The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-26
POINTED QUESTIONS.

Interrogatories Propounded by Mr. Blair in
Connection with Pension Vetoes.
WASHINGTON, July Ex-senator Blair, from
the committee pensions, to day submitted
report upon the message of the President vetoing
the bill granting pension to Newcomb Parker.
The ground of the veto was that "before the
passage of the bill the Commissioner of Pen
sions, in ignorance of the action of Congress,
allowed the claim under the general law" and
that the President was unwilling that a man
worthy to be placed on the pension rolls should
be loser by reason of special interpostion of
Congress. The report submits the papers on
file in the case to show that, prior to the applica
ton to Congress for relief by special act the
claim had been rejected by the Pension Office,
and was only re-examined and allowed after it
was found the bill had received favorable action
from Congress. The report then comments as
follows on the veto:
why does the President in his message sup
press tie fact that the claim had been formally
rejected by the Pension Office, so that the claim
ant had no remedy but the interposition OF Com
gress2 Why does he take pains to say that in
ignorance OF the action of Congress the Commits
sioner had allowed the claim under the present
law2 Why does he proceed to express his
anxiety to save the claimant from the loss or ar
rears of pension by the action of Congress, when
such action would have no such effect--not in
the least impairing his right to the allowance OF
the arrears-save by force of recent and IN
accountable ruling of the present Commissioner,
reversing all previous practice and violating all
equity, and, we believe. all legal rights. made
apparently as punishment to those who dare
apply to Congress for relief no matter what the
outrage they may have suffered in the tolls or
the oficel Why does the President write this
message so as to place Congress. himself and tho
Commissioner before the country in light
favorable to himself and the Commissioners, and
unfavorabe to the legislature of the countryt
Can anyone believe that the Commissioners OF
Pensions reversed his own deliberate action re-
jecting this claim without a particle of further
evidence or any trace of reason. save as the re-
suit of the proceedings in Congress. of which
it is simply absurd, or worse TO deny his
knowledge, just in season to enable the President
to write this peculiar veto, which places Con-
gress in the attitude of inhicting hurt to the
claimant by their meddlesomnessl The Presi-
dent could not have beon familiar with the facts
in this case. The Commissioner decided, July T.
to allow the claim July q the enrolled bili wens
to the President. Was the enrolled bill IN tina
possession Of the Commissioner before ne de-
cided to allow this caimp
The report then asks il it is conceivable thas
| the allowance of the claim by the Pension Once
| is not wholly due to the action of Congress, ana
/ not '.in Ignorance of that action. "a
! Senator Blair alio submitted report recon-
mending the passage of a bill to pension John
| s. kirkpatrick, the veto OF tho President 70 the
contrary Notwithstanding The bill wss vetoed