and fairness
seem to require that some provision should be made by act or joint
resolution under which such Chinese laborers as shall actually have
embarked on their return to the United States before the passage of the
law this day approved, and are now on their way, may be permitted to
land, provided they have duly and lawfully obtained and shall present
certificates heretofore issued permitting them to return in accordance
with the provisions of existing law.

Nor should our recourse to legislative measures of exclusion cause us to
retire from the offer we have made to indemnify such Chinese subjects as
have suffered damage through violence in the remote and comparatively
unsettled portions of our country at the hands of lawless men. Therefore
I recommend that, without acknowledging legal liability therefor, but
because it was stipulated in the treaty which has failed to take effect,
and in a spirit of humanity befitting our nation, there be appropriated
the sum of $276,619.75, payable to the Chinese minister at this capital
on behalf of his Government, as full indemnity for all losses and
injuries sustained by Chinese subjects in the manner and under the
circumstances mentioned.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, October 12, 1888_.

_To the Senate_:

I transmit, with a view to its ratification, a convention between the
United States of America and Venezuela to further extend the period for
the exchange of ratifications of the claims convention of December 5,
1885, between the said contracting parties and to extend the period for
the exchange of ratifications of the convention of March 15, 1888,
between the same contracting parties, also relating to claims.

I invite attention to the accompanying report of the Secretary of State
and the papers inclosed therein.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

VETO MESSAGES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, April 4, 1888_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I return herewith without approval House bill 2477, entitled "An act for
the relief of Nathaniel McKay and the executors of Donald McKay."

It is proposed by this bill to allow the beneficiaries named therein to
present to the Court of Claims for determination certain demands made
by them against the Government on account of the construction of two
ironclad monitors called the _Squando_ and the _Nauset_ and a
side-wheel steamer called the _Ashuelot_.

The contracts for building these vessels wer