appointed by me under the provisions of an
act entitled "An act making appropriations for fortifications," etc.,
approved August 18, 1890.

The report and accompanying papers are submitted for the information and
early attention of Congress.

BENJ. HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _December 22, 1890_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I transmit herewith a letter of the 18th instant from the Secretary
of the Interior, in relation to the disposition of timber on certain
Chippewa reservations in Wisconsin, together with copies of papers
relating thereto. The matter is presented for the action of Congress.

BENJ. HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _December 23, 1890_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

The Territorial legislature of Oklahoma, now in session, will adjourn by
limitation of law on to-morrow, the 24th instant. The act organizing the
Territory provided (section II) that certain chapters of the revised
statutes of Nebraska should be in force until after the adjournment of
the first session of the Territorial legislature.

The question of the location of the Territorial capital has so occupied
the time of the legislature and so distracted and divided its members
that no criminal code has been provided. It is urgently necessary that
Congress should at once, by joint resolution or otherwise, continue
the laws of Nebraska in force, and save pending criminal arrests and
prosecutions at least. The reconvening of the legislature does not
under the existing circumstances promise any relief.

BENJ. HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _December 23, 1890_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I transmit herewith a letter of the Secretary of the Navy, accompanied
by the report of the commission appointed by me by virtue of a provision
in the naval appropriation bill approved June 30, 1890, for the purpose
of selecting a suitable site "for a dry dock at some point on the shores
of the Pacific Ocean, or the waters connected therewith, north of the
parallel of latitude marking the northern boundary of California,
including the waters of Puget Sound and also Lakes Union and Washington,
in the State of Washington."

BENJ. HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 5, 1891_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

In further response to the resolution of the House of Representatives
requesting me, if in my judgment not incompatible with the public
interest, to furnish to th