EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, February 28, 1887_.
_To the Senate_:
I herewith return without approval Senate bill No. 531, entitled "An act
to provide for the erection of a public building at Lafayette, Ind."
This bill appropriates $50,000 for the purpose indicated in its title.
It is represented that a deputy internal-revenue collector is located at
Lafayette, but no information is furnished that he has an office there
which is or ought to be furnished by the Government. It is not claimed
that the Federal business at this point requires other accommodation
except for the post-office located there.
As usual in such cases, the postmaster reports, in reply to inquiries,
that his present quarters are inadequate, and, as usual, it appears that
the postal business is increasing. The rent paid for the rooms or
building in which the post-office is kept is $1, 100 per annum.
I have been informed since this bill has been in my hands that last
spring a building was erected at Lafayette with special reference to
its use for the post-office, and that a part of it was leased by the
Government for that purpose for the term of five years. Upon the faith
of such lease the premises thus rented were fitted up and furnished by
the owner of the building in a manner especially adapted to postal uses,
and an account of such fitting up and furnishing is before me, showing
the expense of the same to have been more than $2,500.
In view of such new and recent arrangements made by the Government for
the transaction of its postal business at this place, it seems that the
proposed expenditure for the erection of a building for that purpose is
hardly necessary or justifiable.