EXECUTIVE MANSION, _May 28, 1888_.
_To the Senate_:
I return without approval Senate bill No. 1237, entitled "An act
granting a pension to Anna Mertz."
The beneficiary named in this bill is the widow of Charles A. Mertz, who
served in the Army as captain from April, 1862, to June, 1863, when he
resigned on account of impaired health. It is stated in the committee's
report that after his return from the Army he worked occasionally at his
trade, though subject to attacks of very severe diarrhea, accompanied
with acute catarrhal pains in the head and face, which he constantly
attributed to his army service.
It is alleged that he had several times taken morphine, under medical
advice, to allay pain caused by these attacks.
He did not apply for a pension.
On the 1st day of December, 1884, more than twenty-one years after
his discharge from the Army, he died from an overdose of morphine
self-administered, for the purpose, it is claimed, of alleviating his
suffering.
I do not think that in this case the death of the soldier was so related
to his military service as to entitle his widow to a pension.