Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

REQUEST THAT SECTION 2 BE RETAINED

I want to bring to your attention and emphasize the importance of keeping in the record what we commonly refer to as the Lanham amendment to the Panama Canal section of this bill. There are several thousand positions that are being held by other than American citizens that we feel rightfully belong to our own people. I had an experience within the last 3 years in representing several hundred of the employees of that Zone to discover that a vacancy in Gorgas Hospital for the position of Chief Pharmacist was filled by the promotion of a Panamanian assistant pharmacist who was not registered as a pharmacist. Indeed, the records will show that he did not become a registered pharmacist until after his promotion notice, when he returned to Panama, and in an afternoon of a short examination secured a certificate of registration.

Now, in an important institution like Gorgas Hospital it seems to me that we, here in the States, knowing who go into that hospital for treatment, ought to be very careful in securing for that hospital at least the very best material to compound the drugs that are to be administered to the patients in the hospital.

- Now, there are many other positions there that rightfully ought to go to Americans, both mechanical and technical, and in behalf of our organization and as an American citizen, I want to urge you to leave the Lanham amendment in the bill as it passed the House.

That is all, Mr. Chairman.

Senator THOMAS. Mr. Stengle, have you studied the testimony of the officials representing the Panama Canal Zone Government and the War Department officials and the Navy Department officials to the effect that this amendment would be a breach of a treaty obligation existing now between the United States and the Panamanian Government?

Mr. STENGLE. I was on the floor of the House when the whole matter was discussed, and in spite of that statement, the House, by a large majority, included the Lanham amendment. And I am assuming from that, that while the treaty may exist, the conditions of employment in this country are so bad that we ought to develop as far as possible opportunities for our skilled employees rather than go to foreign countries to get them.

I also understand the situation as to the leasing of the Canal and other things there, and have nothing to say to the contrary of the Panamanians as citizens, but I just feel, and my organization feels, that at this particular time, with conditions such as they are, we ought to give those positions to our own citizens.

Senator THOMAS. We thank you for your contribution.

FLOOD CONTROL

STATEMENT OF 0. SLACK BARRETT, PRESIDENT OHIO VALLEY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

FLOOD CONTROL IN OHIO VALLEY

Mr. Chairman and Senators of the Committee, my name is O. Slack Barrett. I am president of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association, 730 Chamber of Commerce Building, Cincinnati, Ohio. This association, organized in 1895, is composed of private citizens, industries, commercial and civic organizations and municipalities of

the Ohio Valley. Our chief interest is extensive and diversified development of the area.

In a speech delivered January 23 in Cincinnati, Maj. Gen. Julian L. Schley, Chief, Corps of Engineers, United States Army said:

As large as the country is, the preponderance of its industrial development is concentrated in a triangle of which the apexes are Boston, Washington, and Chicago. The principal manufacturing centers of the Nation lie around four cities of that area and along the Ohio River. The center of the mining population is in the Ohio Valley. The valley is the Nation's leading center for coke ovens, blast-furnace products, steel works, and rolling mills, clay products, pottery and glass. It is one of the leading areas for meat packing, boot and shoe manufacturing, fruit and vegetable canning and preserving, tinware, machinery, hardware, foundries, furniture, paper goods, chemicals, rubber goods, nonferrousmetal products, paints, varnishes, drugs, and medicines. It is a center of oil fields. The Ohio Valley is a leader in tobacco and sheep.

It is the opinion of this association that this region can best serve the Nation and, at the same time, enjoy more stable prosperity if it is properly protected from disastrous floods and if the navigable rivers are developed and maintained to full dependable usability. We therefore urge that this committee report a bill providing funds in sufficient amounts to permit the Corps of Engineers to prosecute in the most efficient manner completion of authorized flood control and navigation projects.

Full economic use of the natural resources of the Ohio Valley requires not only that the present industrial, commercial, and business enterprises flourish and remain in the valley, but that new or enlarged enterprises locate here.

