Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-07-20
VETOED.
The President Disapproves "a Pension
Claim, and Gives His Views on
% Special Pensions.
Washington telegram.l

Washington telegram.1
Three pension vetoes were received from
the President and referred to tho Pension
Committee in tho Senate on Thursday.
Tho message accompanying the bill grant
ing u pension to Mary A. Doherty states
that the greater portion of the Senate com
mttee's report consists of the petition of the
woman, i'll which she says that her husband
left her i'll 1865 and has not been heard of
since. She had received pension as the
widow Of Doherty until it was discovered
that he was living i'll Philadelphia and was
himself drawing a pension there. She had
succeeded in getting the pension by false
swearing. The police records of her home
Washington showed her to be.a woman of
very bad character. The President says the
theory seemed to be established that no
man who had served in the army could be Il
subject of death or Of impaired health ex-
cep1 us u result of army service; even sui
eide was traced bywonderfully curious ways
to service in the army. The adjudications
OF the Pension Bureau We're overruled in
the most pcremptory fashion by special acts
of Congress-. In conclusion the President
says:
thnt the freedom with which these private pen
sion bills are passed furnishes an inducement to
fraud and imposition, while it certainly teaches
tie vicious lesson to our people that the Treas
ury Of the National Government invites the APP
pronch Of private need.
None OF US should be in the least wanting in
regard for the veteran soldier, aud will yield
no man in desire to see those who defended the
Government when it needed defenders literally
treated. Unfrendliness to our veterans is q
charge easily and sometimes dishonesty made.
insist that tue true soldier is good citizen
and that he will be satisfied with generous fair.
and equal consideration to those who are worth.
lily entitled to help. 1 have considered tho
pension list of the Republic O roll Of honor,
bearing names inscribed by national gratitude,
giving. I have conceived the prevention of
the complete discredit which must ensue from
the unreasonable unfair, and reckless granting
pensions by special acts to be the best service
can render our veterans. In the discharge OF
what has seemed to me- my duty as related to
legislation, and in the interest Of all the veter
ans OF the Union army, I have attempted to
stop the tide of inprovident pension enactlnents,
though confess to full share OF responsibility
for some of these laws that should not have
been passed.
II am fur from denying that there are cases OF
merit which cannot BIO reached except by special
enactment, but do not believe there is MEM
Der of either house of Congress who will not I'd
NIT that this kind of legislation has besn Carried
too far. I have now before me more than 100
special pension bills which can hardly be ex-
anined in 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 md which balanced the propriety OF
granting q pension if there seemed any just
foundation for the application; but when it
ture or the proof supporting it 1 have sup
posed did oaly my duty in interposing an OBJ
| lection.
at seems to me it would be- well if all our gen.
ernl pension laws should be revised, with view
OF meeting every meritorious case thatc can arise
| Our experience and knowledge of any existing
| Deficiencies ought to make the enactment OF d
complete pension code possible In the absence
| OF such u revision, and il pensions are to be
| granted upon equitable grounds and without re,
gard to general laws. the present methods would
| be- greatly improved by the establishment OF
solne tribunal to examine the facts in every case
and determine upon thu merits of the applica-
ton"