R.B.  HAYES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 28, 1881.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit herewith a copy of proclamation[44] for the convening of an extra session of the Senate of the United States at the Capitol, in the city of Washington, on the 4th day of March next, at noon.

R.B.  HAYES.

[Footnote 44:  See pp. 639-640.]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 28, 1881.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit herewith a copy of a letter addressed to the chairman of the Civil Service Commission on the 3d of December last, requesting to be furnished with a report upon the result in the post-office and custom-house in the city of New York of the application of the civil-service rules requiring open competitive examinations for appointments and promotions, together with the report of Hon. Dorman B. Eaton, the chairman of the Commission, in response.

The report presents a very gratifying statement of the results of the application of the rules referred to in the two largest and most important local offices in the civil service of the Government.  The subject is one of great importance to the people of the whole country.  I would commend the suggestions and recommendation of the chairman of the Commission to the careful consideration of Congress.

R.B.  HAYES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 28, 1881.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit herewith, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 20th ultimo, a report from the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers.[45]

R.B.  HAYES.

[Footnote 45:  Correspondence relative to the sending to the United States by foreign governments of criminals, paupers, and insane persons.]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 3, 1881.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I have the honor to inform the Senate that Hon. Benjamin Harrison, Senator elect from the State of Indiana, has resigned his office as a member of the Commission for the Improvement of the Mississippi River, and the same has been accepted to take effect March 3, 1881.

R.B.  HAYES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 3, 1881.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I have the honor to inform the Senate that Hon. John Sherman, Senator elect from the State of Ohio, has resigned the position of Secretary of the Treasury, and that said resignation has been accepted to take effect at the close of the present day.

R.B.  HAYES.

VETO MESSAGE.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 3, 1881.

To the House of Representatives: 

Having considered the bill entitled “An act to facilitate the refunding of the national debt,” I am constrained to return it to the House of Representatives, in which it originated, with the following statement of my objections to its passage: