_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_ I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State of the 19th instant, recommending the enactment of a law for the protection of submarine cables in pursuance of our treaty obligations under the international convention in relation to the subject signed at Paris on the 14th day of March, 1884. I commend the matter to the favorable consideration of Congress. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 19, 1885_. _To the Senate and House of Representatives:_ I transmit herewith a communication of the 16th instant from the Secretary of the Interior, submitting, with accompanying papers, a draft of a bill "to accept and ratify an agreement with the confederated tribes and bands of Indians occupying the Yakima Reservation in the Territory of Washington for the extinguishment of their title to so much of said reservation as is required for the use of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and to make the necessary appropriation for carrying out the same." The matter is presented for the consideration and action of the Congress. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 19, 1885_. _To the House of Representatives:_ I transmit herewith, in response to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 5th instant, requesting copies of all the communications which have been received respecting the Kongo conference, and especially copies of the text of the commissions or powers sent by this Government to each of the three American plenipotentiaries or agents, a report of the Secretary of State. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 19, 1885_. _To the House of Representatives:_ With reference to my communication of the 27th ultimo, transmitting to the House of Representatives a preliminary report of the Secretary of State, dated the 26th of January, 1885, in response to the resolution of the House of the 9th of January, 1885, calling for copies of the accounts and vouchers of the disbursing officers of the French-American Claims Commission and containing other information in relation to the transactions of said commission, I now transmit herewith a further report on the subject by the Secretary of State, dated the 17th instant, which is accompanied by the desired copies of the accounts and vouchers in question. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 25, 1885_. _To the House of Representatives:_ In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 13th instant, requesting me to inform that body, if not incompatible with the public interest, what were the reasons which moved me to appoint commissioners to examine and report upon the California and Oregon Railroad from Reading northwardly, I transmit herewith a communication on that subject addressed to me on the 24th instant by the Secretary of the Interior, setting forth the practice under which my action was taken. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 26, 1885_.