The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-20
PRESIDENT HAYEs's FIRST MESSAGE.

sent to Congress on Tuesday;
FELLOW. CITIZENS OF THE SENATE ANDl
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,: ne a.Jouin-
ment of the last congress, without making ap-l
preparations for the support OF the army ior
the present fiscal year. has rendered necessary
suspension Of payments 10 the oihcers anu
men of the sums due them for services rem
dered after the Both day of June last. The ar
nv exists bv virtue of the statutes which pre-
scribe its numbers regulate its organization
and EMPLOYMENT and which fix the pay OF its
officers and men, and declare the right to re-
ceiye the same at stated periods. The statutes,
however, do not authorize the payment of
troops in the absence of specific appropriation
therefor The constitution has wisely provid.
ed that no money shall be drawn from thel
treasury but in consequence of appropriations
made by law, and it has also been declared byl
statute that no department of the government
shall eypend, in any one fiscal year, any sum
in excess Of the appropriation made by con-
gress for that fiscal year We have therefore,
an army IN service, authorized by law, and en-
titled to be paid, but no funds available for
that purpose. 1t may also be said as an addi-
tiOnal incentive to prompt action by congress
that since the commencement OF the fscal year.
the army, though without pay, has been con,
stantly and actively employed in arduous ana
dangerous service, in the performance OF wnlch
both officers and men have discharged their
duty with fidelity and courage, ana without
complaint These circumstances In my Judg-
ment, constitute an extraordinary occasion, re.
quirng congress TO be convened IN advance Oh
the time prescribed by law for your meeting
in regular session. The importance Oh speedy
action upon this subject on the part OF con
cress is SO manifest that | venture to suggest
the propriety of making the necessary appro
priatons for the support of the army Tor the
current year, at its present maXmum,--an num-
erical strength of twenty-five thousand men,
leaving for future consideration all questions
relating to an increase or decrease OF the num-
Der of enlisted men. In the event OF the re-
duction of the army by subsequent legislation
during the fiscal year. the excess of the appro-
pration could not be expended, and IN the
event of its enlargement the additional sum
required for the payment of the extra force
could be provided in due time. 1t would be
unjust to the troops now in service, and whose
pay is already largely in arrears, if payment to
them should be further postponed until after
congress shall have considered all the ques-
tions likely to arise in The effort to fix the
proper limit to the strength OF the army. Inc
estimates of appropriations for the support OF
the military establishment for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1873, were transmitted to con
gress by the former secretary OF the treasury,
at the opening of ITS session in December last.
These estimates, modified by the present secrc-
tary so as to conform to the present require
ments are now renewed, amounting to S32, 49,
7649S, and having been transmitted to both
houses of congress, are submitted for your con-
sderation
THE NAVY.
There is also required by the navy depart
ment, S2,3S6,127 The sum is made up of ST.
446,SSS due to the officers and enlisted men
for the last quarter of the fiscal year; $3l :
$3.50 due for advances made by the fiscal
agent of the government in London for the
support of the foreign service, and $5O,OOO due
to the naval hospital fund; S15O,OOO due for
arrearages of pay to the officers, and S45, 2l9-
50 for the support of the marine corps There
will also be needed an appropriation of $500
$500 to defray the unsettled expenses OF the
United States courts for the fiscal year ending
June 30 last, now due to attorneys, clerks, com
missioners, and marshals, and for rent OF court
rooms, the support of prisoners, and other de
ticiencies.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
A part of the building of the interior depart
ment was destroyed by fire on the Gath of last
month. Some immediate repairs and temper
airy structures have, in consequence, become
necessary, estimates for which will be trans
mitted to congress Immediately and an ap
preparation of the requisite funds is respectful
~ recommended.
OTHER DEFICIENCIES.
The secretary of the treasury Will communi
cate to congress, in connection with the estl
mates for the appropriations for the support
the army for the current fiscal year, estimates
for such other deficiencies in the diftercn
branches of the public service as require i'm
mediate action. and cannot, without inConven
fence, be postponed until the regular session
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
take this opportunity to invite your atten
ton to the propriety of adopting, at your pres
ent session, the necessary legislation to enable
the people of the United States to participate
IN the advantages of the international eXhibi
ton of the agricultural industry and the fin
arts, which is TO be held at Paris in 1878, ant
in which this government has been invited D.
the government of France to take part. Thi
invitation was communicated to this govern
ment in May, 1876, by the minister OF Franc
at this capital and copy thereof was submit
ted to the proper committees of congress at 1t
last session, but no action was taken on tn
subject. The department Of state has receiye'
many letters from various parts of the countr,
expressing desire TO participate in the eXhl
bition, and numerous applicants of simlla
nature have also been made at the Unlte'
States legation at Paris. The department o
state has also received official advice of tn
strong desire on the part OF the French govern
ment that the United States should participat
IN this enterprise, and space has hitherto been
and is still, reserved in the exposition building
for the use of exhibitors from the Unte
States, to the exclusion of other parties VIII
have been applicants therefor In order tina
our industries may be properly represented Il
the exhibition, an appropriation will be needle
for the payment of salaries and expenses {
commissioners; for the transportation of good
and for other purposes in connection with tn
object in view, and as May next is the tim
fiXed for the opening of the exhibition, if on
citizens are to share the advantages of this il
ternational competition for the trade Of otht
nations, the necessity of immediate action
apparent To enable the United States TO CT
operate in the International exhibition whic
was held in Vienna in 1913, congress the
Dassed Joint resolution making an appropr