Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-16
From Washington.
rAL DISPATCHES TO TIE GAZETTE.

s WASHINGTON, u. u, Oot, 10.
The existence of the present session OF Con
gress is uncerlain-very. lberc are those who
tbiuk that its labors will be terminated in few
weeks, while others are of opinion that 1t will
be contiguous, with a recessof probably month
at Christmas. Afew days will MGR, fully de:
velopc the longevity of the session.
The axe of the cxecutioncr is already at work,
two heads 10 the Doorkeeper' 8 department hay
ing already faIIcn-the Assistant Doorkeeper
and the Chief Of the Folding Room. Others,
10 all the branches, will doubtless follow The
applications for place are more than numerous,
| aud the pressure brought TO bear on members
and officers is tremendous.
Chaplain Poiscl opened the House to-day
! with short but appropriate prayer. lie cs'
chewed politics entirely, and overlooking the
personel of the House addressed the Throne OF
Grace.
1t is unde, stood that The committees Of the
House will not be announced until tomorrow
week, and it is thought that the House will al
ourn from 10 morrow till next Monday. AS to
the personel Of the committees nothing what
ever is known.
The dor Of the hall Of the llous, is very
much crowded with visitors, and the members
| are naYlDe Tatner rough 1lult, Will 'hcil tctH
per considerably ruth,d.
Rainey, cocrel representative Of Sou! III Caro-.
lima, whose seat is contested by richardson,
democrat, was The Cause CT some debate IN the
House to day, Mr.. Cox opposing Rsiney' ad-
mission, and b. L. Butler and others taVoriDg
| it. Raincy was finally admitted by It's to IS.
The case turned upon point Of law as to the
validity Of the certificate.
The Presidents message is concise dccu
ment and relates nearly entirely to the necessity
| of appropriations for the army and the navy ior
| deficiencies, and for the repair Of the Patent
| Office. He also invites Congress to take proper
measures for being represented in the lnterna
! tional Exposition at Paris in 1873, and urge:
prompt action Of Congress on the subject. lie
also notices an invitation 10 participate 10 the
| Stockholm Congress, ard concludes by dctcrtin2
all other subjects uotil his annual massage.
| SENATE.
| The Senate met at noon to day and was open
| ed with prayer.
| Anumblr of memorials respc cling the increase
| of the pay of letter carriers were introduced;
also
| A bill 10 establish territorial government
! for the territory Of Huron.
| 4 bill to establish a branch mint at Omaha.
A bill to settle land titles 10 California.
| A resolution, calling on the Secretary OF the
| Navy for statement Of the expenditures OF
the Navy Department from 1889 to 1876
VIRGINIA BUSINESS.
Mr. Withers, of Virginia. presented memo.
rial of Mr. Williamson, of Matthews county,
Va, for removal of disabilities Referred.
The Senate then took recess until lis
clock.
| The Senate re-opened at l.: and the mes
sage Of the President was received aud read.
| PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Fezlow citizens Of the Senate and House o.
| Representatives g:
The adjournment of the last Congress, with
out making appropriations for the support OF
tho army for the present fiscal year, has rem
dered necessary a suspension OF payments to the
officers and men, OF the sums due them ior ser
vices rendered after the Both day oil Jupe last.
The army exists by virtue OF statutes winch
prescribe its uum bcrs, regulate Its CrGanlz illon
and employment, and which fix the pay of It's
officers and men, aud declare thelr light 10 re-
ceiye the same at stated periods. These sta
tutes, however, do not authorize the payment
of the troops in the absence Of specific appro'
priatious therefor. The Constitution has wisely
provided that mo money shall be drawn from
the Treasury but 10 consequence OF apptoprla-
| tons made by law; aud it has also been de-
clarcd by the statute that mo department OF
the government shall cxpend in any one fiscal
year aoy sum 10 excess oil appropriations made
| by Congress for that fiscal year. We have,
| therefore, an army 10 service, authorized bY
law and entitled to be paid, but no funds avail,
able for that purpose. 1t may also be said, As
an additional inceniveto prompt action by Con.
gross, that siucc tho commencement OF the fiscal
wear the army, though without pay. has been
constantly and actively employed 10 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, 10 my Judgment,
constitute an extraordinary OCCASION, requiring
that Congress DO convened in advance OF the
| time prescribed by law for your meeting 10 reg
| ular session. The importance OF speedy action
| upon this subject on the part OF Congress is so
| manifest that venture to suggest the proprlc.
! ty of making the necessary appropriations for
| the support of the army for the current year.
! at its present maximum numerical strength Of
twenty five thousand men; leaving for future
consideration all questions relating to an in
crease or decrease Of the number Of enlisted
men. 10 the event Of the reduction of the army
by subsequent legislation during the lisca year,
the excess of the appropriation could not be cx-
pended; and 10 the event OF its enlargement,
the additional sum required for the payment of
the extra force could be provided in due time.
1t would be unjust to the troops now in service,
and whose pay is already largely 10 arrears, il
payment to them should be further postponed
until after Congress shall have considered all
the questions likely to arise n the effort 10 fix
the proper limit to the strength Of the army.
Estimates Of appropriations for the support
of the military establishment for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1878. were transmitted to Con.
gross by the former Secretary Of the Treasury
at the opening Of its session in December last
These estimates, modified by the present Sec.
rotary, so as to conform to present requirements,
are now removed amounting to $32, 43G. 7G4. 9S
and, having been transmitted to both Houses
of Congress, are submitted for your consIiera-
ton.
There is also required by the Navy Depart
mcpt s2,O03, S6l.27. This sum is made up of
81, 446, 6SS. Is due to officers aud enlisted men
for the last fiscal year; S3ll, $3.50 due for ad
vances made by the fiscal agent of the Govern