Wichita eagle., 1888-07-06
He Thinks the Existing Laws I'm
fair Toward the Really
MeritOriOuS Soldier.
Too Much Careless Action in Passing so
Many Private Pension Bills-A
Few Bonds Purchased.
General Sheridan Getting Along Very
Nicely-The Society of Christian
Endeavor-The Key MOnu-
ment Unveiled.

has made an order directing all consular
officers of the government, to hereafter
authenticate all the vouchers and other
papers necessary for drawing pensions by
United States pensioners without fee.
Congressman Belmont, chairman of the
house committee on foreign affairs, which
was instructed by a resolution of the
house, to investigate the case of John
Curtin Kent, naturalized citizen of the
United States, convicted in England, OF
conspiring to murder by the use OF
dynamite, will submit the report OF
the committee tomorrow. 1t recites
the history of the case in detail
which is already familiar to the public
expresses much sympathy for Kent, and
continues as follows: The fact that the
naturalization of Kent was not known at
the time of his trial to the American
authorities, evidence of the propriety of
the recommendation made by Presi-
dent Cleveland in his message of 1884
and repeated in 1885. in favor of the estab-
Iishment of a central bureau OF record of
the DEGREES of naturalization granted by
| the various courts of the United States.
The interest which the present admins
tration has taken in the matter of citiz en-
ship is shown by letters of the president
and the secretary of the state in the case
of Gallagher, here to be appended. The let
tiers referred to have been published.
Following is President Cleveland's mes
sage to the senate vetoing the bill granting
pension to Mary Ann Doherty. After
showing that she was of bad character,
the president enters upon consideration
of pension legislation generally, ana says:
Il can not spell out any principle upon
which the bounty of the government is
bestowed through the instrumentality Of
| the food of private pension bills that have
reached me. Theory seems to have been
adopted that not many who served in the
can be subject to death or impaired health
except that they are chargeable to his ser
vices. Medical theories are set at
naught and the most startling rela-
ton is claimed between alleged
disability or death. Fatal apoplexy
is admitted as the result of quite insignifi-
cant wounds, heart disease is attributed
| to chronic diarrhoea: consumption to her
| mia, and suicide is traced to army service
in wonderfully devious and curious way.
| Authorizations of the pension bureau are
overruled in the most peremptory fashion
| by these special acts of congress, since
nearly all the benef1ciaries named in these
bills have unsuccesstully applied to that
bureau for relief, this course of special
| legislation operates unfairly These, with
certain influence and friends to push their
claims, procure pensions, and those who
have neither friends nor influence NUT be
content with their fate under the gen.
eral laws. 1t operates unfairly by increas-
| ing in numerous instances the pensions of
| those already on the roll while many 9TH
er more deserving cases from the lack of
fortunate advocacy are obliged to be con-
tent with the sum provided by the general
laws.
The apprehension may we'll be enter
tanned that the freedom with which these
private pension bills are passed furnishes
an inducement to fraud and imposition
while it certainly teaches the vicious les.
son to our people that the treasury of the
national government invites the approach
of private need. None of us should be in
the least wanting in regard for the veteran
soldier and | will yield to no man in a
desire to see those who defended
the government when it needed
defenders, literally treated. Unfriendh
ness to our veterans is a charge easily and
sometimes dishonesty made. l insist that
the true soldier is geod citizen and that
he will be satisfied with generous, fair
| and equal consideration for those who are
worthily entitled to help. ! have consid-
cred the pension list, the republics roll of
honor, bearing names Inserted by nation
al gratitude, and not be improvident and
indiscriminate aims giving. | have con-
ceived the prevention of the complete dis
credit which must ensue from the unrea-
sonable, unfair and reckless granting Of
pensions by special acts to be the best ser
vice | can render our veterans in their
discharge of what seemed to me my
duty as related to legislation. and in the
, interest of all the veterans of the Union
army. | have attempted to stem the tide
\ rt
| confess to q full share Of responsibility
for some of these laws that should not
have been passed. / am far from denying
that there are cases of merit that cannot
be reached except by special enactment,
but do not believe there is a member OF
either house of congress who will not adj
nit that this kind of legislation has been
carried too far. | have now before me
more than 100 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 pension the benefit OF
any doubt that might arise, and which
balance the propriety Of granting pensions
if there seemed any just foundation for
the application but when it seemed en-
tirely outside of every rule in its nature of
the proof of unsupportlng 1t, have sup
posed | did only my duty in interpositing
an objection. 1t seems to be that 1t would
be we'll if our general pension laws should
be revised with a view OF meeting every
meritorious CAGE that can arise. Our expe-
rience and knowledge of any existing de-
fences ought TO make the enact
ment of complete pension code possible.
In the absence of such revision,
and If pensions are to be granted upon
equitable grounds and without regard 20
general laws the present methods would
be greatly improved by the establishment
OF some tribunal to examine the facts in
every case and determine upon the merits
of the application
The president also returned without his
approval the senate bill to grant a pension
TO J. B. Morton. of Nebraska, as dependent
father OF Calvin Morton The father
claimed that his son was killed in battle
with the Indians In the Custer massacre IN
1878. The president in his message says:
His name does not appear in
any record Of the soldiers
engaged in that battle, and
considering the complete list Of the cas-
ualties attending this battle now IN the
war department, II must De conceded tnat
the death of the son of the beneficiary IS
far from being unsatisfactory estab
lished. The claim OF the father is still
pending N the pension bureau. and per
haps with further effort more information
on the subject can be obtained
The senate bill 70 pension Molly h
Smith. widow OF Lieutenant Smith, Sec
ond artillery, who served IN the army
from 1854 to 1870 was also returned with
out executive approval. on the ground
that his death had no connection with the
service in the army. On August :, Use,
congress appropriated $500 70
pay the physicians who attended
President Garfield in the long
Illness which preceded his death for their
= - &c.