New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-01
A PECULIAR PENSION VETO.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND RESTORES REBEL
Bl'sHWHACKER TO THE ROLL.

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND RESTORES REBEL
Bl-siiwHACKER TO THE ROLL.
Washington. Feb. Is (SpeciaD-A peculiar thing
happened the House OF Representatives today
when that body voted to sustain resident C1eVe-
lands veto Of bill TO grant pension TO Hiram
r. Rhea, of North Carolina. The veto message
seems to have been written under total misap-
prehension of the facts in the case as set forth IN
official statement submitted 10 Secretary Noble
by Commissioner Rdum, of the Pension Bureau
on April II, 1892 From that statement IL appears
that Congress passed special act in 1911 to place
Rhea on the pension rolls as member OF the 81
North Carolina Mounted Infantry Onon). on a'-
count of a gunshOt wound received IN an c'N""'.
ter with rebel bushwhackers. In DECEMBER i''
evidence began TO reach the Pension hurea" S"
ing that Rhea had never served ua' :"
Union Army but was a member Of han' Of
armed rebels and that the wound, on account OF
which a pension had been granted TO MN nH d"
special act of Congress in lNl' was it'c'NV" a.
the hands of Union soldiers. Commissioner ''""'''
referred the case to a special agent ior lhNeSuE'
ton and report, and in the statemeh, summit"
TO Secretary Noble on April L, 1892 the Com"l'-
soner said:
Special attention is s sailed TO as the ' TaEsay
J. Ray Ksy j. w W { GsfRes ama the Is G
inhictea the wounds upon the Penns,lomeT Ray
zone Of the supporting witnesses 70 ihe pealfIDn
for special acO. has made an aihdavll heloIr
support Of his claim is false Further ne f h'J6
that the pensioner was noiolV ,oror ~ ali The
nannle Of his county who loved their Government
hqt was in hs TsefI if he 5h ' Nor6
ksSe % aNary oen a ala no regular
cause he would not stay with any e m Won 20
that if in your judgment It he proper to s9on pm
item to the attention Of Congress yon may q" -"
II Will be perceiyed that none OF the, tNllfrh'.
herein referred TO- nor. indeed. apparently any AZ
all except that Of The Ren,o9er ran ANA w ni the
nssssIo 5'u Of Congress at the time when the
relief afforded by said act was obtained.
The case was promptly brought to the attention
Of the LID Congress by Secretary Noble ard Il
bill TO repeal the special act OF 1871 was favorabE
repor.ed by the Committee on Invalid Pensions 81
the House of Representatives. but no action wa
taken upon it by that body. Al the second SESSION
of this Congress. however the House passel a M
TO repeal the special act. and also authorizing ahp
directing the Secretary of the Interior 10 pa'" me
name OF Rhea the pension rolls |at raj PIX ~
pOrtionate the degree ~ dlsabHt! iIoil "
runshot wounds as may be shown 20 tn sstffac
ION Of said Secretary TO have been received at the
hands Of Confederate soldiers or syph'hi%ern ~
said Rhea was atiSpl5nss 70 co .bSyn by tS
dence mat he was a member OF said organization
the 80 North Carolina Mounted infantry q mon
The bill PssseSG ,t the S59''e ana was '0"'''
When Chairman Martin to-day moved that t.
failure to do would result in the IestoI aioh OF
Rhea's name to the pension roll ana me pay n,n'
! ba date on which payments were suspended by
| order of Secretary Noble pending action by con.
os the facts in the case. however. the pemocra nc
House Of Representatives. voted 10 sustain tr N5,o.
in the Union Army. will therefore continue TO draw
| A pension account Of wounds rec elVed a. IN"
hands Of no1 soldiers F9! ns and M I b@mo
| cratic House of Representa- yves