The National tribune., 1886-07-15
TIE PENSION VETOES.
The President Fiercely Arraigned for
His Action.

nearly 100 M 10 date Some of these cases are
particularly meritorious ones, and the vetOing
ofthem docs great hardship and injustice. The
Republicans have been trying 70 bring some OF
these bills 10 a vote, to pass them, II possible,
over the Presidents head, which requires two
thirds majority. The Democrats IN the House,
however voted soidly to refer them back 70
the Pension Committee, and ali Of them were
for the time so disposed OF.
Probably all the vetoed pension bills which
originated in the Senate with one exception,
will be reported from the Committee on Pen
sons. with recommendations that they do pass,
the Presidents veto Notwithstanding The one
exception viii be covered by new bill, the
vetoed one being defective in consequence of a
clerical error
I'D the case Of Harriet Melch the President
said Though this widow admits that prior to
her marriage with the deceased soldier she had
married another man whom she conld only say
she believed 10 be dead The Senate Com
mittee says la its report: No question is
raised i'm the evidence, as 10 the legality OF
the marriage which seems to have resulted IN
long cohabiiaiion and the birth of seven chill
dren The claimant was married to the soldier
June = ls6s. There il nothing in the evidence
90 Justify the slur which the President casts
upon the chastity of this widow and the legiti-
macy of her seven fatherless children Pensions
have heretofore frequently been granted in
cases similar to this. Human nature cries out
aloud for the allowance Of pensions in such
case and III this woman, with her seven small
children il 90 be deprived Of ID. your committee
are at least glad that the responsibility rests
elsewhere"
Ia reporting upon the case OF David w Ham
ilt0n. the committee reprints its original re-
port, IN which II says: " This farce OF rejecting
claims FOR pensions of men who have rendered
years Of active service, because they were un-
able 10 discharge the duties OF a soldier, SO long
indulged IN, is also a crime, and it is time that
the dictates of common sense should be adopted
instead OF some of the rules 80 long in force i'm
the Pension Office. There is imperative need
Of reform ia this respect, and has been for
many years"
Alfred Denny Is the man who claimed TO
have been injured by contact with the horn OF
hs saddle, and in respect 10 whose case the
President incidentally remarked that Those
saddles were very dangerous contriyances"
The Pension Committee says: The sneer in
the veto az the wounds received by SO many Of
our gallant cavalry during their long rides and
furious charges in the war indicates a state Of
MIND that incHpacitates, at least temporarily,
an official from considering impartaly q pen
sion claim. III would be well il the horns Of
public Indignation could be so applied that our
soldiers could get simple justice in these times
OF peace"
We give extracts from some Of the numerous
speeches in the House on this subject.
Mr. jackson Pa:
Mr. Speaker. am in favor OF referring this bill to
tae Committee Invalid Pensions with insiruo-
tons 20 report b back "a an early day. have more
than one reason for this. do not propose 20 dis
cuss specially the merits Of tins particular bill but
MIR Speaker, % II apparent 20 me think ID must
be % all who have given the subject attention and
consideration, Chat 20 far the present Congress Is
concerned fhc question u pension legislation must
DC met and decided a. a general proposition in
Ser from the action of the majority Mho control this
House that they have determined that there shall
not be az tliis session any further general egsla
tion on the subject Of pensions; that they do moi
altsflfl -asaNs
tie President veto, and that bni few private bills
shall be cnnsiderc at all
want bO.4 sides Of this question heard. ] want
the country 10 know that there d a contest here be-
tween tlle President apd at least a majority of his
party VINO agree with him on one side and those
who favor just pensions the other side. ] have
no expectation that this difference can be recon
cited and Am willing that Il shall be submitted to
the people 81 iae United States 10 decide alter full
hearing
For these reasons do not think il il necessary 10
specially CONSIDER on THE motion the merits Of this
particular bill. want some taken that will
decide the whole question. do not think, Judging
from lis acti0n in the that have been 20
him. that u makes any great difference whether
bill IL good one or q bad one 20 receive a veto al
tie hands ~ iie present Executive. i think ID
lhn71 - "'iier'at" Dg hh VINO are familiar WIN
these cases iai lie iias approved some OF the very
weakest nhd least meritorious. while "a large ma
lorily 81 the bills which he hns vetoed deserv
ing worthy. and just Bot do not think he wants
AZ understood tilal he intends 20 make amy paFiicu-
lar difference between cases lie simply proposes
40 veto iurzc number OF the bills that are sent
bills Of tilis character.
