The Red Cloud chief., 1888-07-13
& PENSION VETO.

& PENSION VETO.
| ne Prosilent In - Veto Gives Hrs Views on
Private Pension Bilis.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE President, in
| vetoing another pension bill yesterday,
| entered upon . consideration Of pension
legislation generally and sail:
can not spell out any principle upon which
the bounty of the Government is bestowed
| through the fundamentally OF the food Of
| private pension bills that reach NE. The
| theory seems to have been adopted that no man
VINO served in the army can be subject To dea'h
or impaired health except that they arr charge
able to his service. Medical theories are set a.
naught and the most startling relation =
claimed between alleged incidents of military
service and disability or death Fatal apOpiex.
Is admitted as the result Of quite insight
can't wounds, heart disease is attributed
to chronic diarrh9a, consumption I,
hernia. and suicide is traced to ARM service IN
. wonderfully devious and curious way AL
Indications of the Pension Bureau are oyerrulei
in the most peremptory fashion by these ,pe-
cial acts of Congress, since nearly all the bene-
ficiaries named in these bills have unsucc-,s-
fully applied to that bureau for relief This
course of special legislation operates very IN
fairly. Those with certain influence or friends
to push their claims secure pensions. and those
who have neither friends nor influence must DC
content with their fate upder the general laws.
1t operates unfairly by increasing ii. numerous
instances the pensions Of those already on the
roll. while many other more deserving eases
from the lack of fortunate advocacy are Obliged
to be content with the sum provided by the gen
eral laws.
The apprehension may well be entertained
that the freedom with which these private pen-
sion bills are passed furnishes An inducement
to fraud and imposition. while it certainly
teaches the vicious lesson to our people that the
treasury Of the National Government invites
the approach Of private need. None of us should
be in the least wanting in regard for the veteran
soldier, and I will yield to no man IN a desir- 10
see those who defended the Government when
il needed defenders literally treated Cnfr;end-
illness to our veterans is y charge easily AMI
sometimet dishonesty made. 1 insist that the
true soldier is . good citizen and that he VII
be satisfied with generous, fair and equal con-
sideratiOn for those who are wOrth;ly ~entitlv.
to help. have considered the pension Ii, "
the Republic q roll Of honor, bearing the names
inscribed By National gratitude and not by III
and indiscriminate almsSiyinr. I
have conceived the prevention of the comp.ete
discrcdit which must ensue from the unrca-o--
able, unfair and reckless granting of pensions
by special cts to be the best service l can r.n-
der our veterans. In the discharge Of what
~ -, Ay 49,
and in the interest Of all the veterans ot the
Union army, i have attempted TO stem The the
OF imprOvident pension enactments. trough I
confess TO q full share OF responsibility Cor SORE
Of these laws that should not have been passed.
/ am far from denying that there ara cases q:
merit which can not be reached except hy
special enactment. but I do not believe there =
q member Of either house OF Congress who VIII
admit that this kind of legislation has been
carried too far. I have now before me more
than one hundred special pension bulls. wa3C!.
can hardly be within the tin" a.
lowed for that purpose. My aim has been 20
all times. in dealing with bills OF this character,
&c give the applicant for a pension the benefit 90
any doubt that might arise and which balance!
the propriety OF granting a pension If there
seemed any just foundation for the apphca-
ton. but when il seemed entirely outside %
every rule in its nature or the price OF support
ing il, 1 have supposed ! did only my duty in
an objection. II seems TO ne that
Il would b. well If our general pension laws
should be revised with q view of meeting every
case that can arise. Our expsr:-
ence and knowledge Of any existing Geiicienrts
ought to make the enactment of a complelAx
pension code probable. In the absence of sui
, &visiOn, and u pensions are to be grartt =
spOn equitable grounds and without regard ~
general laws, the present methods woSli 10.
greatly improved by the establishment of some
to examine the facts in every ease and
determine upon the merits OF the application
Tn President also returned without HI,
the Senate bill TO grant a pension
J. B. Morton, Of Nebraska, as the de
father Of Caivin Morton Tho
ather claimed that his son was killed il
,attle with the Indians in the Custer mas
acre in 1Ss6 The President In his mes
age says: His name does not appear III
my record Of the soldiers engaged in tina.
'attle. Considering the complete list OF
he casualties attending this battle now
q the War Department, it must tie con- .
oded that the death Of the son Of the
is far from being satisfactory
Established. The claim Of the father Is
till pending in the Pension Bureau. and
with further effort more informa-
ION on the subject may be obtained"
The Senate bill to pension Polly H.
ninth, widow Of Lieutenant j. II.
'mith. Second artillery. who served in the
rmy from 1854 to 1876 was also returned
'ithout Executive approval, on the ground
nat his death had no connection with the
ervice in the army.