The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-11
A COUPLE OF SPECIMENS.


notwithstanding veterans of the Republic, tits
hard to single out any one which should be
mentioned first on account of its pre-eminent
injustice and cruelty. At venture, there
fore, we will mention that of Joseph Romi-
ser, whose bill was vetoed June 10, 1886.
We cannot state his case better than it was
by Representative Swope, Democrat, who,
by direction of the Committee on Invalid
Pensions, made the following report:
The facts of this case, which are completely sub
stantiated, are briefly as follows:
The claimant was a member of Capt. Frank
Mason's company of volunteers, of Frostburg, Allie
ghany Co., Md. This company of volunteers was
not mustered into either the United States State
service. On the 10Th of June, 1861, claimant was
with said company when they were ordered to pro-
coed to Cumberland, Nd, to repel threatened
attack of the Confederate forces. Upon the arrival
of the company in Cumberland the were
ordered TO uneap their muskets. While doing this
duty muszet in the hands of Alpheus Beall was
accidentally discharged, and minie-ball, with
which it was charged, struck claimant in the left
side of the neck coming out near the left eye,
entirely destroying the sight of his eye the hear
Dr. George B. Tunfenburg testifes that he was
one of the Surgeons who professionally attended
claimant. He found that minie-bal had entered
at the back part of the neck, passed along the
outside of the skull, under the ear, breaking the
jaw at its ramus, and making its exit through the
molar bone below and to the outer side of the eye
of the same side. The wound dangerous
one, but after long sickness he recovered, but has
lost the hearing of the Injured and the sight of
the eye. There is considerable deformity of the
face caused by exfoliation of the bone.
The claim rejected by the Pension Bureau
because claimant was not in the military service
of the United States" The Committee on Invalid
Pensions have heretofore uniformly declined to
recommend the granting of q pension to soldiers
not enrolled in the service of the United States or
acting under the immediate orders of officer in
the United States service. They are fully satisfied
that this rule is the proper and that 1t should
be rigidy adhered to; otherwise it will be readily
seen thatthe door would be opened wide to great
number of claimants of whom II would be impossi-
BILE to obtain any official record.
1t will be observed, however that this man Joined
military organization very early in the late war
and before the matter of enlistment and military
organization understood June 10, 1861. he
went with his company in obedience to orders to
repel threatened attack on Cumberland, and in
the performance of this duty he received serious
wound, which imperiled his life at the time and
has materially disabled him ever since.
To properly understand the full bearing of this
case it may be well to speculate to what public
opinion would have been and what would have
been the result if instead of springing to and
going without hesitation when ordered to a threat
ened point, every volunteer would have hesitated
declined TO march until he was regularly enlist
ed enrolled and mustered into the service of the
| United States.
This case differs in all respects from those who,
| for consideration another and later on in
the war; declined to enter the service of the United
States. preferring organizations Of State even
| local character.
Your committee must content themselves with
this brief statement Of their views this partic
ular case, and by reason of the distinction at
/ tempted TO be drawn between this and most other
cases, they report the bill faYoraby and recon-.
mend its passage.
The House of Representatives considered
the BILL, found that it's committee had de-
cided justly, and accordingly passed the
measure It was sent to the Senate, and
the Committee on Pensions of that body
after careful consideration, agreed with the
| House Committee that Mr.. Romiser was
thoroughly deserving of pension, and 81
reported to the Senate, which promptly
passed the bill.
We think there is not a fair-minded mar
in the whole United States-whether h
sided with the Union or the Confederacy-
but will say that MT. Romiser was deserv
ing of pension, and that for the Nation t.
deny it to him would be mean and migrate
full in the highest degree. 1t is true tina
the Pension Bureau, being bound by tn
strict letter of the law, could not give
pension TO man who was not regularl.
mustered into the service 1t was emf
nently case for Congressional action, AM
both Houses promptly did what was fttin
and proper, and the bill went to the Presi
dent for his approval. Let US see what h
offered as an excuse, not as a reason" 70
withholding his signature:
To The House Of Representatives.:
herewith return without approval House bi
No. 1859. entitled Am act TO grant a pension
Joseph Romiser.''
I
the Office fail to show that application has bee
fled in favor of this claimant though it is stated
the report Of the House Committee that such clair
: was made and rejected the ground that til
claimant not. at the time of injury, in the ser'
2 ice Of the United States.
1t certainly appears from the report of the con
mittee that the beneficiary named in this bill wa
not in the service of the Government at such
E time and also that he had not been mustered int
the service of any State military organization.
i is stated that he belonged TO Capt. Frank Mason
f company OF volunteers of Frostburg, in the Sta
of Maryland
Whether this company organized for Il
purpose of cooperating at any time with the Unio
State forces is not alleged and it may well Ina,
been existing merely for the purpose of neighbo
hood protection
r Such as it was, the company was ordered In Jun
II 1861 10 proceed to Cumberland repel threate
G ed attack of Confederate forces. Upon arriving
e that place the ordered to uneap the
1t muslcets In doing this, and through the negligent
e Of another member of the company whose musk
was discharged, the claimant wounded.
r. II does not to that the facts i'm this cas-
so far as they have been developed justify the pa
e sage Of this act. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Is EXECUTIVE MANSION, July g. 1886.
Could anything be more flimsy than til
tissue of objections against doing scant jus
ice to brave and patriotic Marylandc