Grover Cleveland: “I hereby return without approval Senate bill No. 2173, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Benjamin Obekiah.'”

To the Senate of the United States: In response to the resolution of the Senate of February 4, 1897, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State.

It appears that terms of court are now held at four different places within the eastern judicial district of Texas.

I have not thought it compatible with the public interest that the correspondence referred to in the resolution should be communicated pending the public and exhaustive investigation about to be instituted.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:I transmit herewith, for the information of the Congress, a communication from the Secretary of State, covering the report of the Director of the Bureau of the American Republics for the year 1896.