The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-19
THE PENSION VEToEs.

Oh pensions III tue mouse has pEeSenISu q AC
port sustaining the Presidents veto of the
bill passed for the relief of the widow of Gen.
Hunter, who was granted $50 month. 1t
has been the custom to award an unusual
pension to the widows of officers holding high
rank, and it was in conformity with this rule
that the bill was passed for the benefit OF Mrs.
Hunter, there being no thought of it being
vetoed. 1t is impossible to understand why
the President should assume an attitude of
hostility toward worthy wards Of the Nation,
and to such as may suffer unjustly under
technical flaw in their records as soldiers,
though they may be able to prove beyond
reasonable doubt that in equity they are en-
titled to more than they have been receiving.
The widow Of General Hunter should not be
Disseminated against, but should receive the
same recognition on the part Of the govern
ment that the widows of other army officers
do. General Hunterrendered valuable service
to the country. He served acceptably in two
wars, and was president of the court-martia]
that tried the case of Gen. Fitz John Porter,
as we'll as that which tried and convicted the
conspirators that assassinated President Lin
coln 1t is no answer at all 10 say that the
asked for Mrs. Hunter. The same may be
said of the pensions voted to the widows OF
other honorable Union officers. If the law
provided for such pensions there would be no
occasion to apply to Congress, but they would
be granted in the regular way. That's the very
reason why Congress took up the matter. 1t
is to render justice in extraordinary cases that
this kind of bill is passed, and this is why
bills have been passed for the relief of the
widows Of officers in the past. The President
IS drawing the line altogether too closely, and
shows disposition to stand too rigidly on
technical objections to granting pensions to
applicants who have not record that is free
from technical flaw
Take the case of the soldier Tiller, whose
record on the army rolls showed him to be
deserter, but who in truth died in Anderson
vile prison. 1t was mistake for the Presi
dent to veto the bill passed for the relief of
his widow, and was wantonly cruel to go out
of his way to point out that the record showed
him deserter, And now there is fresher
case, that of Edward Ayers, who is unable to
show that he regularly enlisted, though it has
been established that he rendered valiant
and valuable service to the Union army as a
soldier. As result Of the ready veto Of the
President the country is shamed by the spec
tacle Of a Union veteran being kept out of
the poorhouse by subscriptions made by his
fellow-soldiers, the government having re-
fused to come to his aid. The principle"
upon which the President pretends to stand
is nothing more than prejudice. so narrow
that it shames all the people. In the enjoy
ment of the highest honors that the people of
this country could bestow upon him, and the
recipient of a salary of $50, 900 year, it does
not look we'll to see this man so quick to put
his veto against the bills passed by the repre-
sentatiyes of the people for the relief of the
Nations defenders. 1t is not an inspiring
sight to see veterans Of the Union making up
purses to keep a comrade out of charitable
institution simply because the President
elects to stubbornly stand on technicalltes.
The action of Congress in such cases is in
tended to do justice to men who are kept out
Of their dues by some technical flaw in their
records as soldiers. Did the President want
evidence that Edward Ayers deserved pen
sion at the hands of the government in whose
service he served honoraby and effectively
and if he wants it now he can find it in the
fact that his fellow-veteraps are voluntarily
taxing themselves that he shall not suffer
These men would not do so were it not that
they are convinced of his deserts. 1t is NOR
ally certain that Edward Ayers was not a
shirk or feather bed soldier. He was worthy
one, and one that his comrades are quick to
honor with the little sums they are able to
spare from their own earnings to prevent dis
aster falling upon him. now that his country
has turned its back upon him.
There is too much of this kind OF thing to
be overlooked as accidental injustice to
worthy men. 1t has become evident that the
President is determined to make record of
some kind, without gard to the merits Of the
bills sent for his approval, and he is bent on
taking advantage of every technicality to keep
money! from being expended for the relief of
such veterans as may not be able to file
claim that will pass muster before prejudiced
court. 1t was not to be expected that Dem