The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-05-18
TWO VETOES.
Tho President Vetoes two Private
Pension Bills.

va,e poison bills recently passed Oy
Conetess TO tie House yesterday, with
veto messages accompanying them, and
an exciting time ensued. The discus
sion arose over the bill of Representa-
tive Osborne, of Pennsylvania, 10 in
crease the pension OF Lorin Burrett, OF
from S12 10 Sl00. Mr..
Osbo,ne made very feeling speech in
advocacy Of his bill. He described the
services aud present condition OF tie
pensioner in graphic manner. Mr.
Barrett commanded colored regiment,
was badly wounded, and 10 now thyeic-
ally helpless and bed,rIdden. The chair
man OF the Pension Committee, Mr..
Matson, objected 10 the bill, and brought
into the House an adverse report. The
objection urged was that it formed pre-
cedent for hundreds and thousands of
other cases. Bragg, OF Wisconsin. who
has been pretty eevere on private claims,
this one, and II went through.
While this was going on, message was
lying upon the Speakers table vetoing
Two of these private pension bills. In
one case the President found that the
bill actually cut the pensioner down ln-
stead OF increasing the rate. as was in
tended. 1t illustrates, more iorcibly
than words, the. .carelessness with which
such bills are prepared, and the utter in
adequacy Of the means to ascertain the
facts possessed by the Congressional
Committee.
Following is the text Of the messages:
To the House Of Representatives:
/ return without my approval House
bill No. TAT, entitled "An act increasing
The pension Of Andrew j. Hill" This
bill doubles the pension which the per-
son named therein has been receiving
for number OF years. II appears from
the report OF the committee to which the
bill was referred that the claim made by
him for increased pension has been late
" rejected by the Pension Bureau, on
the ground that the claimant is now re-
ceiving pension commensurate With
the degree of disability found to exist.
The policy of frequently reversing by
special amendment the decisions OF the
Bureau invested by law with the exam
Ination OF pension claims fully equipped
for such examination, and which ought
not to be suspected OF any lack OF lib
erality to veteran soldiers. is exceeding.
" questionable. 1t may well be doubt
ed II a committee OF Congress has bet.
Ter opportunity than such agency tc
Judge OF the merits Of this claim.
II, however. there Is any lock of pow.
er In the Pension Bureau for full In
vestiga,ion. 1t should bo supplied. II
the system adopted is inadequste TO do
full Justice to claimants 1t should be cor
and If there is a want o! sympa.
thy and consideration for the defenders
OF our Government the Bureau should
be reorganized. This disposition to
conceds mos. generous treatment 10 the
sged and needy among our
veterans should not be restrained, and II
must be admitted that In some cases jus
lice and equity cannot be attained with
out the charitable tendencies OF the Gov
ernment in favor OF worthy objects OF
i,s care INDUCED under fixed rules.
These conditions sometimes justify
resort to special Legislation, but | am
convinced that the interposti0n by
special entc'mer 10 the granting OF pen
sions should be rare and exceptional. In
The nature of things, If this Is lightly
done and upon slight occasion, an invi-
lalion is offered to the passage OF claims
BY Congress which, upon their merits,
could not survive the test of an exami-
nation by the Pension Bureau, and whose
only hope Of success depends more upon
sympathy. often misdirected, than right
and justice. The instrumcntality de-
vised by law for the determination Of
pension claims is thus overrulej and dis
credited and there is danger that In the
snd popular prejudice will be created
against those who are worthy and en-
titled to the bounty OF the Government
There have lately been presented to
mo on the same day for approval, nearly
24o special bills, granting and increasing
pensions aud restoring to the pension
bill the names of parties, which for cause
have been dropped. To aid executive
duty they we're referred to the Pension
Bureau for examination and report. AZ
ter delay absolutely necessary, they
have been returned TO me within few
houis OF the limit, constltutionally pro-
vided for the executive action. Two
hundred and thirty-two OF these bills
are thus clsss:flad. Eighty-one cover
cases in which favorable action by the
Pension Bureau was denied by reason Of
the insufllaiency OF the testimony Gled
to prove the facts alleged. These bills
have approved on the assumption that
the claims we're meri.orious, and that on
the passage of the bills the Government
bas waived full proof OF tue facts;
twenty six of the bills cover claims re.
jected by the Pension Blresu because
the evidence produced tended to prove
that tie alleged disability existed before
the claimants enlistment; twenty-one
cover claims which have heen denied by
such bureau because the evidence tended
to show that the disability, though con-
tracied In the service, was not incurred
10 the line OF duty; thirty three cover
claims which have been denied because
the evidence tended to show that the
disability originated after the soldiers
we're discharged from the army; forty
seven cover claims which have been de-
MED because the general pension laws
contain no provision under which they
could be allowed, twenty four claims
have never been presented to the Pen
sion Bureau.
] estimated the expenditure involved
in the bills at more than $4,000 annu-
ally. Though my conception OF public
duty leads ne to the conclusion, upon
the sight examination which ! have been
able to give such Of these bills as are
net embraced in the 6rss class above
mentioned, that many Of them should be
disapprosed. I am utterly unable to
submit within the time allowed me for
that purpose for the same. They will
therefore become operative without my
approval.
A sufficient reason for the return Of
the particular bill now under coDsidera-
lion is found in the fact that it provides
that ns~n - Hill ha