6.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 19, 1886_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

Upon an examination of a bill originating in the House of
Representatives, No. 4838, entitled "An act to abolish certain fees for
official services to American vessels, and to amend the laws relating to
shipping commissioners, seamen, and owners of vessels, and for other
purposes," I find that there is such a failure to adjust existing laws
to the new departure proposed by the bill as to greatly endanger the
public service if this bill should not be amended or at once
supplemented by additional legislation.

The fees which are at present collected from vessels for services
performed by the Bureau of Inspection, and which made up the fund from
which certain expenses appurtenant to that Bureau were paid, are by the
proposed bill abolished, but no provision has been substituted directing
that such expenses shall be paid from the public Treasury or any other
source.

The objects of the bill are in the main so useful and important that I
have concluded to approve the same upon the assurance of those actively
promoting its passage that another bill shall at once be introduced to
cover the defect above referred to.

The necessity of such supplemental legislation is so obvious that I hope
it will receive the immediate action of the Congress.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 28, 1886_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I herewith inclose a report from the Secretary of State, with its
accompanying copies of papers, relative to the case of the American
schooner _Ounalaska_, which was duly condemned by the Government of
Salvador for having been employed in aid of an insurrection against that
Republic, and was subsequently presented to the United States. It seems
that an act of Congress accepting the gift on the part of this
Government is necessary to complete the transfer, and I recommend that
legislation in this sense be adopted. It further appears that one
Isidore Gutte, of San Francisco, has sought to obtain possession of the
condemned vessel, and I therefore suggest that a second provision to the
law accepting her be made giving authority to the Court of Claims to
hear and determine the question of title.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 28, 1886_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I transmit herewith a communication, with an accompanying paper, from