The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-22
THE HOOVER PENSION.
Representative Kirkpatrick Makes the
Committee Report.
from our Special Correspondent.

From Our Special Correspondent.
Washington, May 22-Representative
kirkpatrick was chosen by the com
mllee on Invalid pensions to write the
report on the message of President
cleveland vetoing the bin granting
pension to Francis =. Hoover
MIR kirkpatrick does not indulge IN
severe language but he brings into
strong light the injustice and favorft-
ism shown by the president in vetoing
bills to help deserving privates while
AloWlng plils pensioning widows Of
generals with large amounts to be-
come laws without protest.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick says
me president justifies his veto of
this measure under the ground that the
present unfortunate condition of this
soldier is not due to his army service:
and that such legislation is an unfair
discrimination against many thousand
worthy soldiers similarly situated
our committee after most patient
ana thorough consideration of the req
sons urged by the president for with
AoiQlng ms signature to this bill are
clearly Of the opinion that the justin
cation urged is wholly untenable
Legislation of this character is by
no means new III is found in the rec
ores OF every congress from the organ
lzation of the government to the pres
eAt llme, and since the close of the
war similar acts are quite frequent.
Ihere is no constitutional fnhibi-
ton on the power of congress TO grant
pensions py special bills. nor is i'd es-
sentla4 that the disability for which the
pension is granted should be of service
1-isll- vs. could cite many preced-
ems where special pensions have been
granted and approved by the exacl1-
tive without reference to the ol-fgfr r.
the disability "a
the pensions granted to our dfstin-
gulshed generals and their widows Nv
t4--.t a-ls or congress are not a Ivva y-s
-1A upon disabilities directly trace
alte e the military service Of the sold
-@t5 A- many OF these cases the dfsa bill
--1 OF death OF the soldier cannot Ia
el-1f u 70 nave resulted from his army
service VET none of these measures
nave encountered the executive veto
Under these circumstances we can
nor conclude that the passage Of This
Dill is an unjust Discrimination agafrst
thousands Of deserving soldiers b17f ~
reuse 20 grant relief in this case in
our opinion would be an unvvarrafe5
-is s.7s All.1 - s1Llon against the private.
n we are TO follow the rule laid
4oFn IN TINS case by the presfdenr con-
@f@@s must turn q dear ear to fha an
pear OF every soldier. however pitial1Ie
ana distressing his condition NAV ~
tSsa1lless or the merit of his service or
tne pElVations he endured. unless he
sam snow that his helpless and dis
dressed condition is due to his ar-r9v
M wee We cannot yield our assent =,
TINS proposition; it is manifestlv 71ri,,st
70 thousands of the truest ano brsV11-+
soAd1ers in our army
we also find ourselves ,,Dsh7a %
agree with the president tFat az
s-aAtlns on a pension of $50 q month ~
A-E- hoover Is an unjust dfscrir7ir7af go,
Aalllsl many thousand deserving soil
1t1Es similarly situated. Cases OF fl,fs
character must be rare fndead ana ~
doubt very much IL one 80 - - g
equalng il in ali OF its disfrass5-r- ~ -
tails" -=---6 1s-