Special Message
04/05/1886
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...
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.'
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.
It seems to me it would establish a very bad precedent to allow a pension upon the facts developed in this case.