n pH8J REPORT or THE Cljc |rfltcdib£ Har Claim ASSOCIATION OF THE M STATE OF XEW-YORK. vV^' WM. C. MAIiTIN, PRINTER, 111 JOHN STREET. 1864. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF ^k Iprjokdibc Mar Claim ^.ssraatioiT, OP THE STATE OP NEW-YORK. Lieutenant-general WINFIELD SCOTT. Hon. HAMILTON FISH. Admiral DUPONT. JOHN J. CISCO, Esq. RUDOLPH A. WITTHAUS, Esq. ROBT. B. MINTURN. HENRY (IREENFIELD. ^ixtttot^. Hon Rev Mr. . EDWIN D. MORGAN. HIRAM BARNEY. GEORGE OPDYKE. JAMES W. BEEKMAN. H. W. BELLOWS. D. D. JOHN JACOB ASTOR. JAMES BROWN. WM. H. ASPINWALL. JAMES GALLATIN. Mr. HOWARD POTTER. " THEODORE ROOSEVELT. " AVM. E. DODGE, Jr. " PETER COOPER. " GEORGE BANCROFT. " DANIEL LORD. " WILSON G. HUNT. " ROBT. L. STUART. " ALFRED PELL. (ixtmiivt (Kommittff. HOWARD POTTER, Chairman. WM. E. DODGE, Jr. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION. 1st. To secure to Soldiers and Sailors and their families, atiy Glaims for jjensions, pay or hou7ity^ etc., with- out cost to the claimant. 26?. To protect Soldiers and Sailors and their families from imposture and fraud. Sd. To prevent false claims from heing made against the Government. \th. To give gratuitous advice and information to Soldiers and Sailors^ or their families, needing it. REPORT. ORGANIZATION. On Monday, January 19th, 1863, a meeting of gentlemen was held at the Directors' Room of the Merchants Bank, in this City, to consider the pro- priety of organizing an Association for the Protection of Soldiers and Sailors and their Families having Claims upon the Government. There were present the following gentlemen : Rev. Dr. Bellows. Mr. IIowaku Potter. Mr. James W. Beekman. Mr. Theo. Roosevelt. Mr. RoBT. B. Minturn. Mr. Wm. E. Dodge, Jr. The meeting was organized by calling Mr. Robt. B. MiNTURis^ to the chair, and appointing Mr. Potter Secretary pro tempore. After an explanation by Mr. Roosevp:lt of the necessity of the proposed Association for the protec- tion of soldiers and sailors and their families, in view of the frauds committed by unprincipled men in the collection of their claims against the Government, and a discussion as to the best means of affording that pro- tection, it was resolved tliat the Association be organ- ized \vitli the follo^ving objects : 1st. To secure to soldiers and sailors and their families, any chums for pensions, pay or bount}', etc., without cost to the claimant. 6 2d. To protect soldiers or sailors and their fami- lies from imposture and fi'aud. 3d. To prevent false claims from being made against tlie Government. 4tli. To 2:ive o-ratuitous advice and information to soldiers and sailors or their families needing it. At this and subsequent meetings a Board of Officers and Directors were chosen. LOCATION OF OFFICE. An office was opened on the 16th day of March last, at No, 35 Chambers Street, as being the most accessible location, and also most convenient to the pul)lic offices, with some of which frequent communi- cation would be necessary. For a time notices ^vere inserted in some of the daily papers, but owdng to the great expense of advertising, this had soon to be dis- continued. The Association is, however, indebted to the proprietors of the " New York Sun" for gratuitous advertising, beside many other favors. Handbills, circulars and cards were sent to the hospitals, camps and barracks in and around Ne^v-York, and to villages and towns in different parts of the State, announcing the existence of the Association and its ol)jects. Cir- culars and cards were also sent to Washington, Balti- more and Philadelphia, to be placed in the hands of soldiers on their way to and from the army. Gradu- ally, by these means, and by the favorable rej^orts of those who had placed their claims in the hands of the Association, or received from it assistance and advice, it became known to the discharged soldiers and others that tlieir claims could he collected without the neces- sity of emj)loying agents, at the sacrifice of a large portion of their claims. BUSINESS STAFF. At first but one clerk was employed, but it