Grover Cleveland: “I return herewith without approval Senate bill No. 1726, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Augustus Field Stevens.'”

I am constrained to withhold my approval of the bill under consideration.

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.

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.

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State, covering the report of the joint commission on behalf of the United States and Great Britain, dated December 31, 1896, relative to the preservation of the fisheries in waters…