Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-10-25
The Presidents Message.

message, delivered to congress, this af
ternOOn:
Felloa0 Citizens Of the Senate and House o,
Of Representatives.
The adjournment Of the last congress
without making appropriations for the
support OF the army for the present fiscal
year hasrendered necessary a suspension
of payments of the officers and men of
the sums due them for services rem
dered after the Both day of June last.
The army exists ny virtue of statutes
which prescribe It's numbers, regulates
IT'S organization and employment, and
which fix the pay Of its officers and
men and declare their right TO receive
the same at stated periods. The stat
utes, however, do not authorize the
payment Of the troops III the absence of
/ specific appropriations therefor. The
constitution has wisely provided that no
money shall be drawn from the
treasury, but i'll consequence Of appro-
priatiOns made bv 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 appropriations 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. 1t
may also be said, as an additional in
centlve to prompt the action of con-
gress, that since the commencement of
| the fiscal year, the army, though with
out pay, has been constantly and ac-
lively employed in arduous and danger
Gus service, in the performance of
which both officers and men have dis
charged their duty with fidelity and
courage, and without complaint These
circumstances, in my judgment, consti-
tute an extraordinary occasion, requir-
ing congress to be convened in advance
of the time prescribed by law, for your
meeting in regular session. The i'm
portance of speedy action on this sub
iect on the part of congress, is SO mani
fest that | venture to suggest the pro-
prlety OF making the necessary .-pprO-
priations for the support of the army,
for the current year at its present maxi
mum numerical strength Of 25,000
men, leaving for future consideration
all questions relating to an increase or
decrease of the number of enlisted
men. On the event of the reduction of
the army by subsequent legislation,
during the fiscal year, the ex-
cess of the appropriations 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 III due time.
1t would be unjust to the troops now in
the service and whose pay is already
largely in arrears, if payment to them
should be further postponed until after
congress shall have considered all ques-
tions likely to arise III the effort to fix q
proper limit to the strength of the army
The estimates of the appropriation for
the support of the military establish
ment for the fiscal year ending June 50,
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 requirements, are now renewed,
amounting to $32, 1885, 764.9S, and hav-
ing been transmitted to both houses of
congress, it is submitted for your con-
sideration
There is also required by the navy
department S2,0OS, ,S61. %. This sum is
made up of S144, ,6SS. 16 due to officers
and enlisted men for the last quarter of
the last fiscal year; $311 1856 due for
advances made by the fiscal agent of
the government in London for the sup
port Of the foreign service;
$4,000 due the naval hospital, &C.;
$1J0,000 is due for arrearages of pay to
officers, and $45, ,219.5S for the support
of the marine corps.
There will also be needed an appro-
priation of 1862. 1852 TO defray the
unsettled expenses of the United States
courts for the fiscal year ending June
30th last, now due to attorneys, clerks,
commissioners and marshaE, and for
rent of court rooms, and support of
prisoners, and other deficiencies.
A part of the building of the interior
department was destroyed by fire on
the oath of last month. Some imme-
diate repairs and temporary structures
have in consequence become necessary,
the estimate for which will be trans
mitted to congress Immediately, and an
approximation of the requisite funds is
respectfully recommended.
The secretary of the treasury will
communicate to congress in connec-
ton with the estimates for the apprO-
prlatiOns for the support of the army
for the current fiscal year, estimates for
such other deficiencies III the different
branches of public service as require
immediate action, and cannot without
| inconvenience, be postponed until the
regular session.
:! | take this opportunity to invite Your
attention to the propriety of adopting
at your present session necessary legis-
lation to enable the people of the
/ United States to participate in the ad
/ vantages of the international exhibi-
ton of agricultural industry and fine
arts which Is to be held 1t Paris in
1873, and in which this gov
ernment has been invited by the
government of France TO take part.
4 This invitation was communicated to
/ the United States government, May 16,
by the minister of France at this capi-
/ tai and copy thereof was submitted
to the proper committees of congress at
the last session, but no action was taken
on the subjecl. The department Of
state has received many letters from
various parts of the country, expressing
a desire to participate in the exhibition,
and numerous applications OF similar
nature have also been made 1T the
United States legation at Paris. The
department of state has also received
official advice of the strong desire on
the part of the French government that
the United States should participate in
the ENTERPRISE. and space has hitherto