also serves in part Air Corps installations in the Philippine Islands, Hawaii, and Panama. The Alameda site is ideal for the purpose. Its location is indicated on the attached map (Map A). The Marin County site, after a great deal of study, was selected by the War Department as a location for a bombardment-wing headquarters and a bombardment group, originally scheduled in the 5-year program, for location at March Field, Riverside, Calif. If this legislation is approved it is proposed to move the pursuit group originally scheduled by the 5-year program for Rockwell Field, Calif., to March Field, Riverside, Calif. The Marin County site is a most excellent one for the purpose and will permit the War Department to move the bombardment group to a more central and a far better strategical location than originally planned. The supervisors of Marin County, Calif., have generously offered to donate to the War Department approximately 917 acres of land and a suitable right of way for ingress and egress. The location of this site is indicated on the attached map (Map B). Donation of the land at Alameda, Calif., is conditioned upon the War Department's initiating construction to the amount of $500,000 by December 31, 1931. To cover this requirement it is proposed to transfer the sums of $243,000 and $500,000 authorized, respectively, for construction of air-depot shops and airdepot warehouses at Rockwell air depot, California, to Alameda, Calif., for the following purposes: Air-depot shops... Preparation of landing field, sea wall, grading building area, railroad tracks, roads, and drainage.. $243, 000 500, 000 With reference to the construction necessary at Marin County site, it is proposed to transfer to that site a total of $803,000, which has already been authorized and appropriated for construction at Rockwell Field, for the same respective purposes at Marin County. It is also proposed to transfer to Marin County the sum of $453,000, which has already been authorized for Rockwell Field but not appropriated, as follows: For hangars and field warehouse_ For field shop.. For paved aprons For preparation of landing field, building area, railroad tracks, roads, and drainage - - - . $45, 000 100, 000 50,000 258, 000 in lieu of the purposes for which these sums have been authorized previously for Rockwell Field. In order to develop the two sites in question certain preparation work on the field must be done. For example, at the Marin County site the landing field and building area will have to be prepared, railroad tracks and roads for hauling material will have to be built, ditches will have to be filled, and the field drained. At the Alameda site the probabilities are that the first thing that should be done will be to construct the sea wall and prepare the building area. The original offer of the Alameda site was for 311 acres, of which about 200 acres were subtidal lands. The area has been expanded from the original offer of 311 acres to 1,100 acres to prevent industrial construction on the waterside of the field which might interfere with flying. The landing field probably will not be filled over the whole 1,100 acres for many years and may never go beyond the limit of the original 311 acres. At the present time approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards of spoil from the dredging in the estuary between the cities of Alameda and Oakland is being put on this site. It will be noted that the proposed legislation does not authorize any additional sums over those heretofore authorized for Rockwell Field or Rockwell air depot, but transfers from those two stations such authorizations and makes them available for the two new sites at Alameda and Marin County, for the purposes indicated. Sincerely yours, O PATRICK J. HURLEY, DISPOSITION OF MONEYS OF DECEASED INMATES OF ST. ELIZABETHS HOSPITAL JUNE 16, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. COCHRAN of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 71] The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 71) amending so much of the sundry civil act of June 30, 1906 (34 Stat., p. 730), as relátes to disposition of moneys belonging to the deceased inmates of St. Elizabeths Hospital, introduced by Mr. Fitzgerald, having considered the same report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass, with the following amendments: Line 10, after the word "discharged", insert "or shall hereafter be discharged". Line 11, after the word "eloped ", insert "or shall hereafter elope". Line 12, change the period to a colon and add the following proviso: Provided, That hereafter in the case of any such deceased inmate or eloping or discharged patient who was at the time of admission to said hospital a member of the military forces of the United States, or who having had some service, as an enlisted man in the Regular Army, was admitted by reason of service rendered as a member of the military forces of the United States, such funds so covered with the Treasury shall be passed to the credit of the Soldiers' Home permanent trust fund to be repaid by the Board of Governors of the Soldiers' Home upon lawful demand by such person or his heirs or legal representatives. The act of June 30, 1906, quoted in the letter of the Secretary of War hereafter, provides that moneys belonging to deceased inmates of St. Elizabeths Hospital and deposited in the Treasury by the