d involve an increased cost for fuel, lights,
and care greater than the rent now paid for the use of a room of ample
size. I would not insist that it must always be shown that a proposed
public building would yield an interest upon the investment, but in
the present uncertain state of the public revenues and expenditures,
resulting from pending and probable legislation, there is, in my
opinion, an absolute necessity that expenditures for public buildings
should be limited to cases where the public needs are very evident and
very imperative. It is clear that this is not such a case.

BENJ. HARRISON.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 17, 1890_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

I return without my approval the bill (S. 1762) "to change the
boundaries of the Uncompahgre Reservation."

This bill proposes to separate from the Ute Indian Reservation in
Utah and restore to the public domain two ranges of townships along the
east side of the reservation and bordering the Colorado State line.
It is said that these lands are wholly worthless to the Indians for
cultivation or for grazing purposes, and it must follow, I think, that
they are equally worthless for such purposes to white men.

The object, then, of this legislation is to be sought not in any
public demand for these lands for the use of settlers--for if they
are susceptible of that use the Indians have a clear equity to take
allotments upon them--but in that part of the bill which confirms the
mineral entries, or entries for mineral uses, which have been unlawfully
made "or attempted to be made on said lands." It is evidently a private
and not a public end that is to be promoted. It does not follow, of
course, that this private end may not be wholly meritorious and the
relief sought on behalf of these persons altogether just and proper.
The facts, as I am advised, are that upon these lands there are veins
or beds of asphaltum or gilsonite supposed to be of very great value.

Entries have been made in that vicinity, but upon public lands, which
lands have been resold for very large amounts. It is not important,
perhaps, that the United States should in parting with these lands
realize their value, but it is essential, I think, that favoritism
should have no part in connection with the sales. The bill confirms all
attempted entries of these mineral lands at the price of $20 per acre
(a price that is suggestive of something unusual) without requiring
evidence of