["An act for the relief of J.A.  Henry and others.”—­Received August 3, 1886.—­Memorandum.]

This bill appropriates various sums to the parties named therein, being claims of rent of quarters occupied during the war by the Quartermaster’s Department of the Army.

Among the appropriations there proposed to be made is one of the sum of $51 to L.F.  Green.  This account has been once paid, a special act directing such payment having been approved February 12, 1885.  The fact of this payment and important information bearing upon the validity of some of the other claims mentioned in the bill could have been easily obtained by application to the Third Auditor.

["An act for the relief of William H. Wheeler.”—­Received August 3, 1886.]

This bill directs the payment of the sum of $633.50 to William H. Wheeler for quartermaster’s stores furnished the Army in the year 1862.

From the data furnished me by the Quartermaster-General I am quite certain that this claim has been once paid.  The circumstances presented to prove this are so strong that they should be explained before the relief provided by this bill is afforded the claimant.

["An act granting a pension to Margaret D. Marchand.”—­Received August 5, 1886.—­Memorandum.]

A bill presented to me for approval, granting a pension of $50 per month to the beneficiary named, was disapproved upon the ground that the death of her husband did not appear to be in any way related to any incident of his military service.

This bill differs from the prior one simply in granting a pension subject to the provisions and limitations of the pension laws instead of fixing the rate of pension at a specified sum.  I am still unable to see how the objection to the first bill has been obviated.

["Joint resolution providing for the distribution of the Official Register of the United States.”—­Received August 5, 1886.—­Memorandum.]

This resolution reached me five minutes after the adjournment of the two Houses of Congress, and is the only enactment of the session which came to me too late for official action.

I do not understand this resolution nor the purposes sought to be accomplished by its passage, and while in that frame of mind should have been constrained to withhold my approval from the same even if it had reached me in time for consideration.

["Joint resolution directing payment of the surplus in the Treasury on the public debt.”—­Received August 5, 1886.—­Memorandum.]

This resolution involves so much and is of such serious import that I do not deem it best to discuss it at this time.  It is not approved because I believe it to be unnecessary and because I am by no means convinced that its mere passage and approval at this time may not endanger and embarrass the successful and useful operations of the Treasury Department and impair the confidence which the people should have in the management of the finances of the Government.