Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-10-25
PRESI DENTS MESSAGE.

10 1He Scnafc and House Of Representatives
Of the United States of america IN Con-
qress assembled:
i THE ARMY.
The adjournment of the last Congress
without making any appropriations fortl,e
support of the army for the present fiscal
year has rendered necessary the suspension
lof ofpayment to officers and men of sums
fdte them for services rendered after the
18th tJunc last. The army exists by vir-
tue of statutes which prescribe its num-
bers, regulate its organization and employ
ment and which fixes the pay of its officers
and men, and declare their right to receive
the same at stated periods. The statutes.
however, do not authorize the payment of
the troops in the absence Ofspeciiic appro-
priations therefor. The Constitution has
wisely provided that no money shall be
drawn from the Treasury but in consc-
quence ofappropriations made by law; and
it has also been declared by statute that no
department of the Government shall spend
in any one year any sum in excess Of the
appropriations made By Congress for that
fiscal year. We have therefore an army in
service authorized by the law and entitled
TO be paid. but no funds are available for
The purpose. 1t may also be said. as an ad-
! litiOnal incentive to prompt action by Con-
yress. that since tie commencement of the
iscal year the army, though without pay.
las been constantly and actively employed
/ =, or,unI,c apI dan in, ho
performance Of which both officers and
men have discharged their duty with tidel-
iy and courage, and without complaint
These circumstances, in my deliberate
Judgment. constitute an extraordinary Oc-
tasiOn requiring Congress to be assembled
IN advance of the time prescribed by law
for your meeting in regular session. The
importance of speedy action upon this
subject on the part of Congress is so mani
fest that venture to suggest the prO:,riety
of making the Necessary appropriations for
the support OF the army for the present
current year at its present maximum nu-
me. zeal strength of $4,000 men, leav-
ing for future consideration all questions
relating to an increase or decrease of the
number of enlisted men. In the event of
the reduction of the army by subsequent
legislation during the fiscal year, the excess
of The appropriation could not be eXpend- |
ed. 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
IN fl,n &c
largely in arrears, if payment to them
should be further posi-; ,ODed until after
Congress shall have considered all the I
questions likely 10 arise in the effort to fix
the proper limit to the strength. As my !
estimate of appropriations for the support
year ending June 30, 1873. were transmit
ted to Congress by the former Secretary of
the Treasury at the opening of its session !
in December last these estimates, modified
by the present Secretary so as to conform
to the present requirements. are now re-
newed, amounting to S;,2. 1876. 7Gt9S. and
having been transmitted to both Houses of
Congress, are submitted tor your con-
sideratiOn.
THE NAVY.
There is required by the Navy Depart
ment S2.OO3. .S61 %. This sum is made up
of 81. .446. .SSS. .16 due 10 C.iicers and enlisted |
men for the quarter of the last fiscal year,
and S3l1 ,753, ,53 due for advances made by
the fiscal agent of The Government in Lon
don for the support of the foreign service;
$50, 1000 due to the Naval Hospital Fund;
Sl50,O0O due for arrearages Of pay to Off
GERS; $45, ,2l9.5S for the support of the ma
rine corps.
DEFICIENCIES. &C.
There will also be needed an appropria-
ton of $262 ,525.22 to defray the unsettled
expenses Of the United States Courts for
the fiscal year ending June 3Oth last, now
due to attorneys, clerks, commissioners,
and marshals. and for rent for court rooms.
the support of prisoners and other detici-
encies. Part of the building Of the In
terror Department was destroyed by fire on
the oath of last month. and some immedi-
ate repairs and temporary structures have
in consequence become necessary, the esti-
mates for which will be sent 10 Congress
and an appropriation of the
requisite funds is respectfully recommend
e.'. The Secretary of the Treasury will
. municate to Congress. in connection