Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-10-26
NEWS OF TIE WEEK.
CONGRESSIONAL.

bill to amend the Pacific Railroad acts so as
10 create a sinking fund for the liquidation
of the Indebtedness due the Government was
referred. resolution continuing the com
mittees as existing at the close Of the last
session was agreed to. The Presidents mes
sage was read, as follows; ........
Fellow-Citizens Of the senate and House OF Rep
resentatives: .t-r
The Adjournment OF the last Congress with.
out making appropriations for the support Of
the army for the present fiscal year has rem
dered necessary a suspension OF payments to
the officers and men to the sums due TO them
for services rendered after the 30th day of
juno last. The army exists by virtue of the
statutes which prescribe its number, regulate
its organization and employment, and which
tx the pay of its officers and men and de-
clare their right TO receive the same at stated
period. The statutes, however, do not author
ize the payment of the troops In the absence
OF specific appropriations therefor. The
Constitution has wisely provided that no
money shall be drawn from the Treasury,
but In consequence of appropriations made
by law; and 1t has also been declared by the
statute that "no department of the Govern
ment shall eXpend In any one fiscal year any
sum in excess Of the appropriation made
by ConG .uss for that fiscal year" We have
therefore an army in service authorized by
law and entitled TO be paid, but no funds
are available for that purpose. IL may
also be said, as an additional incentive
to the prompt action by Congress, that
since the commencement OF the fiscal
year the army, though without pay,
has been constantly and actively en-
gagged in arduous and dangerous service, in
the performances OF which both officers and
men have discharged their duty with fidelity
and courage, and without complaint. These
circumstances, in my judgment, constitute
an extraordinary occasion for Congress TO
be convened in advance of the time pre-
scribed by law for your meeting in regular
session. The Importance Of speedy action
upon this subject on the part of Congress Is
so manifest that | venture to suggest the
propriety OF making the necessary appro-
priations for the support of the army for the
current year at its present maximum numer-
cial strength OF 25, 600 men, leaving for future
consideration all questions relating to an in
crease or decrease of the number OF en-
listed men. In the event of the reduction
Of the army by subsequent legislation dur
ing The fiscal year the excess of the appro-
priaSfUn could not be expended, aud in the
event of It's enlargement the additional sum
required Tor the payment OF the extra force
could he provided in due time. 1t would be
uniust to the troops now in service, and
whose pay is already largely in arrears
should it be postponed until after Congress
shall have considered all the questions like
ly to arise in the effort to fix the proper limit
to the strength of the army estimate OF ap-
establishments for the fiscal year ending
Jane 80, 1878, wereit transmitted to Congress
by the former Secretary Of the Treasury. At
the opening OF its session in December last
theseestmates were modified by the present
Secretary so as to conform to the present re-
auirements as now renewed amounting to
So, ,436, ,7649S, and having been transmitted
70 both houses of Congress are submitted
fOryour consideration.
There is also required by the Navy Depart
ment S2,0O3 ,s8l This sum is made up OF
81, ,446,6 ,6SS, due to officers and enlisted men
for the last quarter of the last fiscal year;
$31l ,953, due for advances made by the
fiscal agent of the Government in London for
the support of the foreign service; $50, ,0OC
due TO the Naval Hospital fund; $3.50, 900 due
for arrearages of paw to officers, and $42, ,2lg
for the support of the Marine Corps. There
win also be needed an appropriation of 1882,
535 to defray the unsettled expenses of the
United States Courts for the fiscal year end
ing June 80 last, now due to attorneys
clerks, commissioners and marshals, and fol
rent OF court-rooms, the support Ofprisouers
and other deficiencies.
A part Of the building of the Interior De
partment was destroyed by fire on the oath
of last month, and some Immediate repairs
and temporary structures have in conse
Quenee become necessary, estimates tOl
which will be transmitted to Congress I'm
medately, and an appropriation of th'
requisite funds Is respectfully recommended
The Secretary of the Treasury will com
munieate to Congress, in connection witt
the estimates for the appropriations for thu
supporb0f the army for the current year, es
timatcstfor such other deficiencies in thu
different branches OF the public service as re
quire immediate action and cannot, withou
inconvenience, be postponed until the regu
lar session.
take this opportunity to invite your at
tention to the pTopriety of adopting, at you
lpIrlSlatlOn 7,
enable the people Of the United States t'
participate In the advantages of the InterDa
uonal Exhibition Of the agriculture, Indus
try, and tine arts which is to be held at Pari
in 1878, and in which this Government ha
been Invited by the Government of France Il
take part. This invitation was communicate
to this government in May, 1875, by the Min
iskeF OF France at this capital, and cop
thcreef was submitted to the proper com
mittees Of Congress at its last session, but n
ACTION was taken upon the subject. The De
partmept Of State has received many letter
from various parts Of the country expressin
a desire to participate in the Exhibition
and numerous applications of simila
nature have also been made at tn
United States Legation at Paris. Th
Experiment of State has also receiye
official advice OF the strong desire on tn
part of the French Government that tn
United States should participate in this en-
trrpnse, and space has hitherto been an
for the use OF exhibitors from the Unite
States, TO the exclusion of other parties VIII
have been applicants therefor. In order tha
oprfndustries may be properly represente
az the Exhibition an appropriation viii
needed for the payment OF the salaries an
expenses of the Commissioners, for the tIanI
portation Of goods, and for other purpose
i'd connection with the object In view, d
MaF next q the time fixed for the openin
Of the = xMbition. II our citizens are to shaI
the adv antages of this international con
ne ftion for the trade of other nations th
necessity of immediate action Is appa
knt. To enable the United States
cooperate in the International EXhib
tion which was held in Vienna
1873, Congress then passed resolutio
making an appropriation OF $4,000
and authorizing the President to appoiI
certain number of practical artisans an
scientific men, who should attend the Exhih
ton, and report their proceedings and ol
servatious to him. A provision was als
made for the appointment of number
honorary commissioners. | have felt tn
prompt action by Congress in accepting u
invitation of the Government of France Is
so much interest to the people of this cOu
try, and so suitable to the cordial relation
between the Governments of the two cou
tries, that the subject might properly be pr
scented for attention at your present sessio
The Government of Sweden and Norwi
has addressed an official invitation to this Go
ernment to take part in the Information
Prison Congress, to be held at Stockholm ne
year. The problem which the Congress pr
poses to study, "How to Diminish Crime,n
one In which all civilized nations have an
terestin common, and the Congress of StOc
holm seems likely to prove the most impC
tant convention ever held for the study
this grave question.
4 Under authority OF Joint resolution
Congress, approved Feb. Is, 1875, comm
sion was appointed by ny predecessor
represent the United States upon that ocC
sion, and the Prison Congress, having be
vt the earnest desire of the Swedish Cover
Inent postponed to 1873, the commission "
renewed by me.
An appropriation of $1,000 was made
the sundry- Civil-Service act OF 1875 to me
the expenses OF the Commissioners. | r.
oinmend the re-appropriation Of that 81
for the same purpose, the former appropr
tion having been covered into the Treasu
and being no longer available for the pr
pose without further action by Congress.
The subject is brought to your attenti
at this time IN view of the circumstans
which render 1t highly desirable that I
~. 10 tla "A