The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-10-26
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

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The adjournment Of the last Congress with
out making appropriations for the support d
the army for the present fiscal year Has rem
uefsi necessary suspension Of payments
70 the OfnterS and men 81 the sums due them
for services rendered after the s0fh of June
last. The army exists by virtue ~ statute.
which prescribe it, numbers, regulate its or.
ganizaflOn and employment, aud which H.
Tie pay ~ Ia Officers and men and dcclmre
their rf2ft 10 receive the same af stated
periods. The statutes. however. do not au.
thorzr the payment 81 the Troops ia the ab
~encc ~ specific appropriation therefor. The
Constitution has wisely provided that no
money shall be drawn from the Treasury but
law and Il has also been declared by statute
that NO department Of the Government shall
rApend IN any one fiscal year amy sum Ia ex-
cess 81 the appropriation made BY Congress
for that fiscal year. We have. therefore. an
army In service authorized By Law and emit
tledto he paid. but no funds available for that
purpose II may also be said.a- AN additional
incentive 70 prompt action by Congress, that
since the commencement ~ the fiscal year
the army, though without pay has been con
stantly and actively employed In arduous
and dangerous service, In the performance Of
which both officer. and men have discharged
their duty with fidelity and courage and with
out complaint. These circumstances in nv
judgment, constitute an extraordinary Occa-
sion, requiring that Congress be convened
in advance Of the time prescribed by
Law Tor your meeting In regular session
The importance Of speedy action upon
this subject the part Of Congress j. 20
manifest that venture 10 suggest the pro.
pricty ~ making the necessary .appropria-
rent year nj it, present maximum numericar
strength of - OOJ men, leaving for future con.
-ideration all questions relating to an In.
crease or decrease in the number Of enlisted
men. In the event ~ reduction Of the army
by subsequent legislation during the fiscal
year, the excess ~ appropriation could noe
DC expended, and In the event Of it, enlarge.
rnent the additional oim required for the
payment u the extra force could be pro-
vided in due time. IL would be unjust
70 the troops now In service, and whose
pay j. already largely in arrears. II payment
70 them should be postponed until after
Congress shall have considered all the ques.
lions likely to arise In the effort TO nix the
proper limit 20 the strength OF the army. The
estimates Of the appropriation required for
the support OF the military establishment for
the fiscal year ending June 20, ls7s. were
transmitted 20 Congress by the former Sec
Rotary Of the Treasury at the opening OF It's
session IN December last. These estimates,
modified by the present secretary 80 a. %
conform 10 the present requirements are
now renewed. amounting 70 So. fsf 1gl o. and
having been transmitted to both houses Of
Congress. are submitted for your considera
tiOn.
There j. also required by the Navy Depart
ntent y ,Oui,~S n. This sum j. made up Of
~ .lN - ii due 10 officers and enlisted men
Tor the last quarter Of the last fiscal year;
,3lla53 ~ due for advances made by the fi~cal
agent Of the Government in London for the
support 81 the foreign service: $1,000 due 10
the Naval Hospital fund: $1,000 due for ar
rrarage- of pay to officers, and SIS ,2ls - for
the support " the Marine Corps.
There will also be needed an appropriation
of s.62-535 ? TO defray the unsettled expenses
Of the nitcd states Courts for the fiscal year
ending June ~ last, how due 70 attorneys.
rent 81 court rooms. the support OF prisoners
aud other deficiencies.
part Of the building OF the Interior De.
paftm.nf Was destroyed by fire on the 24th
~ lat month some Immediate repairs and
temporary structures have I'm consequence
become necessary, estimates for which will
Dc transmitted TO Congress Immediately, and
an appropriation OF the requisite funds H. re-
specially recommended.
The Secretary of the Treasury will com.
nnunIcafs 70 Congress. IN connection with the
port ~ fhc army for the current fiscal year
estimates for such other deficiencies IN the
different branches Of the public service "a re-
quirc immediate action and can not without
Inconvenience be postponed until the regular
session
take this opportunity 70 invite your at
tenton 20 the propriety OF adopting ~ yeur
present session the necessary legislation a.
enable the people Of the United states to par
ticipatc in the advantages of the Information
al Exhibition Of the agriculture, industry and
the line arts. which j. 20 be held af Paris I'm
l-7>, ana in which this Government has been
invited by the Government Of France 20 take
part. This invitation was communicated 90
thi- Government IN lc1O, BY the Minister ~
rance mt this capital, and "A copy thereof
Ma submitted 60 the proper committee OF
taken upon the subject. The Department oi
state lsl- received many letters from various
pnit- ~ the country expressing desire 20
~ the exhibition. and nu
inerou~ applications 0f a similar nature have (
also been made AZ the United states Legation /
AZ Parl~. The Department 81 state has also
on the part of the French GOV
rrnmoilt that the United states
should participate in the enterprise.
and space has hitherto been and H. sin ri.
served ia tile Exhibition Building for tile \
~ exhibitors from the United states 20
tine exclusion ~ other parties who have been 4
applicants therefor. In order that onr in
dn-tlie- may be properly represented ~ tile \
r. Inhibition. in appropriation will be- need.
- for the payment 81 salaries ~
commissioners tor tile transportation III
goods ana for other purposes III connection
with the object in view. A. May next T. the \
time liked for the opening 81 the Exhibition.
tins International competition for the trade 4
"a other nations. the necessity nf immediate
action j. apparent ~ enable the United \
states tO cooperate. In the International I
l~sJ, Congress then passed a Joint rc-nlu
tian. making AN appropriation ~ 500,
80, and authorizing the President % ~
point certain number ~ practical arti
sans and scientific men. who should attend
the Exhibition ana report their proceedings
and oh~erN ation~ ~ hun Provision was also
made for the appointment of number Of
commissioners. have felt that
prompt action by Congress IN accepting the
invitation of the Government ~ France T. ~
- much interest 20 the people of this conn
try, and suitable 20 the cordial relations
between the Governments 81 the two coun-
tries, that she subject might properly be pre-
Dented for attention az your present session.
The Government Of sweden and Norway has
addressed an Official invitation 20 this Gov.
efnmcnt "a take part in the International
Prison Congress. a. be held AZ Stockholm next
year. The problem which the Congress pro
poses to study" How - diminish crime
l. one ia which an civilized nations have an
interest in common, and the Congress
"a stockholm seems likely % prove
the most important convention ever
held for the study Of this grave question
ndcr Joint resolution of Congress, ap-
proved February rs, 1873. a commissioner was
appointed by my predecessor ~ represent
The United states upon that occasion. ana thc
present Congress. having been, nc the earnest
request Of the swedish Government, post.
pOned 90 ISIS. his commission was renewed
BY me. An appropriation Of 900 was made
in the sundry civil service net Of lss5 % meet
the expenses of the commissioners. ! re-
the rcapprOpriation 81 that
fpr the the former