Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-10
TWO PENSION VETOES,
President Refuses to sign Two Balls and n
Grist Pass without Signing.

Grist Pass without Signing.
WASHINGTON, May 8.-The President
10 day sent to the House Of Representatives
TWO veto messages. The first Of these is as
follows:
The House Of Representatives.:
return without my approval, House
Bi No. l47, entitled IAN Act increasing
the pension Of Andrew J. Hill" The bill
doubles the pension which the person
named therein has been receiving
Tor a number OF years. 1t appears from
Inc report Of the Committee to which the
bill was referred, that the claim made by
him for increased pension has been lately
rejected by the Pension Bureau, on the
ground that the claimant is not now re-
ceiving a pension, commensurate with the
degree of disability found 10 exist. The
policy of frequently exercising by
special amendment the decisions
OF the Bureau invested by law
With the examination of pension claims
fully equipped for such examination, and
which ought not TO be suspected of any
4 tx of morality to veteran soldiers is e8.
ceedlngly questionable. 1t may well be
doubted If a commutse Of Congress has a
better opportunity than such agency to
| Judge of the merits Of the claim. Ii, how
yer, there is any lack of power in the
Pension Bureau for a full in.
v~eslisation it should be supplied
II the system adopted ia inadequate to do
tull justice TO claimants it should be cor
| rec,ed, and if there is o want Of sympathy
| and consideration for the defenders OF our
| Government the bureau should be reor-
| yauized. The disposition to concede q most
generous treatment to the disabled, aged
and needy among our veterans should not
ne restrained, and it mu-t be admitted that
IN come cases justice and equity cannot be
obtained without 6 charitable tendency Of
he Government in favor Of worthy obJec,s
IF it's care INDUCED under fixed rules,
These conditions sometimes Justify a resort
q ~specisl legislation, hut | am convinced
that the i~uterposjrion by special enactment
in the granting Of pensions should be rare
and exceptional.
IN the nature OF things il this is lightly
done, and upon slight occasion an invita-
ton is offered to the passage OF claims BY
Congress, which upon their merits coulc
not survive the test of an examination By
me Pension Bureau, and whose on : hop
Of success depends moro qp3h sympathy
,i,eu uisdirected than right ana justice
The fundamentally deyiced By
iaw for the determination Of q pensio;
claims is thus oSeTruIed aud dlscredlted
,ud there is Danger that In the eDd popu
ar prejudice will be created against thos,
sho are worthy and entitled 10 the bount,
IT the Government There have lately beef
presented to me the same day for spprova
$40 bills granting and increasing pension
aud restoring 10 the pension list the name
Of parties which for cause have been droE
BED. To aid executive duty they we're r.
terrei TO the pension bureau for exam
nation ard report. After a delay absolute
, = Necessary they have been returned TO m
Eirbin few hours Of the limit constitution
ally provided for the executive ACTION, "a
If these b lie are thus classified, 81 cove
- cases n which favorable action By Il
Pension Bureau was denied by resson
us fi.,ency Of the testimony to prove Il
% 5 alleged. These bills | have approve
oni he assumption that the claims We
> Q itorious aud thst on the passage Of Il
. o lis the Government has waived fl
proof of the facts. Twenty s
o the bills cover CLAIM
D elected by the Pension Buret
because the evidence produced tended
prove that ths alleged disability exists
oefor the claimants enlistment; FL GOV
claims which have been denied BY 90,
,uresu bearing the evidence tended
3 show that the disability, though contracts
n, in the service, was not incurred u line
Ig duty; SO eover claims which hs
j. been denied because the eyiden
/ tended 10 show that the d
ability originated after the soliis
70 discharge from the AMY; AZ cover CLAN
10 shich have been denied because the q
N eral pension laws contain no provision Z
At der which they could be allowed; "a clail
SO have never been presented to the Pensi
Bureau. / estimated the expenditure