The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-25
DENYING A DEPENDENT FATHER.

DENYING A DEPENDENT FATHER.
Were we to attempt to print all the ma
acknowledgements vetoes of Mr.. Cleveland,
with the evidence showing their cruel in
justice, it would occupy every line of THE
NATIONAL TRIBUTE for years to come. The
thing is impracticable. Long before the
wretched record would be completed Grover
Cleveland would be beyond the retribution
of those he ihas slandered-would be out Of
Office and politically dead.
All that we can do is to select at random
from the mass Of vetoes samples which viii
illustrate the temper of the whole. For
example, we take up the veto of the bill
granting pension to James D. Cotton. The
House Committee on Invalid Pensions say
with reference to this claim:
The claimant is the father of Thomas ]. Cotton,
late private in Co. H. 2Ist Mo. Vols. who was
killed in battle April g. 1862 at Pitsburg Landing,
Tenn. There is some evidence to show that the
soldier, who was Is years old when killed, had
prior to enlistment worked for his father who was
u DlaCkSniLn OF SLudll MEANS Inc HSSesSmtub
rolls show that he was taxed on a valuation of $780,
In 1868 he bought land now owns small farm.
which is assessed at $3.50. He is now 65 years Of
age, and unable to perform manual labor. The
soldiers mother died few days after his birth.
The Pension Department in investigating the case,
ascertained that the son did not contribute to his
fathers support the time Of his DEATH and could
not therefore allow the claim.
Your committee recommend the passage of the
BILL
The facts in this case are clear. The son
was killed gallantly fighting the enemies of
his country. A technicality prevents the
Pension Bureau from granting a pension.
The dependence Of the father upon the son
is not proven. What father was dependent
upon the son, when the latter was but II
the age of young Cotton when he enlisted
But if he had lived the parent would have
been dependent on him. Nobody denies
that, and SO Congress is asked to act as a
court of equity. This the President pre-
vented it doing by the following veto:
TO the House Of Representatives.;
return herewith without approval House bill
No. gill, entitled IAN act granting pension to
James D. Cotton"
The claim for a pension in this case is on behalf
of the father OF Thomas Cotton who was killed at
Pittsburg Landing April G, 1862
The application of this claimant still remains in
the Pension Bureau undetermined The doubt in
the case appears to relate to the dependence of the
father upon his son at the time of his death.
This is question which the Bureau Is SO well
fitted to investigate and justly determine that it is
ia my opinion, best TO permit the to be there
fully examined.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION June %, 1885.
1t will be seen that, failing everything
else, he resorts to misstatement to excuse
his withholding from the poor old father
the relief he is entitled to, and which Con-
gress was willing to give him. The Com
mittee on Invalid Pensions certified that
the Commissioner of Pensions could not,
under the letter of the law, grant the pen
sion-hence the application to Congress.
Mr.. Cleveland bIazenly says: "The appli-
cation still remains in the PEN
sion Bureau undetermined"
This shows that Mr.. Cleveland scruples at
nothing TO make pretense of justification
in robbing claimant of the justice due
| from the Nation.