Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-22
PRESIDENTIAL VETOES.
TWO MESSAGES FULL OF SOUND
COMMON SENSE.

COMMON SENSE.
Thirteen Pension and Two ubIic Build
ing Measures the Objects OF Disap-
neutrality-suspicious. CarelessnesN in
Dealing with Pension Claims Again
acknowledgements on Which Public
Building Applications Should be
Based.
WASHINGTON, June 21.-The President
to-day sent toCOngress fifteen veto mes
sages, six of which were sent to the Sen
ate and nineto the House. In his mes
sage vetoing the bill granting a pension
to Elizabeth DeKratft. the President says
his objection is that it is of no possible
advantage to the beneficiary, and that
the present pension laws give her all the
advantages which she would receive uu-
der the special law. The President adds:
l am SO thoroughly tired Of dlsapprovlng
gifts of public money to individuals who in
myvieW have no right or claim TO the same,
Notwithstanding apparent Congressional
sanction, that interpOae with afeeling of re-
lief in case where 1 find it unnecessary to
determine the merits OF the application.
CONGRESSIONAL CARELESSNEsS.
In speaking of promIscuous and ill-adVised
grants OF pensions which have lately been
their apparent Congressional sanction, in re-
eognition of the fact that large prOpor-
hon of these bills have never been sub
mitted to a majority Of either branch
of Congress, but are the result of nominalses-
sOns held for the express purpose Of their
consideration aud attended bya small minor
ity Of the members of the respective houses OF
the legislative branch of the government.
Thus. in considering these bills. have not
felt that / was aided by the deliberate judg-
ment of Congress, and when have deemed it
a -
sented have hardly regarded my action as
dissent from the conclusions Of the peoples
representatives,
SOLDIERS SERVICES APPRECIATED.
have not been insensible to suggestions
which should influence every citizen, either
in private station or OFFICIAL place, TO exhibit
not only just but generous appreciation OF
the services of our countIy's defenders.
In reviewing the pension legislation pre-
sented TO me, many bills have been approved
upon the theory that every doubt should be
resO we'd in favor OF the proposed beneficiary.
/ nave not however, been able to entirely
divest myself OF the idea that public money
appropriated for pensions is a soldiers fund,
which should be devoted to indemnlfcation
of those who, in defense of the Union and in
the nations service, have wOrthilv deserved
aud who in the day of their dependence re-
sulting from such suffering, are entitled TO
the benefactions of their government.
INJUSTICE OF PERvERsION.
This reflection lends to the bestowal of PEN
siOns hind of saeredness which invites the
adoption Of such principles and regulations
as will exclude perversfon as well as insure
liberal and generous application OF grateful
and benevolent designs. Heedlessness and
disregard OF the principle which underlles
the granting of pensions Is unfair TO the
wounded and crippled soldier who is hoDoFed
in just rec 0gnition of his governments. Such
a man should never fnd himself side by side
on the pension roll with those who have been
tempted to attribute their natural Ills to
nnmnnIfV heir v.
EVILS OF RELAXATION.
Every relaxation of principle in the grant
ing of pensions invites applications without
merit and encourages those who for gain urge
honest men to become dishonest. Thus is the
demoralIzing lesson taugh the people that. as
against the public treasury the most ques-
tiOnable expedients are allowable.
During the present session of Congress 493
special pension bills have been submitted TO
me- and am advised that II more hare re-
ceived the favorable action OF both houses of
Congress aud wilt be presented within day
or two, making over GOO OF these bills which
have been passed up to this time during the
present session, making three times the num-
Der passed at any entire session since 1881.
THE BUREAUS ABILITY.
With the Pension Bureau fully equipped
aud regulated by most liberal rules in active
operation. supplemented in its work by con-
stant special legislation, IT certainly is not
unreasonable.tO to suppose that 10 all tue years
majority of the merftorious claims for pen
sons have been presented and determined.
| have now more than $50 of these bffls before
me awaiting executive action. II viii be lm
possible to bestow upon them all the eXamina-
lion they deserve and many will probably be-
come operative which should be rejected. In
she meantme venture 10 suggest thes1gnin-
eance OF the startling increase in this kind of
legislation and the consequences involved in
its continuance.
VETOED PUBLIC BUILDING BILLS.
The bills providing for the erection of
public buildings at GAINESVILLE, Ohio, and
Sioux City, Ia, were vetoed for the rea-
sons that no Federal offices were located
at either place except postmasters, and
the nostal business of these places does
not warrant the erection of buildings by
the government for the special accOmmo-
datiOn of the post office. The President
saws:
The public buildings now in process OF con-
struction. numbering 80, involving constant
supervision. are all she building projects
which the government ought to have on hand
az one time, unless very palpabe necessity
exists for increasing the number Maltipli-
cation OF these structures involves not only
the appropriation made for their completion,
bus great expense in their care and preserva-
tiOn hereafter. W hile a fine government
building is desirable ornament to any town
or city, and while the securing OF an appro-
pratiOn therefor - often considered as an H.
lusiration OF zeal and activity in the interest
OF a constituency. am Of the 0pinlon That
the expenditure OF the public money for such
purpose should depend upon the necessity OF
such buildings for public uses.