The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1877-10-24
/. PRESIDENTS sMESSAGE.s
sent to the Extra session ~ ~ go 80.


The adjournment of the last Congress with
out making appropriations for the support Of
the army fortaie prcscntifiscal year has ron
the officers and men Of the sums due them for
/ services rendered after the 3Oth Of June last
The army exists by virtue of statutes which
prescribe its numbers, regulate its organiza-
ton and employment, and which Fix the paw
OF It's officers 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 The abT
sencc of,spcciic appropriations therefor. The
constitution has wisely provided THAT no
money Shall bc'drawnsfp the treasury but
IN consequence of appropriations made by
law, and it has also been declared by stat,,tc
that no department Of the government shall
eXpend in any one fiscal year any sum in eN!
cess of the appropriation made by CONGRESS-
for that FISCAL year; Wc~havc, therefore, an
army in service, authorized by law and en-
titled to be paid, but no funds available for
that purpose. 1t may also be said as an
| additional incentive to prompt action by
Congress that since the COMMENCEMENT sof
theSfseal yealth army, though without bay Az
has beer Constantly and actively employcdih
arduous and dangerous service in the perform
ancc of which both officers and mon have
discharged their duty with fidelity and cour
age, and without complaint These circum-
stances, in my Judgment constitute an extra
ordinary occasion requiring that Congress
be convened in ADVANCE of the time pre-
ser ite by law for your meeting in regular
The Importance of speedy action on this
| subject, on the part Of Congress, is so impor-
OF ma making the necessary appropriations for
the support of the army for the current wear
at its present maximum numerical
strength of25O00 men, leaving for future con
sidcration allquestions relating totan increase
or decrease in the number Of enlisted men.
by subsequent legislation during the fiscal
year, the excess of--the appropriation could
not be expended and ri the event Of its
enlargement the additionalsum reuuired~for~
the payment Of the extraforce could be pros
>Vided in due time. s It would be unjust to }1the
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 the questions
likely to arise in the effort to- fix the; proper
limit to the strength Of the army. =
= Estimates Of appropriations for; support Of
the military, establishment for, the fiscal year
ending June Both; 1878, were transmitted to
Congress by: the former Secretary of the
Treasury at the opening Of its session in De
cember last. These estimates, modified by the /
present Secretary SO as, to conform to present
requirements, are now renewed, amounting to
$$332,346, 7649S, and having been transmitted to
both Houses of Congress, arc submitted for,I
your consideration. -
There is also required by the Navy Depart |
ment -, OO3, SG1, ~. This sum is made up of
$144 6S8, IL due to officers and enlisted men
for the last quarter Of the last fiscal year:
$3ll ,953, SO duet for advances made by the tis-
cal agent Of the government in London for
the supportsof the foreign service; $50, OOO!due
the naval hospital fund.- $4,000 due for ar
rearages Ofpayto officers and 81, 219 IS for the
support OF the marine corps.
tssThcrewill alsobe needed an appropriation of |
335522 to defray the unsettled expenses Of
the United States courts for the fiscal year
ending June SOth last, now due attorneys
clerks, commissioners and marshals and for
rent Of court rooms, the support of prisoners
and other deficiencies.
part of the building of the Interior De- /
partmcnt was destroyed by tireon the oath OF I
last months Some immediate repairs and |
Temporary Structures have i'm conseq be.
come necessary, estimates for which will he
transmitted to Congress immediately and an |.
appropriation Of the requisite funds is respect
fully recommended. as5y
The Secretary Of the Treasury will comm,I
nicate to Congress, lin connection with csti-
mates for the appropriations for support Of
the army for the rrenttiscal year, estimates
for, such other deficiency in the different
branches Of the public service as require i'm
mediate action and cannot without inconven-
fence be postponed until the regular session.
/ take this opportunity to invite your atten-
ton tot the propriety Of adopting your pres
ent session the necessary legislation to enable
the people of the United States to participate
in the advantages of the international cxhi.
bition Of agriculture, industrNs and fine
arts, which is to be held ut Paris II, 1878 and
in which this government has been invited
by the government Of France to take part This
was communicated to this govern
mentin May, 1876, by the Minister of Franco
ut this capital and a copy thereof submitted to
the proper committees Of Congress of the
last session, but no action was taken on the
subject. The Department of State has re.
ccivcd many letters from various parts Of the
country expressing desire to participate in