The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-23
HIS PENSION POLICY.
THE President DEFINES AND De-
FENDS ITIN A MESSAGE.
lie Opposes Government Aid To widows
Who kensrry-Msny Bills Which
Are DifficuIt To Defend

"ASHlNGToN. Feb. 22.-In sending to
'"e senate to-day his veto IN a hin for
-, tension Tor Maria SomerIat "A re-mar-
80, WIDOW or a volunteer President
SieNeidnd takes occa sion to define and
u'i .er ms pension policy as follows:
10 mo Senate,-I return herewith
~itnout approval Senate bill numbered
i,"-s, entitled An act granting pension
20 20 Maria Somerlat. widow of Valentine
SOmerlat" This beneficiary under the
name of Maria Somerlat was pensioned in
1867 as the widow OF Valentine SOmorlat.
volunteer soldier, her pension dating
from his death in 1864. She continued to
draw the pension allowed her as such
widow until ISL. when she married one
Hiram Smith. Subsequently, but at what
time does not appear. she was divorced
from Smith I'm a suit that seems to have
been begun by him. but in which she
ment i'm her favor. Notwithstanding her
re-marriage. by which she ceased 10 be
the widow Of the dead soldier, 1t Is pro-
posed TO pension her again on account OF
his death.
WIDOWS PENSIONS.
"The rule governing the operation OF
general pension laws which fOrfelts Il
widows pension on her re-marriage seems
so reasonable and just and It's ieiaNatlOi
must necessarily lead 10 such departure
from Just principles and TO such veNa-
tious pension administration. that ! am
convinced that IL ought 10 be stilcuy
maintained. a..
Il hope | may be permitted to call tho
attention Of the Senate 10 the increasing
latitude clearly observable I'm special peu-
SIGN legislation. 10 has seemed 10 me 20
useless To attempt 10 stem the tide Oh TINS
legislation by executive interference thdl
1 nave coutcnted myself with non
acquiesCence I'm numerous cases "hcie /
could not approve. There nave Deeh a.
ready presented To me for executive ac-
ton during the present session or Coi-
gress two hundred and six special PEN
sion bills, OF which 1 have actually eN-
amined one hundred and fifteen. The en-
tire number 81 such bills that nave De-
come laws during the four sessions Oh the
Congress since March 4, sJ5, IS three nun
dred and nincty-uine.
Some OF these presented at the present
session are not based upon the least pre-
text that the death or disability mNoiNeu
is related 10 army service, While IN hu-
merous eases II is extremely dirlcult 10
satisfactorily discover such relationship
ONE FEATURE.
There IS one feature or this leslsld-
ton which ] am sure deserves attention.
refer 10 the great number OF special
bills passed for the purpose OF increasing
the pensions Cf these already on the rolls.
or tho one hundred and nfteen special
pension bills which ! have examined since
tho beginning Of the present session ol
Congress, ffty-eight granted or restored
pensions and MI! -seNeh increase" tloSc
already existing while the appropriation
of money necessary to meet these IN
creases alone exceeds considerably the
amount required TO pay the original PEN
sions granted or restored by the remain
ing iifty-cight bills
Il cannot discover that these increases
are regulated by any rule or principle
and when we remember that there are
nearly a million pensioners On our rolls
and consider the Importantly for such in
crease that must follow the precedents
already made. the relation Of the subject
TO a justifabe Increase Of our national
revenues cannot escape attelti)n.
GROVER CLEN ELAND.
Executive Mansion, Feb. -. lsyi.'