Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-22
PENSION AGENTS. ACCOUNTS
Condition Of Their; Settlement Shown In
Auditor Youhgblood's Report.
A New Series of Roll Books VIII Have
to BE at Once Conn
menced. t5sa


blood, auditor for the Interior Department,
has been made to Secretary Gage. 1t shows
that the work Of the office Is well up.
The number Of claims received during the
year was 25,203 The number settled was
2o,23:', showing that some Of the claims
| which came over from the year before
| were also settled. The money involved in
the years settlements was Sta. sol, 800, con-
siderably more than for the fiscal year
1895.
Pension Agents Accounts.
To the pension division Of Mr.. Young
blood's office is assigned the examination
and settlement Of the accounts of the
United States pension agents for disburse-
ments to pensioners, &c, and the adjust
ment of all matters relating to payments
from the pension funds. For the proper
performance of this work it is necessary to
keep an account with each pensioner, and
to see that the amount due in each case,
from the time when the certificate issues
ana the pens1oners name is placed upon
the rolls until such pension terminates by
death or otherwise, is paid, and that proper
vouchers and receipts therefor furnish
cd IheSe accounts are kept in 1888 large
roll books Current seres) and the proper
adjustments of the payments made neces-
States the examination and computation
or nearly 4O00,0OO vouchers per annum and
the entry on the rolls of the payment made
In each case; the determination of the
correctness of such payments requiring
| in many cases references to former roll
books 9t through several series; These rec
ords must be accurately kept, in order TO
answer inquiries and calls for informa-
ton as to payments that have been made
| IN any given case since the establishment
| OF the government, for use by the COM
| missioner of pensions. pension agents and
others They are the only complete rolls
| OF United States pensioners in existence
| and are an index to the many millions of
In ga 1,a tx-ir 81;
| also examines and settles all claims against
the pension funds not payable by United
| states pension agents, such as reimburse
| ments on account of expenses of last sick
| ness and burial Of pensioners; amounts of
| lost, reclaimed and unindorsed pension
checks, refunded attorneys fees and all
matters payable from pension appropria-
| lions other than those for current fiscal
years.
New Series of Roll Books.
Mr.. Youngblood says:
MANY of the roll books now in use in
the pension division. on which payments to
pensioners are noted, are nearly filled; some
of them entirely so, while others may last
from one to four years. Such books are
generally used for a period lasting from
seven to ten years-according to the size of
the agency and the number of and rapidity
with which new names are placed thereon.
The work of preparing full series Of
new roll books must be begun at once.
THIS work, while II and must be grad
ually performed, is entirely in addition to
the current work of the office, and will re-
quire the services of at least ten clerks for
several years to come. Some provision
must be ma lie for carrying 1T on without
materially delaying the current work of
the division. which for many reasons
should not be permitted to get in arrears.
The accounts of the pension agents. in
VolVing such vast sums of money, should
be audited at the earliest practicable mo-
ment. AT present, as for several years
past. their examination is begun almost
Immediately upon. their receipt at this Of
nee and the agents given immediate no.
tee OF the discovery of any errors or over
payments, so that they may at once take
proper steps to recover any sums. erron-
eously paid. "a.
The present condition Of the work In
the pension division, indeed in all the di-
visions, is very gratifying and reflects great
credit upon those clerks who are in charge
Of the various branches of the work and
the entire force employed under their di-
rection."
Pensioners of Former Wars.
The report shows that only 1898 was
PAID during the year to survivors Of the
war of 1872 while widows of survivors re-
ceived s233,097. To survivors of the Mex
lcan war was paid S1.107 Sol and to widows
sslSbI. Survivors of the Indian wars re-
celved Sl6o,321. and widows $4O3 S71