I return without approval House bill No. 9173, entitled "An act granting a pension to Mary J. Drake."
It is proposed by this bill to pension the beneficiary therein named as the widow of Newton E. Drake, who served as a soldier from August 1, 1863, to January 18, 1865.
The records do not show that he suffered from any disability during his term of service.
He filed an application for pension September 23, 1879, claiming that he contracted rheumatism about October, 1864.
He died June 7, 1881, and there does not appear to have been any evidence produced as to the cause of his death or establishing, except by the allegations of his own application, that he contracted any disease or disability in the service.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 18, 1889.
To the House of Representatives:
I return without approval House bill No. 9791, entitled "An act for the relief of Charles W. Geddes."
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to include the name of the beneficiary mentioned, late assistant engineer in the United States Navy, among those who served in the Mexican War, and issue to him a land warrant for his services as assistant engineer on the United States steamer General Taylor during said war.