The national defense will be promoted by such development in this particular area. In fact it has been pointed out by many experts in national defense that the present development in the Ohio Valley requires maximum feasible protection from floods and amply adequate transportation facilities in order that the national defense be not crippled in emergency. On this point we quote again from General Schley's address:

Twenty years of peace have dimmed the memory of the national defense value of our inland waterways. Proper preparedness requires that our water-transportation facilities be able to meet the demand of a rise to normal industrial activity, plus an increased load caused by the emergency.

It is clear that public investment in flood protection and in improvement and maintenance of the navigable rivers is consistent with the economy program of the Congress and with the demand of the people that all wise steps be taken to strengthen the national defense. It is likewise clear that structures now in use should be properly maintained. The Ohio Valley Improvement Association therefore request that you provide appropriations that will not necessitate reduction in maintenance, but that will enable thorough and complete care and operation of present works, and further, that will permit the War Department to carry forward a consistent program of flood protection and navigation imrpovement in the Ohio River and its tributaries, and in the lower Mississippi River.

Senator THOMAS. Let the record show that the subcommittee will take a recess until called by the chairman.

(Whereupon, at 12:20 p. m., the committee took a recess to meet again when summoned by the chairman.)

WAR DEPARTMENT CIVIL FUNCTIONS APPROPRIATION

BILL, 1941

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1940

UNITED STATES SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS,

Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:30 a. m., in the hearing room, Capitol, Hon. Elmer Thomas (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Thomas (chairman), Hayden, Overton, Adams, Maloney, Townsend, and Lodge.

Also present: Senators McCarran, McNary, and Holman.

The subcommittee had under consideration the bill H. R. 8668, making appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, for civil functions administered by the War Department, and for other purposes.

Senator THOMAS. The committee will be in order.

Senator MCNARY. I have requested Dr. Raver, the Bonneville Administrator, and others to appear here on the item found on page 10, Mr. Chairman.

Senator THOMAS. Let me clear the record, if I may, Senator McNary, before we come to that. It will be just a moment.

CORPS OF ENGINEERS-FLOOD CONTROL

DENISON-RED RIVER DAM, OKLA.-TEX.

During our former hearing on this bill, I was advised that oil had been discovered in the reservoir basin of the so-called Denison-Red River Dam. The dam is authorized for construction, and the last Congress appropriated a sizeable sum to start work, and work is now in process and much money has been expended, and other is contracted for.

OIL DISCOVERED IN RESERVOIR AREA

The fact exists that oil has been discovered in the bottom of the reservoir basin. Upon learning of this discovery, I sent a telegram to the editor of a newspaper in Durant, which is one of the towns near the Denison Dam, and the editor of this paper is named Walter Archibald. He is very much in favor of the construction of the dam, so I was satisfied that he would not give me an overglowing account of the discovery of oil. I sent the following telegram. I want to get the facts for my own personal use, if not for the committee, because

211

the project is in my State, in the main. So on March 12 I sent Mr. Archibald this wire:

This bill

Hearings start on War Department Civil functions bill today. carries appropriations for continuation Denison Dam project. Please wire me collect following information: First, has oil been discovered in reservoir basin area? Second, if oil discovered, give depth of oil below surface and amount of production of well. Third, what effect has the discovery had on land values in reservoir area?

On the same date, I received this message from Mr. Archibald:

Pure Oil Co. have purported [discovered] oil well, sec. 28 5 S., 7 E., estimated at 3,000 barrels at 4,000 feet. Are going deeper to test other sands. Would say land values have not increased but leases and royalties have. Royalty has sold for $300 acre near well. Government does not necessarily have to have mineral rights. All they need is flowage rights.

I will place these two telegrams in the record, and I will ask that the word "purported" there be changed to "discovered." I am sure it is

an error.

