The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-06-11

preslxeas Clsvsls.a nslisvss rhas ces-
Pspsioa CIalns Tsssn the sureau ltssie.
The rsmarks % President Cleveland
on this subject In his message vctoing
: bill 70 double the pension already
granted TO soldier named Hill. strike
al an evil that Is too frequent. II arises
presumably from the weak good nat
urc or desire 10 escape opportunities
on the part Of the individual members
Of Congress who introduce the bills.
which are reported by the committee
1t their solicitation. or through mat
tention on the part Of the other menu
beers. Before the Senate or House Il is
not likely that they are subjected 70 this
slightest scrutiny, and 60 through.
~ is very natural. on tho
strength Of the committee's report.
The extent to which this action l. taken
may be Inferred from the fact that the
President has now awaiting his sigma
ture two hundred and forty bills grant,
ing and increasing pensions and re-.
placing on the roll names Of men
that have been stricken of. All Of
these cases had previously been acted
upon adversely by the Pension Bureau
Mr.. Cleveland concisely states the OBJ
lection 70 this class Of legislation
where he says in his message that tho
policy Of frequently reversing by spe-
| cial enactment the decisions Of tho bu-
rcau invested by law with the exami-
nation Of pension claims. fullyequipped
| for such examination. and which
| ought not to be suspected Of any lack
| Of liberality to our veteran soldiers.
| Is exceedingly questionable. IL may
| we'll be doubted il committee Of
| Congress has better opportunity
than such agency TO judge OF tho
| merits of this claim" That Is II exact
". How Is committee of Congress.
heavily burdencd with business. To give
the careful examination TO matter Of
this sort that may be expected from =
department Of the Administration full
" equipped for the work, and In the
habit OF sitting the evidence and jndg-
ing OF its value. II II lack any facilities.
for want Of which claims are likely 70
suffer, the President further suggests
that they had better be supplied by
Congress instead Of attempting to SUPP
plcment its work by this special legis-
iation. The President hints that tho
Pension Bureau has not. in the past.
shown any obstructive tendencies IN
the transaction Of this business. which
certainly is true. The liberality OF the
administration Of our pension laws
has been the subject Of favorable and
unfavorable comment ever since the
l war and there does not seem to be the
slightest need Of the interference OF
Congress upon this score. There has
been altogether too much Of this
special, personal legislation for the re-
lief Of ali sorts of people. includln
these under discussion. from the be-
ginning until now, and the public has
had too little to say about II. TO Con-
gressmen who are handling millions in
appropriations these few thousands 81
dollars seem trihng. And so the
thing goes on, and the money runs out
Of the treasury like water from =
sieve: the great body of the popula'
ton. who have no claims TO pat in,
paving the fiddler. as il were. without
getting any dancing 10 speak Of W.
are clad that President Cleveland ha'
, had the manliness 10 put his iin-el
! mon this leak. for while. rs he saws
: II i impossible for him TO examine
7 into all these claims. Gust rs impossi
|, bic. he might well have said. as 10
: Congress to have given them propel
attention). yet he has forcibly draw
! the attention Of Congress and tn
country to most pernicious practice
2 OF legislation. Boston Salesman