South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-10-19
Presidents Message.

The President transmitted his first
message to Congress on Tuesday. 1t
is as follows:
Fellow citizens Of tie Senate and House of Re-
personalities
The adjournment oftEe last Cong ress
without making appropriations for tue
support Of the army for the present ifs.
cal year has rendered necessary sus.
pension Of payments to the officers and
men Of the sums due them for services
rendered after the 30th day ofJune last.
The army exists by virtue of statutes
which prescribe its numbers, regulate
its organization and employment, and
which fix the pay of its officers and
men. and declare their right to receive
the same at stated periods. These sta.
tutes, however, do not authorize the
payment of the troops in the absence of
specific appropriations therefor. The
constitution has wisely provided that
no money shall be drawn from the
treasury but in consequence of appro-
priations made by law, and it has also
been declared by statute that no depart,
ment Of the government shall expend in
any one fiscal year any sum in excess
OF appropriations made by Congress for
that fiscal year. We have therefore on
army in service authorized by law and
entitled to be paid, but no funds availa.
bic for that purpose. 1t may be also
said as an additional incentive to
prompt action by Congress that since
the commencement OF the fiscal wear
the army, though without pay has been
constantly and actively employed in
arduous and dangerous service. in the
performance of which both officers and
men have discharged their duty with
fidelity and courage, and without com
plant.
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 regular session.
The Importance of speedy action upon
this subject on the part of Congress is
so manifest that venture to suggest
the propriety Of making the necessary
appropriations for the support of the
army for the current year ut its present
maximum numerical strength Of twenty.
five thousand men, leaving for future
consideration all questions relating TO
an increase or decrease Of the number
of enlisted men. In the event Of the
reduction of the army by subsequent
legislation during the fiscal year the
excess of the appropriation could not
be expended, and in the event Of it's
enlargement the additional sum required
for the payment of the extra force could
t,o ,,rnt,iIa1 q, duo t. II 4 L
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 tue 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. 1873,
were transmitted to Congress by the for.
mer Secretary of the Treasury at the
opening Of its session in December last.
These estimates, modified by the pres
ent Secretary so as to conform TO pres
ent requirements, are now renewed
amounting to $32, 436, 764, %, and having
| been transmitted to both houses Of
Congress are submitted for your con.
sideration.
| There is also required by the Navy
Department S2,003.SG1 27. This sum
is made mp Of $l,446,6SS.16 due to Off.
| GERS and enlisted men for the last quar-.
ter Of the last fiscal year, 1911, 053 so
/ due for advances made by the fiscal a.
\ gent OF the government in London for
the support Of the foreign service $50.
I 600 due TO the naval hospital fund /;
| $4,000 due for arrearages Of paw TO
officers, and $45,2l0.58 for the support
Of the marine corps There will also be
needed an appropriation Of S262.53j.22
TO defray the unsettled expenses of the
/ United States courts for the fiscal year
| ending June 80 last, now due TO attor-
neys, clerks, commissioners and mar.
\ shals, and for rent Of court rooms. the
support Of prisoners and other defcien-
/ cies.
A part Of the building Of tho Interior
\ Department was destroyed hy fire on
\ the oath Of last month. Some immedi.
ate repairs and temporary structures
\ haye, in consequence, become necessary,
estimates for which will he transmitted
/ TO Congress immediately, and an appro.
( priation ofthc requisite funds is respect.