Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-05-09
TWO PENSION VEToES.
President Refuses to Sign Two Bills and n
Grist Pass without Signing.

President Refuses to Sign Two Bills and n
Grist Pass without Signing.
WASHINGTON, May 8.-The President
TO day sent to the House Of Representatives
two veto messages. The first Of these is as
follows:
The House Of Representatives:
Ireturn without my approval, House
Bill No. l47, entitled IAN Act increasing
the pension Of Andrew j. Hill" The bill
doubles the pension which the person
named therein has been receiving
for number OF years. 1t appears from
The report Of the Committee to which the
bill was referred, that the claim made by
him for increased pension has been lately
rejected by the Pension Bureau, on the
ground that the claimant is not now re-
ceivipg a pension, commensurate with the
tegree of disability found TO exist. The
policy of frequently exercising by
special amendment the decisions
of the Bureau invested by law
nth the examination Of pension claims
fully equipped for such examination, and
which ought not to be suspected of any
lack of liOerslity to veteran soldiers is en-
ceedipgly questionable. 1t may we'll be
doubted if committee Of Congress has a
better opportunity than such agency to
Judge of the merits Of the claim. If, how
ever, there is any lack Of power in the
Pension Bureau for a full in
vestigstion it should be supplied.
II the system adopted is inadequate to do
full Justice to claim ants it should be cor
rected, and if there is want Of sympathy
and consideration for the defenders Of our
,Ioverument the bureau should be reor-
esnized. The disposition to concede most
generous treatmen, to the disabled, aged
and ueedy among our veterans should not
be restrained, and it must be admitted that
IN some cases Just ce and equity cannot be
obtained without charitable tendency o.
the Government in favor Of worthy objects
of irs care INDUCED under fixed rules
Tnese conditions sometimes Justify resort
70 special legislstion, hut | am convinced
that the interposition by spe :isl enactment
in the grsntiOg OF pensions should be rart
and exceptional.
In the nature of things if this is lightly
done, and upon slight occasion an invita-
ton is offered to the passage Of claims b!
Congress, which upon their merits coulC
not survive the teet of an examination b!
the Pension Bureau, aud whose on ly hop
of success depends more upon sympsth.
often misdirected than right and Justice
The instrumentalitY deviced b,
Law for the determination of pension
claims is thus overruled and discredited
aud there is danger that in the end popu
lar prejudice will be created against thos
Who are worthy and entitled to the bount
Of the Governm snt There have lately bee
presented to me the same day for spprovs
240 bills granting and increasing pension
and resroring to the pension list the name
Of parties which for cause have been droI
psd. To aid executive duty they were r,
ferrei to the pension bureau for exam
nation and report After q delay sbsolat
ly necessary they have been returned to n
within few hours Of the limit constitution
ally provided for the executive sction, 23
of these bills are thus classified, 81 cove
ing cases in which favorable action by Il
Pension Bureau was denied by reason
insuficiency of the testimony to prove Il
tsc,s alleged. These bills l have approx,
on the assumption that the claims We
ueritoriohS and that on the passage OF Il
bills the Government hes waived #
proof Of the facts. Tventy.s
: Of the bills cover clair
! rejected BY the Pension Bure.
: because the evidence produced tended
. prove thst the alleged disability exist,
hefor the claimants enlistment; Fl cor