retary of State, with accompanying papers, concerning the rent of
consular premises in China.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 21, 1884_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I have permitted House bill No. 4689, entitled "An act for the relief of
Eliza W. Patterson," to become a law by withholding action upon it for
ten days after it was presented to me.

The affairs and interests of the District of Columbia are committed to
Congress as its legislature. I do not question the constitutional right
of Congress to pass a law relieving the family of an officer, in view of
the services he had rendered his country, from the burdens of taxation,
bat I submit to Congress that this just gift of the nation to the family
of such faithful officer should come from the National Treasury rather
than from that of this District, and I therefore recommend that an
appropriation be made to reimburse the District for the amount of taxes
which would have been due to it had this act not become a law.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, June 24, 1884_.

_To the House of Representatives:_

In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
7th instant, making an inquiry regarding the expenditure of moneys
appropriated by Congress to meet the expenses of the French and American
Claims Commission, I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of
State upon the subject.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 28, 1884_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior,
calling attention to certain omissions, etc., in the act (H.R. 1340)
entitled "An act to establish a Bureau of Labor Statistics," and invite
the attention of the Congress to the same.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, June 30, 1884_.

_To the House of Representatives:_

I transmit herewith, in compliance with resolutions of the House of
Representatives respectively dated March 22 and April 19, 1884, a report
from the Secretary of State, communicating information in regard to
moneys received from Venezuela under the treaty of April 25, 1866, and
their distribution to holders of awards by the Department of State.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, July 3, 1884_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the Senate of the
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