Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-07-09
The NATIONS HuMoRlsT.

Another anstalIment of Presidentiai
Sarcasm Over the Cases OF Union
/. E~x-SOIdters.
Washington, July 6-The president
transmitted to the house messages an
nouncing his dlsapproyal of twenty
private pension bills, and the bill provid-
ing for the erection of q public building
at Duluth, MINI. The last named bill
is veoted, the president says, because he
is entirely satisfied the building proyid.
ed for is not necessary, and he adds that
not o little legislation has lately been
perfected, and very likely more will be
necessary to perfect mis- calculated ar
rangements in public buildings now in
progress of erection.
Lewis ID. Scanland filed his declara-
ton for o pension IN 1884, alleging that
he contracted chronic diarrhuaa in the
Black Hawk war. The records show
that he served from April IS, 1882,
to May Is, 1882, In vetoing the bill
for his relief, the president says: AZ am
inclined to think that it would have
been q fortunate thing if in
this case it could have been
demonstrated that a man could
thAlVO so WCll Wlbu GuTODlC Ul6r~
rhea for fifty-two years, as it's existence
In case OF this good old gentleman
would prove. We should then, perhaps,
have less OF it in claims for pensions.
The fact is that In this case there ia no
disability that can be traced to forty
days military service of ffty-four wears
ago. and | think little, If any, more in
trinity than is usually found in men in
the age OF the claimant.
In vetoinR the bill granting q pension
to Francis Deming, who claims that he
tcontraoted blindness, the result of rheu-
matIsm incurred in the service, the
president says that there seems to be no
testimony showing the soldiers condi-
ton from the time of his discharge to
1851, u period OF fifteen years. The
president continues: AFTER nineteen
years had elapsed since his
discharge from the army q pen.
sion is claimed for him upon
the very shadowy allegation Of an INCUR
renee OF rheumatism while In the service
coupled with the startling proposition
That this rheumatism resulted just pre-.
ylous to his application, ia blindness.
Upon medical examination it appeared
that his blindness was caused by
amaurosis, which is generally accepted
as an affection of the optic nerve. [ am
satisfied that q fair examination of the
facts ia this case justifies the statement
that the bill under consideration can
rest only upon the grounds that aid
should be furnished to this ex.soldIer be-
cause he became blind, disabled
and dependent. None of us
are entitled to credit for ex-
treme tenderness and consideration to-
ward those who fought their %country's
hattles. These are sentiments common
to all good citizens. They lead to most
benevolent care on the part of the gov
eminent, and deeds of charity
and mercy in private life. The blatant
and noisy self assertion of those who,
from motives that may well be suspect.
ed, declare themselves, above all Others
the friends of the soldier, cannot dis.
credit nor belittle the calm, steady and
afectionate regard OF q grateful nation.
Legislation has been at the present
session of congress perfected consider
ably IN increasing the rate of pension in
certain cases. Appropriations have also
been made OF large sums for the support
OF national homes, where sick, disabled
or needy EoldIers are cared for, and
withil Q few days q liberal sum has been
appropriated Tor enlargement and in
creased accommodation of these institu.
lions. All this Is no more than should
be- done; but with all this, and with the
the plumbers of special acts which have
been pushed granting pensions in cases
where, Tor my part, l am willing to con-
less that sympathy rather than 1udg-
melat hes often led to the discovery OF
the relation between injury or death and
military service, / am constrained by 4
sense OF public duty to interpos. against
establishing principle and settling a
precedent which must result in nnregu.
lated partial and unjust gifts of public
money under the pretext OF indemnify.
ing those who suffered in their Of
suppdFt as an incident of military
service.n
Agents Wanted.
Sauapt,y GxynI 1.ly.-. i cann