The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-08-04
THE VETO POWER.

THE VETO POWER.
Republican Congressman Have Forced
the Chief Executive to a Free Use of
Constitutional Weapon of Defense
Bayne's Abuse-Mr. Cleveland's Capacity
to Treat Details.
The Presidents vetoes Of pension
bills have been constant, and in almost
every case his statement of reasons has
been conclusive. In some instances
there may be good reasons for recon-
sideration. But the action of the
President shows devotion to duty and
resolution not to suffer injustice to
be done to the people by careless ap-
preparations of public money, which
will receive tho most general and
hearty approval. Here are some il
Illustrations of the vetoed bills:
Simmons ". Harden got bill passed
granting him q pension for enlargement OF
the heart, which he asserts was the result OF
falling out of a wagon fourteen years befo
the disease developed. The bill granting
pension to Alb gail Smith WAS vetoed because
it gave her a less amount than she was al
ready receiving. Another instance OF care,
less legislation is shown in the veto OF Dill
for the relief of Andrew j. Hill, when the pa
pers show that the claimants name is Alfred.
James Buffers bill was vetoed because he
was never in the army: he enlisted on August
%, 1864. got leave to go home to bid his friends
goodbye, fell into cellar and broke his leg on
route, and was discharged September ~.
Harriet Wesh's bill was vetoed because she
admits that she married the man Tor whose
service she claims q pension when she had
hl1s hnp ,1ndivnrCod
Ham was drafted into the army: he was en-
| rolled, and the next day started for home; he
| fell off his horse broke his ankle, and was not
placed on the rolls of his regiment. James G.
Chandler applied fora pension at the Pension
| Office because he was run over by wagon IN
| 1862. This was denied him. Then he entered
| another application on account of bronchitis.
This was also denied: Then he made q third
| for rheumatism. and that was denied also;
| Finally he went to Congress, and got bill
passed on all three of his claims"
There are many others quite as ex-
traordinary. To prevent such waste
of the public money is a simple duty of
the President, and the attacks which
have been made upon him for discharg-
ing his duty are exceedingly discred-
liable to those who make them. The
attacks proceed upon the general as
sumption that any man who was a
soldier is entitled to have his claim
for relief honored in full in the
precise form in which he makes it,
and without regard to the facts.
OF course nothing could be more alb
surd
Many of the bills are laws Of Con.
gress overriding the decision of the
| Pension Bureau. The President acts,
therefore, as Judge of appeal, and de-
cides upon the facts in evidence, re.
capitulating them in his message. The
assertion that the constitution does mo-
contemplate this kind of detailed re-
vision of the acts of Congress by the
Executives idle and wholly unfounded
To the extent of the veto the President
is made a most important part of the
legislative power, and he acts under
the precise obligation that binds any
member of Congress. His duty re
quires him to consider details quite as
much as the duty of the Representa-
tive requires him to do the same thing
and when it is obvious that detail
have been neglected by Congress, it i
the especial duty of the Executive tt
correct the result of the neglect
Mr.. Bayne, Of Pennsylvania, il
his extraordinary vituperation o
the President as sthis man" who wa
almost transcending his authority, ant
ono better than any other American
citizen, and not the equal of any mai
who periled his life and went out t.
save the Union,' wholly forgot that h
was speaking Of an officer of the Gov
ernment who acted under obligation
quite as important and binding a
those of Mr.. Bayne himself, and tina
even if the President had been a shir
and coward-which he was not
that fact is not reason that Mr.. Bayn
and his associates should be allowed t
take money improperly from the pub
lie treasury. The reasons of the Presi
dents vetoes are submitted to tn
country, and the country will judg
whether they are well founded. N
honorable soldier will think him ur
friendly to soldiers because he refuse
to countenance dishonest claims eve
when preferred in the name of so
der; and every good citizen, consciou
that the President is an honest mar
and that the country is not ungenerou
to the soldiers, will support him in h
defense of the just rights of all the pee
pie.
There is a general feeling that til
veto power should be used sparingl,
But it would be better to say that Coz
;; gress ought not to furnish frequent o.
casions for its exercise. The numbt
of President Cleveland's vetoes is grea
: but they all affect what is substantial
, the same act of legislation, an act
infinite details, namely, the grantin
of pensions. The veto power is one
the most important and valuab
checks of our Government. 1t belon,
y to the system which wisely separat
9 the republic from the simple demo
! racy, Or the constant, immedia
, rule of the majority. 1t is a pow
: provided by the majority for its ov
: restraint. and nothing proves mo
completely the wisdom of our popul
government than the fact of the ado
ton by the majority of provisio
which prevent hasty action. The Pre-
a ident does not intend to slight his dut
and he has announced that he W
y consider all bills carefully
o fore signing them. He gives fl
. notice that he will not be hi
ried. and Congress- has learned til