A letter addressed to the postmaster at
Youngstown containing certain questions bearing upon the necessity of a
new building failed to elicit a reply. This fact is very unusual and
extraordinary, for the postmaster can almost always be relied upon to
make an exhibit of the great necessity of larger quarters when a new
public building is in prospect.
The fact was communicated to me early in the present session of the
Congress that the aggregate sum of the appropriations contained in bills
for the erection and extension of public buildings which had up to that
time been referred to the House Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds was about $37,000,000.
Of course this fact would have no particular relevancy if all the
buildings asked for were necessary for the transaction of public
business, as long as we have the money to pay for them; but inasmuch as
a large number of the buildings proposed are unnecessary and their
erection would be wasteful and extravagant, besides furnishing
precedents for further and more extended reckless expenditures of a like
character, it seems to me that applications for new and expensive public
buildings should be carefully scrutinized.
I am satisfied that the appropriation of $75,000 for a building at
Youngstown is at present not justified.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _May 28, 1888_.
_To the Senate_:
I return without approval Senate bill No.
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