lev from Jan. 81, 1890, to March 10, 1894,
1,i451SS: weight Of checks, pa tons; weight
of checks and stubs, 319 tons; number OF
blank vouchers received from Washington,
1.S96. 900; weight of vouchers. nearly fifteen
| tons: number of official envelopes received
| from the department. ~1,2l5.OO0. weighing
| about S11 tons; letters received, 4S,OV, Weigh-
ing 665 pounds; letters answered, 5o,5U,
weighing 695 pounds.
Captain Ensley will remain in the city
| for a time-it is hoped for a long time. HIS
| son. oliver p. Ensley, who has been MS
fathers right-hand man in the office ano
who has efficiently carried out his fatners
J nlans. has returned TO his home In Albion,
Noble county. leaving troops OF friends
| here and among pensioners hundreds OF
men and women who will grate1uly refnefn-
her him for his kind deeds.