New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-07-11
MORE PENSION vET0Es.
Reasons Given by President Cleveland for Offer.
ing Private Pension Legislation.

Reasons Given by President Cleveland for Offer.
ing Private Pension Legislation
The president sent to congress a MESA 90
yetoeing a bill granting a pension to Mary
Anne Doherty. 1T statesthat large share
OF the report of the senate committee on pen
slons ladopted also by the house comnittee)
consists OF the petition in which the woman
says that her husband (who had served
IN New Jersey regiment) left her in
1850 and has not been heard of since She
mad received a pension as the widow of Dam
lei Doherty, until it was discovered that he
4 was alive and living in Philadelphia and was
4 himself drawing a pension there She had
succeeded IN getting the pension in the first
instance by much false swearing. The police
records OF Washington (There she has been
ilylng) showed her to be a woman of very bad
character, and that she had been under arrest
nine times for drunkenness, larceny creating
dlsturbances and other misdemeanors The
president then enters upon a consideration O
pension legislation generally and SAYS:
cannot spell ont any principle upon
winch the bounty of the government is be-
slowed through the instrumentality of the
flood OF private pension bills that teach me-
Inc theory seems to have been adopted that
no man who served in the army can be the
subject OF death, or impaired health, except
they are chargeable to his service Medical
theories are set at naught and the most
+ startling relation is claimed between alleged
incidents of military service and disability
or death fatal apoplexy is admitted to
the result OF quite insignificant wounds: heart
disease is attributed TO chronic diarrhea
consumption to hernia, and suicide is traced
20 army service IN a wonderfully devious
and curious way. Authorizations of the pen
sion bureau are overruled in the most
peremptory fashion by the special
acts of congress, since nearly all
The Dpn9fiCI3PIpS parnp6 in
bills have unsuccessfully applied ito this bu-
feau Tor relief. This course of special legisla-
ton operates very unfairly. Those with Ger
tam influence or friends to push their claims
procure pensions, but those with neither in
z duenee nor friends must content themselves
with their fate under general laws. 1t oper-
ates unfairly by increasing in numerous in
stances the pensions of those already on the
roll. while many other more deserving cases
from the lack OF fortunate advocacy are
Obliged to be content with the sum provided
by general laws. The apprehension may well
be entertained that the freedom with which
these private pension bills are passed fur
nlshes an inducement to fraud and
lmposltion while it certainly teaches
the vicious lesson or plea that the
treasury of the national government
invites the approach of private need. None
of us should be in the least wanting in regard
Tor the veteran soldier, and will yield to no
i man III a desire to see those who defended the
government when it needed defenders literally
treated. Unfriendliness to our veterans is
charge easily and sometimes dishonesty
made | insist that the true soldier is a
good citizen and that he will be satisfied with
generous, fair and equal consideration for
those who are worthily entitled to help.
nave considered the pension list of the repub-
Tic q roll OF honor bearing names inscribed by
national gratitude, and not by improvident
and indiscriminate aims giving. | have con-
tnn-r off hoo 1o+c
Whichmust ensuefr from the unreasonab BILE unfair
and reckless granting OF pensions by special
acts, to be the best service can render our
veterans. In the discharge of what has
seemed to me my duty as related to legrsla-
ton and in the interest of all the veterans of
the Union army, have attempted to stem
the tide of improVident pension enactments,
though confess to full share of RESPONSE
blllty for some of these laws that should not
have been passed. am far from denying
that there are cases of merit which cannot
be reached except by special enactment,
but do not believe there is a member Of
either house Of congress who will not admit
4 that this kind of Legislation has been carried
too far. | have now before me more than a
hundred special pension bills which can
hardly be examined within the time allowed
for that purpose My aim has been at all
times, in dealing with bills of this character,
( to give the applicant for a pension the bene-
1t OF any doubt that may arise, and which
A2lanced the propriety Of granting pension,
Mthere seemed any just foundation for the
aIphcat1on; but when it seemed entirely OUT
SIP OF every rule, in it's nature or the proof
SUPPORTING it, have supposed l did only my
DUN in interposing an objection. 1t seems
to I've thatit would be well if our general
penAons laws should de revised with a view
OF injecting every meritorious case that can
ariseS Our experience and knowledge of any
dehelA aeies ought to make the enactment of
a COM llete pension, code possible. In the
absenA Sof such a revision, and if pensions
are to Ss3e granted upon equitable grounds,
ftnd vi Alent regard to general laws, the pres
emu methods would be greatly improved by
the establishment of some tribunal to exam
Inc the facts in every case and determine
upon the merits of the applications.