The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-22
PRESIDENTS VETO ovER-RIDDEN
Pension Money Paid Out by the House
With Lavish Hand.

Washington, May 21.-SOmuch of the
time Of the House was occupied to-day
in consideration of the Presidents veto
of bill to pension Francis i. Hoover,
a private IN the Gath 0. Y. l., and in
listening to a personal explanation
from Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep., Ohio). rela-
tive to newspaper misrepresentation
of his position on the subject of reci-
procity, that the time for debate on
the Phillips Commission bill was eX-
tended until tomorrow at o'clock.
The bill provides for the appoint
ment by the President of a non-parti-
san commission of twenty-one, seven
representatives each from labor, agri-
culture and business to collate infor-
mation and consider and recommend
legislation to meet the problems pre-
scented by labor, agriculture and capi-
tai Mr.. Phillips, chairman of the La
Dor committee and the author Of the
bill, made the principal argument to-
Cay. Mr. Low (Rep., n. W, also sup
ported it. The bill, Mr.. Phillips said,
had the united support of all the labor
organizations of the country.
The Presidents veto of the bill to
pension Francis Z. Hoover at $50 per
month was overridden, 1876 to A. Four
Republican votes to sustain the veto,
and five members to override it. The
bill was called up by Mr.. Kirkpatrick
(Rep., Kan.) The claimant was a pri-
vate in Company /, Gath o. Y. /. The
President vetoed the bill on the ground
that there was no claim that the pres
ent helpless condition of the soldier
was due to army service.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick moved that the bill
I,fN IL . L.,
Congress does not give him relief he
will go to the poor house. The com
mittee can never assent to that as long
as there is a dollar in the treasury"
Mr.. Kirkpatrick submitted the addi-
tional testimony secured by the COM
mttee since the veto message was re-
ceiyed, showing that the soldiers con-
dition was due to army service. but SAID
the committee wanted it distinctly un-
derstood that it was clearly within the
power of Congress to grant the relief
in a case of extreme hardship, even if
this were not the ease 1t was impor-
tant that this right should be indicat-
ed. Mr.. Kirkpatrick's remarks were
literally applauded.
Mr.. Erdman, (Dem.. Pa), opposed
the motion. He explained that the
information in the possession of the
President was the original report of
the committee and the testimony on
file at the Pension Office in neither
of which was it claimed that the dis
ease was due to service origin. The
new report, he declared, presented
more than the usual absurdities of a
plea of confession and evidence.
Mr. Loud, (Rep., Cali, also opposed
the motion, and Mr.. Wood, (Rep. III,
supported it. The latter said that if
there were but $50 in the treasury he
would be in favor of taking it out TO
pay the first months pension to Fran
els +. Hoover.
Mr. Bartlett, (Dem., N.Y., endorsed
the Presidents veto.
Mr.. Willis, (Rep., DELI, concluded
the debate with stirring ten minute
speech in criticism of the Presidents
course in vetoing private pension
bills. He declared that it was an abuse
and degradation of the veto power; a
re-assertion of the idea conveyed in
Mr.. Cleveland's contemptuous state
ment that he had Congress on his
hands" He generally ridiculed Mr..
Bartlett for consoling the poor survi-
vors of the Union who were going
down to their death in sickness and
poverty, with the words of Fitz Green
Hallecll, that they had the thanks
of mortals yet to be-"
In conclusion, he congratulated Mr..
Cleveland and Mr.. Bartlett on the po-
sitions they had taken. "Their minds
are cast in the same mould-but I
don't want the gentleman from New
York to feel that he is particularly
complimented by the statement" (Re-
publican applause).
The bill was then passed over the
veto 196-47.
At 5;15 the House adjourned.