The selection of such part of the material mentioned as may be considered necessary to constitute a final exhibit of the action of the commission and the results of the exposition is submitted to the discretion of Congress.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 8, 1897.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State and accompanying reports from diplomatic and consular officers of the United States on the passport regulations of foreign countries.  In view of the evident value of the information contained in these reports, especially to American citizens going abroad and sojourning or traveling in foreign lands, I approve the recommendation of the Secretary that Congress authorize the printing of a special edition of 3,000 copies of the work, to be distributed by the Department of State as indicated in the Secretary’s report.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 8, 1897.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I herewith submit the thirteenth annual report of the Civil Service Commission, containing a detailed statement of its important work and exhibiting the present condition of the classified service of the Government.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 10, 1897.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 9th instant, the House of Representatives concurring, I return herewith Senate bill No. 3328, entitled “An act to amend an act entitled ’An act to repeal the timber-culture laws, and for other purposes.’”

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 11, 1897.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In response to the resolution of the Senate of February 4, 1897, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, submitting copies of correspondence relative to the arrest and detention of Gaspar A. Betancourt, a citizen of the United States, by the Spanish authorities in Cuba.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 11, 1897.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In response to the resolution of the Senate of February 2, 1897, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, relative to the killing of Segundo N. Lopez, son of M.F.  Lopez, at Sagua la Grande, in Cuba.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 20, 1897.

To the Senate: 

I transmit herewith, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 17th instant, a report from the Secretary of State, touching the reply of the British Government in regard to the failure of the negotiations of the Paris Tribunal to protect the fur-seal herd of Alaska.