incapable of being produced in person to testify upon the retrial. Such
a provision as this is most dangerous to the interests of the
Government.

I fail to see any reason in the facts connected with these claims for
granting to these parties relief of this extraordinary nature.

The Treasury of the United States ought to be very carefully guarded
against attacks of those who come forward with stale claims, and
especially from the attacks of those who have already been fully heard
according to the methods prescribed by the statutes.

To approve this bill would be to furnish a very dangerous precedent
which would open the door to demands upon Congress in other cases which
have been fully heard and determined.

For these reasons I am constrained to withhold my approval from this
bill.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.



EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, June 14, 1898_.

_To the Congress of the United States_:

I transmit herewith (having reference to Senate Document No. 4,
Fifty-fifth Congress, second session) a report made by Thomas W.
Cridler, Third Assistant Secretary of State, who, upon the death of