was soon found necessary to increase the business stafl^* of the ofiice. Since June last three clerks have been re- quired to attend to the wants of the applicants, and in preparing and forwarding their claims. ^PATURE OF THE BUSINESS, AND MODE OF CONDUCTING IT. The business of the Association may be divided into four classes. The first part l)eing the regular claims for pensions, l)ounty and arrears of pay; second. The collection of prize money ; third, The collection of money due discharged soldiers, which, through the carelessness and neglect of officials or the ignoi'ance of the men themselves, has not been paid ; and, fourth, The giving of advice and information upon all matters relating to the army and navy. Applications under the first of these classes are taken in registers, each claim being numbered and indexed in such a manner that it can at once T)e re- ferred to Avhen necessary. These entries contain all the facts needed to prepare the declarations and affi- davits required, as well as a complete record of the progress of the claim. Applications for claims of the second and third class are entered in a register devoted to those branches of the business. Of the fourth class no ac- curate record can be kept. 8 As soon as a claim is entered on the books of the Association, the necessary declaration and affidavits are drawn up, to. which the applicant and his or her witnesses are required to make oath. In order to save expense to those presenting their claims through the Association, the appointment of Notary Public was obtained for the Secretary from the Governor of the State. The claims for 1 )ounty, arrears of pay and prize money, are thus completed in the office, and without expense to the claimant. The cost of affidavits and depositions, as additional evidence and otherwise, in many cases is considerable, and where claims are placed in the hands of ordinary agents, must be paid by the claimant, and are not included in the fee charged for collection. A])plications for pensions must 1)e sworn to befoi'e an officer of a Court of Record, and we take pleasure in acknowledging the indebtedness of the Association to Col. George F. Betts, Clerk of the District Court of the United States, and to Mr. Osborn, his deputy^ and also to Mr. Kenneth G. White, Clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States and his deputy, Mr. Still WELL, and to Mr. Lander and Mr. Jarvis, of the Court of Common Pleas, for their services in tak- ing the affidavits of claimants and witnesses. This has been done gratuitously, and not without great inconvenience and loss of time to them. It being necessary in all api)lications for l)ounty or arrears of pay by discharged soldiers, to send their certificates of discharge to the Second Auditor of the Treasury De])artment, objections were frequently made to parting with this their only protection from 9 arrest as deserters, and proof of their discharge frc^m the service. This difliculty was overcome by an order from Major-General Wool, while in command of this I )e{)artmeiit, conferring upon tlie Secretary of the Association the riglit to issue receipts for discharges placed in his hands, which would exempt the l)earer from arrest. TRUST FUND. The Trust Fund of the Association, amounting to about $2()(H), is the surplus of a fund raised in this city for a charitable pur})ose, and which, with tlie consent of the subscribers thereto, was transferred to the Protective War Claim Association, in trust, for the ])urpose of making advances upon claims. Much suffering is occasioned by the delay attending the settlement of claims against the Government, and often families are reduced to absolute want by the death of a soldier, when there may be due them from Government from one to two hundred dollars in bounty money and arrears of pay. For this they are obliged to wait from a year to fifteen months. Many sacrifice their claims for one-half or one-quarter their value, to obtain means for their present necessities," and thus encourage a class of persons who stand ready to rob the