hould be so
regarded. This was the only appropriation included in the bill presented
in the Forty-eighth Congress in behalf of this postmaster upon which a
favorable committee report was made and which was not unfavorably spoken
of by the Department.

But it does not follow that the other item for fuel and lights should be
allowed. I think it should not, on the grounds that the amount was fixed
by the Department upon full examination, that there is no special reason
shown why the postmaster should have exceeded the expenditures allowed,
and that to give the least encouragement to postmasters that these
allowances would be upon their application revised and increased by
Congress would lead to demoralization in the service.

It appears that the allowance made to this officer for fuel and lights
was increased October 1, 1883, and although the claim now made on this
account embraces the period from July 1, 1883, to September, 1885,
nothing was asked for fuel or lights in the bill presented to Congress
for this beneficiary's relief in 1884.

It should not have been tacked upon the bill now presented.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _August 27, 1888_.

_To the Senate_:

I return without approval Senate bill No. 288, entitled "An act for the
erection of a public building at Sioux City, Iowa."

On the 19th day of June, 1886, I was constrained to disapprove a bill
embracing the same subject covered by the bill herewith returned.
Further investigation on the second presentation of the matter fails to
convince me that $150,000 should be expended at present for the erection
of a public building at Sioux City.

From all the representations that are made in an effort to show the
necessity for this building I gather that the only two purposes for
which the Government should furnish quarters at this place are a term
of the United States court not specially crowded with business and the
post-office, which, though perhaps crowded, I am sure can get on very
well for a time without a larger public building.

As far as the court is concerned, it was agreed when a term was located
there in 1882 that it might be held in the county building, which from
the description furnished me seems to be entirely adequate for the
purpose and very well arranged. The term held in October, 1887, was in
session for nine days.

I am decidedly of the opinion that if a public building is to be located
at Sioux City it had better be delay