This soldier drew a pension from January, 1882, to January 16, 1886, when he died.  He claimed disability for disease of the ears and a resulting deafness of his left ear.  There appears to be no evidence in his record of any disability or medical treatment while in the service, and the medical examination upon his application for pension shows no rating for any disability other than that alleged by him and for which he was pensioned—­disease of the ears and resulting deafness.

It is conceded that the soldier died January 16, 1886, of pneumonia.

The widow filed a claim for pension in May, 1887.

The testimony of physicians upon her claim covered seven years prior to his death, thus dating back to the year 1879, and they speak of the disease of the ear and of the kidneys, which, in their opinion, undermined his health, so that “he succumbed to an attack of pneumonia, which to a person of ordinary good health would not have been considered serious.”

It can hardly be supposed that the trouble with his ears caused the soldier to fall a victim to pneumonia; and so far as the kidney disease tended in that direction, it is to be observed that it apparently did not make its appearance until fourteen years after the soldier’s discharge.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 26, 1880.

To the House of Representatives: 

I return without approval House bill No. 11586, entitled “An act for the relief of Stephen Williams.”

It appears from the records that the beneficiary for whom a pension is provided in this bill served as a volunteer in an Illinois regiment from October, 1862, to October; 1864, at which date he is reported as a deserter.

He filed a claim for pension in 1881, in which he alleged that he was struck with a gunstock upon his head and injured in October, 1864.

The evidence shows that a drunken comrade struck the claimant with the stock of his gun because he would not buy whisky for him.

This, upon all the facts, does not appear to be a proper case for allowing a pension for an injury suffered in the line of military duty.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 2, 1889.

To the Senate: 

I herewith return without approval Senate bill No. 139, entitled “An act to credit and pay to the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia all moneys collected under the direct tax levied by the act of Congress approved August 5, 1861.”

The object of this bill is quite clearly indicated in its title.  Its provisions have been much discussed in both branches of Congress and have received emphatic legislative sanction.  I fully appreciate the interest which it has excited and have by no means failed to recognize the persuasive presentation made in its favor.  I know, too, that the interposition of Executive disapproval in this case is likely to arouse irritation and cause complaint and earnest criticism.  Since, however, my judgment will not permit me to assent to the legislation proposed, I can find no way of turning aside from what appears to be the plain course of official duty.