The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-12
old BOYS" GOING
Topeka Pension Rolls Show
Startling Decrease.
Over Three Thousand Names
Cut Off Last Year.
ANSWER LAST CALL.
Most of Those Dropped Are
Dead.
Includes Widows Who Have
Again Married.

Death and remarriage have in the
last II months removed $3.50 names
from the rolls of the Topeka pension
office and in the year ending July 1. the
office lost an aggregate of 3,147 pen
sioners. On the rolls of the Topeka Of
flee this month are the names of 102,s28
men, women and children, whose ag-
gregate pensions for the year amounted
to S1S,139.O .O64.1o.
The annual report Of the Topeka Of
flee, shows that the Kansas pension
agency is still one of the largest 1nsti-
tutions maintained by the government
and has more pensioners on its rolls
than any other western office But
death cut a big swath in the ranks Of
the old boys of 81 and the Topeka Of
flee today reported to the government
the loss of 5,617 pensioners by death
last year. This brought the average
daily loss to more than Is for the en-
tire year, counting Sundays and holl-
days in the list.
Perhaps the general public may not
know it, but it is common knowledge in
the pension office that the old soldier
and his widow never are too old to re-
perience once more the thrills and
sensations of a fresh love affair. The
pension office has no record or now
many of its patrons have succumbed to
Cupid's attacks in a year, but when q
veterans widow vows she has found a
brand new affinity, then the pension
department hears of 1t. In u months
there We're 1873 soldiers widows who
yielded to the sentiments of tender
love and surrendered their pensions
that they might change their names
and again search for CO .jugal bliss
In the same period of time there were
several hundred veterans who found a
new-and usually a younger-love with
sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks who
will make the old boys happy in their
declining years.
On June so. a year ago. there were
105,975 pensioners on the rolls of the
Topeka office. In the following J:
months, 2.S97 originals were added tc
the list. The office restored % pension
ers who had been previously dropped
from the list. There were also 35 re-
the list as transferred from othel
agencies. This brought the grand tota
to 109, Alb.
Against this record is charged the
loss of 5,617 deaths. Remarriage can
celled 1873 otherwise good pension claims
The age limit took away SO names
and 53 persons failed to claim pay and
were dropped from the payroll. In the
year 673 persons transferred their pen
sions to other agencies; and 13 pensions
were dropped from the list for sundry
causes not enumerated. This loss o1
6.5S5 against an aggregate gain of 81
43S, reduced the payroll to 102,S2S, which
are included in the annual report just
completed and filed with the depart
ment in Washington.
OF the total list of pensioners paid
from the Topeka office, there are % .697
who are actual residents Of the district,
which includes Kansas, Oklahoma, Mis-
souri,, Colorado and New Mexico. Their
portion of the $1S. 1896 O64.10 was just
$16,435, ,956.12. OF this amount more
than $5,S0O00O was distributed among
the old soldiers and their widows who
live in Kansas
When the reports of the various
agencies are compiled in Washington,
it is probab BILE that the records will show
that the Topeka Office is handling far
more business than any of the western
pension agencies Should the next con-
gress decide 10 consolidate several Of
the smaller agencies with the Topeka
office. the contemplated changes would
bring the total list to nearly 100000
names with an annual payment of
about $35,000, 900. This change would
also double the working force in the
local Office and require all of the addi-
tional space which is to be allotted the
department in the new 100000 addition
to the federal building