soldier at every turn. It was to prevent this suffering and sacrifice, by making small advances to claimants, that this fund was transferred to the Association. The smallness of the amount for sucli a purpose will at once l)e apparent. The usefidness of the Association might be greatly augmented by an increase of the Trust Fund, so that 10 loans on claims might be made in a greater number of cases, and in larger amounts. Among those who have been relieved by this fund were a number of soldiers who were discharged at Hilton Head, S. C, and sent to this city. All of them were suffering more or less from wounds and disease. Upon their arrival, their pajjers were found to be imperfect, and they were consequently unable to collect any of the money which was due them. Transportation had been fur- nished them only to this city, and they were turned adrift to reach their homes in distant parts of this and other States as best they could. Through the recommendation of Col. Howe, of the New-England Soldiers' Relief Association, nearly one hundred of them were induced to place their papers in our hands. Sufficient money was advanced to those who were destitute to carry them to their homes. Their papers were returned to Hilton Head for correction, and when again received were paid by the paymaster, and the money transmitted to them. The amount col- lected was between five and six thousand dollars. RESULTS. Considering the difficulties which would naturally present themselves in an undertaking of this kind, and the inability of the Association to l)ring itself more prominently before the pul)lic l)y })roper adver- tising, and also the opposition of those whose interest would lead them to defeat by every means in their power the objects of the Association, it will be seen that the work performed has been by no means small in amount, or unimportant in its results. 11 The iiiiml)er of applicutions which have heeii en- tered on tlie books of tlie Association, ending with Dec. 31st, 1868, has been as follows : For Bounty and Arrears of Pay, 1375 '' Pensions 1024 " Prize Money, Ill " Miscellaneous, 20 2530 Value of Claims for Bounty and Arrears of Pay, 1192,500 00 " of Pensions, 98,304 00 " of Prize Claims, 37,000 00 " of Miscellaneous Claims, 1,000 00 S328,804 00 Of these claims there have been collected. Of Bounty and Arrears of Pay, 69 " Pensions, 107 " Prize Claims, 28 " Miscellaneous, 7 211 Amount collected and paid to claimants, For Bounty and Arrears of Pay, $8,739 54 " Pensions, 8,639 76 " Prize Claims, 9,147 03 " Miscellaneous tk on Imperfect Papers, 6,000 00 $32,526 33 12 At tlie lowest charge made by Claim Agents for tlie collection of the bounty and arrears of pay, which is ten per cent., with the usual Notaries fees, cVc, ad- ded, and >8>6.5() for procuring pensions, the saving to the claimants would l)e at least ^27,281, The actual saving would be much greater ; for compara- tively tew fall into the hands of those agents who are reliable men, and have a fixed tariff of charges. If we consider the extra charges made, and the advan- tage taken of claimants in many ways by some en- gaged in the lousiness, we can safely place the amount as high as $36,874, or one-third more than the pre- vious calculation. Sailors and others connected with the navy, from their proverbial disregard of money, and ignorance of l)usiness matters, are more subject to imposition than any other class of claimants. Many are induced to part with their claims for prize money for less than half their value, while others are charged exorbitant sums for collection and as interest for money loaned on these claims. At ten per cent., which is the lowest charge made for the collection of this class of claims, the saving would be ^8,7(H). This, together witli the amount saved on miscellaneous claims, etc., would raise the amount to over !