The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-10-17
WHY CONGRESS WAS CONVENED.
for the Army-Rep
resentaIion at the Paris Expo
HtfOn-InfernatiOn Prison
Congress Nothing About
the Southern Policy
or Ohio Election.
WASHINGTON, October IL.
FeltOO- Citizens Of the Senate and House
Of Representatives.:

OF the sums due them for services rem
dered after the 18th day of June last
The army exists by virtue of the statutes
which prescribe its numbers, regulate
its organization and employment, and
which fix the pay OF its officers and
men, and declare their right Ia
receive the same Al stated periods. The
statutes, however, do not authorize the
payment OF the troops in the absence OF
n specific appropriation; therefore, 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 de.
clsred by the statutes that no depart
ment OF the government snail eX-
pend IN any one fscal 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 there are no funds availsble tor that
purpose. 1t may aSO be said, rs an addI.
tional 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 al arduous and
dangerous service, in the performance OF
which both officers and men have dl--
charged their duty with fidelity and cour.
age and without complaint. These cir
cumstsnces, IN my judgment, constitute
an extraordinary occasion, requiring that
Congress be convened ln advance of the
time prescribed by law for your meeting
in regular session. The Importance o.
speedy action upon this subject on the part
OF Congress Is so manifest that | venture
to suggest the propriety OF making the
necessary appropriations for the support
o: the army for the current year NJ IT,
;rrsent maximum strength OF 25,OOO
rnrn, leaving for future consideration all
qDrsLions relating to an Increase or de-
crease Of the number of enlisted men. In
tho event of the reduction OF the army by
subsequent legislation during the fiscal
year, the excess OF the appropriation
could not be expended, and IA the event
of its enlargement the additional sum re
Iired for the payment OF the extra force
be unjust TO the troops now in service,
whose pay is already largely in arrears,
If payment 10 them should be further
postponed until after Congress shall have
considered all the questions likely u
arise in the effort to tx the proper limit
To the strength of the army.
The estimate of appropriations tor the
support Of the military establishment tor
the fiscal year ending June l3, 1873 WAS
transmitted to Congress bv the former
Secretary of the Treasury ut the opening
of It's session in December last. These
estimates, modified by the present Secre.
tary so as to conform TO the present re-
qulrements, are now rendered, amount
ing TO $32 436, 764 80, and having been
transmitted to both Houses of Cp.gress
are submitted Tor your consideration.
There is also required By the Navy
Department $2OO3, ,S6l.27. This sum g
made up et 81, ,446,SSSlG due to officers
and enlisted men fDr !ha last quarter +
the last fiscal year; S3ll 953 so, due for
advances made by the fiscal agent OF the
government in London Tor the support
OF the foreign service SjO,OOo, due
to the naval hospital fund;
$l50,0O0 due for arresrsges of pay TO
officers, and $40 ,2l9.5S for the support oil
the marine corps. There will also be
needed an appropriation OF S2G2, ,535.22
10 detray the unsettled expenses OF the
United States Courts for the fiscal year
ending June Both last, now due To aLtor-
neys, Clerks, commissioners and marsnAls,
and for rent of court rooms, the support
OF prisoners and other deficiencies. A
part of the building of the Interior De-
partment was destroyed by fire on
the oath of last month; some
immediate repairs, and temporary sLruc-
lures have in consequence become neces
sary, the estimates tor which Will be
transmitted to Congress ImmedlateI y,
and an appropriation OF the requisite
lunds is respectfully recommended. The
Secretary of the Treasury will com
municate to Congress, in connection with
the estimates for the appropriations for
the support of the army for the current
fiscal year, estimates Tor such other de-
flclencIes in the different branches Of the
public service rs require immediste &C
tion, and cannot, without Inconvenience,
be postponed until the regular session.
PARIS EXPOSITIoS.
take this opportunity 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 par
ticpste in the advantages OF the Inter
national Exhibition OF agricultural
industry and fine arts, which i to be
he'd at Paris in 1878, and IN which the
government mas been invited by the
government OF France 10 take part. This
invitation WAS communicated 20 this
government in May. 1875, by the Minis
ter Of France st this capital, and u copy
thereof was submitted to the proper com
mlttee OF Congress ST its last session, but
No action wss taken upon the subject.
The Department of Stale las received
many letters from various parts OF the
country. expressing desire TO psrtlc pate
in the Exhibition, and numerous sppIcs-
tions OF u similar kind have also been
made at the United States legation ST
Paris. The Department OF State hss also
received official advice of the strong
desire on the part of the French govern
ment that the United States should par,
ticipate IN this enterprise, snd space has
hitherto been, and still ls, reserved IN the
Exhibition building for the use OF the e1
hibitors from the United States, TO
the exclusion of other parties
who have been applicants therefor
in order that Ou- industries may be
properly represented at the Exhibition
an appropriation will be needed for tie
payment of the salaries and expenses OF
the commissioners, for the transportation
of goods, and tor other purposes IN con-
nection with the object in view; and d:
Msy next is the time fixed for the open
ing of the Exhibition, if our citizens srt
10 share the advantages OF this Interns
national competition for The trade o
other nations, the necessity Of immediate