Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-07-12
VETOED.
The President Disapproves Pension
Claim, and Gives His Views on
Special Pensions.
Washington telegram

lWashington telegram.l
Three pension vetoes were received from
the President and referred TO the Pension
Committee in the Senate on Thursday.
The message accompanying the bill grant
ing a pension 10 Mary A. Doherty states
that the greater portion OF the Senate COM
mittee's report consists OF the petition OF the
woman, in which she says that her husband
left her In 1855 and has not been heard OF
since. She had received u pension as the
widow OF DOherty until IL was discovered
that he was living in Philadelphia and was
himself drawing pension there. She had
succeeded In getting the pension by false
swearing. The police records Of her home
washington showed her to be woman OF
very bad character. The President says the
theory seemed to be established thar no
man who had served In the army could be
subject of death or OF impaired health ex-
cept as "A result of army service: even suit
eide was traced by wonderfully curious ways
to service In the army. The adjudications
the most peremptory fashion by special acts
of Congress. In conclusion the President
says
aThe apprehension may we'll bs entertained
that the freedom with which these private PEN
sion bills are passed furnishes an inducement 10
fraud and imposition while 1t certainly teaches
the vicious lesson to our people that tho treas
ury of the National Government invites the ap-
proach OF private need.
sNone OF us should be In tho least wanting in
regard for the veteran soldier, aud will yield TO
n In a desire to those VINO defenuou INC
Government when IL needed defenders literally
treated. Unfriendliness to our veterans ID
charge easily and sometimes dishonesty made.
insist that 10 true soldier Is u goo1 citizen
and that he will be satisfied with generous fair,
and equal consideration to those who ars worth
lily entitled to help. l have considered the
pension list OF the Republic q roll OF honor,
bear ng names inscribed by national gratitude,
and not by improvident and indiscriminate aims
giving / have conceived the prevention OF
the complete discredit which must ensue rom
the unreason onable unfair, and reckless granting
OF pensions by special acts TO be the best serWSe
I can render our veterans. In the discharge OF
what has seemed to me my duty as related 10
legislation and In the interest OF all the veter-
ans Of the Union army, / have attempted 10
stop the tide of improvident pension enactments,
though confess to full share OF responsibility
| for some of these laws that should not have
Il am far from denying that there are cases OF
merit which cannot be reached except by special
| enactment but do not believe there ls a mem
i Der OF either house of Congress who will not ad
init that this kind Of legislation has be- carried %
too far 1 have now before me more than lOJ
special pension bills which can hardly DO ex-
/ amined in the time allowed for that purpose.
/ My aim has been ut all times In dealing Win M
bills Of this character TO give the applicant Tor
a pension the benefit of any doubt thht
| might arise and which balanced the propriety OF
granting pension II there seemed any ~ Jus, \,
seemed entirely outside OF every rule III IT'S ma
/ ture or the proof supporting 1t l have sup
posed did only my duty in interposing an oo-
| lection.
/ 1T seems to me it would be well II all our gen.
| eral pension laws should be revised, with view
Of meeting every meritorlous case tnae Gun
| deficiencies ought to make the enactment OF
| complete pension code possible. In the absence
OF such revision ana II %a pensions sVod vshont re-
| gard 10 general laws the present methods would
| be greatly improved by the establishment o.
| some tribunal TO examine the facts in every case
and determine upon tho merits OF the appiica
| tion."