Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-13
VETO TALK.
spicy Debate I'm the Senate over Pen
sion VetOes.


fBy telegraph TO the Dispntch.l
WASHINGTON. July Fin the course OF
the debate in the Senate on the resolution to
print extra copies OF the report OF The Pen.
sions Committee In the cases OF seven vetoed
pension bills and Mr.. COckrelPs proposition
10 have the Presidents message on the
Dougherty case printed Mr.. BLAIR character
lied the statements OF the latter case as
gratuitous insult to woman. He asked the
senator's TO recall their personal history and
the President to recall his personal history
and see whether silence was not welcome
thing to all. Let him who was without
guilt, whether at one end OF the avenue or
the other, cast the first stone.
! Mr.. Hawley said that the President entlrelv
misconstrued Il Q proper functions OF tbeVCo
power. He objected to the sentence IN The
message referring 10 "unfair AMI reckless
granting Of pensions by special acts" Eight
hundred pension bills had been considered
bv the Senate Committee on Pensions and
three hundred Of them had been reported
unfayorably. 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 bis yetoes. lie also objected to the SEN
tence in the veto message 10 the effect that
oyerrated in the most peremptory fashion by
these spectaces."
Mr., Hawley also objected 10 another sem
tencc in the veto message TO the effect that
tbose who had influence or friends to push
their claims procured pensions. while those
who had neither friends nor influence had 10
be content with their fate under the general
law. He repealed with indignation that
which lin another place. he would have char
acterized as grossly raise.
Mr.. Butler suggested that a great deal OF
wild talk and mock indignation had been
INDUCED in in regard to veto messages.
The President had been characterized to-
day In language which was not to be lusti-
fed, and in forum where be was not per-
mitted to be heard. II he tButler) were
called upon TO express an opinion he would
saw that there was much greater peril 10 the
liberties Of the people from the usurpa-
lions OF Congress than from the Execu-
tive. He believed that the President had
done the country very great service IN the
scrutiny and care aud courage which he had
manifested In the exercise OF his clear con-
stitutional right in interposing his yetoes to
many pension bills. He could not under
stand why this onslaught, this assault, this
attack on the Chief Executive OF the coun-
try should have been entered upon,
and why such epithets had been applied TO
him. lie (Mr. Butler thought be could
afford to say that Congress had been
TOO lax; that il had been reckless, not only
in reference to pension bills, but TO many
other acts OF legislation, and, in his opinion,
the people OF the country would nave been
in very much better condition II some OF
the Presidents predecessors had exercised
the same scrutiny add the same courage ana
the same Independence in regard TO the
legislation OF Congress. lnstead OF Tue
President being rebuked and denounced, his
(Butler'sl opinion was that the PRESIDENT
would re lelye the thanks Of every patriotic
citizen OF the country for the check which he
had imposed upon the recklessness and care
lessness OF Congress. In saying that he
pleaded guilty himself 10 the imputatlon and
charge. and was prepared to take his share OF
the responsibility.
Mr.. HawIey replied 10 Mr.. Butler. He
said be had commented upon the Presidents
veto messages 10 the line OF his public duty
and without any personal III will. He again
criticised the expressions Ia Cleyeland's mes
sage, and said the language OF former Presi-
dents 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 pro-
priety could he found 10 the yetoes
OF tue present Executive. This was
not merely dIsagrecable Ia a political sense
lof that Mr.. Hawley would not CON claim.
but the language OF the President cootained
covert sting and insinuatlons concerning
not only the wisdom but the moral integrity
OF Congress. There was scarcely enc OF Tue
Presidents us yetoes that did not contain
something OF the Kind.
Mr. Bnter admitted that the President
had direct, sIedge-bsmmer way OF getting
at tbipgs which was effective.
Mr.. Blair said the Senator from South Caro-
lina had criticised with great freedom the
action OF Congress in regard TO pension
legislation, aud nad appeared 10 feel lie was
justified in such criticism by coniessing that
be himself was as great sinner or the great
est sinner of all. He blair bad no OBJ
lection TO the Senator's making that confess
sion. lie was whiting TO accept 1t, and had
no doubt there was evidence sufficient
to prove 1t, but that Senator was not
Justified 10 saying that any pension legisla-
lion had been characterized by recklessness
on the pert OF Congress. SO far as he
(Blair) could judge the President bad vetoed
quite rs good bills as those be bad approved.
Taken a. whole. the vetoed cases were
cases OF absolute merit, and the yetoes were
outrsges on the rights Of American citizens.
Many oi these veto messages were iibels upon