This balance was on the 30th day of June, 1877, carried to the surplus fund and covered into the Treasury.

Thus since that date it seems there has been no Texas indemnity fund, nor is there any such fund now from which the money mentioned in the bill herewith returned can be paid.

If the claims mentioned are such as should be paid by the United States, there appears to be no difficulty in making an appropriation for their payment from the general funds of the Government.

It is directed, however, that this money be paid out of the Texas indemnity fund.

As a general proposition I see nothing unjust or unfair in holding that if a pensioner is sick and through ignorance or design takes laudanum without the direction or regulation of a physician the Government should not be held responsible…

An attorney having the mother's application for pension in charge withdrew from the case in October, 1884, for the reason that...his death was caused by a snow slide.

I return without approval House bill No. 5234, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Cyrenius G. Stryker.'

I can not believe that his suicide had any connection with his army service.

The evidence now offered in support of this claim appears to have reference to a time long anterior to its rejection by the Pension Bureau in 1886.

I do not see how the relief proposed can be granted in this case without an unjustifiable departure from the rules under which applications for pension should be determined.

I return without approval House bill No. 3579, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Ellen Shea.'

I return without approval House bill No. 4580, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Farnaren Ball.'

The proofs with which I have been furnished fail to satisfy me that the Government should grant a pension on account of death produced by a self-administered narcotic in the circumstances which surround this case.

It seems to me, however, that it would establish a bad precedent to provide for her from the Federal Treasury.

The disability of which he complains has no natural relation to the sickness he claims to have had during his service.

There is very little evidence offered of any unsoundness of mind.

I believe this claim for pension to be a fraud from beginning to end.

It is hardly to be supposed that he wandered that far.