Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-06-22
TEXT OF rRR vErOES.
The Reasons Given by the President why some
Pension BiiIs Cannot he signed.

Pension Biiis Cannot he signed.
The president in his veto messages refers
to the bill granting pension to Elizabeth :.
DeK rafit and his objection is that II Is of no
possible advantage to the beneficiary; that
the present pension laws give her all the ad.
vantages which she would receive under the
special law. The president adds:
:" am so thoroughly tired of disappearing
gifts of public money to individuals who in
my view have no right or claim tn the same
Notwithstanding apparent congressional sane.
ton, that interpose with a feeling of relief
in case where find 1t unnecessary To de-
ternine the merits of the application. In
speaking OF the promiscuous and ill-ad dHised
grants OF pensions which have lately been pre-
sented TO me for approval | have spoken
OF their apparent congressional sane.
ton in recognition of the fact thN
large proportion OF these bilIs nave
never been submitted to majority ot
either branch of Congress, but are the result
of nominal sessions held for the express pur-
pose of their consideration and attended Ivy
small minority of the members ofthe respec-
tive houses of the Legislative branch OF the
government Thus in considering these bills
| have not felt that l was aided by the de-
liberate Judgment OF the Congress. and when
| have deemed it my duty to disapprove
many of the bills presented | have hardly
regarded my action "a a dissent from the con
clisious of the peoples represen tatives. i
have not been insensible to the suggestion
which should influence every citizen, either
in private station or official place, to exhibit
not only Just but a generous appreciation
of the services of our country's defenders
In reviewing the pension Legislation pre-
sented to me many bills have been approved
upon the theory that every doubt should be
resolved in favor OF the proposed beneficiary.
1 have not, however, been able to entirely
divest myself of the idea that the public
money appropriated for pensions is the
soldiers fund, which should be devoted to
the indemniication of those who, in the de-
tense of the Union and in the nations ser
vice, have worthily deserved it, aud who, in
the day of their dependence resulting from
such suffering, are entitled to the beneiacuons
of their government This reelection lends TO
the bestowal of PENSIONS kind OF sacredness
which invites the adoption of such principles
and regulations as will exclude perversion As
well as insure liberal and generous appli-
cation of grateful and benevolent designs
Heedlessness and disregard of the principle
which underlies the granting of pensions is
unfair TO the wounded, crippled soldier who
is honored in the just recognition OF his gov.
ernment Such man should never md
himself side by side on the penson-roll with
those who have been tempted TO attribute the
natural ills to which humanity Is heir to ser
vice in the army. Every relaxation of prin-
ciple in the granting of pensions invites ap-
| plications without merit and encourages
those who, for gain, urge honest men to be-
come dishonest Thus is the demOralizing
lesson taught the people that As against the
| public treasury the most questionable eNpe-
dients are allowable.
| During the present session of Congress
i3 special pension bills have been submitted
| to me, and / am advised that Ill more have
| received the favorable action of both Houses
| of Congress, and will be presented within a
| day or two, making over 600 of these bills
| which have been passed up to this time dur.
| ing the present session, nearly three times
| the number passed at any entIre session since
| the year 1851. With the pension bureau fully
equipped and regulated by the most liberal
rules in active operation, supplemented in
its work by constant special legislation, 1t
| certainly is not unreasonable to suppose that
in all the years that have elapsed since the
close of the war the majority of the merito-
| rious claims for pension have been presented
| and determined ! have now more than l3C
| of these bills before me awaiting executive
action. 1t will be impossible to bestow upon
them all the examination they deserve, and
many will probably become operative which
should be rejected. In the meantime | ven
ture to suggest the significance of the start
ling increase in this Kind of legislation anC
the consequences involved in its contin u
| ance."