Congress, a letter from
the Secretary of War, dated the 19th instant, submitting a letter from
the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, dated the 2d instant, and its
accompanying plan of a proposed meteorological observatory at Fort Myer,
Va., together with an estimate of the cost of the same in the sum of
$4,000 and a statement giving various reasons why the said observatory
should be established.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 25, 1884_.

_To the House of Representatives:_

In answer to so much of the resolution of the House of Representatives
of the 17th ultimo as calls for the correspondence with the Mexican
Government respecting the payment of claims specified in the fifth
section of the act of Congress approved June 17, 1878, I transmit
herewith the report of the Secretary of State and its accompanying
papers.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 29, 1884_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

In compliance with the act of Congress approved January 16, 1883,
entitled "An act to regulate and improve the civil service of the United
States," the Civil Service Commission has made to the President its
first annual report.

That report is herewith transmitted, together with communications from
the heads of the several Executive Departments of the Government
respecting the practical workings of the law under which the Commission
has been acting.

Upon the good results which that law has already accomplished I
congratulate Congress and the people, and I avow my conviction that it
will henceforth prove to be of still more signal benefit to the public
service.

I heartily commend the zeal and fidelity of the Commissioners and their
suggestion for further legislation, and I advise the making of such an
appropriation as shall be adequate for their needs.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, February 29, 1884_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a report of the
Secretary of State, accompanying a report made by the commission lately
designated by me to examine and report upon the asserted unhealthfulness
of the swine products of this country. The views and conclusions of the
commission deserve the most careful consideration of Congress, to the
end that if any path be legitimately open for removing the prohibition
which closes important foreign markets to those products it