ere are 73 miles of road
yet to be built from the present terminus, Prescott, to the south line
of the county, for which Yavapai County must make a further issue of
bonds of $292,000, making a total county debt of $855,000, or above 13
per cent upon the taxable assessment (taking that at $6,500,000), and
a per capita county debt of nearly $85, taking the population at about
10,600, as stated in the report of the Senate committee. Surely no one
will insist that the true and permanent prosperity of these communities
will be promoted by loading their energies and their industries with
these great debts. I feel the force of the suggestion that the freight
charges now imposed upon the farm and orchard products of Maricopa
County by the railroads now in operation are oppressive. But this bill
does not afford much relief even in that direction. There would be but
one competing point, viz, Phoenix. At all other points on the proposed
road the people would be subject to the exaction of just such rates as
are demanded by the other lines. If this bill contained some effective
provision to secure reasonable freight rates to the people who are to be
taxed to build the road, it would go far to secure my favorable
consideration for it.

I have carefully examined the reports of the committees and every
argument that has been submitted to me by the friends of the bill, but
I can not bring myself to believe that the permanent welfare of the
communities affected by it will be promoted by its passage.

BENJ. HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _July 9, 1890_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I return herewith without my approval the bill (H.R. 5974) entitled "An
act extending the time of payment to purchasers of land of the Omaha
tribe of Indians in Nebraska, and for other purposes."

The United States holds the legal title of these lands, which have been
sold for the benefit of the Omaha Indians to secure the unpaid purchase
money, the time of payment of which it is proposed by this act to
extend. There is no objection that I know of, either on the part of
the United States or of the Indians, to the extension of the unpaid
installments due from purchasers. This relief is probably due to the
purchasers. The bill, however, contains the following provision:

That all the lands the payment for which is hereby extended shall be
subject to taxation in all respects by and in the State of Nebraska
as if fully paid for and patent