The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-07-10
From Washington.
tfrom our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, June %, Is

WASHINGTON, June %, 1856.
With nest Of flibusters in congress and
the Presiden, cruising about Chesapeake Bay
in the Cersair, some patriotic citizens solicit
teusly inquire, "whither we are drifting
Scarcely had il become known, however, tina:
Mr.. Cleveland had been enticed from his
hard work Of the past week, for little rec.
reation, than he was again at his desk re-
freshed for another round of executive vetoes
of spurious pension bills.
Some idea may be obtained Of the steady,
hard work Of the president lately. when it
is stated thar on one day he approved eighty
eight pension bills and vetoed thirty, giving
each case careful personal attention before
action. The veto messages were written by
himself and each averaged over page OF
foolscap paper, closely written. In examin.
ing each bill separately. he had for his guild
ance the reports from the Senate and House
Committees and the report from the Pension
Bureau.
watchdog as President Cleveland. No, only
has he beaten the record on vetoes, but he
vetoed more bills on one day alone than any
previous Preslden, had disapproved during
his entire term of Office. His total record is
now about seventy six, while previous to his
accession the whole number OF vetoes from
tie foundation Of the Government was only
100. All but seven Of Mr.. Cleveland S
vetoes were of private pension bills. Be-
fore his administration only one pension
bill had ever been disapproyel and that was
by Gen. Grant.
The prospect for an early adjustment OF
Congress has also received summary dis.
approval from the President. He has mott.
fed the able legislative politicians who have
been in the habit Of crowding through their
schemes during the last gasps of the ses-
sion, that he intends to read each bill care
fully and inform himself Of its provisions be.
fore he signs it.
lie asserts that he will not 90 to the Capt..
toll and approve bills as fast as they are
brought to him for the sake of expediting
adjournment. With regard to appropriation
bills he deems it as his duty to consider
every item. and he warns the members of
the two House that they need not send him
long bills approprating large sums Of money
written day or two before adjournment
with the idea that he will approve them
blindly. With his feeling of responsibility
he declares that he can do nothing Of the
kind.
While the Democrats are delighted with
Mr.. Cleveiand's aggressive attitude with re-
lation to pension bills, the Republicans are
frothing with Indignation. Representative
Bayne, of Pa, made vicious attack upon
what he called the Presidents unparalleled
monopoly Of power and the republican side
applauded his vitureretion. Mr.. Bayne
was insulted beyond expression by the TEN.
Gritty of this man Qhe Presidency who had
sneered at the reports Of committees Of this
House and Senate This man, no soldier,
but walking the paths of peace, while these
other men mperiled their lives to save the
Union.
Some Of the vetoed claims were 50 grotes
que that the President, in his messages,
could not refrain from presenting their ri
diculous aspect, for instance this case. A
soldier remained in the army one month and
seventeen days, having entered it as sub
stitute at a time when high bounties were
paid. Fifteen years after this brilliant ser.
vice he discovered that an attack Of measles
had some relation 10 his army enrolment,
and that the disease had "settled in his
eyes," Another claimant asked pension
because of the death Of son killed in action.
Being poor, he sent his son TO live with an
uncle and afterwards with a stranger The
son was killed in 60 but the father did not
know it until 81. The President thought
after such an exhibition of abandonment and
heartlessness on the part of a father, he
should not he allowed any benefits of a pat
riotic sons death.
The Republicans in the House Of Repre-.
sentatives are engaged in the business Of fill
clustering against the introduction Of rule
making it in order to provide an income tax
for raising the necessary revenue to pay pen.
sion bills. This is clearly and almost con.
fessedly done TO catch the soldier vote
After good deal Of speech max ing which
changed no votes, Fix John Porter has got
ten safely through the Senate, having pass.
ed the House some months ago. Unless
President Cleveland in,erposes a veto, Con.
gress has at last, after twenty years wrest-
ling, finally disposed of this question and
Porter will be restored to the ARM and
placed upon the retired list.
The Hot Weather
OF midsummer has weakening effect,
both uDon body and mind YOu feel Also