Shortly after I sent the telegram, I received a telephone call from the attorney of the Pure Oil Co., advising me that he was coming to Washington. His name is Alvin Richards, attorney, of Tulsa, Okla. He came to Washington last week, and I had a conference with him, and inasmuch as this dam is a controversial item in my State, and inasmuch as my Governor is very much opposed to it, and inasmuch as the land is owned by my constituents, I thought it incumbent upon me to afford them, if they desired, an opportunity to make a showing here, answering the appropriation for this work. So I conferred with the representative of the Pure Oil Co. and sent my telegram, which the Secretary has. The telegram, in effect, requests that they be heard today.

Senator OVERTON. What dam is that?

Senator THOMAS. Denison Reservoir Dam.

On the 21st, Mr. Richard wired me as follows:

Confirming our understanding yesterday, we will appear before your committee on Thursday, March 28, at 10:30 a. m. If there is any change in your plans will appreciate your wiring me at Tulsa as soon as possible.

Well, I wired him immediately that his appearance here would be satisfactory to the chairman of the committee, at least. The attorney came in yesterday and came to see me, and advised me that they had reconsidered the matter and that they did not now desire to appear before this committee; and that, instead, they would take their data, maps, and other material, and present them to the Chief of Engineers and have all their dealings with him. I concur in that procedure, because, after all, all we could do would be to hear him, and unless they made a protest against any further appropriations, there is nothing we could do about it. Inasmuch as money is already available and they are going forward with this work and inasmuch as the Chief of Engineers has the whole matter under his jurisdiction-it is an administrative matter, anyway-it is all right if they do not appear and present their claim for damage, if they have any, and let the Chief of Engineers report his findings or recommendations, if any, to us. There may not be any oil field there. If there is an oil field, it will be fairly well drilled out within 5 or 6 years, and it will take that long to build this dam. In any event, if any damage occurs, it will be from water filling places on the land. By that time we will

fight out the question of damages, and we will be governed, anyway, by the recommendations of the Department that has charge of the work.

So if that is satisfactory, we will let the matter stop there, unless a Member desires to appear before the committee.

Senator ADAMS. Mr. Chairman, are there appropriations in the present bill for that work?

Senator THOMAS. For next year. That is correct. The bill carries $4,800,000, as I remember. The break-down is in the bill, however, showing exactly how much they will get out of this $70,000,000 limitation.

Now, Senator McNary, you may proceed.

Senator MCCARRAN. Senator McNary, I apologize to you. I am not a member of this subcommittee, but I desire to be here when Mr. Hushing is to be heard again. Now, if you cannot hear him today, may I respectfully suggest that he might be put off until another day?

Senator THOMAS. He is waiting here now. (Discussion off the record.)

HYDROELECTRIC POWER

POWER PLANT, BONNEVILLE DAM, COLUMBIA RIVER, OREG. STATEMENT OF DR. PAUL J. RAVER, ADMINISTRATOR, BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION

Senator MCNARY. Dr. Raver, will you occupy that seat, please, in front of the reporter?

I call the committee's attention to page 10 of the bill, on lines 11 to 18, the power plant for the Bonneville project. Dr. Rever is Administrator. My colleague has offered an amendment to the item found on page 16, which provides an appropriation for $800,000, and the amendment offered by my colleague, Senator Holman, for $3,400,000, and I desire to justify that appropriation this morning by a statement by Dr. Raver and another.

APPROPRIATION FOR 1940 AND ESTIMATE FOR 1941

Dr. Raver, this is the item that you are more or less concerned with regarding the Bonneville power plant as authorized in 1935. The estimate of the amount carried this year is $800,000 as against $7,000,000 last year, and you are asking for an increase to $3,400,000. What do you say in regard to the necessity for that increase?

CONTRACT WITH ALUMINUM CO. OF AMERICA

Mr. RAVER. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I should like just to give you briefly, if I may, some of the more recent developments in the Bonneville situation which I am sure will be of interest in connection with this matter. As you know, we have signed a contract with the Aluminum Co. of America for the sale of 32,500 kilowatts of prime power.

Senator TOWNSEND. With whom?

« PředchozíPokračovat »