|;40,()()(). The rooms of the Association are frequently cro^vded with persons, the greater part of whom are seeking advice or information upon almost every sub- ject relating to the army and navy. The very general ignorance of the manner of doing business with the 13 Government wliieli exists, and the difficulty of obtain- ing information of officials, renders this branch of the business of very great value to the public. The num- ber of persons v^ho have applied to the Association for advice and information since the office was opened will not fall far short of 8000. A brief statement has now been given of the operations of the Association since the opening of the office in March last, a period of less than ten months. Much more could have been done, had it been in our power to advertize extensively ; but the expense at- tending this mode of bringing the existence and ob- jects of the Association before the public, would have been greater than the state of the treasury would admit of. The ^\'ork of receiving and forwarding the claims has been so systematized, that the business might be doubled without materially adding to the exjienses. Applications for situations are frequently received from discharged soldiers, but the Association has been unal)le to procure employment for them, except in a very few cases. Although not coming within the ol>jects of the Association, still something might be done towards assisting those willing to work, in find- ing some labor which they could perform, thereby encouraging the soldier, and lessening the tax upon the community. Many of our discharged soldiers are anxious to work, if employment suited to their con- dition could be had. Incapacitated by wounds re- ceived, or disease contracted in the service, they are unable to ^vork at the trades to which they have been 14 reared, l^ut are still capable of performing the duties of light porters and messengers in many of onr public and private offices. The relief granted to the families of volunteers by the city, ceases as soon as the soldier is discharged, and in many cases he returns to find his family penniless, and himself unable to earn a livelihood for them. This, together with the delays which attend the settlement of claims against the Government, doubtless deters many from enlisting, who would gladly do so for a moderate bounty, if they could feel assured that they would be provided with employment, ])y which they could keep their families from want, in the event of their returning disabled, and unfit for hard labor. If our officials and the public will, in employing persons for the lighter kinds of labor, give the preference to those who have served their country in the field, they will be doing but an act of justice to the soldier, and lessen the numl)er of those who will be obliged to depend upon charity for support. The Association might open books, in which the names of all desiring employment could be registered, and to which the public would have access. Much of the sufi^ering of our soldiers and their families, as well as the great accumulation of claims in the office of the Second Auditor, is occasioned by the carelessness and incompetence of some of the offi- cers of our army. Every day men apply for advice or assistance, who have been discharged with imper- fect papers, and consequently have been unable to collect of the paymaster the pay which may be due them. The only course left, in most cases, is to file 15 the claim in the office of the Second Auditor, and wait the year or fifteen months which must elapse before the claim will be settled. No man should be discharged from the service until his papers were complete. The Association has endeavored faithfully to carry out the objects for which it was formed. The ob- stacles and difficulties against which it has had to contend have been many, and not the least of these has been the suspicion of some of those for whom it has been working ; but in no case has any complaint been made ])y those whose claims have been settled by the Government; for in all such, the claimants have received the full amount allowed, without any expense to them for its collection. As no charge is made for the collection of claims or other services, the Association is obliged to look