Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-10-19
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
ARMY APPROPRIATIONS.

|
! for the support of the army for the present
| fiscal year, hns rendered necessary "A suspen-
| sion of payments to the officers and men
| Of the sums due them for services rendered
| by them after the 3Oth day Of June last. The
army exists by virtue of statutes which pre-
scribe it's 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. The stat
utes, however, do not authorize the payment
of the troops in the absence of specific ap-
| preparation therefor. The constitution has
| wisely provided that no money shall be drawn
| from the treasury but in consequence of APP
preparations made by law and it has also
been declared by statute that mo department
Of the government shall expend in any one
fiscal year any sum i'll excess of the apprOpri-
atons made by Congress for that fiscal year"
| We have therefore, army in service au-
| thoriZed by law and entitled to be paid. but
no funds are available for that purpose. II
may also be said an additional incentive to
prompt action by Congress, that the army
though without pay, has been constantly and
actively employed in arduous and dangerous
service, in the performance of which both Of
ficers and men have discharged their duty
with fidelity and courage. and without COM
plant These circumstances, in my judy
ment, constitute an extraordinary OCCASION
requiring that Congress be convened III ad-
vance Of the time prescribed by law for your
meeting III regular session.
The importance of speedy action upon this
subject. on the part of Congress, Is 50 mani
fest that venture to suggest the propriety of
making the necessary appropriations for the
support of the army for the current year, at
its present maximum numerical strength of
%. 600 men leaving for future consideration
all questions relating to AZ increase or de
crease 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 extra force could be provided in due
time. II would be unjust to the troops now
IN service. aud whose pay is already largely
in arrears. if payment to them should be fur
ther postponed until after Congress shall have
considered all the questions likely 10 arise, in
the effort to fix the proper limit 90 the strength
Of the army
The estimates OF appropriations for the
support of the military establishment for the
fiscal year. ending June 30, 1878, were trans
mtted TO Congress 10y the former secretary of
the treasury at the opening of its session il
| December last. These estimates. modified
by the present secretary so rs to conform
with the present requirements are now re-
newed, amounting to 80, 1876 1G4.9-. and
having been transmitted TO both houses Of
Congress, arr submitted for your consideru-
ton.
There is also required by the navy depart
mcnt, 81 OO3, SCI -. This sum is made up
81 81. iiG. GSS 1G. due 20 officers and enlisted
men for the last quarter Of the hast fiscal year
S3l1 953 20 due for advances made 10y the
fiscal agent Of the government in London, for
) the support Of the foreign service; S.io.OOo
due to til, naval hospital fund Sl1O.OO0
due for arreurages Of pay TO officers and SD
2l9 - for the support Of the marine corps.
There will also be- needed an appropriation
Of soc. 80 - to defriy the unsettled rNpen-
SEES Of the United States court for the fiscal
year ending June 30. last b, nov due 10 attor-
news. clerks commissioners aud marshals.
and for rent of court rooms, the support OF
prisoners and other deficiencies.
A part of the building of the interior de-
partment was destroyed 10y fire Oh the 24th of
hast month Some immediate repair aud
. temporary structures have. in consequence.
. | become necessary. estimates for which will
be transmitted TO Congress immediately. and
an appropriation of the requisite funds is re-
spectfully commended
{ The SECRETARY of the treasury viii commun-
icate To Congress. IL connection with the esti-
. | mates for the appropriations for the support
, | of the army for the current fiscal year, csti
mates for such other deficiencies il the differ.
ent branches of the public service require
immediate action, and cannot, without incon
venience be postponed until the regular ses
sion.
% PARIS EXPOSITION.
= taxi this opportunity also TO invite youl
attention to the propriety Of adopting at -oul
= present session the necessary legislation Il
enable the people of the United States to par
ticipat, III the advantages of the lnternationn
exhibition of agriculture industry, and th'
L.. H., hold us Pa : =
2 and in which this government has been in
A vited 10y the government Of France to tax,
, part. This invitation communicated Il
. this government in May. 1876, by the minis
A ter Of France at this capital and copI
n thereof was submitted TO the proper commit
: tees of Congress at its last session. but no nc
q, ton taken upon the subject The depart
: mcnt Of STATE has received many letters from
various parts OF the country expressing de
sir, To participate III the exhibition. and mum
;, ,rous applications OF similar nature hav'
been made at the United States legation a
% Paris Thc department Of State has also Re
d, ceiy,d official advice Of the strong desire OF
q the part of the French government. that tn
Z, United State should participate in this enter
i prise. and space has hitherto been and still i
i reserved in the exhibition buildings for tn
- use O. exhibitors from the United States Il
% the exclusion Of other parties who have beei
, applicants therefor. In order that our indus
= tries may be properly represented at the eN
hibitlOu. IN appropriation should be made to
" the payment of the salaries and expenses o
~ | commissioners for the transportation of tn
e goods and for other purposes, in connection
L with the object III view and rs May next
!. the time fixed for the opening of the exhibi
ton if our citizens are 10 share the advau
u tages of this international competition for TIA
trade of other nations. the necessity for I'M
mediate action is apparent 10 enable the | nit
ed States to cooperate.
To enable the United States 10 co-opent
in the international exhibition which wa
d held at Vienna. 1873, Congress then passed
A. Joint resolution making an appropriation q
a 500, 900, and authorizing the President To az
point certain number of practical artisan
and scientific men, who should attend the e1
y hibition and report their proceedings and oil
v servatiOns to him. Provision also mad
is for the appointment of n number of hononr
commissioners. / have felt that prompt "A,
s tion by Congress. accepting the invitation {
. the government of Fnmce. is of much IL
~ terest 10 the people of tins country, and s
suitable TO the cordial relations between tn
l. governments of the two countries, that Tia
IL subject might properly be presented for a
ID tention at your present session.
y THE INTERNATIONAL PRISON ooNGREss
h The government of Sweden and Norwa
y has addressed an official invitation TO this COY
It crument TO take part in the international pri
al on congress to be held at Stockholm nel
year. The problem which the congress pr,
le poses TO study, How to diminish crime"
o. one in which all civilized nations have an IL
i terest in common and the congress of Stool
~ holm seems likely 10 prove the most impo
=" tant convention ever held for the study of tn
j., grave question. Under authority of a JOIN
- resolution of Congress, approved February II