disbursing agent as agent shall be covered into the Treasury unless claimed by his or her legal heirs within five years from the death of the inmate. The purpose of this legislation is to extend the application of the above-mentioned law to moneys belonging to former patients at said hospital who have been discharged, or have eloped therefrom, and whose whereabouts are unknown. The proviso is added so that unclaimed estates of military personnel shall inure to the benefit of the Soldiers' Home, as the law authorizing inmates of the Soldiers' Home to be admitted as patients at St. Elizabeths Hospital (U. S. C., title 24, sec. 194) provides that "the expenses of maintaining any such person shall be paid from the Soldiers' Home fund." The letter from the Secretary of War suggesting these amendments and explaining the legislation is as follows: Hon. W. FRANK JAMES, Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives. AUGUST 19, 1929. DEAR MR. JAMES: I am pleased to comply with your request of June 21, 1929, for a report on H. R. 71, a bill to amend so much of the sundry civil act of June 30, 1906 (34 Stat., 730), as relates to disposition of moneys belonging to the deceased inmates of St. Elizabeths Hospital. The act of June 30, 1906 (U. S. C., title 24, sec. 177), provides that "All moneys belonging to deceased inmates of Saint Elizabeths Hospital and deposited in the Treasury by the disbursing agent as agent shall be covered into the Treasury unless claimed by his or her legal heirs within five years from the death of the inmate. And the superintendent of Saint Elizabeths Hospital is authorized and directed, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, to make diligent inquiry in every instance after the death of an inmate to ascertain the whereabouts of his or her legal heirs. Claims may be presented at any time, and when established by competent proof in any case more than five years after the death of an inmate shall be certified to Congress for consideration." The proposed legislation would extend the application of the law above quoted to moneys belonging to former patients at said hospital who have been discharged, or have eloped therefrom, and whose present whereabouts is unknown. The War Department is interested in this matter in so far as it relates to former patients at St. Elizabeths Hospital who are, or were, members of the military forces, or former enlisted men of the Regular Army, for the following reasons: Section 4818, Revised Statutes (U. S. C., title 24, sec. 44), provides that-"For the support of the Soldiers' Home the following funds are set apart and appropriated: All stoppages or fines adjudged against soldiers by sentence of courts-martial, over and above any amount that may be due for the reimbursement of the Government, or of individuals; all forfeitures on account of desertion; and all moneys belonging to the estates of deceased soldiers, which may be unclaimed for the period of three years subsequent to the death of such soldiers, to be repaid by the commissioners of the institution, upon the demand of the heirs or legal representatives of the deceased." The law which authorizes inmates of the Soldiers' Home to be admitted as patients at St. Elizabeths Hospital (U. S. C., title 24, sec. 194) provides that “the expenses of maintaining any such person shall be paid from the Soldiers' Home fund." In view of the evident intent of the law that unclaimed estates of military personnel shall inure to the benefit of the Soldiers' Home, I desire to submit for your consideration, in connection with this proposed legislation, a further amendment to the act of June 30, 1908, in the form of a proviso to the bill submitted as follows: "Provided, That hereafter in the case of any such deceased inmate or eloping or discharged patient who was at the time of admission to said hospital a member of the military forces of the United States, or who having had some service as an enlisted man in the Regular Army, was admitted by reason of service rendered as a member of the military forces of the United States, such funds so covered with the Treasury shall be passed to the credit of the Soldiers' Home permanent trust fund, to be repaid by the Board of Governors of the Soldiers' Home upon lawful demand by such person or his heirs or legal representatives." The bill, as drawn, would apply only to moneys belonging to "all patients who have been discharged from the St. Elizabeths Hospital or who have eloped therefrom and whose present whereabouts is unknown." It is doubtful whether this language would cover cases arising in the future. In order to obviate this difficulty it is suggested that the bill be amended by inserting in line 10, after the word "discharge," the words "or shall hereafter be discharged"; and in line 11, after the word "elope," the words " or shall hereafter elope. With the amendments, and the addition of the proviso, above suggested, the proposed measure meets the approval of the War Department. If any additional information from the War Department is desired I shall be pleased to furnish it, and if hearings are to be held suitable witnesses will be designated. This report has been submitted to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, who advises that it is not in conflict with the financial program of the President. Sincerely yours, JAMES W. GOOD, Secretary of War. HR-71-2-VOL 4- -65 |