Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13
THE PENSION VET0ES.
CLEVELAND GIVES CONGRESS AN
OTHER LECTURE ON THE MATTER.
The Doors for Fraud Widely Opened by
This Kind OF Special Legislation-His
Bureau Knows More About 1t Than
the Members of Congress.

WAsmGNGToN, July 4.-President Cleve-
land to day returned several Senate pen
sion bills without his approval, giving
reasons in each case. He also enters upon
the consideration of pension legislation
in general and says 81 cannot spell
out any principle upon which the
bounty of the government is be-
slowed through the instrumentality of
private pension bills that reach me.
The theory seems to have been
adopted that no man who served in the
army can be subjected to death or impair
ed health except they are chargedbe to
his.service. Medical authorities are set at
naught, and the most startling relation is
claimed between incidents of military SER
vice and disability or death. Fatal apople>y
is admitted as result of insignificant
wounds; heart disease is attributed to
chronic diarrhetiC attack consumption to
hernia ana suicide is traced to army ser
vice in wonderfully devious and curious
way. The adjudic atoms of the pension
bureau are overruled in the most per-
emutory fashion by these special acts of
Congress, since nearly all the benelicaries
named in these bills have unsuccessfully
applied to that bureau for relief.
This coul Sc of spec ial legislation operates
tlueuces or friends to push their claims pio-
cure pensions, and those who have neither
| friends nor influence must be content
with their fate under the general laws.
1t operates unfairly by increasing in num-
erous instances the pensions of
many other more deserv ng cases
from lack of fortunate advocacy are
obliged to be content with the sum pro-
vded by the general laws. The apprehen
sion may well be entertained that the
freedom with which these private pension
bills are pressed furnishes inducements to
fraud and imposition, while it certainly
teaches vicious lesson to our people that
the treasury of the national government
invites the approach of private need.
will yield to no man Ia the desire to see
those VINO defended the government when
il needed defenders literally treated. I'm
I frlendllne-S to our veterans is charge
easily and sometimes dishonesty made
| insist the true solder is good citizen,
that he Will he satisfied with generous,
fair and equa consideration for those who
are worthily entitled to help. | have
considered the pe nslou list of the republic
roll OF honor bearing names inscribed by
national gratitude not 10y improvldent and
lndiscrlmnate aims giving. | have con
celVed the prevention and complete
dscredlt which must enSue from an I'M
| reasonable, unfair and reckless granting
OF pensions by special acts TO ne the best
service | can render our veterans. In the
discharge of what seemed to me my duty
as related to legislation and in the inter
est OF all veterans Of the Union army.
have attempted to stem the tide of improv =
dent pension enactments, though confess
to the full share of responsibility for some
of these laws that should not have been
passed | am far from denying there are
cases of merit which cannot be reached
except by special enactments, but do not
! believe there is Il member of either House
of Congress who will not admit that this
! kind Of legislation has been carried too far
| My aim has been at all times in d. aling
with bills of this character to civ. the APP
/ pllcant the benefit of any doubt.
| 1t seems TO me 1t would be well if our
/ general pension laws should he revised
with view of meeting every meritou.
case that can arise Our experience auC
/ knowledge of any existing deficiencies
/ ought to make the enactment of Il com
plrte pension code possible In the ah-
senCe OF such It revision and if the pension,
are TO be granted upon equitable grounds
. without regard to TIE general laws tnt
present methods would be greatly i'm
proved by the e-ttb,i~hm mt of some
tribunal to examine the facts in every
case and determine upon the merits OF the
applications