idow, while she remained such, presented
any such claim, nor is it found in reports of the committees in the
Senate or House to whom the bill under consideration was referred.
On the contrary, the Senate Committee on Pensions in their report
distinctly state that "there is no proof that soldier contracted disease
while in the service or that he died of pensionable disabilities."

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March i, 1897_.

_To the Senate_:

I return herewith without approval Senate bill No. 719, entitled "An act
to restore a pension to Harriet M. Knowlton."

Major William Knowlton, a most worthy volunteer soldier, died of wounds
received in battle on the 20th day of September, 1864.

In 1865 his widow, the beneficiary named in this bill, was pensioned at
the rate of $25 a month, commencing on the day of her husband's death,
with an additional allowance for four minor children dating from July,
1866.

She continued to receive this pension and allowance until November,
1867, when she married Albin P. Stinchfield.

Thereupon her name was dropped from the pension roll, she having by
her remarriage lost her pensionable condition, and her children were
pensioned at a small monthly rate from the date of their mother's
remarriage until June 1, 1880, when the youngest became 16 years of age.

The beneficiary, after living with her second husband about twenty-two
years, secured a divorce from him in the year 1889, and it is now
proposed to pension the divorced wife as the widow of her deceased
soldier husband at the rate she received while she was actually his
widow, thirty years ago.

Her pensionable relation to the Government terminated with her
remarriage, and her divorce from her second husband could not upon any
ground of principle restore it. A departure from this rule, even in aid
of cases of hardship, can not fail to establish precedents inviting the
abandonment of reasonable and justifiable pension theories.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 1, 1897_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I herewith return without approval House bill No. 1299, entitled "An act
to pension Harriet Woodbury, of Windsor, Vt."

The beneficiary named in this bill was the wife of Aaron G. Firman at
the time of his enlistment in 1863. He died October 2, 1864, and the
beneficiary, as his widow, was pensioned in 1865, from the day of her
soldier husband's death.

She continued to receive the pens