He was arrested January 1, 1864, but there appears to be no record of
his trial or his restoration.
He filed a claim for pension in the Pension Bureau in January, 1870, and
he was informed twice during the year 1888 that no favorable action
could be taken until the charge of desertion had been removed.
On application to the Adjutant-General that officer, on the 21st day of
February, 1888, declined to remove said charge of desertion.
The claim is still pending before the Pension Bureau.
I do not suppose that the Congress is prepared to go so far in special
pension legislation as to grant pensions to those against whom charges
of desertion appear of record.
In the belief that the fact of the second desertion above mentioned was
overlooked by the Congress, and because the application for pension in
this case is still pending in the Pension Bureau, where complete justice
can still be done, I am constrained to withhold my approval of this
bill.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _October 16, 1888_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I return without approval House bill No. 2472, entitled "An act granting
a pension to Lydia A. Eaton."
The husband of this beneficiary was pensioned for chronic rheumatism, at
the rate of $4 a month, up to the date of his death, August 4, 1884.
The beneficiary filed a claim for pension on the 2d day of September,
1884.
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