The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-01
ABOUT PENSIONS.
tn. President Reviews Some Queer Pen

The President Reviews Some Queer Pen
sion Cases, and DiSapproves Them.
WASHINGTON, June 25.-The President
was so much occupied yesterday in con-
sidering large batch of private pension
bills that he denied himself to all calls and
even postponed the regular Cabinet meet
ing, informing the secretaries that he would
prefer to dispose of the pension bills white
his mind was on them rather than to taSe
up the business of the Cabinet, unless some
of the departments hid important matters
to submit requiring immediate action. As
there was nothing requiring immediate at
tentiOn fhr Uife,irg adjourned. As the re-
suit o. tie w"rl, dome by the President dur
ing tie day. no less than twenty-nine
more ye'O messages relating exclusively to
lrivate pension bills were sent to Congress.
The messages were all short and terse and
the conclusions reached in some of them as
to the dement's of the cases make rich and
rare reading. OF one Of the cases, that OF
James II. Darling, whose disability is de-
scrIbed in the records as general stiffness
OF joints, the President says that it appears
that he enlisted in November, 1861, and
was reported as having deserted March ,,
1863. An examination in 1882 found this
''victm of war disability" with the ap-
pearance of hale, hearty old man
weighing 1856 pounds. at is evident
TO me-" he concludes, that this
man ought not tn be pensoned." Com
menting on another case, bill for the
relief OF William Bishop, who was enrolled
As substitute March 25, 1865, admitted 10
the hospital with measles May 5, returned
to duty May and mustered out May II,
in, hill
This is the military record of this soldier
who remained in the army one month and
seventeen DAYS. having entered it as sub
stitute at time when high bounties were
paid. Fifteen years after this brilliant ser
vice and this terrific encounter with the
measles. on June %, 1880, the claimant
discovered that his attack OF measles had
some relation TO his army enrolment and
this disease had settled in his eyes, also az
fecting his spinal column" OF another
case in bill for relief OF Julia Connolly.
the widow Of Thomas Connolly, a soldier
mustered into service October pc, 1851, and
reported as deserter November IA, 1861, the
President SAYS: ale never did days ser
vice so far as his name appears on the
records. He visited his family about
December II, and was found drowned in
canal about six miles from his home. Those
who prosecute claims for pensions have
grown very bold when cases of this descrip-
ton are presented for consideration" a
bill granting = pension to Andrew j. Will
son, who il appears was drafted into service
in February, 1865, ana was discharged in
September of the same year on account of
chronic nephritis and deafness, aud who in
his application for pension alleged rheuma-
tism, resulting from exposure, and inflam-
nation of the muscles Of back. with pain in
the kidneys, darrhea and rupture, the Pres
ident diSmisSes with this remark: What
ever else may be said OF this claim or his
achievements during his short military
career it must be conceded that he contract
ed a great deal OF disability. There is no
doubt in my mind that whatever ailments
he may lay claim to, his title to the same
was complete before lie entered the army"