I return herewith, without approval, House bill No. 321.

There is no legal obligation on the part of the United States, and no promise, express or implied, for the payment of such claims.

To single out for payment a few claims of this large class to the exclusion of all others would, in my judgment, be unjust.

The measure of governmental liability is fulfilled by the passage of the act of March 3, 1891, and the prompt payment of the judgments rendered thereunder.

I am constrained to withhold my approval from the bill.

Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim and declare that an extraordinary occasion requires the Senate of the United States to convene at the Capitol in the city of Washington on…

invite attention to the recommendation of the Board

I transmit herewith, for the information of the Congress and with a view to its publication in suitable form, if such action is deemed desirable, a special report of the United States Board on Geographic Names, relating to geographic names…

That in addition to the usual number, there be printed 15,000 copies: 2,000 copies for the use of the Senate, 3,000 copies for the use of the House of Representatives, and 10,000 copies for distribution by the Board to the Executive…

I recommend that, following our national precedents, especially that in the case of Admiral Dewey and the Asiatic Squadron, the thanks of Congress be given to Rear-Admiral William T. Sampson, United States Navy, and to the officers and men…

The result of this battle was the freeing of our Atlantic coast from the possibilities to which it had been exposed from Admiral Cervera's fleet, and the termination of the war upon the seas.

The office of Treasurer of the Island of Cuba shall on and after April 1, 1901, be placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Finance of said Island, and shall be filled by the appointment thereto of a citizen of Cuba.

I hereby order and direct that that part of Executive Order dated May 8, 1899, relating to the appointment and creation of the office of Treasurer of the Island of Cuba, be amended as follows:

The said appointment to be made by the Military Governor thereof, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War.

I renew the recommendation made in my annual message to the Congress on December 3, 1900, that in accordance with precedent Congress make gracious provision for indemnity to the families of the victims in the same form as heretofore.

I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State relating to the lynching of two Italian subjects at Tallulah, La., on July 20, 1899.

In view of the great importance of these reports to our producers, manufacturers, exporters, and business interest generally, I cordially approve the recommendation of the Secretary of State that Congress shall authorize the printing as…

It is gratifying to be able to state that the improvement in the service, following closely upon the steady progress in expediting the publication of reports, has enabled the Department of State this year to submit the annual reports a…