Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-06
TUESDAY............JULY 6, lsS
INC Vetoed Pension BiIls.


The Republicans Of the United States
Senate are very sore over the veto mes
ssees which President CLEVELAND has
showered upon Congress, showing the
carelessncss and recklessness OF their
pension legislation. The report SUBJ
mitted to the Senate last Saturday
from the Committee on Pensions was
IN ingenious attempt to mislead the
public, and to create the impression
that because some Of the pension bills
which had been vetoed were merito-
rious, therefore scores Of them were of
the same character.
The Senate committee having been
so unwise as to challenge inquiry into
the questions raised by the President,
the Senate itself may prove to be
equally blind to its own shortcomings
and equally over-confident Of its ability
to "pull the wool over the eyes" Of
the people. We will, therefore, de-
scribe q few of the vetoed pension
bills.
MARY A. VAN ETTEN was voted
pension by Congress. The proper rea-
son for granting pensions to widow is
that the husband lost his life either
whilst in actual service or because of
disease contracted or injuries received
whilst in the service. Mrs. VAN En-
TENS husband, twelve years after the
war between the States ended, was acct
dentally drowned The application for
the pension was based upon the theory
that during his military service the de-
ceased soldier contracted rheumatism,
which so interfered with his ability to
save himself by swimming that his
death might be fairly traced to diss-
bility incurred in the service.
This needs no comment. But the
Republican members will never at
tempt to induce the Senate TO pass that
bill over the Presidents veto.
The reader has heard Of the French
criminal who having been convicted Of
the murder of his parents and asked if
be bad any reason to offer why he
should not be executed, begged the
court to shave pity upon a poor Or
pban." Well, Congress had voted q
pension to an alleged dependent
father" But it turns out that the son
was sent away from home at nine years
of age, end that the father did not even
hear Of the sons death until two years
after it occurred. The President OBJ.
jscts to pensioning this "heartless
father"
Congress voted pension to Mrs.
MARY ANN MILLER. Her husband
enlisted in April, 1861, never went to
the front, but, being in camp near Gin
cinnati, and obtaining permission to
visit that city, was there killed by q
blow from some unknown person, in
less than two months after his enlist
ment.
Congress voted pension 70 DAVID
T. ELDERKIN, who less than a year
after his enlistment was dishonorably
discharged from the service with loss of
all pay, bounty, and allowances!
Congress voted pension to JULIA
CONNOLLY. Her husband never did a
days service, but deserted in less than
month after his enlistment, and was
drowned in a canal near his home in
less than eight months after his enlist.
ment.
" Enough is as good as feast" The
reader will understand at once that
none Of these pensions will be granted
The Senate Committee on Pensions will
make no mention Of any such case as il
any one Of those we have described
but will seek to fiod amongst the hun
bred or mroe vetoed bills some which
tie President ought not to have vetoed
They may succeed in this search, bu,
they will not persuade the country tha
\ the President dos not merit unusua
honor and credit for having dared to d,
such bold deed. True, it was mucl
needed, but, there are few men VIII
would have had the courage to perform
1t.