New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-04
THE PRESIDENT CENSURED.
UNwARRANrED USE OF THE VETO POWER.
HIS ATTACK on CONGRESS REPLIED BY THE SEN
ATE COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS.

HIS ATTACK on CONGRESS REPELLED BY THE SEN
ATE COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS.
| WASHINGTON, July 3.-'rhe Senate Com
mttee on Pensions in It's report recommending the pas
sage of the bill granting pension to Mary j. Nottaye
says,
$50 great become the uumber OF suoh vetoos In
terposed by The present Executive all within few
weeks past, and extraordinary tho censure. some
times rudely expressed and In nearly every instance
severely implied. OF the action Of the two Houses OF
Congress and Of thcr committees. whom has de-
volved the wesrisome and generally unappreciated
labor OF INVESTIGATING those claims, accompanied in
many such rdicue of and evident disgust with
the claims themselves that yOtr committee feel that
they justified In brief review OF the circumstances
involved.
"In doing this strong effort Will be made to restrain
unnatural feeling Of Indignation, which. II per-
mitted the proportions which the provocaton
ustes, would wholly destroy those respectful forms OF
expression which be maintained In official inter
between the different officers aud departments or
the Government This becomes the more necessary in
proportion as It. rendered the difficult by reasons
Of the unjust and unexampled style in which some OF
the messages OF tho President are expressed II shall
be tho effort OF tho committee to get in this difficult
matter without VOL itng the courtesies OF official inter-
course by initiating an example which, so FAR a. we are
aware Is wihou, precedent and which, far
concerned. shall remain So"
Tho committee proceeds to show that 90 per cent OF
submitted to the President have been vetoed and
It not nseDsibe to the special condemnation which
this disparagiug contrast inficts
" Much CRITICISM" the report continues, has
INDUCED In by the President OF tho methods
OF legislation pursued by the Houses OF Congress,
and however unniormed he may be upon the subject.
aud however unintentionally by OF want OF
knowledge he may have msrepresened TO the country
the methods OF LEGISLATION which have been pursued in
like Congresses and Parliamcnts have
existed and which have since Paraments became Free
been safe from ngy and presidential Interference, all
the same the people are misled by the un warranted
statements OF the President to the manner in which
legislation upon pensions claims aud the like and Of
necessity must be conducted. The pension busi-
ness OF the has been better done than dur
ing this session. Those members OF the committee who
performed the most have been careful rs any, and
derison OF their patient conscientious and eIhausting
abors to he along nobest and best portions Of
Gods poor and the countrys benefacors can originate
only In and noble which 10 mised. or Ia one
that. Informed, sadly needs reconstruction or recrea.
ton"
The report embodies copy Of instructions By the AS
sistant Secretary OF the Interior to the Com
missioner OF Pensions, as follows: PLEASE cause
the same to be critically examined and report
to this department whether, in your opinion |
any objections their approval are known TO exist. In
where objections exist they should De specifically
This indicates the committee says, upmistakaby that
the President relies tnc
The report continues;
why the President should initiate this game OF shuttle
cock pei, coordinate department OF the Govern
with yetOes based the review OF tho action or
Congress by subordinate or the Commissioner OF
Pensions topic which will bear Thought, but perhaps
may he left without discussion Why the nndins OF tho
Houses Congress should be iscredIted and attrib
uted to unworthy motives. Indifference or incapscity,
the reassertion 10y the pension clerk that he Is
and Congress wrong IL accepted AS the OASIS or
fact thess numerous vetOes. IL Is bard TO perceive
all through these vet0es there seems 10 run hs ia
lacy that the power Of Congress to grant pensions
limited to what may already be done py the Pension
Otlice under the general law
at difficult TO write In that rudlpentary
way upon the OF pensions and the
various grounds OF compensation, charity ana
public policy when - ry In order to remove this
II l. sufficient observe that the Jnrisiic
tion OF the legislative power OF this Government Is
that OF the Comm ssiDners or PENSIONS ana
that sooner atrr although may cost tho country
prolonged and steady effort. this trush Will become APP
parent.
:. But IL should lie remembered that IN very large
number Of these blis passed. by Congress Important
original written ry Is filed with the committees
or preser verbally. In hearings before othar COM
mlttees upon all public Questions when come before
boaIes and often the applicant Is present.
W n his statement aud his papaUle disabilities. THIS
evidence il available to the Executive at iTast
aud never has been IN possession OF
me PEI Office. Consequently IN neary every ease
rho Congregational statement stands upon stronger
proof than finding OF Facts wAlch the Ifes ueht
set. up in disapgrDyIl Of tho Dill
The President to-day vetoed the Senate bill for the
re! ef OF Marin l. Buuday. The claim Is not allowed,
on the ground that would set precedent which could
hardly be ignored, and which II followed would furnish
nuothrr means of attack upon the Treasury quite as
elective as many which are IN active operation.