We should then, perhaps,
have less of it in claims for pensions.
The fact is, in this case there is no disability which can be traced to
the forty days' military service of fifty-four years ago, and I think
little, if any, more infirmity than is usually found in men of the age
of the claimant.
Entertaining this belief, I am constrained to withhold my signature from
this bill.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _July 6, 1886_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I return herewith without approval House bill No. 5414, entitled "An act
granting a pension to Maria Cunningham."
The husband of the beneficiary named in this bill enlisted January 29,
1862, and was discharged January 20, 1865.
He applied for a pension in 1876, alleging a shell wound in the head.
His claim was rejected on the ground that there appeared to be no
disability from that cause. No other injury or disability was ever
claimed by him, but at the time of his examination in 1876 he was found
to be sickly, feeble, and emaciated, and suffering from an advanced
stage of saccharine diabetes.
His widow filed an application for a pension in 1879, alleging that her
husband died in December, 1877, of spinal disease and diabetes,
contracted in the service.
Her claim was rejected because evidence was not furnished that the cause
of the soldier's death had its origin in the military service.
Pages:
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312