Year: 1877

DELINQUENT ARMY AUTHORIZATIONS.


The adjournment of last Congress:
without making appropriations for the
support of the army for the present
fiscal year has rendered necessary a
suspension of payments to the officers
and men of the sums due them for
services rendered after the Both day of
June last. The army exists by virtue
of statutes which prescribe its numbers,
regulate its organization and employ
ment, 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.
The constitution has wisely provided
that no money shall be drawn from the
treasury but in consequence of appro-
priations made by law, and it has also
been declared by statute, that no de-
partment of the Government shall ex-
pend in any one fiscal year any sums in
excess of the appropriation made by
Congress for that fiscal year. We have
before us 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
incentive to prompt action by Congress,
that since the commencement of the
fiscal year, the army, though without
pay, has been constantly and actively
employed in arduous and dangerous
service, in the performance of which
both officers and men have discharged
their duty with fidelity and courage,
and without complaint. These cir
cumstances, 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
ject on the part of Congress is SO mani
fest that l venture to suggest the
propriety of making the necessary ap-
preparations for the support of the army
for the current year at its present
maximum numerical strength of %, ,OO0
men. leaving for future consideration
all questions relating to an increase or
decrease of the number of enlisted men.
In the event of the reduction of the
army by subsequent legislation during
the fiscal wear. the excess of the appro-
nriation could NOT he exnended and in
the event of its enlargement the addi-
tional sum required for the payment of
an extra force could be provided in
dine time. If would he unjust to the
troops now in service. and whose pay is
already largely in arrears. if payment to
them should be further postponed until
after Congress shall have considered all
questions likely to arise in the effort to
fix n proper limit to the strength of the
army. The estimates of appropriations
for the support of the military estab-
lishment for the fiscal year ending June
3Otb 1873 were transmitted TO Com
press nv the former Secretary of the
Treasury at the openinp of its session
in December last. These estimates.
modified Inv the present Secretary so as
to conform to the present requirements.
are now renewed. amounting to S32,-
4a6 764 os and have been transmitted
to both Houses of Congress, and sub
mitted for your consideration.


THE NAVY.


There is also required by the Navy
Department S2,003, ,S61.27. This sum
is made up Of 81, ,445, 1888. 16 due to Of
ficers and enlisted men for the last
quarter of the last fiscal year; S311,-
$3.50 due for advances made by the
fiscal agent of the Government in
London for the support Of the foreign
service; S50,000 due to the naval hos
pital fund; $3.50, 900 due for arrearages
of pay to officers, and S45, 219.5S for the
support of the marine corps.


JUDICIAL.


There will also be needed an appro-
priation of S262, ,565.22 to defray the
unsettled expenses of the U. S. courts