The affairs and interests of the District of Columbia are committed to Congress as its legislature. I do not question the constitutional right of Congress to pass a law relieving the family of an officer, in view of the services he had rendered his country, from the burdens of taxation, bat I submit to Congress that this just gift of the nation to the family of such faithful officer should come from the National Treasury rather than from that of this District, and I therefore recommend that an appropriation be made to reimburse the District for the amount of taxes which would have been due to it had this act not become a law. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, June 24, 1884_. _To the House of Representatives:_ In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 7th instant, making an inquiry regarding the expenditure of moneys appropriated by Congress to meet the expenses of the French and American Claims Commission, I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State upon the subject. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _June 28, 1884_. _To the Senate and House of Representatives:_ I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, calling attention to certain omissions, etc., in the act (H.R. 1340) entitled "An act to establish a Bureau of Labor Statistics," and invite the attention of the Congress to the same. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, June 30, 1884_. _To the House of Representatives:_ I transmit herewith, in compliance with resolutions of the House of Representatives respectively dated March 22 and April 19, 1884, a report from the Secretary of State, communicating information in regard to moneys received from Venezuela under the treaty of April 25, 1866, and their distribution to holders of awards by the Department of State. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, July 3, 1884_. _To the Senate of the United States:_ I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the Senate of the 11th of February last, a report of the Secretary of State, relative to the papers on file in the Department of State touching the unsettled claims of citizens of the United States against France for spoliations prior to July 31, 1801. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _July 7, 1884_. _To the House of Representatives:_ In compliance with the concurrent resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the 5th instant, I return herewith House bill 6770, entitled "An act making appropriations for the consular and diplomatic service of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, and for other purposes." CHESTER A. ARTHUR. VETO MESSAGE. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _July 2, 1884_. _To the House of Representatives:_