lie a. a. sympathy with those who are at heart
opposed ~ l8ensiUning Union soldiers. aud he In
tends o. limit and restrict tlle number 81 those that
t4iall hereafter De pcnsiuned Gar il reasonably
CAT be- dome. Aud III the position IN taken in the
early part ~ iis administration, what may we not
eAisec in tlc near iulure in the way Of repeal Of
the legislation - The iIls ~ ycHrs should his patty
- retained ln power oppose iae proposition 10
refer the Ies~lc without Instructions u ihe Com
miiice on Invalid Pensions. } give ID credit for
great industry nud fairness a. well a. Tor its con-
~ a. 4
the President hms majority Uf his party friends
that committee can hardly expect them 20 be
Aers decided ln their opposition hs action aud
would nui lic surprised VI they disposed TO
aci very ihdlsill0asy 10 bringing forward these
bills llcs naNe. % seems 20 mp-perlaps nnin-
tentionalg -lH u owing attacks on their action
These blli- io io unanswered. permitted record 10
1e niade np % ths session Of Congress that does
lniusticc a. tr committee and every member OF
thls House iilai ftt0r- just pension legislation.
but we "oFr told ihat this great aud good Presi-
gent. w0 trnar ic=ou bile hy tiie score meant
right Acs aiT Speaker ! suspect IT, docs mean
ElsA Do The a.ii-n ~ attempting 70 please certain
elements ~ iic country but lac does not mean
riGit ln ihf csc % thf generous and loyal people
81 THIS laua Appiauze oI the Republican side 4
laesire % siE ~. tat tlc President means exactly
what hr feits snow. IIis veioeH. by their sub
Stance Atii2h tse tone aud temper. can have no
other c0ft u than that DE- di.lilles al pension
legislation. unl do not think that De- Will thank
kehNti'H lp iniiinhiinB that fe De- only trying 10
lte AK bcsi ihn poor little pittaEce 81 money that
D. " eon'r9teay in granting these pensions.
no hiis Iiat q no; Wliai Dee means. These vei0es
hre lnicHdrn iUr ihc approval Of a portion ~ the
people az tiiis country ana desire a. say that fhry
HnqneH -lpuily meet tltrlr approval
lsui thee % noi uioci ny approval They win
mot ih ny 1nmbr judgment, ineet the approval ~
tie majority ~ e people ~ this country aud cs-
Iecaily thpaf also were aNays loya. a. its flag ID
n very eAiaaib ihni ihc only question which We
are called 1a % meei now. and which assure YOU
VIII yet D. au important one before the people
~ Netiief az Hp we 20 have proper aud lust
ieslrlAiioh 90 ie part 81 Congress ia favor IL thc
orsefNlng soaier4of tiiis country.
Mns. McCAETEs CASH.
The Speaker laid before the House the fol-
lowing message from tho President OF the
United States
- az hoHst II RsI,rcscnfafiuRs
return iirif-Nii without approval House BIN
A. 49, ~. f'ee A. ael granting pension 10
Tie beneficiary b tie widow Of Johu afcCartp q,
TIC fifrt AAFsnH Regiment Al Stale MtG5Na Vol
hfiirefei WHO dlel ai Clinton Mo April 1864
The widow Nlea llrr ciHim in Isfg nilrrfnu fhat
bel husband eicd while ln Le service from ..r over.
uOse of t1cilarHm.
The evidence HoHs without dispute Chat on tIls
Gay previous tp iiie death 81 thc soldier a c1Inradf
procured sctnt nrdicinp from thc telgimetal sur.
t"p ane asked licttrf. % smell aud taste ID tlsai
- NiN ha iift~ shortly ailnFMaFl became very sir.
Hild d4cd tiic utat morning
~ n quits efiacAt thc decreased soldier did mors
tlihh taste ihie medicine.
hsthnng y would iSe pheasant % ald tlic widow
IA tiir Case t t hardly fair a. ask filt f,o.srr',,
a. grant pension for tiic freak o. 5grosr ba.iies
h1sr Hna rhell saIess VI THE soldier
GEOseR ClEsG1.AND.
IAhruIINf MANSION. JHly q. 1880
bir hais0n ind. moved 70 refer the bll
aud message to the Committee on Invalid Pen
RinuE Mo F#atgup Ind Ftt,t4roF ..,...... a u