The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-10-25
pnreTDrNTrs MESSAGE.

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The adjournment of the last Con-
gress without making appropriations
for Che support Of the army for the
present fiscal year has rendered nee
essary the suspension u payments
to the officers and men Of the sums
duethem for services rendered after
the Both day ofJunelast. The army
exists by virtue of statutes which
prescribe its numbers, regulate its
organization and employment, and
which fix the payof its officers and
men, and declare their right to re-
ceiye the same at stated periods.
The statutes, however, do not author
ize the payment Of the troops in the
absence Of specific appropriation
therefor. The Constitution has wise
ily provided that no money shall be
drawn from the Treasury but in con-
sequence of appropriations made by
law; and it has also been declared by
statute that no department of the
Government shall expend in any
one fiscal year any sum in excess of
appropriation made by Congress for
that fiscal year. We have, therefore,
an army in service, authorized By
law and entitled to be paid, but no
funds available for that purpose,
ftmay also be said, as an addition
al incentive toprompt action by Con-
gress, that since the commencement
Vf the fiscal year the army, though
without pay, has been constantly
and actively employed in ardous
and dangerous service, in the per-
Torrance of which both officers and
men have dischared their duty with
fidelity and courage and without
complaint.
These circumstances, in my judg-
ment, constitute and extraordinary
occasion requiring Congress to 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 propri'
ETY. of making the necessary appro-
priations for the support of the army
for the current year ut its present
maximum numerical strength of 25,-
OO0 men. leaving for future consider
alton all questions relating to an in.
crease 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
its enlargement the additional sum
required for the payment of the ex-
tra 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 pay
mcnt to them should be further post
poned 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 estimates of appropriations for
the support of the military estab-
lishmept for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1878, were transmitted to
Congress by the former Secretary OF
the Treasury, Mt the opening Of its
session in December last. These es-
Inmates, modified by the present Sec
rotary 50 as to conform to the present
requirements, are now renewed,
amounting to s32, 49G7649S, and
having been transmitted to both
houses of Congress, are submitted for
your consideration. There is also
required by the Navy Department
s2,O03, S6l.27. This sum is made up
of 81 ,44G,SSS.16 due to officers and
enlisted men for the last quarter of
the last fiscal year; s311,75350 due
for advances made by the fiscal agent
of the Government in London, for
for the support of the foreign service;
$4,000 due to the naval hospital
fund; $4,000 due for arrearagos of
pay to officers, and s45, 219.5S for the
support of the Marine Corps. There
will also be needed an appropriation
of $685., 1852 to defray the unsettled
expenses of the United States Courts
for the fiscal wear ending June 80
last, now due to Attorneys Clerks,
Commissioners aud Marshals, and
for rent of Court room, the support of
prisoners, and other deficiencies.
A part of the building of the In
terror Department was destroyed by
fire on the oath Of last month. Some
immediate repairs and temporary
structuses have in consequence be-
come necessary, estimates for which
will be transmitted to Congress i'm
mediately, and IN appropriation of
the requisite funds is respectfully
recommended.
The Secretary of the Treasury will
communicate to Congress, in connec-
with the estimates for the appropri.
ations for the support of the army
for the current fiscal year, the esti-
mates for such other deficiencies in
the different branches of our public
service as require immediate action
and can not without inconvinicnce