, 1877-10-20
Presidents Message.

WHY THB EXTRA SESSION IS CONVENED.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House
of Representatives,:
The adjournment of the last con-
gross without making appropria-
tions for the support of the army
for the present fiscal year, has rem
dered necessary a suspension of pay
ments to the 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 prescribes its numbers, regn-
la:es its organization and employ
ment, and which fixes the pay of its
officers and men and declares 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 ap-
preparations. Therefore the con-
stitution has wisely provided that no
money shall be drawn from the
treasury but in consequence of ap-
preparations; and it has also been de
clared by stat-;te that no department
of the government shall expend IN
any one fiscal year any sum in ex-
cess 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 ac-
ton by congress, that since the COM
mencement 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, Off
GERS and men have discharged their
duty with fidelity and courage. and
without complaint. These circnm-
stances, in my Judgment, constitute
an extraordinary occasion, requiring
that congress should be con-
yened in advance of the time pre-.
scribed 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 I venture to suggest the pro-
priety of making the necessary ap-
preparations for the support of the
army for the current yeara its pres
ent maximum numerical strength of
%, 900 men; leaving for future con-
sideration all questions relating to
an increase or decrease of the num-
ber of enlisted men. In the event
of the reduction of the army by sub
sequent Legislation dnring tn. fiscal
year. the excess of the appropria-
ton could not be expended. In the
event of its enlargement. the addi-
tional sum required for the payment
of the extra force could be provid-
ed in due time. It would be unjust
to the troops now in the Sc, vice and
whose pay is already largely in ar
rears. that 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. The estimates of the ap-
preparations for the support of the
military establishment for tie fiscal
year ending June 30, 1878, were
transmitted to congress by the for
mer secretary of the treasury at the
opening of its session in December
last. These estimates, modified by
the present secretary so as to .on-
form to the present requirements,
are now renewed. amounting to $32.-
436, 764 SO, having been transmitted
to both houses of congress, are sub
mitted for your consideration. There
is also required by the navy depart
ment 81. 2.OO3. .861 27, and this sum is
made up of 81, ,446. 1888 10 due to ea-
listed officers and men for the last
quarter of the last fiscal year, $751;
913 80, due for advances made by
the financial agent of the govern
ment in London for the support OF
the foreign service: $4,000 due to
the naval hospital fund; $3.50, 900
due for arrearages of pay to the Off
GERS, and S45, ,219 5s for the support
of the marine corps. There will
be needed also an appropriation of
S262, ,565 % to defray the unsettled
expenses of the Z. S. courts for the
fiscal year ending June 30 last, now
due to attorneys. clerks. commission
ers and marshals, and for rent OF
courtrooms and support of prison
ers, and other deficiencies; and as
part of the interior department was
DESTROYED by fire on the oath of last