Grover Cleveland

I have not approved the bill.

I do hereby, in virtue of the authority vested in me by section 3 of the act of August 19, 1890, and by section 2 of the act of June 10, 1896, proclaim the 1st day of July, 1897, as the day on which the said act approved August 19, 1890…

I have not approved the bill.

The shocking features of the situation had been mitigated.

Our people exhibit a patriotic disposition which entitles them to demand...faithful and unselfish service in their behalf.

It would seem that if Spain should offer to Cuba genuine autonomy...there should be no just reason why the pacification of the island might not be effected on that basis.

We can not view the pending conflict without considering...our inevitably close relations to it.

It is most gratifying to note the satisfactory results that have followed the inauguration of the new system provided for...certain Federal officials are compensated by salaries instead of fees.

The condition of affairs among the Five Civilized Tribes...has assumed such an aspect as to render it almost indispensable that there should be an entire change in the relations of these Indians to the General Government.

This government is not a nation to which peace is a necessity.

The ownership and management by the Government of penitentiaries...have at last to a slight extent been realized.

I do hereby revoke my said proclamation of January 26, 1888.

I do hereby declare, proclaim, and make known that the Executive order of June 22, 1890, making said reservations of lands in the Territory of Alaska, therein particularly described, is hereby modified.

No modification of the existing regulations shall be made without the approval of the Civil Service Commission.

The civil-service rules as revised May 6, 1896, are hereby amended as follows.

I do not think there should be anything done with this valuable property which will in the least embarrass the Government in its sale.

I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of May 9, 1896.

It is well known that the business of insurance is entered upon with the expectation that the premiums received will pay all losses and yield a profit to the insurance in addition.

I do not understand it to be asserted that there exists any legal liability against the Government on account of its relation to these claims.

I regret that I am constrained to disapprove an important appropriation bill so near the close of the present session of Congress.

I can not gather from the facts I have been able to collect concerning this appropriation that it is justified on any ground.

This bill is in many of its features far removed from a legitimate deficiency bill, and it contains a number of appropriations which seem to me to be exceedingly questionable.

I hereby return without my approval House bill No. 8293.

It is difficult to understand why under the Constitution it should be necessary to submit proposed legislation to Executive scrutiny and approval except to invoke the exercise of Executive judgment and invite independent Executive action.

I am advised by the Pension Bureau that the bill, if it becomes a law in its present form, would be inoperative.