The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-07
HIS JOB A BIG ONE
Mr.. Spencer, New Pension Agent,
Talks Frankly About His Office.
Marion County Will Get Two More PO-
sitions-Everything in Sight Prom
ised-COl. Ensley COmplimented.

Martin Van Buren, Spencer, the new pen
sion agent, came down from Fort Wayne
yesterday, and is at the Grand Hotel where
applicants for places to the number of sew
eral hundred kept him busy yesterday.
They were all doomed TO disappointment,
however, as Mr.. Spencer has promised ev-
cry place he has at his disposal. He says
frankly that the several congressman who
supported his claims for the position have
men whom they wish appointed, and he
is under promise to them to provide Tor
these men. Just who they are he does not
know, for he has not yet received the lists
from these Congressman. Marion county,
he says, will get just three appointments,
and Joe Reilly is one of these. Mr.. Reilly,
as has already been stated, will be Mr..
Spencer's chief clerk. How three, or rather
two, loaves can be made to feed a thousand
hungry mouths is problem, the solution
of which must be beyond the newly-ap-
pointed pension agent. He says that most
all of his appointments will be made from
the Fort Wayne district Concerning the
promises made TO certain Indianapolis APP
plicants by the late Colonel Zollinger, Mr..
Spencer says he knows nothing and that
he cannot recognize such promises and
should not be expected to do so.
Mr.. Spencer is a pleaSant-mannered man
OF elderly appearance, with ful gray
beard. He went through the pension office
yesterday under the guidance of Colonel
Ensley who showed him the books, alb
stracts, ETC., and explained the system in
general TO him. He paid Colonel Ensley and
the office force high compliment and said
the work was certainly being done in splen-
did shape. The responsibility OF the posi-
ton, he declared, he had never realized until
he got here. When he put in his application
for 1t he had no idea the office was as big
a thing it is From his talk, it is quite
evident that Mr. Spencer proposes TO go a
little slowly in making changes. lie re-
ferred to half a dozen or more men who had
been in the office for eight years and more,
having been appointed by Colonel ZOllinger.
if not all Of them. The clerks will be
broken in few at a. time and Mr.. Spencer
said that his Democratic friends must not
forget that his office was one OF great re-
sponsibility.
Where twelve millions of dollars are
paid out annually and the agent is under a
$4,000 bond he must move cautiously" Mr.;
Spencer remarked. "A few mistakes would
make quite a hole i'm a four-thOusand-dOlla
salary. The agent is, of course, held for
these mistakes and if made they are In
such shape as TO afford no means of collect
ing the money back If the clerks l APP
point do not fill the bill they must stand
aside and | will secure others who do.
Every appointment made is with the dis
tinct understanding that the appointee is
an excellent accountant, is sufficiently we'll
educated to meet the various requirements
OF the position and writes good land. Mr.;
Ensley certainly has a capable force and
the office is admirably run in every re-
spect."
The new agent will take possession Satur-
day, March IL. He desires Colonel Ensley
to complete the February abst1act before
retiring. This abstract is a work that Mr..
Spencer admired greatly, and to which he
referred one of much magnitude. 1t
shows the agent just where he stands, and
until it is completed he never knows whether
not he is short.