The bill now before me is much more general in its terms than those which have preceded it.  It is a new and wide departure from the general tenor of legislation affecting Indian reservations.  It ignores the right of the Indians to be consulted as to the disposition of their lands, opens wide the door to any railroad corporation to do what, under the treaty covering the greater portion of the reservation, is reserved to the United States alone; it gives the right to enter upon Indian lands to a class of corporations carrying with them many individuals not known for any scrupulous regard for the interest or welfare of the Indians; it invites a general invasion of the Indian country, and brings into contact and intercourse with the Indians a class of whites and others who are independent of the orders, regulations, and control of the resident agents.

Corporations operating railroads through Indian lands are strongly tempted to infringe at will upon the reserved rights and the property of Indians, and thus are apt to become so arbitrary in their dealings and domineering in their conduct toward them that the Indians become disquieted, often threatening outbreaks and periling the lives of frontier settlers and others.

I am impressed with the belief that the bill under consideration does not sufficiently guard against an invasion of the rights and a disturbance of the peace and quiet of the Indians on the reservation mentioned; nor am I satisfied that the legislation proposed is demanded by any exigency of the public welfare.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 9, 1886.

To the House of Representatives: 

I return herewith without approval House bill No. 524, entitled “An act granting a pension to Daniel H. Ross.”

An application for pension was filed in the Pension Bureau by the beneficiary named in this bill, and considerable testimony was filed in support of the same.  I do not understand that the claim has been finally rejected.  But however that may be, the claimant died, as I am advised, on the 1st day of February last.  This, of course, renders the proposed legislation entirely inoperative, if it would not actually prejudice the claim of his surviving widow.  She has already been advised of the evidence necessary to complete the claim of her husband, and it is not at all improbable that she will be able to prosecute the same to a successful issue for her benefit.

At any rate, her rights should not be in the least jeopardized by the completion of the legislation proposed in this bill.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 9, 1886.

To the Senate: 

I herewith return without approval Senate bill No. 856, entitled “An act to provide for the erection of a public building in the city of Dayton, Ohio.”