Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-03-03
BR0WNL0W'S ARGUMENT
Why the Pension Agency Should
Remain in.KnayviIIe.
Facts Without COmment-.--Re Ample
and UnanswerabIe.

The following able paper has been pre-
pared by Mr. Brownlow, Representative
in Congress from this District, and will
be presented to President Mckinley as
soon as possible after the Inauguration.
House of Representatives, Washington, D. c.,
March D. 1897.
THE PRESIDENT: have the honor,
herewith, to respectfully recommend
that that part Of the order OF the late
President Cleveland for the considera-
ton of pension agencies, be revoked, in
so far as it relates to the agency at Knox
vile, Tenn, the only agency in the
Southern States properly.
Among reasons assigned for the con-
solidation of the agencies at Des Moines
and Topeka, and the establishment, in
their stead, of an agency at st. Louis, viz,
that "there is Government building at
st. Louis, and that the rental of build
ings at the places named will be saved,
does not apply to the agency at Knox
vile, Tenn, because that agency is in a
Government building. On the contrary,
the agency at Washington, with which
the Southern agency is to be consolida-
ted, is in rented building, now scarcely
large enough for the needs of the agency,
and the rental of the rooms for the ac-
commodation of the twenty two clerks
in the Southern agency will. in all prob
ability, cost the Government sum
equivalent to the salary of the agent.
1t is not believed by those more fami-
liar with the work of the psnsion agen-
cies than the gentleman ~ ,ose connec-
tien with tho ihteri0. s5eparS Smcrt was
of only a few weeks duration (when he
procured the issuance of the order in
question9 that, as alleged, 100000 will
be saved to the Government by the con-
solidation of these nine agencies. No
reasons or figures have been given to
warrant such deduction. Apparently
there would be saving of $4,000 in the
salaries of nine agents, and $9.55O rental
of buildings for agencies discontinued,
though, as | have shown there would be
no saving of rental by the discontinue
ance of the Southern agency. Another
idea of estimated saving to the Govern
ment is $l0,lS2 81 for contingent expen-
ses, but Mr.. Francis takes no account of
the expenditure invoved in removing
the records and office furniture OF these
consolidated agencies. No reason has
been assigned why the sum thus speci-
fed so minutely, including So cents
would be saved to the Government by
consolidation. Probably the contingent
expenses, including stationery, would
be as great after consolidation as now.
The remaining item in the estimated
saving by this consolidation is $lO5,675 81
for clerk hire. The assumption that the
total sum now paid for clerk hire, in the
nine agencies it is proposed to consoli-
date, will be saved by the Government,
is ridiculous and wholly unwarranted.
1t is fact we'll know to those familiar
with the administration of these agen-
cies that the clerks in them work more
hours and more assiduously than do the
clerks in the departments at Washing
ton, and unless it be necessary to in
crease the clerical forces in the Wash
ington and other agencies by Just the
number of clerks employed in the agen-
cies to be consolidated, then there should,
in the interest of economy and reform,
be reduction in the clerical force of all
executive departments and bureaus, and
If the nine agencies to be retained can
do the work of the consolidated agencies
without increasing their clerical force
to the extent Of the clerical force to be
consolidated, these nine agencies have
been extravagantly managed and the
whole should be abolished and all pay.
ments to pens toner's should be made
from Washington n by one of the bureaus
of the Pension Office.
If pensioners living on the Rio Grande
can be paid by check from Washington,
why not those in Boston, Chicago or st.
Louis?
will here remark that the disburse-
ments by agents for clerical service have
| for years been governed absolutely by
| orders from Washington, but the Cleve-
land administration never discovered
that there should be any saving in the
administration of these agencies until
/ tnC ltIlilS VI MI. ClcNcldluS cUlDlONtS
were about to expire.
AS there is no rental paid by the South
ern agency, and as the Washington
agency, with which it is proposed to con.
solidate it, is in rented building not
large enough to accommodate, without
additional room,the consolidated agency,
l submit that there will be no economy
in the proposed consolidation in SO far
as it relates to this agency.
But there are reasons other than those
enumerated why the only agency in the
South should not be discontinued. OF the
eighteen agencies in the United States,
more pensioners are paid from the South
ern agency at Knoxville than from any
of the other save six. OF these Washing
ton is one and there are only sixty one
more pensioners borne on the rolls OF
the Washington agency than of the
Knoxville or Southern agency. AS a
vastly large number of pensioners, un-
der the proposed consolidation, reside in
closer proxemity to Knoxville than to
Washington, and as Knoxville is more
central, geographically. than Washing
ton, why not consolidate the last named
agency with the former and save the
rental paid by the Washington agencyi