The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-10-18

DEPARTMENT DESTROY ED by FIRE, AND
TO THE SUBJECT OF REPRESENTATION
AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
| To tie Senate and House Of Representatives.
IN Congress assembled:
| "Fellow citizens Of the senate and the
house OF representatives: The adjourn |
ment OF the last congress without making |
appropriations tor the support OF the
army for the present fiscal year has rem
dered necessarya suspension of payments
TO the officers and men the sums due them
for services rendered after the Both day
of June last. The army exists by virtue
of statutes which prescribe its numbers.
regulate its organization and employ
ment, and which fix 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 of specific appropriation
| therefor. The constitution has wisely |
provided that no money shall be drawn
from the Treasury but in consequence
of appropriations made by law, andlthas
also been declared by statute, that no dc.
partment of the Government shall cXpend
/! in any one fiscal year any sum in excess
of the appropriation made by congress
tor that fiscal year.
We have, therefore, an army in service
authorized by law and eutitled to be paid,
but no funds available for that purpose.
. 1t may also be said as an additional incen-
: tive 10 prompt action by congress, that
since the commencement OF the fiscal
year the army, though without pay, has
, been constantly and actively employed
/ IN arduous and dangerous service in the
: performance OF which both officers and
, men have discharged their duty with IL
deity and courage and without COM
| plaint. These circumstances III my judge.
. ment constitute an extraordinary oCca-
sion recurring that congress be convened
, | in advance OF the time prescribed by law
i for your meeting in regular session.
The importance OF speedy action upon
g this subject on the part OF Congress Is so
a manifest that | venture to suggest the
propriety OF making the necessary APP
'' preparations ter the support OF the army
!, Tor the current year at It's present maxi
mum numerical strength Of 25,OOO men,
having Tor future consideration all ques'
lions relating to an Increase or decrease
II in the number of men. In the event OF
U q reduction OF the army by subsequent
=. legislation during the fiscal year,
tho excess OF appropriation could
g not be expended, and in the event
n OF its enlargement the additional sum re-
CURED tor the payment OF the etXra force
could be provided in due time. 1t would
s be unjust 10 the troops now in service,
g and whose pay is alieaiy largely in ar
rears il pay ment to them should be lllrth-
er postponed until after congress Shall
have considered all the questions likely
n to arise in the effort TO fix the proper
: limit TO tho strength OF the army
g and estimate the appropriation
Tor the support OF the military establish
= ment tor the fiscal year ending June &c,
e 1878, were transmitted TO congress by the
e 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 present
@ requirements, are now renewed, amOunt-
ing W $50 ,436,7Gi 90, and, having been
transmitted TO both houses of congress,
are submitted tor your consideration.
i. There is also required by the navy de-
IA partment 81 ,3S6,l27. This sum is made
up of 81, 446, 1888 lG due to officers and en-
III | far b,. 10 St pt lac
fiscal year; $3l 1853 SO due for advances
il made by the fiscal agent of the govern.
ia ment in London tor the support of the
js foreign service; 10000 due TO the Maya
4. Hospital fund; Sl5O, 100 due tor arrcaragc'
3. OF pay to officers. ami S15,229 IS tor the
a support OF the Marine Corps.
~ There will also be needed an appropria
:, ton OF $2G2,535 to delray the unsettled
I'd expenses OF the United States courts TO
the fiscal year ending June 80 last, nov
due to attorneys, clerks, commissioner
and marshals, and for rent of court rooms
D. the support of prisoners and other delcI
lin encies.
ia A part OF the building of the intcriO
" department was destroyed by fire on IT,
OF oath OF last month. Some Immediate rG
ad pairs and temporary structures have il
az consequence become necessary estimate
Is Tor which will be transmitted 70 congress
% Immediately, and an appropriation OF tn
ne requisite funds isrespectiully recommend
n ed.
or The Secretary of the Treasury vii
=, communicate TO congress, in connection
=" with the estimates for the appropriation
Is. for the support OF the army for the cur
rent fiscal year, estimates Tor such othe
deficiencies i'm the different branches Q
the public service as require immediat
action and cannot without Inconvenience
be postponed until the regular session.
i take this opportunity to inYite you
o. attention to the propriety of adopting a
"A. your present session the necessary legis
al' lation to enable the peopl'
els Of the United States to par
23 tcipate in the advantages the lnternationa
10, exhibition of the agriculture, industry
va and the fine arts, which is to be held a
10 Paris in 1873, and In which this govern
81 ment has been invited by the government
of France to take part. This invitation
u, was communicated to this government IL
'" 1870, by the Minister Of France at thi
Is Capital, and copy thereof was submit
y ted to the proper committee OF Congress
NJ at Its last session, but no &C
ton was taken upon the subject
A The Department of state has received
!. many letters from various parts OF tho
Of country expressing desire to participate
u In the exhibition, and numerous appliCa'
tons Of similar nature haye also been
10 made at the United States Legation al
81 Paris. The Department Of State has also
% received official advlces OF the strong dc,
Q; sire on the part OF the French Govern.
Of mcnt that the United States should par