The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-07-11
VETOED.
The President Dis.pproves a Pension
Claim, and Gives His Views on
Special Pensions.
washington telegram


Three pension vetoes were received from
the President and referred TO the Pension
Committee in the Senate on THURSDAY.
The message accompanying the Dill 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 1865 and has not been heard or
since. She had received pension az the
widow OF Doherty until IL was discovered
that he was living I'm Philadelphia and was
himself drawing'a pension there. She had
succeeded in getting the pension by false
swearing. The police records OF her nome
Washington showed her TO be 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 a.
subject OF death or OF impaired health ex-
ccpt as a result Of army service; even sui
eide was traced by wonderfully curious ways
10 service In the army. The adJuuicallons
Of the Pension Bureau were ovcrruied IN
the most peremptory fashion by special acts
of Congress. In conclusion the President
says:
The apprehension may we'll be entertained
that the freedom with which these private pen
sion bills are passed furnishes an inuucement 10
fraud and imposition, while II certainly teacnes
toe vicious lesson TO our people that the treas
ury of the National Government invites the ap-
proach Of private need
None of us should be in the least wanting IN
regard for the veteran soldier aud will yield -
no man in a desire TO see those W no defended the
Government when 10 needed defenders Hoerally
treated. Unfriendliness TO our veterans IL
charge easily and sometimes dishonesty MADE.
insist that the true soldier IL good citizen
and that he will be satisfied with generous, fait,
and equal consideration TO those who are WORTH
ily entitled to help 1 have considered the
pension list OF the Republic a roll OF honor,
bearing names inscribed by national gratitude
and not by improvdent and ndiscrimnate aims.
giving. l have conceived the prevention or
the complete discredjt which must ensue from
the unreasonable unfair, and reckless granting
OF pensions by special acts to be the best service
L can render veterans. In the discharge OF
what has seemed to me my duty as related 10
legislation, and in the interest OF ell the yeter-
ans Of the Union army. l have attempted 70
stop the tide of improvdent pension ennctments,
though confess to u full share of responsibility
for some OF these laws that should not nave
been passed.
Il am far from denying that there are cases of
merit which cannot be reached except by special
enactment, but L do not believe there is "a MEM
Der of either house OF Congress who will not adj
init that this kind of legislation has bee carried
too far. l have now before me more than 100
special pension bills which can hardly DO ex-
amined In the time allowed for that purpose.
Ny aim has been at all times in dealing with I'm.
bills of this character TO give the applicant for
n pension tho benefit of any doubt that
might arise and which balanced the propriety or
granting pension il there seemed any Just
foundation for the application; but when it
seemed entirely outside OF every rule in It's ma
ture or the proof supporting it l have sup
posed did only my duty in interposng an OBJ
lection.
1T seems to me it would be well IL ell our gen.
eral pension laws should be revised, with q view
Of meeting every meritorious case that can arise.
Our experience and knowledge of any existing
deficiencies ought to make the enactment OF q
complete pension code possible. In the absence
OF such revision, and IL pensions are TO DO
granted upon equitable grounds and without re-
gard TO general laws. the present methods would
be greatly improved by the establishment OK
some tribunal to examine the facts in every case
and do.1rxnine upon the merits OF the applica-
ton"