Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-07
MORE VETOES.
THE PRESIDENT DIsAPPR0vEs AN
OTHER BATCH OF PENSIONS.
Some Of His Reasons Bushwhaekers and
Colehicum Drinkers-some Very
shadowy Claims,
IBy telegraph TO The Dispatch.I

aPP'V'di VI tWSHt1 pifaso PehSi""
and the bill providing for the erection
Of public building at Duluth, MINI.
The Duluth public-building bill is
vetoed, the President says, because ne
is entirely satisfied that the building
provided for is not Immediately neces-
cary, and he adds that not little legis-
lation has lately been perfected, aud
very likely more will be necessary to
increase the miscalculated appropria-
tons for and correct blunders in the
construction OF many Of the public
buildings now in process of erection.
The bills granting pensions to Arctus
F. LOOMS and William II. Nevil are
disappToved because Of the Presidents
belief that they are already in receipt
Of sufficient pensions.
The bills to restore the names Of ii.
l.. Kyler and Abner MOrehead to the
pension-roll are disapproved as cases
without merit. Nino bills, granting
pensions to Sally A. Brady, Mrs. Mar
earet A. Jacoby, Rosana V. Rowley,
Fannie L. Evans, James 7. Irwin, Ma
ria Cunningham, Mary Karstellar, Will
lam Dermody, and Robert II. Staple
ton, are vetoed on the general ground that
the injuries for which the pensions are
proposed were not incurred in military
service, nor the result thereof.
James Carroll's bill is vetoed on the
ground that at the time the claimant
received his wound he was engaged in
plunderiDg the neighbOrhoOd Of Wa
tauga, n. c., and was hunted down by
the home guards; Joseph Romiser's
bill on the ground that he was not in
the military service Of the Government {;
Catherine McCarthy's bill on the ground
that her husband died from gross heed
lessness in taking an overdose Of col
| chium, and Elizabeth McKay's bill on
the ground that she has made no appli-
cation to the Pension Office.
In announcing his disapproval of the
bill granting pension to Edward NJ.
Harrington, who was injured in the line
Of duty by reason Of an attack by a
fellow.soldier in 1864, the President
expresses the opinion that the Govern
ment ought not to be called upon to in
sure against the quarrelsOme propensi-
ties Of its individual soldiers or to COM
pensate one who is worsted in fight
or even in an unprovoked assault.
Lewis W. Scanland filed his declara-
ton for pension in 1884, alleging that
be contracted chronic diaTrhua III the
Black Hawk War. The records show
that he served from April IS, 1892, to
May %. 1882. In vetOing the bill for
his relief TIE President says
81 am inclined to think it would
have been fortunate thing II
in this case it could have been
demonstrated that man could thrive
so well with chronic diarrhUa for fifty
two years, as its existence IN the case
Of this good old gentleman would prove
We should, then, perhaps have less OF
it in claims for pensions. The fact Is,
in this case there is no disability which
can be traced to forty-days' military
service of ffty.four years age, and
think little, ifany more, infirDity than is
usually found in men Of the age OF
claimant"
In yetoing the bill granting pension
to Francis Deming, who claims he con-
tiacted blindness, the result Of rheuma'
tism incurred in the service, the Presi-
dent SAYS that there seems to be nc
testimony showing the soldiers cOndi
ton from the time Of his discharge t
! l8S0-a period of fifteen years. The
President continues: After nineteen
years had elapsed since his discharge
from the army q pension is claimed fol
him upon the very shadowy allega
ton Of the incurrence Of rheumatism
while in service, coupled with the start
ling proposition that this rheumatism
resulted. just previous to his applica'
ton, in blindness. Upon medical exam
nation it appeared that his blindness
was caused by amaurosis, which is gen
orally accepted as an affection of tn
optic nerve. am satisfied that fan
examination Of the facts in this cas-
iustiiies the statement that the bill I'm
der consideration can rest only upon tn
grounds that aid should be furnished t,
this ex-sOldier because he served in thu
army and because he a long tim
thereafter became blind, disabled, anC
dependent. None Of US are entitled t
credit for extreme tenderness and con
sideratiOn towards those who Tough
their country's battles. These ar
sentiments common to all good citizens
They lead to the most beneyolen
care on the part of the Government ant
deeds Of charity and mercy in priyat
life. The blatant and noisy self.asser
ton Of those who from motives tina
may be well suspected declare them
selves above all other friends Of the sol
der cannot discredit nor belittle tn
calm. steady, and afiectionate regard
a grateful nation. Legislation has beel
at the present session Of Congress per
fected considerably increasing the rate
pension In certain cases. Appropriation
have also been made OF large sums fo
The support of national homes, wher
sick, disabled, or needy soldiers ar
cared for; and within few days
liberal sum has been appropriated 70
, the enlargement and increased accom-
mediation and convenience Of these in
stitutions. All this is no more tina
should be done; but with all this, an
with hundreds Of special act
which have been passed grantin
pensions in cases where, for m
part, am willing TO comics
that sympathy rather than judgmer
has often led to discovery of rel'
! ton between injury or death and mil
, tsry service. am constrained by
F, sense of public duty to interpose againl
! establishing a principle and setting
) precedent which must result in unregI
lated, partial, and unjust gifts Of publ
money under the pretext of indemnif.
ing those who suffered in their means
support as an incident Of military Sc
vice."