The fact was communicated to me early in the present session of the Congress that the aggregate sum of the appropriations contained in bills for the erection and extension of public buildings which had up to that time been referred to the House Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds was about $37,000,000.
Of course this fact would have no particular relevancy if all the buildings asked for were necessary for the transaction of public business, as long as we have the money to pay for them; but inasmuch as a large number of the buildings proposed are unnecessary and their erection would be wasteful and extravagant, besides furnishing precedents for further and more extended reckless expenditures of a like character, it seems to me that applications for new and expensive public buildings should be carefully scrutinized.
I am satisfied that the appropriation of $75,000 for a building at Youngstown is at present not justified.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
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.