Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-02-11
PENSION AGENCIES.
The Number to Be Reduced from
Eighteen to Nine.
Topeka AGENCY TO Be DROPPED.
Nissouri and Kansas PensioneFs win Be
Paid from 81. L0uls-The Executive
Order VIII DO Into Effect on
September I.

WASHINGTON, Feb. s.-The president
has signed, on the recommendation Of
Secretary of the Interior Francis, an
important order reducing the number
Of pension agencies in the United
States from IS to nine. The object Of
the order is to effect very large saw
ing to the government without incon-
veniencing the pensioners The secre-
tary demonstrates that, by the reduc-
ton OF the pension agencies, the cost
of disbursement OF pensions can be re-
duced by at least $l50,OOO per annum.
The change was made possible by an
amendment to the law governing the
disbursing Of pensions, which amend
ment was approved March rs, 1896. 1t
required that all pensioners should,
after that date, be paid by checks re-
mitted by mail. Reports from the pen
sion agencies in reply to inquiries as
to the operation Of the law were
to the effect that under II the pension
ers are paid much more promptly; that
possibility Of error is minimized, and
that, upon the whole, 1t is much more
satisfactory TO the pensioners than the
former law. The agents also advise
that the pensioners receive their pen
sions when RENTED by mail at their
homes, where, being surrounded by
family influences the pensioner is
much more likely to make judicious
expenditure Of his pension money.
Under the previous law many pension
ers collected their quarterly payments
In person and, under the influence of
bad associations, were often induced to
apply these payments unwisely and de-
prive their families of the benefits
thereof.
This executive order will go into
effect September / next, its execution
having been postponed until that date
In order that no pensioner should
suffer inconvenience In consequence Of
delay in receiving his pension, and to
give ample time for the removal OF the
rolls and records from the agencies
discontinued. The consolidation was
made by uniting existing agencies and
the entire jurisdiction thereof in order
that no expense should be incurred by
the making Of new rolls. The agencies
1t Concord, N. H., and Augusta,
Me-, are discontinued, and pay
ments hitherto made there are ordered
made from the agency at Boston,
Mass; the pensioners heretofore paid
at Buffalo, N. Y, are TO be paid from
New York city agency; those at Pitts
burgh from the Philadelphia agency
those at Louisville and Knoxville from
Washington; those at Detroit from In
dianapolis; those ut Milwaukee from
Chicago; those at Des Moines and To
peka from st. Louis, wherea new agen-
cy Is established.
A new agency Is established at st.
Louis because OF the better mail facili-
ties than at Des Moines or Topeka, and
for the further reasons that there Is a
government building at st. Louis which
can DO occupied without cost to the
government; and there is also sub
treasury there. A pension agency
was removed from st. Louis TO Topeka
In 1882. There are more pension
ers now In Missouri than In Kan
sas or in any state formerly paid
by the Topeka or the Des Moines
agency. There are In Missouri bS,Sla
pensioners; in Kansas, AZ, 4SS; In Iowa,
S7,79s. The total cost for pensions and
the disbursement thereof for the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1895, was $14S, 2O6,-
$50, made up as follows; Payments to
pensioners, $lSs,2l5,l76; fees to exam
ming surgeons, s672,5s7; maintaining
pension bureau at Washington, 81, 1884,
100; cost of maintaining pension agen-
cies, $685., O27. II Is on this last item
that the new order is intended to save
between Sl5O,OOO and 100000 per an