Grover Cleveland: “This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to the party named therein the sum of $905.”

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.

A careful examination of this bill has convinced me that for the reasons given and others not specifically stated its provisions are unnecessarily harsh and oppressive.

No feature of our pension laws is so satisfactory and just as a fair allowance to the widows of our soldiers who have died from causes attributable to their army service.

When we consider these provisions of the bill in connection with our long northern frontier and the boundaries of our States and Territories, often but an imaginary line separating them from the British dominions, and recall the friendly…