To the House of Representatives_:

I return herewith without my approval House bill No. 9469, entitled
"An act to constitute a new division of the eastern judicial district
of Texas, and to provide for the holding of terms of court at Beaumont,
Tex., and for the appointment of a clerk for said court."

It appears that terms of court are now held at four different places
within the eastern judicial district of Texas and that parties having
business in the courts are not seriously inconvenienced under present
arrangements.

Both the Federal judge and district attorney in this district express
themselves in opposition to the bill as unnecessary and an interruption
to the transaction of the large volume of business now pending and
constantly coming before the court.

I have before me certificates of the clerks of the present divisions of
the courts showing that during the last five years the counties which
it is proposed shall constitute the new division have contributed but
forty-two cases to the calendars of the court.

Conclusive proof is also before me that the additional terms of court
provided for in this bill would so interfere with the terms already
appointed in the existing divisions that the proper administration of
the civil as well as the criminal law would be impracticable.

The criminal docket of the terms held at Paris is so large that under
present arrangements and with the utmost industry trials can not now be
as promptly disposed of as the ends of justice require. This condition
would be further aggravated if terms of the court should be held at
Beaumont on the dates proposed in this bill, since they are fixed at
such times as to necessarily curtail the period now devoted to the
Paris terms.

On the grounds stated and because I am unable to discover how the public
interests can possibly be promoted by the proposed legislation I am
constrained to withhold my approval of the bill under consideration.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 22, 1897_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I return herewith without my approval House bill No. 2189, entitled
"An act granting a pension to Mrs. Mary A. Freeman."

A former husband of the beneficiary, named Andrew V. Pritchard, did
service in the Mexican War, and on July 22, 1847, died of disease
contracted in such service. Thereupon the beneficiary named in this bill
was pensioned as his widow. She continued to receive this pension until