Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-08
PENSION CONOMY
Important Order Signed by Presi.
dent Cleveland.
HEAVY CUT IN PENSION AGENCIES.

Number Reduced from Eighteen TO Nine,
and Just That Many Less for Mckinley
70 Appoint-saves something Over $780,
900 . Year and Puts NO Pensioner to In
eonvenienee, It Il Claimed-Agency Lo-
cations Under the Now Deal,
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 eighteen to nine. The object of
the order is to effect a very large saw
ing to the government without incon-
veniencing the pensioners. The secre-
tary demonstrates that by this re-
duction Of the pension agencies the cost
OF disbursing pensions can be reduced
by at least 100000 per annum. The
change was made possible by an amend
ment to the law governing the disburs-
Ing of pensions approved March %, 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 new law are to
the effect that under it the pensioners
are paid much more promptly; that the
possibility Of error is minimized, and that
upon the whole it is much more salts
factory to the pensioners than the
former law.
Pensioners Money Is Much Safer.
The agents also state that the pen
sioners receive their pensions when re-
mitted by mail at their homes, where,
being surrounded by family influences,
the pensioner is much more likely to
make judicious disposition of his pen
sion money. Under the previous law
many pensioners collected their quarter
ly payments in person, and under the
influence Of bad associations were often
induced to apply these payments I'M
wisely and deprive their families of the
benefits thereof. This executiv, order
will go into effect Sept. 1 next, it's ex-
ecution having been postponed until
that date in order that no pensioner
should suffer Inconvenience in conse-
quence of delay in receiving his pen
sion. and to give ample time for the
removal Of the rolls and records from
the agencies discontinued.
Details of the Consolidation.
The consolidation was made by unit
ing existing agencies and the entire
Jurisdiction thereof, in order that no
expense should be incurred by the maxi
ing of new rolls. The agencies at Con-
cord, n. H, and Augusta, Me-, are dis
continued, and payments hitherto made
there are ordered made from the agency
at Boston. The pensioners heretofore
paid at Buffalo, N. Y, are to be paid
from New York city agency; those at
Pittsburg from the Philadelphia agency;
those at Louisville and Knoxville from
Washington; those at Detroit from In
dianapolis; those at Milwaukee from
Chicago; those at Des Moines and
Topeka from st. Louis, where few agency
is established. A new agency is estab-
lished at st. Louis because of the bet
ter mail facilities there than at Des
Moines or Topeka, and for the further
reasons that there is a government
building at st. Louis which can be &C.
cupied without cost to'the government;
and there is also a sub-treasury there.
A Saves $3.50, 900 q Year.
The following are the agencies and
the number of pensioners paid thereat
under the new order: Boston, 81, 1857
New York. 9s.s33; Philadelphia, LOG, 1876;
Washington, 140,265; Columbus, 104, 1872;
Indianapolis. 1906: Chicago, 125,
st. Louis, 61,709; San Francisco, %,
09S: total, 97O.67s. The navy pensioners
will be paid as heretofore from Boston
Chicago. New York city, Philadelphia
San Francisco and Washington. The
estimated saving to the government is
as follows: Clerk hire, sos, 675; salaries
Of nine agents. $4,000 per annum, $780,
600; contingent expenses of agencies
discontinued, $10,1 rent for agencies
discontinued. $3.50: total, $161, 407.