The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-08-09
GROWERS VETO.
He Does Not Believe in Placing Dis
missed Officers on Retired List.

He Does Not Believe in Placing Dis
missed Officers on Retired List.
WASHINGTON, Aug. o. President
Cleveland gave to congress clear
statement of his views CT special legis-
lation for the retirement of army Off
GERS in veto today of the bill for the
relief of Eugene Wells, late captain OF
the Twelfth infantry. The bill author
ICES the president to appoint the bene-
ficiary second lieutenant of artillery
to be placed on the retired list from
disability without the usual examina-
ton of the retiring board. The presi-
dent writes:
appointments to the army under
the authority of special legislation
which named the proposed appointee
and the purpose OF which is the immes
diate retirement of the .appointee,
are open to serious objections,
though l confess have
been persuaded through sympathy
and sentiment on a number of occa
sions to approve such legislation
w
make the retirement compulsory and
without reference to age or previous
examination most Objectionable fea
ture is introduced. The cases covered
by the special enactments referred to
are usually such as should, If worthy
of any consideration, be provided for
under general or private pension laws,
leaving the retired list of the army to
serve the legitimate purpose for which
it was established. A recent discus
sion in the house of representatives
upon a bill 81 nilar to the one now be-
fore me drew from a member OF the
house committee on military affairs
the declaration that hundreds
of such bills were before that
cammittee and that there are 90 pres
cedents for the passage of the particu-
lar one under discussion, 1t seems to
me that this condition suggests such
an encroachment upon the retired list
of the army as should lead to the vir-
tual abandonment of the legislation,
based upon sound policy and good ad :
ministtation. There are facts connec-
ted with the case covered by the bill
now before me which in my Judgment
forbids its favorable consideration"
The president then reviews the mil
Itary record of Captain Wells, saying
that in the fall of 1870 he was charged
with conduct unbecoming an officer
and a gentleman. The specifications
were that while intoxicated he had
violently assaulted other offi-
GERS at Fort Fetter. Wyo., and
struck one of them with billiard
cue. Before his trial he took advan-
tage of an act just passed to apply for
his discharge, which was given him
and the charges withdrawn. In 1885
he was appointed a second lieutenant
against the protests of other officers,
and in 1887 was charged with being
drunk on duty and with conduct to
the prejudice Of y. good order and mill.
tary discipline in refusing to promptly
obey the commands of his superior,
was court martialed and dismissed in
1887. The message continues:
Since that time repeated efforts
have been made to vacate this judg
ment and restore the dismissed officer.
While a number of committees in con
gress have made reports favorable to
such action, at least two committees
have recommended a den lal of legisla
live relief Both of these
reports were made out on
bealf of the house committee
on military affairs by distinguished
soldiers, who after patient examination
and with an inclination to be not only
Just but generous to a fellow soldier,
were constrained to recommend a re
fusal of the application for restoration.
am impressed with the belief that
legislation of the kind proposed is OF
extremely doubtful eYpediency in any
save an exceptional case, and ! am
thoroughly convinced by the cases
now before me and the discipline Of
cur army, as we'll as to justice to 9TH
any ground OF the bill herewith re-
turned