Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-10-23
WHO prcsldent,s NIcssnge.

FciiOlO- CITIZENS Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives The adj
jOurnmeut of the last Congress with
out making appropriations for the
support of the army for the present
fiscal year, has. rendered necessary n
suspension of payments to officers and
men of sums due them for services
rendered after the 3Oth day of June
last. The army exists by virtue Of
statutes which prescribe its numbers,
regulates 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 Pc
RODS. These statutes. however, do
not authorize the payment of troops
in the absence of specific apprOpria-
tons. 1t IL provided that no money
shall he drawn from the Treasury, but
in consequence of appropriation made
by law, and il has also been declared
by the statutes that mo department
of the Government shall eXpend in
any one fiscal year a sum in excess of
the appropriation made 10y Congress
for that fiscal year, We have, there
fore, an army i'm service authorized by
law and entitled to he paid, but no
funds available for that purpose. 1t
may also he said as an additional in
centive to prompt action toy Congress
that since the commencement OF the
fiscal year the army, though without
pay, has been constantly aud actively
employed in ardOus and dangerous
service, in the performance Of which
both officers and men have discharged
their duty with fidelity and courage,
and without complaint. These CIR.
cumstauces, in my Judgment, consi-
tute an extraordinary OCCASION requlr-
ing that Congress he convened ia adj.
vance of the time prescribed 10y law
for that purpose in regular session.
The importance Of speedy action up
on this subject on the part of Congress
is so urgent that I request to suggest
the prOpriety Of making the necessary
appropriations for the support Of the
army for the current year, at its pres
eut maximum number and strength OF
25 600 men, leaving for future coBslde-
ration all questions rela ing to 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
appru priatiOn could not he expended,
and in the event of its enlargement
any additional sum required for the
paymput of the extra force could be
provided for in due time ltvOUld be
Injustice to the troops now in service
and whose pay is already largely in
arrears, if payment to them should be
further postponed till after Congress
shall have considered all questions
! likely to arise i'm the effort 10 fix the
proper limit to the strength Of the ar
my. Estimates of appropriation for
! the support of the military establish
ment for the fiscal year ending June
| 30th. 1878, were transmitted to Con
| gress by the former Secretary of the
! Treasury, at the opening Of its session
| in December last. Theie estimates,
| moderated by the present Secretary,
| so as to conform TO present require
ments, are modified so as to reduce the
amount to S32 ,436, 7G4 %, and having
/ been transmitted to both Houses OF
! Congress are submitted for your con-
sideratiOn. There is also required by
the Navy Department 50 ,OO3 SGi.27,
this sum being made up of 81 ,4l6 66S,'
rs due to officers and enlisted men tul
the last quarter of the LIST fiscal year ,
! S3l1 1853. so are for advances made 10y
| the fiscal agent of the Government tol
the support of foreign service ; 500
600 due to the Naval Hospital fund D.,
! SI5O coo due for arrearges of pay tC
officers and S45 30 IS for the support
of marine corps. There will also b(
needed an appropriation OF S262 Oo3 Il
defray the unsettled expenses Of thu
United States Courts for the fiscal yea
ending June 3Oth last, now due to AT
tornpys, clerks, commissioners an'
marshals, and for rent of court rooms
support of prisoners aud other ueh
Ciencies.
| n. - H. I,,;I l;nr Of tho TutpTiO
department was destroyed 10y fire OF
the oath of last month, Some lmme
, date repairs and temporary structure
. have, in consequence, become necessa
~. estimates for which will be trans
mitted to Congress Immediately, AM
the appropriation of requisite FUNDS
rpsppCtfully recommended. The rec
b retary Of the Treasury will communl
- cate TO Congress In connection VIII
: the estimates for an appropriation 10
the support of the army for the cul
; rent fiscal year, estimates for sue
} other deficiencies i'm the ditiereu
1 branches of the public service a. II
1 uuire immediate action, and cannot
= without inconvenience, be postpone
! till the regular session. o..
! | take this opportunity also TO lnVit
Z YOUR attention to the prOprlety q
% adopting at your present session hGee'
7 sarv legislation 10 enable the people &
3 the United States to participate IN t'I
advantages of the international rs
, hibiti0n Of agricultural industry an
fine arts, which is to be held at Par
c i'm 1873, and ia which this Govern
ment has been invited by the Govern
msnt of France to take part. THIS n
, yitation was communicated TO ~
Government in May, 1873, by II
= Minister Of France at this Capital, an
e n copy thereof submitted to the prop'
$ committee of Congress at It's last Sc
! sion, but no action WAS taken on u
o. subject, co.,. ,,, >.
r. ceived many letters from various par
j. Of the country expressing desire
d participate i'm the exhibition al
% hunters of applications OF a sum
nature have also been made at u
United states legation in Paris III
c Department Of State has also receive
n official advice of strong. ues'
q ON the part Of the French q"
eminent that the United states shou
participate in this enterprise, al
II space has hitherto been, and ~ stlll !
lC .-r,.aI d, -fl,a avhihitiOn buildings