EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 4, 1890_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

I return without my approval the bill (S. 1306) "for the erection of
a public building at Hudson, N.Y." Hudson, from the best information
attainable, is a city of only a little more than 10,000 population. If
the postal receipts are a fair indication of the growth of the city, it
has not been rapid, as they only increased about $4,000 in ten years.
The gross postal receipts for the year 1888 were but $14,809, and the
office force consists of three clerks and five carriers. There are no
other Government officers at Hudson entitled under the law to offices or
to an allowance for rent, unless it be a deputy collector of internal
revenue.

It appears from the bill and the correspondence with the Supervising
Architect that it is proposed to erect a two-story building, with
fireproof vaults, heating and ventilating apparatus, and elevators, 40
by 80 feet in dimensions. The ground-floor area of 3,200 feet, to be
devoted to the post-office, would give 400 square feet to each of the
present employees. The second story and the basement, each having the
same area, will be absolutely tenantless, unless authority is given by
law to the custodian to rent the rooms to unofficial tenants. It seems
to me to be very clear that the public needs do not suggest or justify
such an expenditure as is contemplated by this bill.

BENJ. HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 12, 1890_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I return without my approval the bill (H.R. 7175) to provide for the
purchase of a site and the erection of a public building thereon at
Tuscaloosa, in the State of Alabama.

Judged by its postal revenues and by the force employed in the
office, the post-office at Tuscaloosa is not an important one. It has
one clerk, at a salary of $450, and no carriers. The report of the
Postmaster-General shows that the gross receipts for the year 1888 were
$6,379 and the net revenue less than $4,000. The annual receipts have
only increased about $3,000 in ten years. The rent now paid for a
building affording 2,200 square feet of floor space is $275.

A general proposition to erect public buildings at this scale of expense
in cities of the size of Tuscaloosa would not, I am sure, receive the
sanction of Congress. It would involve the expenditure for buildings of
ten times the present net revenues of such offices, and in the case
under consideration woul