he transaction of public
business, as long as we have the money to pay for them; but inasmuch as
a large number of the buildings proposed are unnecessary and their
erection would be wasteful and extravagant, besides furnishing
precedents for further and more extended reckless expenditures of a like
character, it seems to me that applications for new and expensive public
buildings should be carefully scrutinized.

I am satisfied that the appropriation of $75,000 for a building at
Youngstown is at present not justified.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _May 28, 1888_.

_To the Senate_:

I return without approval Senate bill No. 1237, entitled "An act
granting a pension to Anna Mertz."

The beneficiary named in this bill is the widow of Charles A. Mertz, who
served in the Army as captain from April, 1862, to June, 1863, when he
resigned on account of impaired health. It is stated in the committee's
report that after his return from the Army he worked occasionally at his
trade, though subject to attacks of very severe diarrhea, accompanied
with acute catarrhal pains in the head and face, which he constantly
attributed to his army service.

It is alleged that he had several times taken morphine, under medical
advice, to allay pain caused by these attacks.

He did not apply for a pension.

On the 1st day of December, 1884, more than twenty-one years after
his discharge from the Army, he died from an overdose of morphine
self-administered, for the purpose, it is claimed, of alleviating his
suffering.

I do not think that in this case the death of the soldier was so related
to his military service as to entitle his widow to a pension.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _May 28, 1888_.

_To the Senate_:

I return without approval Senate bill No. 820, entitled "An act granting
a pension to David A. Servis."

The beneficiary named in this bill enlisted August 14, 1862, and was
discharged June 8, 1865.

It is alleged that about the month of January, 1863, a comrade, by way
of a joke, put powder into a pipe which the beneficiary was accustomed
to smoke and covered it with tobacco, so that when he lighted it the
powder exploded and injured his eyes. The report of the Senate committee
states that it does not appear that "any notice was taken of this wanton
act of his tent mate."

There is no mention of any disability or injury in the record of the
soldier's service. He seems to have served nea