Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-06
PENSION YETOES
lntsfspefSed With the Presidents Ideas
Of Duty"
What He Knows Concerning the Sol
dier's Needs.

President Cleveland today returned several
Senate pension bills without approval, giving
his reasons in each case. He also enters
upon the consideration of pension legislation
generally, and says:
Il cannot spell out any principle upon
which the bounty of the government is be-
slowed through instru'nentality of the flood
OF private pension bills that reach me The
theory seems to be that no man who served
in the army can be subject to death or i'm
paired, except they are chargeable to his
service Medical authorities are set at naught
and most startling relation is claimed be-
tween the alleged incidents of military ser
vice and disability or death Fatal apoplexy
is ascribed as the result of quite insignificant
wounds heart disease is attributed To chronic
diarrhoeas; consumption to hernia and sui
eide traced TO army service, in wonderfully
devious ways The adj publications of the PEN
ZION bureau are oyerruled in most perempt-
ory fashion by these special acts of Congress,
since nearly all of the benefciaries named
In these bills have unsuccessfuily applied to
that bureau for relief. This course of spec
ial legislation operates very unfairly. Those
with certain influences or friends to push
their claims, procure pensions; those with
neither friends nor influence must be content
"Ash shNh Aatc the ktutFdt laws. 1t
operates unfairly by increasing in numerous
distances pensions of those already on the
roll while many other more deserving cases
from lack of fortunate advocacy are Obliged
to be content with the sum provided by the
general laws. Apprehension may well be
entertained that the freedom with which
these pension bills are pressed furnishes en-
ducement to fraud and imposition while il
certainly teaches a vicious lesson to our
people that the treasury of the national gov
ernment invites the approach of private
need. None of us should be in the least
wanting in regard for the veteran soldier. |
viii yield TO no man in desire to see those
who defended the government when it need
ed defenders. liberally treated. Unfriendli-
ness to our veterans is a charge easily and
sometimes dishohestly made. | insist that a
true soldier is good citizen and that he will
be satisfied with the generous, fair and equal
consideration for those who are worthly
entitled to help. have considered the pen
sion list of the republic roll of
honor bearing the names inscribed
by national gratitude and not by
an improvident, indiscr inmate aims giving
have conceived of prevention of the
complete discredit which must ensue from an
unreasonable, unfair and reckless granting
of pensions by special acts, to be the best
service | can render our veterans. In the
discharge of what seemed to me my duty AS
related to legislation and in the interest OF
all veterans of the Union army, have at
tempted to stem the tide of improvideut pen
sion enactment, though | confess to a full
share of the responsibility for some of these
laws that should not have been passed. am
far from denying that there are cases of
merit that cannot be reached except by spe-
cial enactments, but do not believe there is
n member in either house of Congress who
will not admit that this kind of legislation
has been carried too far l have now before
me more than 100 special pension bills which
can hardly be examined within the time al
lowed for the purpose. My aim has been at
all times in dealing with bills of this charac-
ter to give the applicant for the pension any
doubt that might arse which balanced the
propriety of granting pensions. if there seem
ed any just foundation for the application
but when it seemed entirely outside of every
rule in its nature or proof of supporting it |
have supposed only did my duty in inter
posing objection. 1t seems to me it would
would be,well if the general pension laws be
revised with the view of meeting every meri-
torious case that can arise. Our experience
and knowledge of any deficiency ought to
make the enactment of complete pension
code passable. In the absence of such re-
vision. and if pensions are to be granted up
on equitable grounds without regard to gen
eral laws, the present methods would be
greatly improved by the establishment of
some tribunal to examine the facts in every
case and determine upon the merits of the
application.