The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-06-25
RETURNED UNSIGNED:

Measures for Public Buildings at Sioux
City, Ia, and GAINESVILLE, O.-Thirteen
Pension Bills Also Meet the Executive
Observation-Disclosures for HIS Action.
WASHINGTON. June 81 The President
has sent to Congress fifteen veto messages
and has signed fifteen private pension
bills. Thirteen OF the veto messages are
upon private pension bills; TIE other two
are on bills for public buildings at Sioux
City, Ia, and zanesville o. liz the mes
sage vetoing the Sioux City public build
ing bin the Presiden. says:
.The report of the committee of the
House Of Representatives to whom this
bill was referred states that by the census
Of 1880 the population of Sioux City was
nearly 5000, and that by another enumera-
ton since made its population would seem
to exceed $4,000. 1t is further stated in the
report that for the accommodation OF this
population the city contains "a
brick and 1854 frame buildings.
1t seems to me that in the ccnsidera.
ton of tho merits of this bill
the necessities of the Government should
control the question, and that it should be
decided as a business proposition depend
ing upon the needs of Government build
ing at the point proposed III order to dc
the Government work. This greatly re-
duces the value of statistics showing popu-
lation, extent of business, prospective
growth and matters of that kind which;
though exceedingly interesting, 10 not al
ways demonstrate the necessity of the ex-
penditure of large SUBJ of money for a
public building.
II find upon examination that United
States courts are sometimes held at Sioux
City, but that they have been thus far held
Inconvenience aud without any expense
to the Government. There are actually
no other Federal officers there for
whom the Government in any
view should provide accommodations
except the postmaster. Tire post
office is now located in buildiyg rented
by the Government until the LIST of Janu
By the last report of the Supervising Archi.
tect it appears that on October 1, 1885,
there were eighty new public buildings
in course of construction, and that
the amount expended thereon durin s
the preceding year was nearly 50 800.
GOO, while large appropriations we're asked
to be expended on these buildings during
the current year In my Judgment the
number-of public buildings shoslld not at
this time be increased unless q greater pub,
lie necessity exists therefor than is appar-
entin this case"
In disappearing the bill to provide for a
public building at GAINESVILLE, o., the Presi.
dent takes the same grounds.
In vetoing pension bill MFR. Cleveland
says:
lam so thoroughly tired of dfsapproving
gifts of public money to individuals who,
IN my view, have no right or claim to the
same, notwithstanding apparent Congress
sional sanction, that | interpose with a
n inf n n 40 CO xTlc | find
unnecessary to determine the msrits of the
application. In speaking of tie promis-
cuous and ill-adviSed grants Of pensions
which have lately been presented to
me for approval, | have spoken
of their apparent Congressional sane
tom in recognition of the fsct that a
large proportion of these bills have never
been submitted to majority of either
branches of Congress, but are the result of
nominal sessions held for the express pur-
pose of their consideration and attended by
asmall minority of the members of the re-
Spective houses of the legislative branch of
Government Thus, in considering these
bills | have not felt that was aided by the
deliberate Judgment of the Congress, and
when | have deemed it my duty to disap-
prove many of the bills presented have
hardly regarded my action as dissent
from the conclusions of the peoples repre-
sartativos.
] have not been insensible to the sugges-
ton which should influence every citizen,
either in private station or official place,
to exhibit not only a just but generous
appreciation OF the services of our coun.
try's defender. In reviewing the pension
legislation presented to me many bills have
been approved upon the theory that every
doubt should be resolved in favor of the pro,
posed beneficiary. Ihave not however, beer
able to entirely divest myself of the idea
that the public money appropriated for
pensions is the soldiers fund, which should
be devoted to the indemnification of those
who, in the defense of the Union and in
the Nations service have worthily de-
served, and whcp, in the day of their, de-
pendence resulting from such suffer
ing, are entitled to the benefac.
tions of their Government. This re-
Election tends to the beStowal of pen
sions kind of sacredness, which invites
the adoption of such principles and regu-
lations as will exclude peryersion, well
as insure a liberal and generous applica-
ton of grateful and benevolent designs
Heedlessness and disregard of the princi-
pie which underlies the granting of pen
sions is unfair to the wounded crippled
soldier who is honored in the just recog.
milton of his Government Such man
should never find himself side by side
on the pension roll with those who
have been tempted to attributs their
natural lifo to which humanity is
heir to service in the army Every relaxa-
ton of principle IN the granting of pen
sions invites applications without merit
and encourages those who for gain urge
honest men to become dishonest Thus is
the demoralizing lesson taught the people
that against the public treasury the most
questionable expedients are allowable.
The President suggests the significance
OF the startling increase in pension legisa
ton and the consequences involved in it,
continuance