The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-04-30
WEDNESDAY,, APRIL %.

IN the Senate, the Presidents vetoes Of two
pension bills 10 the widows of Peter III. Ala
bach and Charles L. Jones were laid before the
3 Senate at the opening of the session yesterday.
The veto in the case of Jones was as follows:
TO THE SENATE: ] return herewith without my
approval Senate bill No 2I9. entitled an ucI grant
ing pension To Charles T.. Jones The beneficiary
manned ia this bill was photog per w o accom-
panied one Of he regiments II tie Union army ia
tile 81 the rebellion. He as injured, appRf-
emily not very seriously. while taking photographs
atid where no battle was in actual progress. lie
not enlisted aud ia manner in Tie
military service 81 the United States.
Aside from tie question NJ 10 whether his pres
en rad condition ~ attributable to the injury
stained. ID seems 10 me tile extension of pension
lief to such cnscs would open the door TO legisn-
tion hard to Justify aud Impossible 10 Restrain from
Rbnse. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, April p. 1896
Tho other veto was in the case Of the bill
for pension to Nancy G. Allabach. 1t pro-
vided for pension for Mrs. Allabach. who is
tile widow of Peter II. Alabach who served in
both the Mexican war and the war of the re-
boliion. The President calls attention TO the
fact that Mr. Alabach made no application for
pension or account Of disabilities during his life
q JIG Is not" he says, NOW claimed that he was
in the least disabled as an incident OF his mill
tary service. nor is it alleged that his death.
which occurred nearly % years after his dis
charge from tic army, was in any degree related
20 such service" lie says the widow was pea
stoned after her husbands death as the widow
OF Mexican soldier. and that her case falls
under the general act Of 1880. " Ii Is proposed
however" lie continues, 2" by the special act
nnGer consideration TO give this widow pen
sion Of $50 a month without the least sugges.
fon Of the death or disability Of her husband
having been caused BY bis military service and
solely. 80 far as dscoverable, upon the ground
z that she is poor and needs the money. The
Z condition is precisely covered by existing law,
\ and IL q precedent is 10 be established by the
: special legislation proposed do not see how
the same relief AS is contained in this bin can
be denied 10 the many thousand widows who
in similar situation are now on the pension
rolls under general laws"
On the question Of referring the vetoes 10 the
Committee on Pensions, Dir. Gallinrer Chair
man Of that committee, said be regretted that
Y the President had seen fit TO veto these bills
which, IN the judgment Of the Senator. were
mcrtorous. Capt. Ailabach had been we'll
known as head Of the Capitol police ut one
time His military services were such that lie
might have applied for pension. tut he did
mot do So owing TO personal Discrimination
As 10 the case OF Charles Jones, Mr. Gallinger
said that while Jones WAS photographer he
received a gunshot wound resulting in total
blindness. j he service WAS al least semi mill.
\ tary. and the wound was received during the
attack on Longstreei's lines.
The President refers TO trivial wound. T"
said Mr. Galiinger. :" will not discuss and
suggest what Is Ia my mind-that the message
was written without knowledge Of the facts y
The Senator went 20 read from the commit
tee report showing the grounds OF the pension
lie said lie wanted these facts 10 20 TO the coun.
Try along with the YctOes, 10 meet the assertions
3 Likely 10 bo made that the Pension Commltte
had proceeded careessly aud rcckiussiy in ia
voriug pensions.
Mr.. Palmer lIll) spoke Of the embarrass.
ments attending cases in which the applicant
for pension had not been formally enlisted
hold" said Mr.. Palmer that when q
citizen voluntarily associates himself with the
military forces he becomes de lacto IN the mill
tRry service aud IL wounded. he has the same
moral right 10 pension as anyone formally en-
listed"
Dir. Hi asked az 10 the exact military serv-
ice performed by Jones, and pointed out some
peculiar features Of an affidavit fled ia his be-
half
On motion Of Mr. Gallinger, the vetoes were
referred TO the Pension Committee
Consideration OF the Indian appropriation
bill WAS then resumed, Mr.. Cockrcll speaking