The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-08

/ THE HOUSE.
/ The Democrats Show Willingness to Sup
port the Pension vetoes.
| WASHINGTON, July THE Speaker laid be-
fore the House the twenty-one veto messages
transmitted by the President yesterday. The
| first message read was referred. without COM
ment. to the committee on invalid pensions, but
the disposition of the next message, vetoing the
bill granting pension to Edwin NJ. Harrington,
consumed more time.
/ Mr. Matson, of Indiana, moved its references,
pending which Mr. Holmes. of Iowa, stating that
the reference of the bill would be the end Of it,
moved that its consideration be postponed until
Friday next which was rejected-yeas 9s, nays
12I
Mr. Burrows, of Michigan, moved to amend
Mr.. Matson's motion by adding instructions re-
curing the committee on invalid pensions to re-
port the bill and message back on Friday.
Mr. Matson hoped that this would not be done.
! He could see no good reason why this bill should
| be singled out for report on Friday from among
the number of vetoed bills before the COM
/ mittee
| Mr. Burrows could not see that the committee
| was inclined to act very diligently on the veto
messages, and he did not think the instructions
to report back special bill would greatly inter
fere with the purpose of the committee as TO the
/ balance
| MIR. jackson. of Pennsylvania. attacked the
veto policy Of the President, who he declared,
was not actuated by any regard for the worth
and merit of private pension bills. His reason
for vetoing the bills was not that they were on
worthy. His reason was apparent the face
| of his messages. He was in sympathy with
/ party opposed to pensioning Union soldiers; and
he did not propose thatany Union soldiers should
be pensioned if he could avoid It, 1t was said
hate noD opf onf psUhf Ho
| right-to please certain element in the coun-
try, but not right to please honest, loyal people,
Mr.. Mcmillan, of Tennessee-The present
President has signed more private pension bills
than any other President in the same space of
time.
Mr.. Jackson-And he has vetoed ten times
more good ones than ali the other Presidents put
together.
Mr.. Perkins. of Kansas, addressed himself to
consideration OF the pending messages. ana
criticised the position taken by the President,
tina. the government should not assure it soldiers
against quarrelsome propensities or unprovoked
assaults.
| Mr. Matson thought that the messages should
| be considered carefully. Gentlemen on the
| other side seemed anxious to get at the Presi-
dent. Democrats were determined that the
President shonld have fair play, and they would
| stand by that position. 1t was not fair play to
| the President to undertake, upon hasty con-
| sideration, 70 pass bill over his Veto
Mr.. Bragg of Wisconsin, said that there
seemed to be an idea in the House that it was
the duty of the President to abdcate his Office
| 10 favor of majority of the Committee on
invalid pensions. Whenever in the exercise of
| the constitutional prerogatives given him, he
examined legislation to see whether or not it was
provdent and wise, it was charged that he had
perpetrated an outrage on the American people
He Mr.. Bragsl maintained that the Presidents
was honestly discharging his duty when, in the
exercise of his judgment. he sent legislation
back to the House with his reasons for with
holding his approval. The House should act
upon the question, not with demagogical
speeches. but with judicial and deliberate con
sideration. He Mr.. Braggl was glad to find
that at last there was man in the
executive chair who had the nerve and courage
to place his hand upon legislation when he
thought it improper whether it were pension or
railroad legislation. Applause the Demo
cratic side.l Congress had gone altogether too
far in the way of pension legislation, but there
was class of soldiers for whom there never was
voice raised in the House. They were the men
who, in April, May June and July, 1861 filled
the ranks of the army. actuated only by patri-
otto desires to sustain the national flag Before
the House went further in pensioning the dead
wood of the army, it should make some provision
for the men who went to the front in 1861. He
sent to the Clerks desk and had read letter
from one Of these men. who is at the Hampton
Soldiers Home, giving his course in regard to
pensions. relating the policy of Congress, and
making use of such strong expressions to lead
Mr. Browne. of Indiana. to inquire sarcaStically
whether it was a veto message that was being
read.
yeas, 10; nays, l34-and the message was re-
ferred to the committee on invalid pensions.
The next message was one vetoing bill grant
ing pension to Catherine Mccarthy
Mr.. Matson moved its reference to the commit
tee on invalid pensions, and Mr.. Browne moved
instructions requiring the committee to report it
back on or before Monday next. Mr.. Browne
criticised the action of the President and invoked
Gods mercy on man who had the heart to veto
a bill for the relief of the widow of man who
died in the line of duty to his country. He sar
casticaly reflected upon the manner in which the
experienced soldier, the commander-in-chief of
the army, treated his comrades His excellency
belonged to that class of men, who, during the
war, were afraid of nothing but danger but now
he stood vigorously armed cap-a pie with vetoes
in his hand between the unfortunate soldiers and
the treasury of the United States. President
Cleveland w1u.d go down TO posterity as the
great American objector.
Mr.. Conger. of Iowa, resented the language
used by the President as throwing slurs upon
the motives of Congress, and as insulting to the
Union soldier.
Mr. Bayne, of Pennsylvania, took the same
view, and suggested that the Democrats VINO
stood by the vetoes would have their manhood
very severely taxed.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois. read in the vetoes the
story that while Cleveland was President there
would be no further pension legislation. There
were great questions in this country calling for
the attention of the executive yet the President
brushed them all aside and appeared anxious to
cater to nobody except that little solid knot that
came from the solid South-he wanted to get
their applause they cast solid votes in nominal
ing conventions. There he stood, looking
through gimlet-hole with u magnifying glass
hunting for excuses and heaping derision upon
the heads of the poor men who lost their health
in the service of the country. That was states
manship. Applause on the Republican side,
which was received with answering applause
and laughter from the Democratic side.
"Oh yes" continued Mr. Cannon, land
I tell you that you will have to defend it before
November. Renewed applause on the Demo
their hands can defend it. They have the kind
| of constituents who believe in it. Applause
and laughter on the Republican side. You will
| have to defend it before November. These men