The Portland daily press., 1877-10-17
The Presidents Message.

w ASdlNGIONs OCb 1O.-lDo OllORlDR mes
sage was sent to Congress at little after one
o'clocs:
Fell0ao Citizens of the Senate and House of
Representdtiues:-Tn adjournment of the last
Congress without making appropriations for
the support of the army for the present fiscal
year, has rendered necessary suspension of
payments to the officers and men OF the sums
due them for service rendered after the Both
day of June last. The army exists by virtue of
statutes which prescribe its numbers, reg uate
it's organic alton and employment, and which
fl the pay of its officers and men, and declare
their right to receive the same at stated periods
The statutes however do not authorize the pay
meht of the troops in the absence OF specified
appropriations therefor; the CONSTITUTION has
wisely provided that no money shall be drawn
from the treasury but in consequence OF sp-
preparations made by law, and 1t has also been
declared by statute that no department of the
government shall eKpend in any one fiscal year
any sum in excess of the APPROPRIATION made
by Congress for the fiscal year. we pave tnere-
fore an army in service, authorized by law and
entitled to be paid, but no funds available Tor
that purpose. 1t NJ az also be said as an addi-
tional incentive to Prompt action by congress,
that since the commencement OF the nscal year
the army, though without pay, has been con-
stantly and actively employed in arduous and
dangerous SERVICE in the performance of which
both officers ard men have discharged their
duty with fidelity and courage and without COM
planning. These circumstances in my judgment
constitute an extraordinary occasion, requiring
that Congress be convened in advance of the
time prescribed by law for your meeting in reg
ular session.
The importance of speedy action upon
this subject OF the part of Congress is SO mani
fest, that venture to suggest the proprety of
making the necessary appropriations for the
army for the current fiscal year at its present
maximum numerical strength of $4,000 men,
leaving for future consideration all questions
relating to the increase or decrease of the num-
Der of enlisted men. In the event Of reduc-
ton of the army by subsequent legislation dur
ing the fiscal year, the excess of the approprla-
ton could not be expended; and in the event of
its enlargement, the additional sum required
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 al
ready largely in arrears, if payment to them
should be further postponed until after Con-
gress shall have considered all questions likely
to arise in the effort to fix the proper limit to
the strength of the army.
Estimates of appropriations for the support
of the military establishment for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1878, were transmitted to Con-
gress by the former Secretar of the Treasury,
at the opening OF its session ia December last.
These estimates, modified by the present Sec
rotary SO as to conform to present requirements,
are now renewed, amounting to $32, 436, 764 49,
and having been transmitted to both Houses of
Congress, are submitted for your consideration.
There is is also required by the navy depart
| ment 50 OO3 S61.27. The sum is made up of
81, 4l6,6 due to officers and enlisted men
for The lat quarter OF the last fiscal year, S3l1
953 30, due for advance made by the fiscal
agent of the government in London for the
support of the foreign service, $4,000, due to
the naval hospital fund.- $150,000. due for ar
rearages of pay to officers and $45, 9.5S for
the supply of the marine corps.
There will also be needed an appropriation of
1882, % to defray the unsettled expenses OF
the United States courts for the fiscal year
ending June 80 last, now due to attorneys,
clerks, commissioners and marShals, and tor
The rent of court rooms, the support Of prison.
ers aud other deficiencies
A part of the building of the Interior depart
ment was destroyed by fire on the Oath of last
month. Some immediate repairs and Temporal
~ structures have in consequence become nee
essary, estimates for which will be transmitted
to Congress immediately, and an appropriation
OF the requisite funds is respectfully recon-
mended.
The Secretary of the Treasury will communi-
cate to Congress in connection with the esti-
mates for the appropriations for the support Of
the army for the current fiscal year estimates
for such other deficiencies in the different
branches of the public service as require imme-
date action.
take this opportunity also to invite your at
tention to the propriety of adopting at your
prese ut session the necessary legislation to en-
hle the people of the Unlted States to partci-
hibiton of agriculture IND ustry and the fine arts
which is to be held in Paris in 1873, and in
which this government has been INVITED by
the government OF France to take part. This
invitation was communicated to tile govern
ment in May, 1876 by the Minister of France
at this capital, and copy thereof was submit
ted to the proper committees of Congress at its
last session, bat no action was taken upon the
subject. The Department of State has receiv-
ed many letters from various parts of the couI-
frv tn,x IN IN,
hlbitioD, and numerous applications of a SINH
lar nature have also betn made at the Upited
States legation at Paris. The Department of
State has also received official advice of strong
desire on the part of the French government
that the United States should participate in
this enterprise, and space has hitherto been and
is still reserved in the exhibition buildings for
the use of exhibitors from the United States to
the exclusion Of other parties who have been
applicants therefor. In order that our indus
tries may be properly represented at the exni-
btion, an appropriation will be needed for the
payment of salaries and expenses of commits
sioners for the transportation of goods, and
for the purposes ia connection with the object
in view; and as May next is the time fixed for
the opening of the exhibition, if our cit-
zens are to share the advantages of this in
ternational competition for the trade of
other nations, the necessity of immediate ac-
tion is apparent. To enable the United States
to cooperate 10 the International exhibition
then passed joint resolution making an ap-
preparation of 100000 and authorizing the
President to appoint a certain number Of prac-
tical artisans and scientific men, who should at
tend the exhibition and report their observa-
tions to him. Provision was also made for the
appointment of number of honorary commits
sloners.
have felt that prompt action by Congress in
accepting the invitation of the government of
France is of so much interest to the people Of
tons between the governments OF the two
countries, that the subject might properly be
presented at your present session.
The government of Sweden and Norway has
addressed an Official invitation to this COVERT
ment to take part in the International Prison
Congress to be held at Stockholm next year.
The problem which the Congress PROPOSES to
study,-how to diminish CRIMES one in
which all civilized nations have an interest in
common, and the Congress of Stockholm seems
likely to prove the most important convention
ever held for the study of this grave question.
Under authority of an act of Congress approx
ed Feb. l6, 1915, a commissioner was appointed
by my predecessor TO represent the United
States upon that occasion, and the Prison Con-
gress having been at the earnest desire of the
Swedish government postponed to 1873, his
commission was renewed by me. Au appro-
priatlon of $4,000 was made on the sundry civil
service act Ut 1875 to meet the expenses of the
commissioner l recommend the re apprepria-
ton of that sum for the same purpose, the for
mer appropriation having bsen covered into the
Treasury, and being no longer available for the
purpose without urther action by Congress-
The subject is brought to your attention at this
time 10 view of circumstances which render it
highly desirable that the commissioner should
proceed to the discharge of his important du-
ties Immediately.
AS the several acts providing for detailed re-
ports from the different departments of the gov
eminent require their submission at the begin
ming of the regular annual session, 1 defer un-
til that time any further reference to subjects
OF public interest. r, B. HAYES.
CIGAR MAKERS STRIKE,