ces of that class. The gross receipts of the office for the year
ended June 30, 1887, are reported by the Postmaster-General at $5,337.
The postmaster reports that he employs five clerks in the summer and
three in the winter. The fact that Bar Harbor is a place of very
extensive summer resort makes its population exceedingly variable, and
during a part of the year it is quite likely that the influx of pleasure
seekers may make a more commodious post-office desirable, though there
does not seem to be much complaint of present inconvenience.

The postmaster pays a rent of $500 per annum for his present quarters.

The amount appropriated by the bill is quite moderate, being only
$25,000, but the postmaster expresses the opinion that a proper site
alone would cost from twenty to thirty thousand dollars.

I am decidedly of the opinion that if a public building is to be erected
at this place, of which at present there appears to be no necessity, it
should be done under a system which will not give the post-office and
the postmaster there an advantage over others of their class.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 5, 1888_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I return without approval House bill No. 1394, entitled "An act
authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase additional ground
for the accommodation of Government offices in Council Bluffs, Iowa."

A new public building at Council Bluffs will be completed in a short
time. The ground upon which it is located has a frontage of 192 feet
and a depth of 106 feet and 10 inches. The proposition is to add 30
feet to its depth. The act under which this building has been thus far
constructed provides that the ground purchased therefor shall be of such
dimensions as to leave the building unexposed to fire by an open space
of at least 40 feet, including streets and alleys. The building is
located on land now belonging to the Government sufficient in size to
comply with this provision, and in point of fact more than the open
space required is left on all sides of the same. There is no pretense
that any enlargement of the building is necessary or contemplated.

The report of the committee to which this bill was referred in the House
simply states that "the grounds on which said building is situated are
inadequate for its proper accommodation and safety."

If this is so, I can see no reason why additional ground should not
be purchased for "the proper ac