The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
htHo,e- Citizens OF the Senate and
House of Representatives.

The adjournment of the last Congress
without making appropriations for the
support of the army for the present
fiscal year has rendered necessary sus.
pension of payments to the officers and
men of the sums due them for services
rendered after the 30th day of June last.
Tho army exists by virtue of statutes
which prescribe its numbers and regu-
late its organization and employment,
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 i'll the absence of specific
appropriations. Therefore the Consti-
tuition has wisely provided that "no
money shall be drawn from the treasury
but in consequence of appropriations
made by law !" and it has also been. de-
clared by statute that ono department
of the government shall expend in any
one fiscal year any sum in excess of APP
appropriations made by Congress for
that fiscal year." We have, therefore,
au army in service authorized by law
and entitled to be paid, but no funds
available for that purpose. 1t may also
be said, as an additional incentive to
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
fidelity and courage and without COM
plant.
These circumstances, in my Judgment,
constitute an extraordinary occasion, re-
quiring that Congress be convened 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
manifest that / venture to suggest the
propriety of making the necessary APP
propriationsfor the support of the army
for the current year at its present maxi
mum numerical strength of twenty-five
thousand men, leaving for future con-
sideration all questions relating to an in
crease or decrease of the number OF
enlisted men. In the event of the re-
duction of the army by subsequent legis
lation during the fiscal year, the excess
of the appropriation could not be ex-
pended, and in the event of its enlarge
ment, the additional sum required for
the payment of the extra force could be
provided in due time. 1t would be I'M
just to the troops now in service, and
whose pay is already largely in arrears, if
payment to them should be further post
pcned until after Congress shall have
considered all the questions likely to
arise in the effort 70 fix the proper limit
to the strength of the army
Estimates ofappropriations for the sup
port of the military establishment for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1878,
were transmitted to Congress by the
former secretary of the treasury at the
opening of the session in December last.
These estimates, modified by the present
secretary 80 to conform to present re-
quirements, are now renewed, amount
ing to S32, 436, 764 SO, and, having been
transmitted to both Houses of Congress,
are submitted for your consideration.
There is also required by the navy
department 50, 003, ,86127. This sum is
made up of 81, 446, ,6S8. 16 due to officers
and enlisted men for the last quarter of
the last fiscal year $311, 953. so due for
advances made by the fiscal agent of the
government in London for the support
OF the foreign service; $50 900 due
to the naval hospital fund; $4,000 due
for arrearages of pay to officers and S45,-
2l9.5S for the support of the marine
corps. There will also be needed an APP
preparation of 1862, 535. % to defray the
unsettled expenses of the United States
courts for the fiscal year ending June 80
last, now due to attorneys, clerks,
commissioners and marshals, and for
rent of court rooms, the support of
prisoners and other deficiencies.
A part of the building of the interior
department was destroyed by fire on the
24th OF last month. Some immediate
repairs and temporary structures have
III consequence become necessary, esti-
mates for which will be transmitted to
Congress Immediately, and an appropri-
alton OF the requisite funds is respect
fully recommended.
The secretary OF the treasury will
communicate tc Congress, in connection
with the estimates for the appropriations
for the support of the army for the cur
rent fiscal year, estimates for such other
deficiencies in the different branches of
the public service as require immediate
action, and cannot, without
be POSTPONED until the regular session.
L take this opportunity, also, to invite
your attention to the propriety of adopt
ing at your present session the necessary
legislation to enable the people of the
United States to participate in the ad-
vantages of the International Exhibition
OF agriculture, industry and fine arts,
which is to be held at Paris in 1878, and
IN which this government has been in
vited bH the government of France to
take part. This invitation was commune
Gated to this government in May, 1876,
by the minister of France at this capital,
and copy thereof was submitted to the
proper committees of Congress at its last
session, but no action was taken upon the
subject. The department of state has
received many letters from various parts
o. the country expressing a desire to
participate in the exhibition, and numer-
Gus applications of a similar nature have
Also been made at the United States
legation at Paris. The department of
sta'e has also received official advice of
the strong desire Oh the part of the
French government that the United
States should participate in this enter
prise, and space has hitherto been, and
still is, reserved in the exhibition build
ings for the use of the exhibitors from
the United States, to the exclusion of
other parties who have been applicants
therefor.
In order that our industries may be
properly represented at the exhibition an
will be needed for the
DaVmpnt Of Salariaa opd aynanoau of