In the unusual cases when a widow has been pensioned on account of
the death of her first husband, notwithstanding her remarriage, which
forfeited her claim under the general law, it has been well established
that she was again a widow by the death of her second husband, that
beyond all controversy the death of the first husband was due to his
military service, and such advanced age or disability has been shown
on the part of the widow as prevented self-support.
In this case the name of the widow is not in the bill; there is hardly
room for the pretense that her first husband's death was due to his
military service, her age is given as over 40 years, and $20 a month is
allowed her; being considerably more than is generally allowed in cases
where a widow's right is clear, with no complications of second
marriage, and her necessities great.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _August 14, 1888_.
_To the Senate_:.
I return without approval Senate bill No. 1762, entitled "An act
granting a pension to Benjamin A. Burtram."
The beneficiary named in this bill was mustered into the military
service November 26, 1861; he was reported present until February 28,
1862, and was discharged for disability July 26, 1862.
The medical certificate of the disability of this soldier was made by
the senior surgeon of a hospital in Louisville, Ky., and stated that the
soldier had been disabled for sixty days; that his lungs were affected
with tubercular deposits in both, and that there was some irregularity
in the action of the heart; that he was of consumptive family, his
mother, brother, and two sisters having died of that disease according
to his and his father's account.
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