Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-17
Presidents Message.
Fsllov Citizens Of the Senate and House Of Rep
reseatdttpes:

making appropriations for the support of the army
for the present fiscal year, has rendered necessary
q 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.
The army exists by virtue ofstatutes which pre-
scribe its numbers, regulates its organization and
employment, and which fix the pay of its ofhcers
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 aD-
sence of specific appropriations; therefore, the
constitution has wisely provided that no money
shall be drawn from the treasury but IN conse-
quence OF appropriations made by law, ana II mas
also been declared by statute that no department
of the government shall expend in any one fiscal
year any sum in excess of appropriations mace by
Congress for that fiscal year. We have, therefore,
az army in service authorized by law and entitled
to be paid, but funds available Tor that purpose.
1t may also be said an additional incentive to
prompt action by Congress, that since the CON-
mencement of the fiscal year. the army. though
without pay, has been constantly and actively EN-
ployed 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, consti-
tute an extraordinary occasion, requiring that
Congress be convened in advance of the time pre-
scrbed by law for your meeting in regular ses-
sion. The Importance OF speedy action upon this
subject the part of Congress Is man fest that
1 venture to suggest the propriety of making the
necessary appropriations for the support OF the
army for the current fiscal year at its present
maximum numerical strength of % 900 men, leav-
ing for future consideration all questions relating
TO increase or decrease of the number of enlisted
men. In the event of reduction OF the army by sub
sequent legislation during the fiscal year, the ex-
cess of the appropr aton could not be expended,
and in the event of It's enlargement, the additional
sum required for the payment of the extra force
could be provided in due time. 1t would be I'M
just to the troops now III the service and whose
pay is already 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 appropria-
tions for the support Of the military establishment
for the fiscal year ending June Both, 1873, were
transmitted to Congress by the former secretary
of the treasury, at the opening of its session in
December last. These estimates. modified by the
present secretary so as to conform to present re-
quirements, are now renewed amounting to 49,
243, go ,49o, and having been transmitted to both
houses OF Congress submitted for your
sderation.
The NAVY.
There is also required by the navy department
$40, 1885, l27. This sum is made up OF l4i SOS SIG
due to officers and enlisted men for the last quar-
ter of the last fiscal year, S3l l9o 800 due for ad-
yances made by the fiscal agent of the govern
ment in London for the support of the foreign
service, $50 600 que to the naval hospital fund.-
Sl500O0 due for arrearages OF pay to officers, and
S45,2l9.5S for the support of the marine corps.
U. S. COURTS.
There will also be needed an appropriation OF
$262, 1892 to defray the unsettled expenses OF
United States Courts for the fiscal year ending
June Seth last, now due TO attorneys, clerks, conf
missioners and marshals, and for rent OF court
rooms, the support OF prisoners and other deh
ciencies.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
A part of the building of the interior depart
ment was destroyed by fire on the 2ith of last
month. Some immediate repairs and temporary
structures have IN consequence become nece ssary,
estimates for which will be transmitted to Con-
gress Immediately, and an appropriation OF the
requisite funds is respectfully recon nended.
OTHER DEFICIENCIES.
eThe Secretary of the Treasury will communi-
cate to Congress, in connection with the estimates
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 IS require immediate action.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
Itake this opportunity also to invite your at
tention to the propriety of adopting at your pres
ent session the necessary legislation to enable the
people of the United States to participate in the
advantages of the international exhibition of agr-
culture industry and the fine arts which is to be
held Paris in 1873, and in which this government
has Deen invited Oy tue government OF france, TO
take part. This invitation was communicated to
this government in May, 1875, by the Minister of
France, at this Capital, and copy thereof was
submitted to the proper committees Of Congress,
at its last session. But no action WAS taken upon
the subject. The department OF State has re-
ceived many letters from various parts of the
country, expressing des re to participate in the
exhibition, and numerous applications of a similar
nature have also been made at the United 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 init
ed States should participate in this enterprise, and
space has hitherto been aud is still reserved in the
exhibition buildings for Of exhibitors from the
United States, to the exclusion of other parties
who have been applicants therefor. In order that
our industries may be properly represented at the
exhibition, appropriation will be needed for the
payment Of salaries and expenses of commission
ers tor transportation of goods and for other pur
poses in connection with the object in view; and
as May next is the time fixed for the opening of
the exhibition, if our citizens are to share the ad-
vantages of this international competition for the
trade of other nations, the necessity of immediate
action is apparent. To enable the United States
to cooperate in the international exhibition which
was held at Vienna In 1873, Congress then passed
q joint resolution making appropriation of
100000 and authorizing the President to APP
point certain number of practical srtizans aud
scientific men who should attend the exhbiton
and report their observations to him. Provision
honorary commissions. | 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 this country, and so suitable to
the cordial relations between the governments of
the two countries, that the subject might properly
be presented for attention at your present session
NATIONAL Prison CONGRESS.
The government of Sweden aud Norway has
addressed an official invitation to this governmen Mt
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 crime" is one Ia which
all civilized nations have 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 au-
thonty OF Congress, approved February Is, 1875,
commission was appointed by my predecessor to
represent the United States upon that OCCASION
and the prison congress having been at the earn
est desire of the Swedish government postponed
to 1878, his commission was renewed by me. An
appropriation of $4,000 was made in the supdry
civil service act of 1875 to meet the expenses
OF the commissioner recommend the reappro.
priation Of that sum for the same purpose the
former appropriation having been covered into
the treasury and being no longer available for the
purpose without further action by Congress. The
IN view OF circumstances which render it highly
desirable that the commissioner should proceed
TO the discharge his important duties Immediately.
OTHER SUBJECTS DEFERRED.
As the several acts of proyiding for data lad 20