The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-10-25
The Message.

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without making appropriations tor the
support OF the army OF the present fiscal
year, has rendered necessary a suspen
sion of payments 10 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 stat
utes which prescribe lis numbers; reg
ulate ITS organization and employment,
and which fix the pay OF its officers and
men, and declare the right to receive the
same az stated periods. Tue statutes,
however, do not authorize the payment
of the troops in the absence of specific
appropriation therefor The Consutu-
ton 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 gov
ernmen shall expend, in any one fiscal
year, any sum IN excess OF the appro-
priation made by Congress tor 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. It 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 dan
gerous service, in the performance Of
their duty with fidelity and courage, and
without complaint These clrcura
stances, in my judgement, constitute an
extraordinaryoccasion, requiring Con-
Rress 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 tlut |
venture to suggest the propriety OF max
the necessary appropriations tor the
support OF the army for the current year,
at its present maximum--a numerical
strength of $4,000 men-leaving for fu-
ture consideration all questions relating
to an increase or decrease of the number
of enlisted men. In the event of the re-
ducton of the army by subsequent leg
islation 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 pay ment of the extra force could be
provided in due time. 1t would be un-
Just 10 the troops now in service, and
whose pay is already largely in arrears,
if 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
estimate OF appropriations for the sup
port of the military establishment for
the fiscal year eudnr .lnnc Goth, 1873,
were transmitted to Congress by the for
mer Secretary Of the Treasury, at the
opening of its session III December last
These estimates, modified by the present
Secretary, so as to conform 10 the pres
ent requirements are now renewed,
amounting TO s32 ,436, 75i9S, and hay
ing been transmitted to both houses of
Congress, are submitted for your con
sideration.
There i8 also required by the Navy
Department, S2,3S6,l27. This sum is
made up of 81 ,I46, SSS due TO tho officers
and enlisted men for the last quarter of
the last fiscal year: 1911 $3.50 is due
for advances mado by the fiscal agent Of
the government in London for the sup
port Of the foreign service, and $4,000
IS due to the Naval Hospital fund $780,
900 is due for arrcarages OF pay 10 Off
GERS, and s45, 2l9.5S for the support Of
tho marine corps.
There will be needed an appropria-
ton Of 1892, $50 % to defray tho unset
tied expenses OF the United States courts
for the fiscal year ending June so last,
nov due to attorneys, clerks, commits
court-rooms, the support OF prisoners,
and other deficiencies.
A part Of the building OF the Interior
Department was destroyed by fire 90
the oath of the last month. Some imme-
diate repairs and temporary structures
have, in consequence, becoming neoes-
sary, estimates for which will be trans
mitted to Congress Immediately, and an
appropriation of the requisite funds Is
respectfully recommended.
The Secretary of the Treasury will
communicate to Congress, in connection
with tho estimates for the appropria.
tons for the support OF the army for
the current fiscal year, estimates for
such Other deficiencies in the different
branches of the public services as re-
quire immediate action, snd cannot,
without inconvenience, be postponed IN.
ill the regular session.
take this opportunity to invite your
attention TO the property OF adopting,
at your present session, the necessary
legislation to enable the people Of the 1
United States to participate in the sd
vsntages of the International Exposition
OF agricultural industry and the fine
arts, which is to be held ct Paris In 1878,
and in which this government hss been
invited by the government Of France 10
take part. THIS invitation was commu-
nioated TO this governmentin May, 1875,
by the Minister OF France, al this capi.
tai, and q copy thereof was submitted to .
the proper committees OF Congress III
its last session, but no action was taken .
on the subject. The Department of
State hiss received many letters from
various parts OF the country expressing
desire to participate 10 the exhibition,
and numerous applications OF similar
nature have also been made al the Uni
ted STATES Legation a. Paris. The De