The record-union., 1897-02-08
The Object to Effect Large Saving to
the Government.
The Change Made Possible by an
Amendment to the Law Last Year,
Which Provides That Pensions
rlay be Paid by Checks, Thus Saw
ing Much Honey to the Families OF
Pensioners That Has Heretofore
Been Wasted i'm Dissipation.

WASHINGTON. Feb. THE Presi-
dent has signed, on the recommended
ton of Secretary of the Interior Fran
els. an important order reducing the
number of pension agencies in the
United States from eighteen to nine.
The object of the order is to effect a
very large saving to the Government
without inconveniencing the pension
ers The Secretary demonstrates that
by this reduction of the pension agen-
cies the cost of disbursement of pen
sons can be reduced by at least $1o0,-
600 per annum.
The change was made possible by an
amendment to the law governing the
distribution of pensions, which amend
ment was approved March 23 1896. 1t
required that all pensioners should af-
ter date be paid by checks remitted by
mail. Reports from the pension agen-
cies in reply to inquiries as to the
operation of the new law We're to the
effect that under it the pensioners are
paid much more promptly; that possi-
bility of error is minimiZed, and that
upon the whole it is much more sat-
isfactory to the pensioners than the
former law. The agents also advise
that the pensioners receive their pen
sions when remitted by mail at their
homes where being surrounded by
family influences, the penSiOner is
much more likely to make a judicious
disposition of his pension money. Tn
der the previous law many pensioners
collected their quarterly payments in
person, and under the influence of bad
associations were often induced to APP
ply these payments unwisely and de-
prived their families of the benefits
thereof
This executive order will go into ef-
feet September 1St next, it's execution
having been postponed until that date
in order that no pensioner should suf-
fer inconvenience of delay IN receiv-
ing his pension and give ample time
for the removal of the rolls and rec
ords from the agencies discontinued.
The consolidation was made by uniting
existing agencies and the entire juris
diction thereof in order that no ex-
pense should be incurred by the MAX
ing of new rolls. The agencies at Con-
cord, n. H, and Augusta, Me, are
discontinued, and payments hitherto
made there are ordered made from the
agency at Boston, Mass: the pension
ers heretofore paid at Buffalo, n. Y,
are ta be paid from the New York City
agency; those at Pittsburg from the
Philadelphia agency; those at Louis
Vile and Knoxville from Washington;
those at Detroit from Indianapolis;
those at Milwaukee from Chicago;
those from Des Moines and Topeka
from st. Louis, where a new agency
is established.
A new agency is established at st.
Louis because of the better facilities
there than at Des Moines or Topeka,
and for the further reason that there
Is a Government building at st.
Louis which can be occupied with
out cost to the Government, and there
is also a sub-treasury there. A pen
sion agency was removed from St.
Louis TO Topeka in 1852. There are
more pensioners now in Missouri than
in Kansas or in any State formerly
paid by the Topeka or Des Moines
agency. There are in Missouri 53.S12
pensioners, in Kansas II, ,433 in Iowa
37.79S.
The following is the preamble of the
executive order:
Whereas. BY Act of Congress ap-
proved March 23. 1896. the law govern
ing the payment OF pensions was
80 be paid by checks RENTED by mail.
instead of permitting those to collect
personally who elected to do so, and
Whereas. The method of paying by
remittance has greatly lessened the la
Dor of pension agencies through which
pension appropriations are disbursed
and facilitated the payment of pen
sions, as evidenced by reports from
agents; and
Whereas. The remittance of pensions
by mail has proven eminently satisfac-
tory to pensioners who by this method
receive their quarterly allowances more
promptly. with unvarying regularity
and with less likelihood of error, and
Whereas, The successful operation of
the amended law has now been thor
oughly demonstrated. and,
Whereas Under the provisions and in
consequence thereof. the number of pen
sion agencies can be materially reduced
without any inconvenience whatever 10
the pensioners and a great saving to the
Government be effected thereby; there
fore from and after the lst day of Sep
tember. 1897, it is ordered, etc.
This is followed by the body of the
order. which defines the jurisdiction of
each agency. The Secretary of the In
terror is charged with the execution OF
the order and directed to cause the
agencies to be grouped in the manner
provided by the Act Of March }, 1891.
which requires that such pensioner
shall be paid quarterly and distributes
the payments at the different agencies
in such manner as TO be most con-
yenient to the treasury officials ar
Washington and the sub treasury.
The following are the nine agencies
ancs the number of pensioners paid
thereat under the new order
Boston. 94,45T; New York. 9S, S33;
washington 1402G5; Columbus 104-
4g2; Indianapolis. 11G0w; Phila-
deIphia, 1eG133; Chicago. ID, ,233:
St Louis. 161. 100: San Francisco. %
09s Total. 97o.673 All pensioners of
the United States residing in foreign
countries and now numbering 3,7S1, will