The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-19
PRESIDENT HAYES, MESSAGE.
His Recommend ations to the Extra Ses-
sion of Congress-.

HIS hecOmme nuatfOns the Extra Ses-
sion of Congress.
Fellow-ctizens Of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives
The adjournment Of the last Congress with
out making appropriations for the support Of
the army for the present fiscal year has rem
dered necessary suspension Of payments to
the officers and men Of the sums due them for
services rendered after the 30th day of June
last The army exists by virtue of the statutes
which prescribe its numbers, regulate its or
ganization and employment, and which fix the
pay of its officers and men, and declare the right
to receive the same at stated periods The stat
utes however, do not authorize the payment
Of the troops in the absence Of specific appro-
priatio1 therefor. The constitution 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 declared by
statute that no department of the Government
shall expend, in any one fiscal year, any sum in
excess Of the appropriation made by Congress
for that fiscal year. We have, therefore, an
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 danger
Gus 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 judg-
ment, constitute an extraordinary occasion,
requiring Congress TO 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 neces-
sary appropriations for the support of the army
for the current year at its present maximum-a
numerical strength Of $4,000 men--leaving for
future consideration all questions relating to
an increase or decrease of the number of en-
listed 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 expended, and in the event of its
enlargement, the additional sum required for
the payment of the extra force could be pro-
vided in due time. 1t would be unjust to the
troops now in service, and whose pay is already
largely in arrears, il payment to them
should be further postponed until after
Congress shall have considered all the
questions likely to arise in the effort
TO fix the proper limit to the strength
of the army. The estimates of appropriations
for the support Of the military establishment
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1878, we're
transmitted to Congress by the former Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, at the opening Of its SEES
sion in December last. These estimates. modi-
fed by the present Secretary 80 as to conform
to the present requirements, are now renewed,
amounting to $50, 436, 764.9S, and, having been
transmitted TO both houses OF Congress, are
submitted for your consideration.
There is also required by the Navy Depart
ment q, 1861 This sum is made up OF S1,-
446, 1873 due TO the officers and enlisted men for
the last quarter Of the last fiscal year s311,-
1858. 80 is due for advances made by the Fiscal
Ageut Of the Government in London for the