the consular service upon the subject of the shipment and discharge
of seamen or payment of extra wages to seamen," I have to transmit a
report of the Secretary of State on the subject.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 25, 1883_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State,
concerning the character and condition of the library of the Department
of State.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 26, 1883_.

_To the House of Representatives:_

It is hereby announced to the House of Congress in which it originated
that the joint resolution (H. Res. 190) to refer certain claims to
the Court of Claims has been permitted to become a law under the
constitutional provision. Its apparent purpose is to allow certain
bankers to sue in the Court of Claims for the amount of internal-revenue
tax collected from them without lawful authority, upon showing as matter
of excuse for not having brought their suits within the time limited by
law that they had entered into an agreement with the district attorney
which was in substance that they should be relieved of that necessity.
I can not concur in the policy of setting aside the bar of the statute
in those cases on such ground, but I have not deemed it necessary to
return the joint resolution with my objections for reconsideration.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 30, 1883._

_To the Senate of the United States:_

I transmit herewith a copy of a communication to me from the Secretary
of the Treasury.[14]

I have acted in conformity with the recommendations, oral and written,
which are therein set forth, concerning the action suggested to be that
which would best effectuate the purpose of section 1768 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States and be most considerate of the reputation
and interests of the public officer to be affected and most subservient
to the public interest.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

[Footnote 14: Relating to the suspension of William H. Daniels,
collector of customs for the district of Oswegatchie, N.Y.]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, February 3, 1883_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

I transmit to the Senate, for consideration with a view to ratification,
the treaty of commerce which was signed in duplicate January 20, 1883,
by commissioners on the part of the United States and Mexico, with
accompanying papers.