SPECIAL MESSAGES.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 6, 1882.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 4th instant, and its accompanying papers, in which it is recommended that section 1216, Revised Statutes, be so amended as to include in its provisions the enlisted men of the Army, and that section 1285, Revised Statutes, be modified so as to read:
A certificate of merit granted to an enlisted man for distinguished service shall entitle him thereafter to additional pay, at the rate of $2 per month, while he is in the military service, although such service may not be continuous.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 6, 1882.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 4th instant, setting forth certain facts respecting the title to the peninsula of Presque Isle, at Erie, Pa., and recommending that the subject be presented to Congress with the view of legislation by that body modifying the act of May 27, 1882, entitled "An act to authorize the Secretary of War to accept the peninsula in Lake Erie opposite the harbor of Erie, in the State of Pennsylvania" (17 U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 162), so as to authorize the Secretary of War to accept title to the said peninsula, proffered by the marine hospital of Pennsylvania pursuant to an act of the legislature of that State approved by the governor May 11, 1871.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 6, 1882.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, inclosing one from the commanding general Department of the Missouri, indorsed by the division commander, urging the advisability of prompt action in the matter of perfecting the title to the site of Fort Bliss, Tex.
Accompanying also is a copy of Senate Executive Document No. 96, Forty-seventh Congress, first session, which presents fully the facts in the case, as well as the character of the legislation necessary to secure to the United States proper title to the land in question.
The Secretary of War expresses his concurrence in the views of the military authorities as to the importance of this subject and urges that the requisite legislation be had by Congress at its present session.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 8, 1882.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, with a draft of a bill and accompanying papers, to accept and ratify an agreement made by the Pi-Ute Indians, and granting a right of way to the Carson and Colorado Railroad Company through the Walker River Reservation, in Nevada.
The subject is presented for the consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, December 13, 1882.
To the House of Representatives:
In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 30th of January, 1882, on the subject of the tariff of consular fees, I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 15, 1882.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing a copy of a letter from the acting governor of New Mexico, in which he sets forth reasons why authority should be given and provision made for holding a session of the Territorial legislature of New Mexico in January, 1883, or soon thereafter.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 19, 1882.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, upon the subject of abandoned military reservations, and renewing his former recommendation for such legislation as will provide for the disposal of military sites that are no longer needed for military purposes.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 21, 1882.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior of the 18th instant, with accompanying papers, submitting a draft of a bill "for the relief of the Nez Piercé Indians in the Territory of Idaho and of the allied tribes residing upon the Grande Ronde Indian Reservation, in the State of Oregon."
The subject is presented for the consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 27, 1882.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I submit herewith a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, inclosing a communication from the secretary of the Territory of New Mexico, who has custody of the public buildings at Santa Fe, in which are set forth reasons why an appropriation should be made for the completion of the capitol at Santa Fe, and commend the same to the consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 5, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, together with a letter from the Superintendent of the Census, requesting an additional appropriation of $100,000 to complete the work of the Tenth Census, and recommend the same to Congress for its favorable consideration.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 5, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 2d instant, and inclosing one from Lieutenant Robert Craig, Fourth Artillery, indorsed by the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, recommending that Congress authorize the printing and binding for the use of the Signal Office of 10,000 copies of the Annual Report of the Chief Signal Officer for the fiscal year 1882, and inclosing a draft of a joint resolution for the purpose.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 9, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, submitting a report, with accompanying papers, regarding the condition of the several libraries of said Department and the consolidation of the same.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 10, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
The Senate having by executive resolution of the 20th ultimo returned to me the supplemental convention of extradition signed August 7, 1882, in order that certain verbal changes therein might be made, as requested by the Spanish Government, as explained in the letter of the Secretary of State to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate dated the 15th ultimo, I now lay the said convention so modified before the Senate, with a view to its ratification.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 11, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 10th instant, inclosing one from the Chief of Ordnance, together with one from Lieutenant-Colonel D.W. Flagler, commanding the Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., setting forth the insufficiency of the sum appropriated by the sundry civil appropriation act of August 7, 1882, for the deepening of the water-power tail-race canal at that arsenal, and recommending that a special appropriation of $20,000 be made for the completion of said work.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 12, 1883.
