pectively.

Upon the remarriage of the beneficiary her pension stopped under the law.

It is now proposed to restore her to the pension roll, notwithstanding
the fact that her second husband is still alive.

Many cases have occurred in which pensions have been awarded by special
acts to the widows of soldiers who, having remarried, were a second time
made widows and rendered destitute by the death of their second
husbands. I have not objected to such charitable legislation.

But I think this is the first time that it has been proposed to grant a
pension after such remarriage when the second husband still survives.

It seems to me that such a precedent ought not to be established.
If in pension legislation we attempt to determine the cases of this
description in which the second husband can not or does not properly
maintain the soldier's widow whom he has married, we shall open the door
to much confusion and uncertainty, as well as unjust discrimination.

I am glad to learn from a statement contained in the committee's report
that this beneficiary, though in a condition making the aid of a pension
very desirable, has a small income derived from property inherited from
her mother.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _October 12, 1888_.

_To the Senate_:

I herewith return without approval Senate bill No. 1044, entitled "An
act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to state and settle the
account of James M. Willbur with the United States and to pay said
Willbur such sum of money as may be found due him thereon."

The claim mentioned in this bill grows out of alleged extra work done by
the claimant in the construction of the post-office and court-house
building in the city of New York.

The United States, in September, 1874, entered into a contract with
Messrs. Bartlett, Robbins & Co. by which they agreed to furnish
and put in place certain wrought and cast iron work and glass for the
illuminated tiling required for the said building according to certain
specifications and schedules which formed a part of said contract. The
work was to be of a specified thickness and the contractors were to be
paid for the same at certain rates per superficial foot. The approximate
estimate for the entire work was specified at $35,577.56. Samples of the
tiling to be put in were submitted to the Supervising Architect and
accepted by him.

In August, 1874, the claimant entered into an agreement in writing with
Bart