The National tribune., 1886-08-05

year ever since the war If his family was not len
in comfortable circumstances u was the fault OF the
administration of his financial affairs and not due
10 the inadequacy of his pay. only refer to this TO
indicate to the House that Gen. Hancock had ample
opportunity to provide for his widow. I do not
refer TO II criticism upon the action Of Congress
in voting his widow a pension of 5000 a year
Very far from IT, The action OF Congress was most
commendable am DESTROYS to know why the
widow of Gen. Hunter Is thus Disseminated
against Why is she singled ont and her claim
spurned? l submit to this House the trouble IS
that Gen. David Hunter was president of the court
martial before which Gen Fitz-John Porter was
tried. IL Maj.-Gen. Hunter had not acted as
president of that court / constrained to
believe that the bill which passed this House
granting pension OF 80 per month 70 NJ , NIow
would to-day have been a law. The President
would, think. have approved the bill. No obiee-
tons would have been raised at the Pension Office,
where manifestly the reason for each veto Is pro-
vided. IL seems to be the fixed purpose OF the
Pension Office to interpose every possible objection
which can operate to prevent applicant who has
been rejected by that Office from obtaining relief
through Congressional action. The President has
relied, and naturally enough, upon the Pension
Office for the facts and in the main the reasons for
each veto. The facts have not always been placed
before the President, and the reasons have in most
cases not been such as to commend them 20 the
favor OF the Members here who voted Tor the vetoed
bills. The only reason given in this case Is that
Mrs. Hunter has an application pending In the
Pension Office.
II any soldier ever deserved well of his country
Gen. Hunter did. But for the fearless discharge Of
his duty-and a delicate duty It was-his widow has
been refused the pittance Of SO q month, which
has been granted to the widows Of his comradesin-
arms. The other evening gentlemen were content
to vote 500 q month to Gen. Kelley. 10 was n
proper thing do not find fault with IT, II was a
just recognition OF the services Of q meritorious
officer. who is old and at the sunset of life.
submit 1t Is only even-handed justice, without
regard to the financial condition of Mrs. Hunter, to
which attention has been called to grant this pen
sion. II is for her to decide whether or not she
needs and will accept this recognition by the Re-
public Of the services rendered by her husband TO
the country. The same reason which would induce
US to refuse $50 month to Mrs. Hunter were pres
ent to operate against our granting similar amounts
to widows OF other general officers who have been
given pensions of $50 or 500 per month.
Mr.. Thomas, Of Wisconsin, said on the Mary
Anderson bill:
| Mr.. Speaker should not ut this time ask the
House to consider this bill IL not for the fact
that the widow of this soldier Is in absolute desti
tuition and il she is not allowed pension now will
become public charge with her eight little chill
dren- Believing 10 j. meritorious case, and that
/ the President has been mistaken in his veto, 1
wish in the limited time Of 10 minutes, which IL
| all have, TO give the simple facts Of the case.
| Richard Anderson, the soldier and the dead hus-
band of this widowed claimant was in the Army
| Of the United States at the time Of the breaking
| Texas. When that officer went into the rebellion
| this man and several of his comrades came TO St
Louis and reported to the military authorities. He
served out his enlistment in the Regular Army, and
afterward enlisted in the 18th Wis, and was with
that regiment in every battle during the whole
war. He was honorsbly discharged, and came
home afflicted with chronic diarrhea. He received
pension. His was not mere hospital record. He
was a brave soldier during the war. He asked for
feeble he was at deaths door He was sent to the
| Board of Surgeons, 80 or GO miles from home He
should not have gone alone. but he had no means
toemploy nurse TO take care of him. Hewasexam-
ined that evening at o'clock by the Surgeons.
have their certificate here and they say he was in
most pitiaDle condition No surgeon or ply
stefan would say he could live for three months.
After his examination he staggered half "A mile
from there at night and found the hotel where he
was stopping locked up. Tie then staggered to the
depot. He seen there waiting for the train. He
went out of the depot and probably tainted on the
track or was too weak TO get out of the way OF a
passing train. He was found the next morning
dead, crushed and mangled by passing train. This
is the report Of the Committee on Invalid Pen
siOns. The committee say there were no eircum-
stances which would serve the basis Tor any con-
trary judgment.