To the House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State and accompanying papers, furnished in response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of July 15, 1882, calling for any information in the possession of the Department of State in reference to any change or modification of the stipulations which the French Cable Company made with the Government.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 19, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 17th instant, inclosing, with other papers on the subject, a petition of Thomas Mulvihill, of Pittsburg, Pa., praying for the repossession of certain shore lands at Pittsburg erroneously conveyed by him to the United States.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 19, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication, dated the 18th instant, from the Secretary of the Interior, with accompanying papers, in relation to the request of the Cherokee Indians in the Indian Territory for payment for lands in that Territory west of the ninety-sixth degree west longitude, the cession of which to the United States for the settlement of friendly Indians thereon is provided for in the sixteenth article of the treaty of July 19, 1866.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 19, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 17th instant, inclosing copies of letters respectively from the Chief of Engineers and Colonel A.F. Rockwell, in charge of public buildings and grounds in this city, urging the importance of an immediate appropriation of $1,000 for removing snow and ice from the walks and pavements in and around the various public reservations under his control during the remainder of the present fiscal year.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 19, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
I have carefully considered the provisions of Senate bill No. 561, entitled "An act for the relief of Robert Stodart Wyld."
I am of the opinion that the general statute is sufficiently liberal to provide relief in all proper cases of destroyed United States bonds, and I believe that the act above referred to constitutes an evil precedent. It is not, however, so objectionable as to call for my formal disapproval, and I have allowed it to become a law under the constitutional provision, contenting myself with communicating to the Senate, in which the bill originated, my disapproval of special legislation of this character.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 19, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 18th instant, inclosing an extract copy of a report of the Adjutant-General respecting the military reservation of Fort Cameron, Utah Territory, and recommending that authority be granted during the present session of Congress for the disposal of said reservation, it being no longer needed for military purposes.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 19, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, with a draft of a bill, and accompanying papers, to accept and ratify an agreement with the confederated tribes of Flathead, Kootenay, and Upper Pend d'Oreille Indians for the sale of a portion of their reservation in the Territory of Montana, required for the Northern Pacific Railroad, and to make the necessary appropriation for carrying the same into effect.
The subject is presented for the consideration of the Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 23, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
In response to the resolution of the Senate of the United States dated January 5, 1883, requesting "that the Secretary of State be directed to transmit to the Senate copies of any letters on file in his Department from the consular service upon the subject of the shipment and discharge of seamen or payment of extra wages to seamen," I have to transmit a report of the Secretary of State on the subject.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 25, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State, concerning the character and condition of the library of the Department of State.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 26, 1883.
To the House of Representatives:
It is hereby announced to the House of Congress in which it originated that the joint resolution (H. Res. 190) to refer certain claims to the Court of Claims has been permitted to become a law under the constitutional provision. Its apparent purpose is to allow certain bankers to sue in the Court of Claims for the amount of internal-revenue tax collected from them without lawful authority, upon showing as matter of excuse for not having brought their suits within the time limited by law that they had entered into an agreement with the district attorney which was in substance that they should be relieved of that necessity. I can not concur in the policy of setting aside the bar of the statute in those cases on such ground, but I have not deemed it necessary to return the joint resolution with my objections for reconsideration.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 30, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith a copy of a communication to me from the Secretary of the Treasury.[14]
I have acted in conformity with the recommendations, oral and written, which are therein set forth, concerning the action suggested to be that which would best effectuate the purpose of section 1768 of the Revised Statutes of the United States and be most considerate of the reputation and interests of the public officer to be affected and most subservient to the public interest.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 3, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit to the Senate, for consideration with a view to ratification, the treaty of commerce which was signed in duplicate January 20, 1883, by commissioners on the part of the United States and Mexico, with accompanying papers.
The attention of the Senate is called to the statement in the third protocol as to the insertion of the word "steel" in item No. (35) 66 of the list appended to article 2 of the treaty. No further information as to the possible correction therein referred to has yet reached me; but as the session of the Senate will soon terminate, I deem it advisable to transmit the treaty as signed, in the hope that its ratification may be assented to.
While the treaty does not contain all the provisions desired by the United States, the difficulties in the way of a full and complete settlement of matters of common interest to the two countries were such as to make me willing to approve it as an important step toward a desirable result, not doubting that, as time shall show the advantages of the system thus inaugurated, the Government will be able by supplementary agreements to insert the word "steel" and to perfect what is lacking in the instrument.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 3, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior of the 1st instant, submitting a report made by the commission appointed under the provisions of the act of August 7, 1882, to treat with me Sioux Indians for a modification of their existing treaties, together with a copy of the agreement negotiated by that commission.
