New-York tribune., 1886-07-10
PENSION VETOES DEBATED.
THE PRESIDENT SHARPLY ARRAIGNED.
AN EFFECTIVE ATTACK AND WEAK DFFENCE-DkM-
OCRATIC INCONSISTENCIES rxPosFD.
IrY rrLrGRArN TO THE TRIDUNE

WASHINGTON, July 9.-Thc proceedings of
the House and Of Committee Invalid Pensions to-
DAY were extremely interesting. The President was
criticised with great severity account of some of his
pension vetoes aud the facts presented by Republican
members showed that the criticisms were just. The
Democratic majority adhered its policy of referring
vetoed pension bills to the Committee on Invalid PEN
order TO avoid In many cases as prsccablea
direct motions overrule the vetoes Tho Dem
ocra,s however prepared repeat the folly OF
which they were guilty Wednesday when they
attempted the minority and s'ine all crtsism of
the Presidents action In any particular case The hrSt
bill taken up was for the relief OF the "l"o"
OF a who served In General Grosvenors regiment
during tho He severely wounded In the battle
Of Murreesboro in 1868 and the recipient of pen
sou un his 1882 The evidence shows that
his death entirely chsrgesbls to his military
service and therefore his widow cannot obtain PEN
sion under the general laws. She Is more thah
seventy years old and is wholly destitute Vi
any OF support Four OF her sons
followed their father into the Union service Two OF
them were battle, lost arm on the pat'e
field and had OF his eyes shot out ihe
bill vetoed the ground that Ii wonid esia"'sn
precedent principle within our general pension
laws" and also because tho death OF the u NV
result from. his military service.
General Grosvenor said that tho PRESIDENT appears 70
base vetoes OF private pension bils upon objections
which would canse him. II he were mehper Oh 'ue
House to vote the bills. and to disregard Wholly
the fact that branches of the legislative depart
mcnt have approved them. General Grosvenor said
that the bill had received the unanimous approval OF
the Invalid Pensions there is no dispute
rs 10 the facts the case, now evidence has
been offered Under such circumstances he could see
DO reason why thA House should delay action
upon this bin Chairman Matson could give
no reason but the bill should be referred
md was sustained by tho soIid Democratic vote. Is
committee at s meeting this morning hal unanimously
agreed report favorably of the vetoed Ds anu
by a divided had taken like action In another case
pu, had also voted report bill for the
lief OF widow OF MaJor-General Davld honter'
pension of $50 moatA has been granted 10
her since the bill for $50 per month vetoed. The
has received Information also that the COM
missioner OF Pensions mas reopened the case OF lier
whose claim rejected. THIS case was to have
been voted upon to-day. but the Democrats we're only
too glad to postpone 1t until the claim Is allowed 10y
the Pension Once. when Ter will receive
about -. 600 account OF arrearages to wnlch he
would not have entitled if the oil tad been ap-
proved In the OF tho President Ia over
ruled by himself and the Commissioner of Pensions In
order to prevent Congress from overruiing IT,
1t is no wonder that Chairman Matson
acceded with extreme reluctance to the demand OF
the minority for chance to discuss some OF the vetoed
before they consigned to the tender merccs
OF his committee He at leas agreed 10 sow two honrs
for debate, TO be equally divided between tbe opposing
parties =, 49,, ,,..,, ,r = ,.,,oro,s
speech lie arraigued the Pr sdcnt for what ne harac
terz-d against the veterans OF the c"uh-
Try He regarded the policy oi the President as an open
clear, unmstskabe announcement thu .he pehocr"uc
psrty was opposed recognizing the services ana
Sacrifices OF who their lives or health In order
hat great nation might be preserved The time hal
firmly saddle TO utter 1t. defiance and hos
tity the who went to the front 10 save tue
Union of peril lie thought 20 could see iAe
OF the cliei M2eisiraes. aud he could imagine the
expression of nefabe disgust which woqi pass over
the features of the Goddess OF American Liberty Whes
look upon the panel upon which was depicted
the present Chief Ma yistate sitting In his sl Sleeves
Of paliry bills Of heroes OF he War Appaus"
lie proceeded al from The record to show tat al
Hesitation favorable the SOtier had emanated rom
the Republican party and had been PASSED ny kePmo.
