struction. We have but two navy yards on the Pacific coast, one at Mare Island and the other at Puget Sound; both of them have very greatly enlarged their activities and output of production and are doing fine work. The grounds at Puget Sound Navy Yard are cramped, and this additional land is needed for the proper expansion of the activities of the yard. Amendments Nos. 105, 106, and 108: Relate to the enlargement and improvement of the naval training station, Newport, R. I. This is one of the principal training stations on the Atlantic, where many thousands of young men are annually trained for the naval service. This additional land is needed for the proper and necessary activities of the station and the purchase price is believed to be very reasonable. Amendment No. 109: Provides for a marine railway, naval fuel depot, San Diego, Cal. This is needed for the proper docking and repairing of naval vessels and other vessels on the southern portion of the Pacific coast. There are no docks available for that purpose in that vicinity. Amendment No. 110: Increases the appropriation for the naval operating base, Hampton Roads, Va., by $500,000. This is for the purpose of constructing an additional pier. This is the principal operating base upon the Atlantic coast, and it is necessary to have the base fitted out as soon as possible. Amendment No. 111: As agreed to by the conferees increases the appropriation for repairs and preservations at navy yards by $500,000 and reduces the amendment as passed by the Senate by $500,000. The large number of buildings, both permanent and temporary, require large amounts for repairs and preservations. Amendment No. 113: Provides for the payment to Mrs. Van Kirk, mother of the late D. R. Van Kirk, ensign, National Naval Volunreers, one year's pay. This legislation is necessary because under existing law it was necessary that the young man should have designated some one as his beneficiary under the law authorizing the payment. This he neglected to do. Had he designated his mother, the payment would have been made to her under existing law. Having failed to designate her, it becomes necessary to authorize the payment by this legislation. Amendment No. 114: Is made necessary on account of legislation at the present session allowing commutation to officers. Amendment No. 116: Provides for hire of quarters for officers attached to submarines during the war when they are required to be on shore and Government quarters are not available. Amendment No. 117: Appropriates $1,000,000 for the development and transportation of coal from Alaska. The coal situation on the Pacific is acute, the transportation charges are almost prohibitive, and transportation facilities very limited and difficult to secure. There is valuable coal available for naval uses accessible to the railroad in Alaska. Amendments Nos. 121 to 142: Relate to increases of compensation for statutory employees at the Naval Academy and aggregate $10,578. There are statutory employees whose compensation is fixed in the statute; there are also per diem employees doing the same character of work as the statutory employees whose compensation is fixed by the wage board and is adjusted from time to time. The statutory employees are in most instances the ranking employees. An arrangement was made between the War Department and the Navy Department that they would pay the same scale of wages that the Shipping Board paid to employees doing similar character of work. Recently the Shipping Board increased the scale of wages, and the Navy Department, pursuant to the agreement, increased the wages of the per diem employees, giving them a greater compensation than the statutory employees; and these amendments are to provide a similar increase to statutory employees, so as to make them on an equal scale of pay. Amendments Nos. 148 and 149: Increases the pay of two chief clerks, one in San Francisco and one in Philadelphia, from $1,800 to $2,000. Amendment No. 152: Provides for commutation for rations for enlisted men traveling on special duty. During the war it is frequently necessary for the secretary to detail enlisted men for special duty of a confidential character. Amendment No. 154: Provides an increase of commutation of quarters of officers and enlisted men serving with troops in the Marine Corps. This is made necessary because of the recent legislation allowing commutation of quarters. Amendment No. 155: Includes retired officers on active duty during the war to receive the benefits accorded officers and enlisted men on the active list with reference to payment of funeral expenses. Amendment No. 157: Provides an appropriation of $16,677,200 for the purpose of procuring a reserve stock of clothing, arms, and equipment, and other necessary military supplies for the Marine Corps. For several years past the Marine Corps has been accumulating a reserve supply, but the increases in the corps and the necessities of war have consumed this reserve stock and it is necessary to make provision for a reserve supply. Amendments Nos. 166, 167, 168, and 169: Relate to improving and equipping navy yards for construction of ships and to meet urgent needs of navy yards, stations, and bases and provides for the repair and urgent needs of navy yards, stations, and bases, as well as for construction and purchase of necessary machinery, implements, building ways, and equipment, and increases the appropriation from $4,000,000 to $10,000,000. This large increase is made necessary by the large number of naval ships added to the Navy, as well as the large number of commercial ships under the control and operation of the Navy Department, and which must be repaired and cared for very largely in navy yards. The aggregate increase of appropriations by the The aggregate increase of appropriations by the Senate amendments. as agreed to by the conferees, for "Public works," under the Bureau of Yards and Docks, for the improvement and enlargement of the activities and operations of the manufacturing facilities and the improvement of the yards and stations, Naval Academy, temporary storage, marine barracks, etc., amount to-- Additional authorization for seamanship and navigation building, Naval Academy, $1,500,000. Increase for aviation___. Increase for transportation___ Increase for reserve supplies, Marine Increase, improvement, and equipment Maintenance, Yards and Docks_ Fuel and transportation, Supplies and $32, 340, 150 16, 677, 200 6, 000, 000 3. 500, 000 1, 000, 000 400,000 10, 578 400 Reduction of appropriations by authorizations_ Appropriations remaining in disagreement_ L. P. PADGETT, WM. J. BROWNING, Managers on the part of the House. ADDITIONAL LAND AT LEON SPRINGS MILITARY RESERVATION, TEX. JUNE 18, 1918.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. Mr. QUIN, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 2704.] The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2704) for the acquisition of additional land at the Leon Springs Military Reservation, Tex., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass. The necessity for the passage of this measure is explained in the following communications addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs in the Senate, and which were made a part of the Senate report on this bill: WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 22, 1917. To the CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS, United States Senate. SIR: Favorable consideration of this bill (S. 2704) is requested. Inclosed is an extract copy of an indorsement from the officer in charge of cantonment construction which I beg leave to bring to your notice, as it shows conclusively the necessity of acquiring the land as an addition to the Leon Springs Military Reservation, Tex. Respectfully, NEWTON D. BAKER, 1. The land in question contains approximately 16,000 acres, and the estimated cost of the same is $316,941. 2. On September 12, 1917, the commanding general, Southern Department, was authorized to lease this land for target range, maneuver, trench work, bombing instruction, and other drill purposes, for $75,000 to the end of fiscal year (June 30, 1918), and in the event land is purchased all the unaccrued portion of lease money is to be credited to the purchase amount. A purchase option was included in the leases which will expire on June 30, 1918. 3. The target range to be constructed on these leased lands will cost approximately $60,000, and the damage to improvements necessary in constructing the range will be considerable. |