EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 18, 1889_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I return without approval House bill No. 7877, entitled "An act to place
Mary Karstetter on the pension roll."
The beneficiary named in this bill is the widow of Jacob Karstetter, who
enlisted in June, 1864, and was discharged in June, 1865, on account of
a wound in his left hand received in action. He died in August, 1874, of
gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach, and congestion of the liver.
He was granted a pension for his gunshot wound and was in receipt of
such pension at the time of his death.
I was constrained to return without approval a bill identical with the
one herewith returned, and which was passed by the last Congress, and
stated my objections to the same in a communication addressed to the
House of Representatives, dated July 6, 1886.[31]
It seemed to me at that time that the soldier's death could not be held
to be the result of his wound or any other cause chargeable to his military
service.
Upon reexamination I am still of the same opinion, which leads me to
again return the bill under consideration without approval.