The Indianapolis journal., 1896-03-27
PENSIONS BY CHECKS
AGENT SPENCER RECEIVES A LET
TER FROM WASHINGTON.
Probable Eject Of the New Law In
This Cfty-Notary
Fees.

Pension Agent Spencer received a COM
munication from the Commissioner OF Pen
sions yesterday calling his attention to the
fact that the clause OF the pension law
which authorizes pension agents to deliver
checks to pensioners in person has been re-
pealed, and that hereafter all checks must
be forwarded by mail. The law goes into
immediate effect and will govern the next
quarterly payment, which is to be made
May 4. Circulars will be forwarded al once
to the local pensioners. directing them to
bring their certificates to the pension Office.
where vouchers for the May payment will
be placed in their hands. No voucher will
be delivered unless the pension certificate
is presented. This precaution is taken to
insure the delivery of vouchers to the
proper persons. Mr.. Spencer is away from
town on a two weeks leave of absence.
Chief Clerk Reilley says that the new ar
rangement win have but little perceptible
effect on the work OF the local
pension clerks. and will make but
little difference in the time con-
sumed in the quarterly payment. Local
pensioners will be expected to go before a
gnotary, other authorized officer. with
their witnesses and have the vouchers prop
erly filled. If the vouchers are placed in
the mails early in the day, Indianapolis
checks will go out over the city on the after
noon delivery. Pensioners who are slow
have to wait two or three days before re-
ceiving their checks, as each voucher from
the city viii be taken up in the order in
which 1t Is received, as has been done here
tofore with vouchers received from other
towns. 1t is unlawful for any pensioner to
sign his voucher prior to the day for pay
ment For this reason, in the past, outside
vouchers have not been touched until after
noon on the the first day for payment.
the morning having been devoted to the
disposal of checks OF pensioners who have
5000 checks have been delivered over the
counter before noon on the first pay day.
Some fear is entertained that pensioners
will not understand the new arrangement,
and will call at the pension Office with their
vouchers instead of sending them by mail.
1t is desired that they be mailed or left
with the notaries, who can carry vouchers
to the pension Office in patches, as the pay
ment will be expedited by such an arrange
ment. After the next payment, certificate
holders will not be required to call at the
office, as the vouchers for the following
payment will accompany the checks.
Local pensioners will have the expense Of
paying notary fees. Some apprehension is
felt lest the notaries will undertake TO col
lect more than the legal fee, 10 cents for
each affidavit, or 80 cents on each voucher
that is signed and sworn to by the pen
sioner and two. witnesses. Sometimes IS
cents is charged on certificates signed by
the pensioner and his witnesses, % cents for
each. The understanding is that the SOL
diers' protective associations will watch
this new feature of the arrangement and
see that exorbitant fees are not collected
When II is considered that there are some
5000 pension checks to be paid in this city
1t will be seen that an overcharge of 40 on
each voucher would aggregate 81, 200 loss
to the pensioners of Indianapolis alone. The
county clerk and his deputies have author
ity to administer oaths, and 1t is probable
that great many pensioners will go to
the clerks Office, where they will not be
charged more than the legal fee. Hereto
fore pensioners have been saved the ex-
pense Of notary fees when they called at the
pension office. The law prohibits pension
clerks from exacting fees for taking affi-
davits.
1t Is anticipated that some confusion will
occur under the new arrangement. as 1t is
probable that some mistakes Will be made
in filling vouchers, Notwithstanding the
their execution. The failure of a notary to
attach his seal. or to fill in the full post
Office address Of the pensioner. would rem
der the voucher defective. IL would then
have to be returned to the Densioner for
correction. After the first payment is made,
but attle trouble is expected. The order
pensioners throughout the State at large
who have not been in the habit of coming
here on pay day, as they now understand
thoroughly what is required of them.
No change will be made by the new order
in the working force of the pension Office.
Every clerk will be retained, as the new
order will have tendency to increase
rather than diminish the amount OF work
necessary.
Following is a copy of the circular letter
that will be mailed to-day to all pensioners
in the State:
1--WE are advised by the honorable Com
missioner of Pensions, Washington. d:
c.. that by an act Of Congress approved
March %. 1886, Sec. 47S4. r. S. u. s., has
been repealed. This section Is as follows:
Sec. 47S4: Agents for the payment OF
pensions, and any clerks appointed by them
and designated in writing for that purpose,
which designation shall be returned to and
filed in the office of the Commissioner OF
Pensions. are required. without any fee
therefor, to take and certify the affidavts
OF all pensioners and their witnesses who
may personally appear before them for that
purpose. in which case the check for the
given direct TO the hands Of the party en-
titled thereto, if desired. and not mailed to
his address, as required by section forty
seven hundred and sixty-f1ve.'
',rhe act repeating said section abolished
personal payments of every character. and re-
vokes the authority of pension agents and OF
clerks designated by them for the purpose
TO administer oaths in the execution of any
pension vouchers, either at the agency OF
elsewhere.
.It is operative Immediately. and will be
Under Under any NY circumstance, s be Delivered Of
forwarded to a pensioner except by mail
.'All pensioners who have heretofore re-
ceved their pay at this office will please
the May, 1896 payment. Bring your certif-
cate with YOU"
Pensioners living at other places will not
son, but may forward them by mail. They
will be returned with vouchers inclosed.