Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-05-01
MANY WANT PENSIONS.
Comptroller Generals Office Still Besiegct
For Application Blanks.

Comptroller Generals Office Still Besieged
For Application Blanks.
News and Courier.
One of the great Federal problems
is the pension question, and, little as
people may think, so it is one Of the
most important matters with which
the state government has to deal. 1t
may not be pleasant to say so, but the
state government has to be as cautious
as the national administration in weed
ing out the applications that ought not
to be granted. The people of an indi-
vidual state are somewhat like they are
in the entire country, and it would
be surprising to know how very many
old soldiers are eager to get to the
crib to get some of the states pension
money. 1t is sad fact that there are
many, far too many, old soldiers who
did gallant and noble service for their
state who are in actual need of help,
and who should be assisted by the
pension fund. The pensioners in this
state now run up into the thousands,
and the indications are that unless
there is some wedding done by the
county boards, the list this year will be
larger than ever.
Comptroller General Norton, in talk
ing about the pension matter today,
said that there was tremendous num-
ber of applications for blanks on which
to apply for pensions. He has already
sent regular supply to the auditors
of each of the counties, but the town.
ship boards are, in many instances,
sending in for further supplies The
blanks and instructions have been
made very comprehensive and COM
plete this year, and it is the hope OF
the comptroller general that there will
he no delay or complication in sending
in the reports.
Mr.. Norton, in the course Of the
conversation, said that he had just re-
ceived complaint from certain coun-
ty, in which it was alleged that man
who was receiving u pension had de-
serted. There was nothing for Mr..
Norton to do but TO send the letter to
the county board, and if that body
found the statements were correct the
name of the deserter would be drop
ped.
Sometime ago an old soldier went in
to the comptroller generals Office and
obtained the necessary blanks on
which to apply for pension in the
class where the soldier has lost limb,
which entities the pensioner to more
money than in any Of the other classes.
Sometime ago it was found that the
veteran did not lose his leg in the war,
as he claimed, but, on the other hand,
it was cut off about ten years ago
as the result of railroad accident.
There is also complaint that in some
of the border counties the pensioners
are not residents of the state, but that
they come over from North Carolina,
make their applications and have some
of their South Carolina friends testify
as to their war records.
These are but q few examples by
which the pension list is swelled, and
it is, of course, to be considered that
every name that is added to the list
that ought not to be there reduces the
pension money that should 60 to those
who so thoroughly deserve it. The
100000 which is appropriated is, af:
ter certain classes are paid, divided
pro rata among the general class Of
pensioners whose claims have been ap-
proved.