This I deem sufficient reason why the proposed bill should not now become a law.

To depart from all rules regulating the granting of pensions by such an enactment as is proposed would establish a precedent which could not fail to cause embarrassment and perplexity.

I return without approval Senate bill No. 2223, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Elizabeth S. De Krafft.'

I am so thoroughly tired of disapproving gifts of public money to individuals who in my view have no right or claim to the same.

I hereby return without approval Senate bill No. 1584, entitled 'An act for the relief of Cornelia R. Schenck.'

Every relaxation of principle in the granting of pensions invites applications without merit and encourages those who for gain urge honest men to become dishonest.

The public money appropriated for pensions is the soldiers' fund, which should be devoted to the indemnification of those who in the defense of the Union have worthily suffered.

I return without approval House bill No. 3624, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Fred. J. Leese.'

My objection to this bill is that it is of no possible advantage to the beneficiary therein mentioned.

I deem myself obliged to disapprove this bill on the ground that there is an almost complete failure to state any facts that should entitle the claimant to a pension.

I find nothing in the facts presented to me which, in my opinion, justifies the reversal of the judgment of the Bureau and the Secretary of the Interior.

I am also thoroughly convinced, from examination of the case, that the claimant should not be pensioned.

There does not appear on the records any evidence of disability.

A better reason is based upon the entire lack of any facts shown to exist which entitle the beneficiary named to a pension.

The record of his service contains no mention of any disability.

The information furnished by the report of the committee... absolutely fails to connect the death of Commodore Marchand with any incident of his naval service.

I am unable to see how any other conclusion could have been reached.

Nor should the door be opened to applications of this kind.