The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-08
ARMY BILL VETOED.
The President Refuses to Add
to the Retired List
A pIseRAcEo ARMY OFFICER.
He Dfsspproves Special Retirement
Bills I'm General, Though He
Has Approved Soma

WAsHrN6roS CrrY, Aug. PRESIDENT
Cleveland gave congress Gear statement
OF his views on special legislation for the
retirement Of army officers in a veto today
OF the biz for the relief of Eugene Wells,
late q captain of the Twelfth infantry.
The bill authorized the president TO APP
point the beneficiary second lieutenant
OF artillery, to be placed on the retired list
for disability, without the usual examina-
ton by retiring board. The president
writes:
Appointments 10 the army under the
authority Of the present legislation. which
names the proposed appointee. the pur-
pose of which Is the immediate retirement
OF appointees, is open 10 serious ooJec-
tons. though confess ! have been per-
susded through sympathy and sentiments
on NUMBER of occasions 10 approve such
legislation. When, however. II Is pro-
posed 10 make the retirement compulsory.
and without reference to age or previous
examination, most Objectionable feature
is introduced. The cases covered by the
special enactments referred TO are usually
such as should, If worthy OF consideration,
De provided for under generator special
pension laws, leaving the retired INST
of the army TO serve the Legitimate pur-
pose for which it was established.
A recent decision in the house OF repre-
sentatives on bill similar TO the one now
before me drew from a member of the
house committee on military affairs the
declaration that hundreds of such bills
we're before the committee, and that there
were fifty presidents for the passage of the
particular one under discussion 1t seems
to me this condition suggests such an en-
croachment upon the retired list OF the
the army as should lead to the virtual
abandonment of legislation not based
upon sound policy aud good administra-
ton. There are facts connected with the
cased covered by the bin now before me,
which. in my judgment, forbids Its favor
able consideration"
The president then reviews the military
record of Capt. Wells. saying that in the
fall of 1870 he was charged with conduct
unbecoming an officer. The specifications
were that while intoxicated he had vio-
lently assaulted other officers at Fort Fet-
terman, Wyo., and struck one on the head
with billiard cue Before his trial he
took advantage of an act just passed to
apply for his discharge, which was given
him and the charges were withdrawn In
1885 he was appointed a second lieutenant
against the protests of other officers, and
IN 1857 was charged with being drunk on
duty and with conduct to the prejudice of
good order and military discipline in re-
fusing to promptly obey the commands of
his superior. He was court-martialed and
dismissed in 1887. The message continues:
"Since that time repeated efforts have
been made to vacate this judgment and re-
store the dismissed officer to the service.
While number of committees in congress
have made reports favorable to such
action, at least two committees have
recommended denial of legislative relief.
Both of these reports were made on behalf
of the COMMITTEES on military affairs by
distinguished soldiers, who, after patient
examination and with an inclination 10 be
not only just but generous TO fellow
soldier, were constrained to recommend
refusal of the application for restoration.
/ am impressed with the belief that legis-
lation of the kind proposed is OF extremely
doubtful expediency in any save very ex-
ceptional cases, and I am thoroughly con-
WINGED ty the facts now before me that the
discipline and efficiency OF our army, as
we'll as justice to its meritorious members,
does not permit my approval, on any
ground. of the bill herewith returned"