The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-06
THE PENSION vEToEs.
Comments on the Presidents Messages
Facts for Union Veterans to Study.

Comments on the Presidents Messages
Facts for Union Veterans to Study.
WASHINGTON Special.
N Dumont, of Washington, has collected and
published in a volume of $50 pages the 101 pen
sion veto messages of President Cleveland to-
gether with the bill and the report of the SEN
ate or House committee in each case. Follow
ing each message are sharp, crisp comments
thereon by Mr.. Dumont who is a lawyer and a
member of the Grand Army Of the Republic
In many cases the comments contain pertinent
citations from opinions of the Attorney gen eral
of the United States relating to the equities of
pension claims and administration. In letter
to the author Department Commander Burke,
Of the Grand Army of the Republic, writes of
the book as follows
ut puts before the country both sides of the
question in such way and with all the data
that the country can understand. commend it
because l believe it will so enlighten the public
and their representatives that 1t will result in
justice TO all worthy soldiers and widows thereof
who seek relief at the hands of Congress"
One of the veto messages relates to the claim
of James Carroll, who enlisted in January, 1865
in the Third North Carolina Mounted Volunteers
(Union) and was wounded soon afterward The
command in which he enlisted was composed of
loyal men, recruited in North Carolina, in a re-
gon which was the theater of frequent combats
between the Unionists and rebels. In one of
these engagements Carroll received gunshot
wound while the detachment to which he be-
"Home Guards" He received the wound be-
fore he had been regularly mustered into the
United States service. In his veto message the
President said:
''This is undoubtedly true, and that the claim
ant was injured by gunshot is also true. He
was not. however, at the time regularly in the
United States service but this objection might
in some circumstances be regarded as technical
The difficulty is that the fact thai ne was credita
bly, employed in a service of benefit to the coun-
try is not satisfactorily shewn. After
an Investigation made at the time by special
examiner, he reported that Perkins and Carroll
had collected O number of men together who
made their headquarters at the home of Carroll's
mother, and were engaged in plunderng the
neigh borhood; and that. on account of their dep
relations they were hunted down by home
guards and shot at the time they stated. If this
report is accepted as reliable 1t should, of course
lead to the rejection of the claim for pension on
the part of Mr. Carroll"
Upon this Mr.. Dumont comments as follows;
ut Is apparent, from the latter part of the
veto message, that the special examiner of the
Pension ONCE put in his time trying to break
down CARROTS claim for pension The noise
carriee 10 the country and to the soldiers = that
the Duresu 10 tonn.aed to aid. not chise US. and
We hno snis examiner, about 1876 or 1877 item
years ate. peacel trying the question as to which
one Of Two bands of neighbors in armed war
against each other-one Of which was armed
against the government-should DO called plum.
dereFs and law breakers, and he decided against
the members of the government forces in a mat.
tsr of which he had neither iurigdietion of the
parties nor the subieck That the President