Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-10-18
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Brief, Pointed and Business.
Like, It Deals With the
Questions at
Hand.
And Postpones Until the Regular Ses-
sion the Discussion OF Other
Matters.
The Army Appropria lions the Pressing Necessi-
~ NJ the Present Time.
The Pris on Congress in Stockholm-The
Paris Exposition.

Paris Exposition.
Fellop Citizens of the Senate and House OF
Representatives
The adjournment of the last
Congress, without making appropri.
ations for the support of the army
for the present fiscal year, has rem
dered it necessary for suspension
of payments to the officers and men
of the sums due them for services
rendered after June Both last. The
army exists by virtue of statutes
which prescribe it's numbers, regu-
late its organization. and employ.
men6, and which fix the pay Of It's
offices and men and declare their
right to receive the same at stated
periods. The statutes, however, do
not authorize the payment of the
troops in absence of special appro-
priation therefor.
The constitution has wisely pro-
vided 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 govern
ment shall expend in any one fiscal
year any sum in excess of appropria-
ton made by Congress for that fiscal
year; we have therefore an army in
service authorized by law and emit.
tied to be paid, but no funds avaia-
BILE 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 employ
ed in arduous and dangerous service,
ia the performance of which both
officers and men have discharged
their duty with fidelity and courage,
and without complaint. These
circumstances, in my judgment, con-
stituted an extraordinary -occasiop,
requiring Con ggfsss to be convened
In advance of the time prescribed by
law for your meeting in regular ses-
sion.
The Importance of speedy action
on this subject on the part of Con-
gress is so manifest that | venture
to suggest the propriety of making
the necessary appropriations for the
support of the treasury for the cur.
rent year at its present maximum
numerical strength of twenty-five
thousand mon, leaving for future
consideration all questions relating
to an increase or decrease OF the
number of enlisted men.
La the event of the reduction Of
the army by subsequent legislation,
during the fiscal year the excess OF
the appropriations could not be ex-
pended and in the event of its en-
largement the additional sum requir-
ed for the payment of the extra force
could be provided in due time. 1t
would be unjust to 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
support of the military establishment
for the fiscal year ending juno 80,
1878, were transmitted to Congress
by the former Secretary of the
Treasury at the opening of its SEES.
sion in December last. These esti.
mates, modified by the present Secre-
tary, so as to conform to the present
requirements, are now renewed,
amounting to $32,436,76498, and
having been transmitted to both
Houses of Congress, are submitted
for your consideration.
There is also required by the navy
department 5000, 1886, 1877. This sum
is made up of $14,468,816 due the
officers and enlisted men for the last
quarter of the last fiscal year $751;
953 so due for advances made by the
fiscal agent of the government in
London for the support of foreign
service f.; $4,000 due the naval hos
pital fund 10000 due for arrear-
ages of pay to officers, and $40, 219.-
So for the support of the marine
corps.
FURTHER APPROPRIATIONS.
There will also be needed an APP
preparation of $265 1892 to defray
the unsettled expenses of the United
States courts for the fiscal year end
ing Juno Both last, now due, to
attorneys, clerks, commissioners and
marshals, and for rent of court
rooms, the support of prisoners and
other deficiencies.
Il part of the building OF the In
terror Department was destroyed by
fire on the Oath of last month. Some
Mediate repairs and temporary
structures have in con sequence be-
come necessary, the estimates for
which will be transmitted to Con-
gress Immediately, and an appropria-
ton of the requisite funds is respect
fully recommended.
The Secretary of the Treasury will
communicate to Congress in connec-
ton with the estimates for the appro.
priations for the support of the army
for the current fiscal year, estimates
for such other deficiencies in the
different branches of public service as
require immediate action and cannot
without inconvenience be postponed
until the regular session.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
L take this opportunity to invite
your attention 70 the propriety Of
adopting, at your present session,
the necessary legislation to enable
the people of the United States to
participate in the advantages of the
international exhibition OF agricul-
tural industry and fine arts, which is
to be held at Paris in 1878, and in
which this government has been in.
vited by the government of France
to take part. This invitation was
communicated to this government in
May, 1876, by the Minister of France
at this capital, and a copy thereof
xrao on hp,ittad RI tho nronar onp,yo;t