Mr. Speaker the President said in his veto mes
sage that the only reason he vetoed this bill was
because there were circumstances which would in
dictate suicide; that otherwise he would have APP
proved the bill. wish 70 say there are no cir
cumstances indicating suicide. have authorities
here which say-and read from the decisions OF
pension by the various Secretaries Of the In
terior-on page S79 as follows:
Pension laws should be construed and executed
| in the liberal and generous spirit which prompted
their enactment, and when doubts cannot be re-
toward the claimants Following this view, In
the case OF a man who was found dead in his tent
with bullet wound in the head, the fact that he
committed suicide cannot be presumed; il must be
proved before the claim Of his widow for pension
can be rejected"
, Yes, Mr. Speaker, the presumption II one Is
nduIsed In should go in favor Of the soldier. Thi:
is the law. The law, sir but follows the dictates o.
patriotism, Of Justice. and of common sense. The
presumtion should go in favor of the soldier. The
D. law is that you should never presume suicide In
such a case. Secretary Delano and Secretary Har
Ian have so decided in the cases which have cited
/, where men have been found shot
In the case have read to you they allowed
:. pension TO the widow Of this man found shot. The
authorities are numerous and they are of one opin
ion that atfict IL ali he p
| me read To you from Lawson on Presunptive Evi
dence. pages 1872 and 1913:
, w 10 Killed by a railroad engine. The pre-
! | sumption is that w could not have escaped th
peril II he had desired to- The instincts prompting
the preservation Of life were said to be proper,
thrown into the scale OF evidences. like the pre-
2 sumption OF sanity and innocence"
= Again, he says:
] alleging suicide must prove IT,"
J, The President must have adopted the presump
!, ton Of suicide in order to have vetoed this bL
: He had no right to so presume; u IS against tn
: soldier; II is a presumption forbidden by law an
II against the dictates Of humanity.
o Anderson had family Of eight little children
> and they loved and respected him. and he love
!, them as only brave and honorable man love
q wife and children; and his wife glad to hea
that pension had been granted and that the fatl
i full services Of her dead husband were remembers
by the country and that the bill had passed bot
o House and Senate; and when the President vetoe
10. turning all the presumptions against the dea
e soldier, the Committee Invalid Pensions care
" fully re-examined the case and unanimously ri
y ported that IL should be passed notwithstanding
i the objections Of the President. The COMMITTEES
sir after a most careful and aborious re-examins
Y ton, repudate the reasoning Of the veto messag
ot Mr.. Speaker. 1 hope political consideration
y will influence any gentleman here in preventin
him from doing justice TO this widow and her hell
less children. She needs the money badly. III
husband lost his life from disease contracted In th
a. service. This Is the fair conclusion from all Ii
Ia facts. His widow and children in their misery an
10 poverty, weak with broken hearts over the mi
70 taken charge in the Presidents veto message IN.
~ the husband and father committed suicide, and ii
entire community where Richard Anderson live
n and was known amazed that such a eonelusio
p should have been reached by the President. / ca
III upon you IN the name Of justice to take this sa
Is or unjustly but OF unintentionaIiy place
he upon the memory of brave and loyal soldier b
m the President. He did not deserve reproaeh whe
n living let do justice TO his memory that
Oh is dead.
re He was a faithful and brave soldier. He died Il
Oh his country from disease contracted in the service
he as much a sacrifice of his life for his country
he though shot down upon the battlefield, and in
&c judgment the Pension Office ought to have granite
the relief Let not only do Justice to the memo1
" OF this brave soldier by denying the charge OF su
* eide but let US. impore you deal with this wido
y as we have dealt with the widows and orphans
others who have sacrificed their lives for the couI
.. try. Do not. pray you, let the Presidents vet
III deter you from voting 10 grant to this poor
and her children that which before Heaven is Just
ID due from grateful country to them for the sacrhe
ss which they have made of husband and father Il
W the preservation of the country.
n But all the same the bill was lost.