The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-06-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
A Sample of President cIeveland's
vetoes of the Pension Bills.
No Investigation to be Made of the
Alleged Bribery in the Payne Case.
A Sample of Mr.. cIeveIand's vetoes.


A Sample of Mr.. CIeveIand's Vetoes.
WASHINGTON, June 25.-The pension bills
vetoed by President Cleveland on Monday
was one relating to the case OF Thomas >.
Hopkins, late of Company G., Sixteenth
Maine Volunteers. The bill exempted Hop
kins who now receives pension, from the
limitation of the act of Congress approved
March 3rd, 1879, which provides that per
sons making applications after June 10TH
1880, should not be entitled to arrearages un-
less insanity had been the cause of their moi
having made application sooner. The
amount which he would have received is
some $1,000. The committee on pensions III
the House in its printed report to the House
in favor of the passage of the bill said
Hopkins seeks relief from the limitation of
the Arrears of pension act, on the ground that
for time some months prior to the passage
of the act down to period subsequent to the
Both of June, 1880, he was prevented, by
reason of the extreme severity of his illness,
and by mental and physical disability from
making an application for arrears. 1t appears
that upon the first return of mental strength,
and as soon as he could dictate little he
made application for pension which was
granted.
A sworn statement from two physicians
was also given saying that his disease has
been the SeyereSt case of nervous flaustlon
which has ever come under their observa a.
ton, and for many months previous ther e.
to he was utterly incapacitated for work OF
any kind, and that the effort he made in APP
plying at SO early a date has seriously retard-
ed his recovery. He is now a perfect wreck.
The invalid pension committees OF bot h
House and Senate through that sufficient eV-
tdence was produced to indicate that Mr..
Hopkins was prevented from making his ap-
plication before the limitation act went into
effect by condition of mind which though
not Insanity, just as thoroughly prevented
his performing any mental labor as actual
insanity would have done: The bill was
charge of it with no objections, and under
Mr.. Reeds guidance was passed by the
House with equal ease. Those who are ac-
quainted with the facts of the case consid-
cred that the President has done an act CT
great injustice in yetoing the bill.
The Payne Election Case.
The Senate committee on privileges and
electious held short meeting this morning
and voted to report adversely to any inyestl-
with the election of Senator Payne. 1t was
concluded that the evidence was not sufficient
to show that money was used in his election,
and the committees were very confident tnat
the result was not in any way effected by I'M
proper means. There will be a minority re-
port in favor of investigation.
1t is said that only Senators Hoar and
Frye will sign the minority report, and that
Senators Teller, Evarts, Logan, Salisbury,
Vance, Pugh and Eustis will sign the major
ity report.
Postal Clerks Removed.
The superintendent of the railway mail
service announced yesterday the removal of
20 railway postal clerks on the routes run
ming out of Chicago and st. Louis.
This action is the result of an investiga-
tion which has been in progress for sixth
months as to the truth of the charges which
were made to the postmaster general that
the clerks remove had attempted to organ.
ize all the postal clerks in the railway mail
service into an association with view, to a
general "strike.' in case any of them should
be removed.
Coiored Man Rejected.
The Senate committee on the District of
Columbia voted today to report adversely
upon the nomination of G.. +. Mathews (col-
ored) Of Albany, N. Y, to be recorder of
deeds for the District of Columbia.
The President on a Cruise.
The President left Washington this morn
ing for cruise down the Potomac.
The River and Harbor Bill.
The Senate committee on commerce agreed
this forenoon to report the river and harbor
bill next Monday.
Tho Agricultural Bill.
The agricultural appropriation bill as it
passed the Senate was considered by the
House committee on agriculture today. The
Senate amendments relating to increase of
animal industry, statistics and sugar were
non-concurred in. There are no other points
of difference between the two Houses over
which any controversy is exbected.
Minor Matters.
The acting Secretary of the Treasury to-
day appointed A. E. Dougherty of Pennsyl-
vania, to be chief of division of the Sixth
Auditors office, vice B. F. Abbott, resigned.
The Senate committee on privileges and
elections held short meeting this morning,
and voted to report adversely to any inyesti-
CATION of the charges of bribery in connec-
tion with the election of Senator Payne. 1t
is concluded that the evidence is not sutf-
cient evidence to show that money was used
in the election, and is very confident that
the result was not in any way affected by
improper means. There will be a minority
report in favor of investigation. 1t is said
that only. Senators Hoar and Frye will sign SlS
er, Evarts, Logan. Salisbury, Vance, Pugh
and Enstis will sign the majority report.