This is certainly the correct course to be pursued in this case, in view of the failure to state in the special bill the regiment and company to which the soldier belonged at the time of the incurrence of disability.

I return without approval House bill No. 8574, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Sallie T. Ward, widow of the late W. T. Ward.'

I can find no principle or plausible pretext in this case which would not lead to granting a pension in any case of alleged disability arising from military service followed by suicide.

Age and poverty do not themselves justify gifts of public money.

It does not seem to me that this case in its present condition should receive favorable consideration.

The husband of this beneficiary served about nine months in the Mexican War.

I return without approval House bill No. 9183, entitled 'An act granting a pension to William P. Riddle.'

No claim is made in any quarter that he incurred the least disability during this service.

I return without approval House bill No. 3521, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Manuel Garcia.'

It seems to me it would establish a very bad precedent to allow a pension upon the facts developed in this case.

I return without approval House bill No. 8761, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Mrs. Anna Butterfield.'

Her advanced age and the honorable service of her son would make the allowance of a pension in her case, upon any fair and plausible justification, very gratifying.

This evidence ought not to be difficult to obtain.

The expediency of granting any right to the occupancy of this land is, in my opinion, very doubtful.

I judge from an expression in the letter of the Chief of Engineers, made a part of the report of the committee of the House to which this bill was referred, that its original purpose was to absolutely transfer this reservation to the city…

It seems to me that if any use of this land is given to the city of Tacoma it should be with the proviso suggested by the Chief of Engineers, instead of the indefinite and restricted one incorporated in the bill.

I return herewith the enrolled bill (S. 3303) amendatory of 'An act relating to postal crimes and amendatory of the statutes therein mentioned.'

The death of this valiant soldier and patriotic son of the Republic ... has nevertheless shocked the country and caused universal grief.