The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1921-11-18
BONUS WARRANTS
TO VETERANS
WILL RUSH OUT AS MANY AS
POSSIBLE BEFORE CHRIST
MAS.

Pierre, Nov. 1S.-Members of the
state bonus board tonight were well
satisfied with the progress accom-
plished today in the distribution of
the rifst bonus payments to the ex-
service men of South Dakota.
though slightly delayed by unavoid-
able details, the machinery in the
state auditors office worked with
precision and it is expected that
checks will be sent out at top speed
beginning tomorrow. The work will
be hastened so that as many ex-ser-
vice men as possible will have their
bonus checks by Christmas.
Warrant number one went to
Floyd A. O'Toole of Presho. His file
number was 3631 and the amount
paid was $158.50. August c..
Schloesler of Reliance was number
two with warrant for 5000 and
George A. l.. Genoway of aberdeen
was number three with the maximum
of $4OO. The first Sioux Falls vet
eran, to whom a check was mailed,
was Derwood S. Chase, 1907 South
Center avenue. Henry Tiedman of
Baltic was the first in Minnehaha
county outside of Sioux Falls.
The disbursement department,
coached and primed for it's gigantic
task of distributing to approximate
ly 10000 former service men the al
lotted $6,000,000, began functioning
today with regularity born OF
careful study of it's work down to the
most minute details.
Authorized at the general election
of year ago by constitutional
amendment and officially created by
the legislature last February, the
compensation department has passed
through a period of rapid evolution
until today, just II weeks from the
time actual work commenced, it has
entered upon the minal chapter of its
efforts.
'It is indeed gratifying to me.
said Fred Ray, of Yankton, head OF
the compensation board today as ne
watched the disbursement clerks
check for the last time the first war
rants signed, "to know that we are
entering upon the last lap. Our per-
sonnel has been small, at no time ex-
ceeding 90 uersons and every one or
them has been loyal to the depart
ment and to their work. So far as
we know now, after careful cnecK,
there have been no mistakes in the
clerical or examining work.
The loosening of the bonus fund
purse strings today made oiling up
necessary in several offices both IN
the statehouse and outside.
When the initial payroll sheet
containing the names of the first oo
to be paid, together with their ad-
dresses. amount due and other nee
essary data, reached the state audi
tors office, special clerk was on
duty to begin drawing the warrants.
The warrants are in sheets OF rive,
each one separated by perforatef
lime by means of which they are torn
apart as fast as they are signed by
Deputy State Auditor Milo Drake.
The newly acquired duplicate sigma
ture machine, which permits the
lsigning of five warrants at one writ
ing speeds up Mr.. brakes end or the
work.
| From the auditors office the war
rants are returned to the bonus Off
ces. where each warrant is checked
against the vouchers and payroi
sheet.
While this is being done another
clerk addresses envelopes for eacr
warrant and as there are checked the
warrants and applicants discharge
certificate, which was filed with the
application, are slipped into them.
The departments mail clerk car
ries the sealed envelopes containing
the warrants and discharge records
to the postoffice, where specia
clerk has been appointed to handl
ing the registration of each indivlo
Iual letter. A return card is demand
ed in each instance as final proof u
the board that the money and dis
charge have reached the rightfu
Iowner.
| The rate of disbursement is still
matter of speculation. Mr.. Ray nope
and expects to pay between zoo ant
500 claims a day providing each Q
the departments involved, and tn
local postoffice can hold the pace.
At the present time approximate!
10000 claims have been approved D.
,, the examining and investigating de
partments, while nearly $4,000 NOR
claims filed have yet to receive tn
final stamp Of approval.
Claims continue to come in but j
smaller numbers each day. The las
1000 received came at an averag
rate of about 5Oe a day, according t
Mr.. Ray.