The evening times., 1896-09-05
Of the VETERANS
Payment Not Hindered by Re-
duction in Number of Clerks.
WORK AT THE LOCAL AGENCY
Early Receipt of the Vouchers Offset
the Short Force of BILE
Swinburrs Experience with His
Check ut the Treasury-GoId Not
Given Him.

In This city under the new law, which re-
quires the checks to be mailed to each IN
dividual ADDRESS instead OF by d;rectelivery
To the parties at the agency, was successful
ly accomplished yesterday notwithstanding
ing the reduction OF the clerical force.
Col. s. L. Wilson, the pension agent,
said today that every voucher received yes
terday was promptly paid, and with con-
siderably less friction than prevailed usual
ly under the old law.
lie attributes this result, however to the
promptness with which the pensioners filed
their vouchers.
when the office opened yesterday morn
ing," lie said, I'VE had 5000 vouchers on
hand, and the clerical force went right TO
work on them BY S O'Clock 300 more were
received. There was no Gro wd to deal with,
and the business was uninterrupted. We
did not have to listen TO appeals for per-
sonal preference, nor to the hume rous Qucs-
tions usual on such occasions when the
pensioners are here in pc rson."
THE NUMBER RECEIVED.
Col. Wilson said that before 10 O'Clock
an aggregate OF 3 ,0C0 vouchers were re-
ceived and by evening z ,000, which was
seveneighths of the total for the District
Had it not been for the large number Of
vouchers on hand at the opening of busi-
ness n the morning, Col. Wilson says, he
would not have been so successful in
promptly meeting the payments. The early
receipt of these served as an offset To the
reduction OF force.
He added, also, that every voucher re-
eeived at the agency today, up to p. m,
,.-En k.,, ,....A ,.g
at O'Clock.
There was an utter absence of confusion
yesterday, he said, and there was more
couIfort and less danger OF mistakes than
ever before. The sharks who make pension
day the occasion for bleeding the old sol
diers found their occupation gone, as there
was no crowd TO work upon.
The agent regards the change as In most
respects advantageous, notwithstanding it
taxes to the uttermost the capacity OF his
clerical force, and the beDefit resulting
TO the pensioners lie regards as incalcula-
bic
There are upon the rolls of the Washing
ton agency an aggregate of 80 900 pension
ers, 5000 OF whom reside in the District
The total expenditure through this agency
is 81 100000 per quarter, OF $40 00O, 900
annually.
THE AMOUNT PAID OUT.
The average payment made to those re-
siding here is $50, making an agreate ex-
penditure of about S4o0, 900 per quarter
This large average. the agent says. is due
to the presence IN Washington of SO many
who draw large special pensions voted BY
Congress.
Some OF these special pensions are at the
rate of 81 500 and 81, 900 per annum, ard
many are rated at Sl00 per month Tire
general average carried on the Washington
agency rolls is S33 per quarter.
The reduction in the agents clerical force
was by special order made by Pension Cofa-
missioner Murphy. Under the old law 4.
was the custom TO detail an extra force OF
CLERKS to assist the agency in meeting the
heavy demands upon each pension day, but
upon the passage of the law changing the
method of paymeat it was believed there
was no necessity for the detail, and. as a
test.it was not made for the September pay
ments.
A PENSIONERS CHECK
Constable william swinburn is an ex-
soldier. He is also pens!oner.
This morning Mr. Swinburn received a
check for S36; this being the amount due
him each three months. He carried the
check tnthe Treasury Department and asked
one OF Uncle Sans officials, who helps 10
pay out government funds. to give him
either United States greenbacks or gold
Mr. Swinourn explained thathc wanted to
send the money to Toronto, Canada, and
that there was o per cent discount On
our silver in that country. He could not
afford to lose $500.
The gentleman behind the screen informed
him that it was not possible to comply with.
his request. 1t was case OF silver or moth
ing.
Mr.. swinburn concluded not TO accept the
latter, at least temporarily. and carried his
check away. He isatraid. no wcver. thathe
cannot afford to fight the administration
and will probably allow Uncle Sans clerk
to give him some OF the pretty. new, mis-
spelled silver certificates. that make I'D in
beauty what they lack in commercial va,ue