The Government of Sweden and Norway has addressed an official invitation to this Government to take part in the International Prison Congress to be held at Stockholm next year.  The problem which the congress proposes to study—­how to diminish crime—­is one in which all civilized nations have an interest in common, and the congress of Stockholm seems likely to prove the most important convention ever held for the study of this grave question.  Under authority of a joint resolution of Congress approved February 16, 1875, a commissioner was appointed by my predecessor to represent the United States upon that occasion, and the Prison Congress having been, at the earnest desire of the Swedish Government, postponed to 1878, his commission was renewed by me.  An appropriation of $8,000 was made in the sundry civil act of 1875 to meet the expenses of the commissioner.  I recommend the reappropriation of that sum for the same purpose, the former appropriation having been covered into the Treasury and being no longer available for the purpose without further action by Congress.  The subject is brought to your attention at this time in view of circumstances which render it highly desirable that the commissioner should proceed to the discharge of his important duties immediately.

As the several acts of Congress providing for detailed reports from the different Departments of the Government require their submission at the beginning of the regular annual session, I defer until that time any further reference to subjects of public interest.

R.B.  HAYES.

SPECIAL MESSAGES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, D.C., October 17, 1877.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of a board of inquiry appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to examine into the causes of the fire which destroyed a part of the Interior Department building on the 24th of last month.

R.B.  HAYES.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, D.C., October 17, 1877.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of the Navy, setting forth the particulars with reference to the existing deficiencies in the Navy Department.

R.B.  HAYES.

WASHINGTON, November 12, 1877.

To the House of Representatives: 

In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 1st instant, I transmit herewith reports from the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, with their accompanying papers.[4]

R.B.  HAYES.

[Footnote 4:  Correspondence relative to Mexican border troubles.]

WASHINGTON, November 12, 1877.

To the House of Representatives: 

In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 5th instant, I transmit herewith reports from the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, with their accompanying documents.[5]