to the public for means to meet the necessary expenses of the Ijusiness. The burden thus far has been borne by a few, but we trust that, like the Sanitary Commission and other charitable associations which have sprung up for the relief of the soldier, and have been so liberally sup- ported, this, too, will at once commend itself to all who feel an interest in those who have fought our V)attles for us. The Association has also claims upon the liberality and aid of tlie puldic as a useful charity, relieving distress, and securing to soldiers and their families, sj)eedily, and in full, the pay, etc., which may 1)6 due them, thus preventing their becoming a j)ublic burden. HENRY GREENPIELD, Secretary, ADDENDA. The number of applications which have been entered on the books of the Association, and the amount of money collected and paid over to claim- ants IN ADDITION to what has already been stated in the foregoing report, has been as follows: From January 1st, 18H4, to FebruaTy Int, 1864. For Bounty and Arrears of Pay, 154 " Pensions, 118 '' Prize Money, 28 300 Yalue ofClamis for Bounty and Arrears! j+,-.- c\r\c\ no of Pay, (^$21,909 98 Pensions, 11,328 00 Prize Clamis, 14,000 00 $47, 237 98 AMOUNT COLLECTED AND PAID TO CLAIMANTS For Bounty and Arrears of Pay, $16,199 03 - Pension, 2,508 00 - Prize Money, 8,340 22 $27,047 25 - ■ - - _^ V* 1 ' 1 ^ o o o oc CT5 o o a- i^ o t- cr i-H O l-H i^ ^ o C^l (M t'- ^ >o" ic" m m m § "-a O LO CO d /5" •5 'A ;h "o P » '/" H o J ■_ l-H Iz; *Xj ^ !_ S 1> UH ^ 1 C3 •— ' O r-^ 1^ ;5 03 -+J JZ m pp "5 ^ H O O during t y Cash R Chamhe Balance o 05 o "^ m' pq >~> H m 0^ CO fO ■*" ■" - ^ o o § «= S^ 00 p o s ^ ^ P h-: ?^ r-l GC cr CO o 0^ g CO t- CO m CO 05 CO in o i h * [' ^ C5 CD QC 1^ C<) .s rt" ^ irT OD ^ oT ^ << H .2 la O pi 'T « ^ o «^ "5 — >• ^ JP Ph o .«^ s ^ 'oo c: «« rf o pq V< O - - :; ^» ^iSD , ^ CO CD 00 « • p m SUBSCRIBERS Novelty Iron Works, $200 John J. Astor, 100 Robert L. Stuart, 100 James Gallatin, 100 Theodore Roosevelt, 100 Wm. H. Aspinwall, 100 James W. Beekman, 100 Wm. E. Dodge, Jr., 100 Robert B. Minturn, 100 Hamilton Fish, 100 Wilson G. Hunt, 100 A. Stuart, 100 A. Tselin & Co 100 Phelps, Dodge & Co 100 Ward, Campbell & Co 100 George Opdyke & Co 100 James Lenox, 100 John D. Wolfe, 100 Western & Gray, 100 F F. Randolph, 100 Joseph Sampson, 100 Lord & Taylor, 100 Meredith Howland, 100 D. G. Bacon, 100 Leonard W. Jerome, 100 Charles C. Goodhue, 100 American Bank Note Co. by Elliott F. Shepard, 100 National Bank Note Co. by Elliott F. Shepard 100 Cash, 100 Sturges, Bennet & Co. ... . 50 Joini B. Murray, 50 E. H. Miller 50 C. Delmonico, 50 Charles Butler, 50 T. Morton, 50 T. 0. Leroy & Co 50 Thomas H. Fade, 50 Spaulding, Hunt & Co 50 George Bruce, 50 Wetmore & Co 50 S. B. Chittenden & Co 50 Wells, Fargo & Co 50 Henry F. W. Mali, 50 Thomas Hitchcock, 50 C. J. & F. W. Coggill, 50 W. Oothout, 50 B. R. iVJcIlvaine, 50 Halsted, Haines & Co 50 A. Pell, 25 J. L. Schieffelin, 25 Tatham & Bros 25 Hiram Barney, 25 J. W Hamersley, 25 S. W. Field, 25 20 R. J. Livingston, 25 R. Witthaus, 25 A. C. Ricliards, 25 F. Prime, 25 S. Gandy & Co 25 Charles Carow, 25 D. W. B. by Theo. Roosevelt, 25 H. N. Camp, 25 Trowbridge, D wight & Co. . . 25 Samuel Willetts, 25 Simon de Visser, 25 J. L. Inckerman, 25 Wm. Allen Butler, 25 J. Q. Jones, 26 Wm. F. Carey, .' 25 George Bliss, Jr., 25 Benj. W. Field, 25 Cooper, Hewitt & Co 25 D. B. Eaton, 25 L. L. Sturges, 25 Ockershausen & Bros 25 Rees & Hoyt, 25 Robt. Hoe & Co 25 Hoyt Bros 25 D, A. Cushman, ?5 Shethar & Nichols 25 Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation of Rev. Dr. Adam's Church, 25 Vyse & Sons 25 Peter Cooper, 25 Tiffany & Co 25 William Marten, 25 Henry Sheldon, 20- Paton & Co 20 Barstow & Pope, 20 Augs. D. Shepard, 10 Elhott F. Shepard, 10 H. J. Brooks & Co 10 Baldwin, Fish & Co 10 Jas. W. Schermerhorn, 10 B. F. & Co 10 Columbian Foundry 10 William Alsop, 5 General Ewen, 5 Cash 2 / LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 013 744 368 5 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 744 368 5