The subject is presented for the favorable consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 5, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a communication from the Secretary of War, dated the 2d instant, in relation to the subject of invasion of the Indian Territory, and urging the importance of amending section 2148 of the Revised Statutes so as to impose a penalty of imprisonment for unlawful entry upon the Indian lands.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 5, 1883.
To the Senate of the 'United States:
Referring to my message to the Senate of the 3d instant, wherewith was transmitted, for consideration with a view to ratification, the treaty of commerce between Mexico and the United States which was signed at Washington on the 20th ultimo, I have now to inform the Senate that this Government is officially advised by that of Mexico, through its minister at this capital, that it assents to the insertion of the word "steel" in item No. (35) 66 of the list appended to article 2 of that treaty.
It is desired that the treaty be returned to me that the amendment may be made, after which it will be again sent to the Senate for final action.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 6, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
I retransmit to the Senate the commercial treaty recently signed in this city by the commissioners of the United States and Mexico, as amended by the insertion of the word "steel" in item (35) 66 of the list appended to article 2 thereof.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 7, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication of the 3d instant, With accompanying papers, from the Secretary of the Interior, being a partial report upon the Cherokee Indian matters required under a clause in the sundry civil appropriation act of August 7, 1882.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 8, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior of the 7th instant, with accompanying papers, setting forth the urgent necessity of stringent measures for the repression of the rapidly increasing evasions and violations of the laws relating to public lands, and of a special appropriation for the purpose both in the current and approaching fiscal years.
The subject is presented for the consideration of Congress.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 9, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith to the Senate, for its consideration with a view to ratification, a convention between the United States of America and the French Republic, for extending the term of the French and American claims convention, concluded at Washington on the 8th day of February, 1883.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 10, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the information of Congress, a copy of the report of the Board of Indian Commissioners for the year 1882. The report accompanies the message to the House of Representatives.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 10, 1883.
To the House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 25th ultimo, a report of the Secretary of State, in relation to export duties levied in foreign countries having commercial relations with the United States.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 12, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith a communication of the 8th instant, with accompanying papers, from the Secretary of the Interior, comprising the further report in relation to matters of difference between the Eastern and Western bands of Cherokee Indians required by an item in the sundry civil act approved August 7, 1882 (pamphlet statutes, page 328).
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 15, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith, in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of December 18, 1882, the report of Mr. George Earl Church upon Ecuador, which I have this day received from the Secretary of State.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 20, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a letter from the Secretary of War, dated the 19th instant, inclosing a copy of one from Major George L. Gillespie, Corps of Engineers, dated the 15th instant, referring to the insufficiency of the sum ($39,000) appropriated by the sundry civil bill of August 7, 1882, for building the sea wall on Governors Island, New York Harbor, together with a copy of the indorsement of the Chief Engineer, showing the necessity for an additional appropriation of $15,000 for this purpose. The Secretary of War recommends that said additional sum of $15,000 be appropriated at the present session of Congress for the object stated.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 23, 1883.
To the House of Representatives of the United States of America:
With reference to my message of the 12th ultimo on the same subject, I transmit herewith a further report of the Secretary of State, furnishing additional papers received since the date of his former report in response to a resolution of the House of Representatives of July 5, 1882, calling for any information in the possession of the Department of State in reference to any changes or modifications of the stipulations which the French Cable Company made with this Government.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 26, 1883.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit herewith, for the information of Congress, a copy of the annual report of the Government directors of the Union Pacific Railway Company, under date of the 19th instant.
The copy of the report referred to accompanies the message to the House of Representatives.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 27, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State, furnished in response to the resolution of the Senate of February 26, 1883, requesting information touching an alleged joint agreement between the ministers of the United States, of Great Britain, of France, and of Italy now serving in Peru.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 1, 1883.
To the Senate of the United States:
Having approved the act recently passed by Congress "to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States," I deem it my duty to call your attention to the provision for the employment of a "chief examiner" contained in the third section of the act, which was the subject of consideration at the time of its approval.
I am advised by the Attorney-General that there is great doubt whether such examiner is not properly an officer of the United States because of the nature of his employment, its duration, emolument, and duties. If he be such, the provision for his employment (which involves an appointment by the Commission) is not in conformity with section 2, Article II of the Constitution. Assuming this to be the case, the result would be that the appointment of the chief examiner must be deemed to be vested in the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, since in such case the appointment would not be otherwise provided for by law. Concurring in this opinion, I nominate Silas W. Burt, of New York, to be chief examiner of the Civil Service Commission.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.