The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-13
VETOES STIR UP A ROW.
BUTLER AND BLAIR MAKE THE
FUR FLY IN THE SENATE

No blOOdShed AS I ct.
WASHINGTON, July y In the senate to-
day the resolution to print extra copies of
the report Of the committee on pensions, in
the case Of seven vetoed pension bills, was
the text for some political discussion, Mr..
Cockrell desiring to have the last OF the
pension vetoes the D0herty case printed
among the other vet0es, and Mr.. Hawley
intimatng that publication of that veto
would not help the President or bis party
with the surviving soldiers Of the republic
in view Of the assertion C ntained in it that
there was reason 70 fear that the case in
question would find parallel in many other
cases that had reached a successful conclu-
sion.
DECLARED A GRATCITOCS INSULT.
In the course Of the debate Mr. Blair
charac jeriz=d the Presidents statements e
the latter case as a gratuitouS insult 10 a
woman. SGe asked the senator's TO recall
their personal history, and the President 70
recall his personal history, and see whether
silence was not welcome thing to all Let
him who was without guilt, whether at one
end ef the avenue or other, cast the first
stone.
Mr. Hawley said that the President en-
tirelv misconstrued the proper functions Of
tie veto power He objected 10 the SEN
rence in 4 message referring to unfair and
reckless granting Of pensions by special
acts" Eight hundred pension bills had
been considered by the senate committee
on pensions and 300 Of them had been re
ported unfayorably.
COMMENTS OBJECTED TO.
He objected to the comments on the two
pension committees and on the two houses
made by the President, who was violating
the constitution by the character Of his
vetOes. He also objected TO a sen
tence in a veto message to the eff
feet that 1.-THE adjudication Of the pen
sion bureau are overruled in a most
peremptory fashion by these special acts.
Mr.. Hawley also objected to another sen
tence in a veto message, TO the effect that
those who had influence or friends TO push
their claims procured pensions, while those
who had neither friends nor influence had
to be content with their fate under the
general law. He repealed with Indignation
that which lin another place he would have
characterized as grossly false.
WINDY TALK.
Mr.. Butler suggested that great deal of
wild talk and much indignation had been
INDUCED in in regard to the veto message.
The President had been characterized to-
day in language which was not to be justi-
fed, and in a forum where he was not per
mitted to be heard. If he (Mr ButIer)
were called upon TO express an opinion, be
would say that there was much greater
yeril to the liberties Of the people from the
usurpations of congress than from the
executive.
A GREAT SERVICE.
He believed that the President had done
the country very great service in the
scrutiny and the care and courage which
he had manifested in the exercise of his
clear constitutional right in interpOsing his
vetoes 10 many pension bills. He could not
understand why this onslaught, this assault.
this attack on the chief executive Of tke
country should have been entered upon, and
why such epithets had been applied to him.
LAXNEss CONFESSED.
He Mr Butler thought he could afford
70 say that congress had been too lax, that
ii had been reckless, not only in reference
10 pension bills, but to many other acts of
legislation, and in his opinion the people of
this country would have been in very much
better condition if some of the Presidents
predecessors had exercised the same scrutiny
and the same courage, and the same indie
pendence in regard to legislation of congress.
Instead of the President being rebuked and
denounced, his (Mr. Butler's) opinion was
that the President would receive the thanks
of every patriotic citizen of the country for
the check which he had imposed upon the
recklessness and carelessness of congress in
saying that he pleaded guilty himself to the
imputation and charge, and was prepared
TO take his share of the responsibility.
HAwLEY AGAIN BoBs UP.
Mr.. Hawley replied to Mr.. Butler. He
said that he had commented upon the Presi-
dents veto messages in the line OF his public
duty and without any personal ill-will. He
again criticised expressions i'll President
Cleveland's messages, and said the language
of former Presidents in veto messages
had been that of courtesy and dignity
equal to that which came from the supreme
court. Scores ON scores of such violations
of propriety could be found in the vetoes of
the present executive. This was not merely
disegreeable in political sense (of that Mr..
Hawley would not complaint but the Ian
guage of the President contained covert
sting and insinuation concerning not only
the wisdom, but the moral integrity of
congress. There was scarcely one of the
Presidents 17S vetoes that did not contain
something of the kind.
Mr.. Butler admitted that the President
had direct sledge hammer way of getting
at things which WA pretty effective.
ENTER BLAIR
Mr.. Blair said that the senator from
South Carolina had criticised with great
freedom the action of congress in regard to
pension legislation, and had appeared to feel
that he was justified in such criticism
by confessing that he himself was as great
a sinner or the greatest sinner of all.
He CMr. Blair had no objection to the
senator's making that confession. He was
willing to accept it, and had no doubt tina t
there was evidence sufficienkto prove it.
RECKLEssNEss DENIED.
But that senator was not justified in say
Ing that any pension legislation had been
characterized by recklessness on the part Of
congress.
SO far as he (Mr Blair could Judge, the
President had vetoed quite as good
bills as those he had approved.
Taken as a whole, the vetoed eases were
eases Of absolute merit, and the vetoes were
outrages on the rights Of American citizens
Many OF these veto messages were libels
upon congress, offences for which men in
private life would assail each other, at least
In the courts.
BUFFERS IRE AROUSED
Mr. Butler replied to Mr.. Blair, and re-
marked that the greatest blessing that
could overtake the senate and country
would be for the senator from New Hamp-
shire TO be less faithful TO the line Of duty
which he had marked out for himself. If
there had been any incumbrance, any in
cubus on a sensible, respectable, orderly
discharge Of the duties of the senate, il had
been in the person of the senator from New
Hampshire and in measures which he had
Introduced.