New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-30
THE PRESIDENTS OFYTCIAL MANNERS

THE PRESIDENTS OFFICIAL MANNERS
The recent debate in the Senate upon the
pension vetoes showed a degree of irritation
toward the President, on the part of many
Senators, which is not to be accounted for by
political reasons. The explanation is to be
found in the actually insulting character OF
many of these messages. Mr.. Cleveland used
to lecture the Aldermen Of Buffalo when he
was Mayor, and no doubt they may have de-
served it.. He has not been able to shake of
this habit. and now he scolds the members of
the greatest law-making body Of the world as
if they were school-boys. To some minds this
is sign Of greatness, but we believe that to
the great majority of people it would seem
more dignifed for the President, to say the
least to state his differences with Congress
in courteous and respectful language, and to
give the members credit for equal fidelity and
consciousness with himself. Many of them
have had much longer official experience than
he has, and they are undoubtedly, as rule,
fully his equals in intelligence.
One or two examples will illustrate the tone
in which the President allows himself to ad-
dress great coordinate branch of the Gov
ernment-a tone which, Senator Hawley de-
clares. is without precedent in our history.
In one message he accused Congress OF
Unreasonable, unfair and reckless granting of pen.
slons By special acts.
Every adjective used here is gratuitous in
suit to both houses of Congress, rudely i'm
pugning both the judgment and the good faith
of its members. Here is another example of
the Presidents scolding style:
Adjudcatons Of tho Pension Bureau arc ovcrrulcd
In the most peremptory fashion by these special acts
Of Congress
Why should they not be, pray? Congress
can abolish the Pension Bureau entirely, if it
chooses Why may it not overrule the de-
cisions of twelve-h hundred dollar clerk Why
should it not do so, even in "the most per-
emptory fashion" ITO use the Presidents
amusing phrase Here is another instance of
a manner which Mr.. Cleveland would consider
insulting if exhibited in communication adj
dressed to him by Congress:
Those with certain influence friends to push their
claims procure PENSIONS and those who have neither
friends nor influence must be content with their fate
under general laws II operates unfairly by increasing
In numerous instances the pensions of those already
the rolls, while many other more deserving cases
from the lack Of fortunate advocacy obliged to be
content with the sum provided by general laws.
The fact is, that these claimants are mostly
wretchedly poor and without influence They
are heard because the Pension committees of
two houses are willing to do them justice
especially in cases where technical difficulties
have stood in the way of really worthy persons
But, this aside, what would the President think
If Congress should officially inform him that his
signature to bills was constantly obtained by
improper opportunities and influence? Here
is another sheer at tie way in which Congress
performs its duties:
The theory seems to have been adopted that no man
who served in the army be the subject OF death
impaired health except they chargeabe to his ser
vice.
There was no occasion for the President to
make an ill-bred Jest about theory which
he pc fesses to believe had governed the course
of Congress 1t is his right and duty to veto
any bill which he feels he should not sign, but
surely he can do so without intimating that in
long course of legislation the w-making
body has shown either mental deficiency or
bad faith. These cases are carefully exam
ined by the committees Of both houses. Three
hundred of such claims have been rejected
during this session by the unreasonable, I'M
fair and reckless" Pension Committee of the
Senate. The committees often have evidence
before them which was not before the Pension
Bureau, and does not 60 before the President,
who relies upon the evidence in the Bureau
and the decisions of the pension clerks to over
rule Gin the most peremptory fashion" the
findings Of the Congress of the United States
But even this he might do without assuming
that he is the only person connected with the
Government who has any sense or any desire
to do his duty.