ce in case of the death or disability
of the deponents.

This provision will enable the claimants to present _ex-parte_
affidavits, prepared by the claimants or their attorneys, without
opportunity being afforded to the Government to cross-examine, provided
the claimants can show that the deposing witnesses are either dead or
under disability, by which, no doubt, is intended any such disability by
reason of absence, illness, and the like, as may render them legally
incapable of being produced in person to testify upon the retrial. Such
a provision as this is most dangerous to the interests of the
Government.

I fail to see any reason in the facts connected with these claims for
granting to these parties relief of this extraordinary nature.

The Treasury of the United States ought to be very carefully guarded
against attacks of those who come forward with stale claims, and
especially from the attacks of those who have already been fully heard
according to the methods prescribed by the statutes.

To approve this bill would be to furnish a very dangerous precedent
which would open the door to demands upon Congress in other cases which
have been fully heard and determined.

For these reasons I am constrained to withhold my approval from this
bill.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, June 14, 1898_.

_To the Congress of the United States_:

I transmit herewith (having reference to Senate Document No. 4,
Fifty-fifth Congress, second session) a report made by Thomas W.
Cridler, Third Assistant Secretary of State, who, upon the death of
Maj. Moses P. Handy, I designated to continue the work as special
commissioner, under the act of Congress approved July 19, 1897, in
relation to the acceptance by the Government of the United States of the
invitation of France to participate in the International Exposition to
be held at Paris from April 15 to November 5, 1900.

I cordially renew my recommendation that a liberal appropriation be
immediately granted.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 23, 1898_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of the Interior relative
to Senate resolution of June 10, 1898, requesting the President "to make
such arrangements as may be necessary to secure at the Trans-Mississippi
and International Exposition to be held in the city of Omaha, Neb., the
attendance of representatives of the Iroquois tribes and De