the solid votes OF the repre- sehlaVcs
OF the Sod South ard AGAINST the almost sohd vote OF
SIR Brumm of Pennsy lvania, denounced the Demo
Gratis poliroons ami towards who eKonera'cd their
president whenever ne chose to slap iheu Ia IN lfr
ard SPIT upon them Ihe acton 0 be iiouse isnin"Sd
hin oi the play Of Hamlet" llaught"rl lie w"nd
euhs Tor the young prince The young courageous
Of nerve. President Cleveland am for the poor OH
IOlopUS the poor miserable towards of the Democratic
party. lLauehierl The speaker continued:
Cleye aud-Do y"u see yonder cloud that is almost IN
The prmocratic Cougress-By the mass, and ike
Cieveand-Methinks it is like a weasel.
The Democratic un-rcss.-It is backed Ike weasel
Cievr4nd--O { Ike a whale.
The Democratic Congress-vory like a whale. Laugh
And so this Executive Of yours" continued Mr.:
Brumm has only to point the shape or form ami
Democratic party Isdown on rs marrow bones say
Ing A. thoI wilt and not a. VIII" ll.iu!htrrl
M Curtin. oi PENNSYLVANIA. bespoke Tor the PRESIDENT
decent resp'ct and decent speech Gentlemen nus I'M
(rrstand tGa before The elections came the people would
forget all these 'ehes, they mish reserve lhir
campaign eloqnence for while IM- v'9peralion ana ana
tnrnhera Quit Quarrclng and turn their attention to
public bu.iness- Let them remember what they had
been taught by their mothers:
"Lcl doss delight to bark and bite
Let d'r tG ''G ana S' o". %' eiow li WI s2i s1 agn
but ':ttle cllr.n shond let
I Iheii aisTr PAS sons rise 49, o
To scratch each others eye es." Lsughterl
Mr AIen OF Mississippi thought he should apologize
for discussing pension matters as he mad been Cone
private. 1t Is said that Coniedcrates ought to have
ago He acknowledged that the beginning OF the
he had the matter that due eon-iierlton 10
Allen then told an alleged funny story.
The last message upon lne Speakers table was
message vetoiug the bill granting pension to Joseph
Romsrr Mr.. McComas. OF Maryland who originally
Introduced the bill made explanation OF it
and anayzed the veto Of the President.
The record showed that the Pension once fonnd that
though Romiser was severely wounded 10y MIME bail
passin- through his mead ana face becane he was not
claim Romiscr be said was Justly entitled to pension
because he had been inspired by The spirit OF the minute
men OF Concord and lexington There were many pre-.
cedents the D The very first Congress had passed
bill pensioning the minute men OF Concord and Lex
land had approved H. Thomas Jefferson. the father OF
the Dtnocratle party hsd signed bl iantlns pen
and Andrew Jackson had signed similar bill.
not inquire whether man had been mustered in, hut
only whether he had done his duty. IAppiausc.l II
members OF Congress cond above party feeling
and GO with Washington. jackson, Jefferson "ni Lin
Coln let them with Cleveland and send back this
poor soldier who had received dollar OF pay.
who had the the bullet left and who had twenty
five years of neuralgia from serving his country.
Mr. Birrows.of Mchg gan. also vigorously a>saIed the
and maintained that there why
the bill should be referred committee.
The who. without taking the oath 10 defend the
Constitution. did defend #, entitled TO as much
consideration the who took the oath defend
the htg and then violated that OATH and yet Joseph
E0miser's pension bill vetoed and Fiz John Porter
put upon the rolls. Applause on the Republican
side.
Afier speech by Mr. sprincer defending the Pres-
dent, the bill refrrrei-ycas, 1870; nays 1lS.
This cleared the Speakers table of the MESSAGES
The President to-day sent to the House a message
yetong the bill granting pension 10 Daniel H. Ross
DEFICIENCIES DISCUSSED.