The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-10-16
TELEGRAPlHEIC.
I7etegraphsd tOtAs BOckhsond Argus.l
WASHINGTON.
The Presidents Message.

support of the army for the present fiscal |
year has rendered necessary a suspension |
of payments TO officers and msn of the sums |
due them for services rendered after the |
Both day of June last. The army exists |
by virtue of statutes which prescribes its
numbers, regulates 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 |
statutes, however, do not authorize the |
payment of the troops in the absence of
specific appropriations. Therefore the
constitution has wisely provided that no
money shall be drawn from the treasury
10 excess of appropriation made by law,
aud it has also been declared by
statue that no department of the govern
ment shall expend, in any 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. Ii may
also be said, as an additional incentive to
prompt action by congress, that since the
commencement of tie fiscal year 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 dis
charged their duty with fidelity and
courage and without complaint.
These circumstances, 10 my judgement,
constitute an extraordinary occasion, re
quiring congress to be convened in advance
of the time prescribed by law for your
meeting 10 regular session. The import
ance of speedy action upon this subject on
| the part of congress Is so manifest, that
venture to suggest the propriety OF max
| ing the necessary appropriations tor the
support OF the army for the current year,
at its present maximum numerical
strength OF 5000 men, leaving for further
cons Iteration all questions relating to the
| increase or decrease of the number of
e9istei men. lu the event of the reduc
ZION of the army by subsequent legisla-
ton during the fiscal year, the excess of
the appropriation could not be expended,
and in the event OF its enlargement the
additional SUN required for the payment
of the extra force could Abe provided 10
due time 1t would be unjust for the
troops now 10 service, ard whose pay is
already largely in arrears, it payment to
| them should be further postponed, or un-
| til after congress shall have considered all
the questions likely to arise 10 the effort to
| fix 60 the proper limit the strength OF the
army.
The estimate of the appropriations for
the suppo.t OF the military establishment
for the fiscal year, ending june
Both. 1878, were transmitted
to congress by the former secretary OF the
treasu,y at the opening of its season in
i December last. These estima. es, modified
by the present secretary, so as tn conform
l.
uewed. amounting TO $32, ,436. 764 SO, anG
having been transmitted to both houses If
congress, are submitted for your consider
ton.
There is also required by the navy de-
partmont $500, 3S6.l27 This sum is
made up of Sl44,6SS,Sl6 due TO officers
and enlisted men for the last quarter OF
the last fiscal year; $3l, 1875, $50 due for
advances made by the fiscal agent of
: 1.-The government in London for the
support of the foreign service; $780,
i 600, due to the naval hospitals
e Sl5O,OOO, due for arreara2es OF
y paw to officers and men; $45 5,2I9,5S, Tor
-, support of marine corps; there will also be
= needed an appropriation of 1852, ,535, %
+ to defray the unsettled expenses of u. s.
: courts for the fiscal year, eading June Both
h last, and now due to attorneys clerks
commissioners and marshals, aud for rent
of court rooms, the support of prisoner:
y and other deficiencies
y A part of the building of the interior
re- department was destroyed by fire on tn,
I'd oath of last month. Some immediate re
,t pairs and temporary structures have, ii
a consequence become necessary, tn
! estimates for which will be transmitted t
Is congress Immediately, and an appropria
tion of the requisite funds is respectful
Ks recommended.
The secretary of the treasury will com
muuicate to congress IN connection w.t
~ the estimates for appropria ions tor th
- support Of the army for the current fscs
wear, estimates for such other defcieJ
I cies in the different branches of the publ
service as require immediate action, an
ed cannot, without inconvenience, be pos
all poned till the regular session.
'm take this opportunity to invite you
attention to the prOprlety OF adopting ;
rO- your present session the necessary legisi'
ton to enable the people Of the Unite
. States to participate in the advantages
. the international exhibition of agricultur
industry and the fiue arts, which is to
held at Paris, in 1878, and 10 which tn
to government has been inYited /
ei' the government of France 10 take par
ne. An invitation was communicated to th
md government in May, 1876, by the miuist
'ns tna OF France ut this capital, and copy there
i'm, was submitted to the proper commits
ds' of congress at its last session, but no actit
. was taken upon the subject. The depar
y ment of state has received many lette
2 from various parts of the country expires
ing desire to participate in the exhibitio
- and numerous applications OF simllI
nature has also been made at the Unit
States legation at Paris. The departme
of state has also received official advice
II the strong desire on the part of I
. French government that the Unit
se's States should participate in this ente
can prise, and space has hitherto been and
ca. aas still reserved, in the exhibition build
,eR ,eRt for the use of exhibitors from the Unit
70. States to the exclusion of other parties W
cts. have been applicants therefor. In ord
llfBy that our industries may be properly repr
.,.. sented at the exhibition, an appropriate
= will be needed for the. payment of salar
and expenses of commissioners for
Transportation of goods and for other pI
~ poses.
y Here follows a long reference to I
Importance to the United States, and |
benefits to accrue 10 other respects as "
as 10 the friendly feeling that would be
III gendered thereby between the represen
Var tlves of the two governments; aud tt
ars- recltes the fact that the governments
Norway and Sweden have invited |
United States to send representatives
- the international Prison Congress to
held at Stockton next year-the pre-