The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-22
The Presidents veto Messages.

WASHINGTON, June 2l.-The Presi-
dent has sent to Congress fifteen veto
messenger. Thirteen OF the vetoed
measures are private pension bills. and
the others provide for public BUILDINGS
at Sioux City, Ia, and GAINESVILLE, o.
The measures have not yet been laid
before the houses of Congress.
In vetolng pension bill today the
President said: 81 am so thoroughly
tired Of disapproving giiis of public
money to individuals who in my view
have no right or claim 10 the same,
Notwithstanding the apparent Con-
OCCASIONAL sanction, that / inte'pose
with a feeling OF relief in case where
find it necessary TO determine the
merits Of the application. In speak
ing of the promiscucus and ill
advised grants OF pensions
which have lately been presented
to me for approval, ] have
spoken Of their apparent Congressional
sanction in recognition OF the fact that
large proportion OF these bills have
never been submitted TO q majority of
either branch of Coz gress but ara the
result OF nominal sessions held for the
express purpose Of their consideration
aud attended BY small minority of
the members OF the respective houses
OF the legisl ltive branch of the Gov
eminent. Thus, in considering these
bills, l have not felt that wss aided
by the deliberate judgment of Con-
gre:s, aud when have deemed it my
duty to disapprove many of the bills
presented, have hardly regarded my
action as a dissent from the conClu-
sions OF the peoples repre- sentatives.
l have not been insensible to the sug-
gestion which should influence every
citizen, either in private station or Off
cial place, to exhibit not only Just
but generous appreciation of our
country's defenders. In reviewing the
pension legislation presented to me,
many bills have been approved upon
the theory that every doubt should be
resolved in favor of the proposed
beneficiary. / have not, however,
been able to entirely divest myself OF
the idea that the public money appro-
priated for pensions is the soldiers
fund, which should be devoted to the
decentralization OF those who in the
defense of tbs Union and in the ma
TONS service, have wortniiy deserved,
and who, in the day OF their depend
ence resulting from such suffering,
are entitled to the beneficent actions Of
their Government. This reelection
tends to the bes. avowsl of pensions;
a kind OF sacredness which invites the
adoption Of such principles and regu-
la ions as will exclude perversion
as we'll ss insure liberal and
generous appliCa ion Of grateful and
benevolent designs. Hee dlessuess aud
disregard of TIE principle which
underliss the granting of pensions is
unfair 10 the wounded, crippled sol.
der who is honored in the Just recog.
milton Of his government Such a man
should never find himself side by side
on the pension roll with those who
have been tempted 10 attribute the
natural ills to which humanity is heir
to service in the army. Every relaxl-
ton of principle in the granting of
pensions invites applications without
merit and encourages those, who, for
gain, urge honest men to become dis
honest. Thus is the demoralizing les.
son taught the people that ss against
the public treasury the most question
able expediens are allowable" The
President suggests the significance of
the startling increase in pension legis.
lation and the consequences in volved
in its continuance.