The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-08-08
tho Relief of Captain Wells.

WASHINGTON, Aug. President Cleve-
OF his views on the special legislation for
the retirement OF army officers, in veto
today OF the bill for the relief OF Eugene
Wells. late captain of the Twelfth in
fantry. The bill authorized the presi-
dent to appoint the beneficiary a second
lieutenant of artillery, to be placed on
the retired list for disability without the
usual examination by retiring board.
The president writes:
Appointments to the army, under the
authority of the present legislation,
which named the proposed appointee,
the purpose OF which is the immediate
retirement OF the appointee, are open to
serious objections, though l confess |
have been persuaded through sympathy
and sentiment on number of occasions
to approve such legislation. When,
however, it is proposed to make the re.
tlrement compulsory and without refer
ence to age or previous examination, a
most objectionable feature is introduced.
THE cases covered by the special en-
actments referred to are usually such as
should, ii worthy of consideration, be
provided for under the general or cor
poration pension laws, leaving the re-
tired list of the army to serve the
legitimate purpose for which it was es.
tablished. A recent decision in the
house OF representatives upon q bill
similar to the one now before me, drew
from memorandum of the house COM
mittee on military affairs, the declars-
ton OF hundreds OF such bills were be-
fore that committee and that there
were Do presidents for the passage of
the particular one under discussion. 1t
seems to me this condition suggests
such an encroachment upon the retired
list OF the army az would lead to the
virtual abandonment OF the legislation
based upon sound policy and good ad-
ministration.
"There are facts connected with the
case, covered by the bill now before
me, which in my judgment forbid its
favorable confederation"
Ihe president then reviews the mill
tary record OF Captain Wells, saying
that in the fall OF 1870 he WAS charged |
with conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman. The specifications wore |
that while intoxicated he had violently
assaulted other officers at Fort Fetter-
man, Wyo,, end struck one on the head !
"NsA~ Cuos DtIOT6 bu6 tTl&I ne
took advantage OF an act just passed to
apply for his discharge, which was
given him and the charges withdrawn.
lu 1885 he was appointed second lieu
tenant, against the protests of other
officers, and in 1887 was charged with
being drunk on duty and with conduct
to the prejudice OF good order and mill
tary discipline in refusing to promptly
obsy the commando of his superior. and
was court-martialed and dismissed in
1887. The message continues:
Since that time repeated efforts have
been made to vacste this judgment and
restore the dismissed officer to the eer-
vice. While number of committees of
congress have made reports favorable to
such action, at Least two committees
have recommended denial OF legslat.
i've relief. Both Of these reports were
made on behalf OF the committees on
military affairs, by military soldiers,
who, after patient examination, and
With an inclination to be not only Just,
but generous to fellow soldier, were
constrained to recommend refusal OF
Inc application for restoration.
= am impressed with the belief that