This Department has, however, been requested, under date of March 26, to submit a report to your committee on H. R. 10024, which also relates to the establishment of the Olympic National Park. That bill, with but a minor exception in regard to the exclusion of Ozette Lake, is the same as the proposal covered by this report. A report on H. R. 10024 is being submitted separately. Sincerely yours, HAROLD L. ICKES, Secretary of the Interior. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. RENÉ L. DEROUEN, Chairman, Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I have received your letter of March 26, enclosing a copy of H. R. 10024, entitled "A bill to establish the Olympic National Park, in the State of Washington, and for other purposes," and requesting a report thereon. On March 11, 1937, your committee requested this Department to submit & report on H. R. 4724, which also relates to the establishment of the Olympic National Park. This Department's report on H. R. 4724 recommended several amendments to the bill. The proposal contained in our report on H. R. 4724 is the same as that embodied in H. R. 10024 with but a minor exception in that H. R. 10024 excludes Ozette Lake which is not indispensable to the proposed park area and, therefore, this Department recommends the enactment of H. R. 10024 in its present form. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that the proposal embodied in our report on H. R. 4724, which is substantially the same as H. R. 10024 as stated above, would be in accord with the program of the President. As your committee may desire to consider this Department's reports on H. R. 4724 and 10024 at the same time, the report contained in this letter has not been submitted to the Bureau of the Budget. Sincerely yours, 75TH CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 3d Session { REPORT No. 2248 REQUIRING THAT HORSES AND MULES BELONGING TO UNITED STATES WHICH HAVE BECOME UNFIT FOR SERVICE BE DESTROYED OR PUT TO PASTURE APRIL 28, 1938.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. COCHRAN, from the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9848] The Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9848), introduced by Mr. Harlan, of Ohio, to require that horses and mules belonging to the United States which have become unfit for service be destroyed or put to pasture, have considered same and instructed me as chairman to report the bill back to the House with the recommendation that it do pass. The report of the Secretary of War follows: Hon. JOHN J. COCHRAN, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 28, 1938. Chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. COCHRAN: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 9848) to require that horses and mules belonging to the United States which have become unfit for service be destroyed or put to pasture, which you transmitted to the War Department under date of April 11, 1938, with a request for a report relative thereto and information as to the average age of the horses and mules at the time they are sold by the War Department. No existing law will be affected by the proposed bill. A number of protests have been received in the past from humane societies and other associations and individuals interested in the humane treatment of superannuated or disabled animals against their sale to irresponsible persons who might overwork them. For this reason, it was considered advisable to amend the regulations so as to provide for the destruction of animals which have become unfit for military service, with the exception of a few animals which are turned over to other Government departments for pathological purposes. In exceptional cases, old animals which have rendered long and faithful service are retained in pasturage to die a natural death. The War Department is of the opinion that legislation as contained in H. R. 9848 is unnecessary and is believed to be a matter for administrative action by the various Government departments. The present policy of the War Department is in accordance with the proposed legislation which, however, would prohibit any deviation of policy to meet possible future exigencies without further legislation. Time has not permitted the submission of this report to the Bureau of the Budget. It should therefore be understood that the report does not involve any commitment as to the relationship of the legislation to the program of the President. The average age of condemned horses and mules sold during the calendar years 1936 and 1937 was approximately 11 years. Sincerely yours, APRIL 28, 1938.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. COCHRAN, from the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 2819] The Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2819) to create a Committee on Purchases of Blind-Made Products, has considered same and instructed me as chairman to report the bill to the House with the recommendation that it do pass. The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Wagner and in the House by Representative O'Day. It has the endorsement of organizations throughout the United States interested in the welfare of blind workmen, including the American Foundation of the Blind, Inc., of which Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt is the honorary president and Dr. Helen A. Keller counselor. The report filed by the Committee on Interstate Commerce of the Senate follows: The Committee on Interstate Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2819) to create a committee on purchases of blind-made products and for other purposes, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that the bill (S. 2819) do pass as amended. To meet departmental objections the committee found it necessary to make several changes in the bill (S. 2819). After some discussion it was decided that following the enacting clause all be stricken and the following inserted in lieu thereof: "That there is hereby created a Committee to be known as the Committee on Purchases of Blind-made Products (hereinafter referred to as the 'Committee') to be composed of a private citizen conversant with the problems incident to the employment of the blind and a representative of each of the following Government Departments: the Navy Department, the War Department, the Treasury Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of the Interior. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the President, shall serve without additional compensation, and shall designate one of their number to be chairman. "SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the Committee to determine the fair market price of all brooms and mops and other suitable commodities manufactured by the blind and offered for sale to the Federal Government by any non-profitmaking agency for the blind organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, to revise such prices from time to time in accordance with changing market conditions, and to make such rules and regulations regarding specifications, time of delivery authorization of a central non-profit-making agency to facilitate the distribution of orders among the agencies for the blind, and other relevant matters of procedure as shall be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act: Provided, That no change in price shall become effective prior to the expiration of fifteen days from the date on which such change is made by the Committee. "SEC. 3. All brooms and mops and other suitable commodities hereafter procured in accordance with applicable Federal specifications by or for any Federa department or agency shall be procured from such non-profit-making agencies for the blind in all cases where such articles are available within the period specified at the price determined by the Committee to be the fair market price for the article or articles so procured: Provided, That this Act shall not apply in any cases where brooms and mops are available for procurement from any Federal department or agency and procurement therefrom is required under the provisions of any law in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, or in cases where brooms and mops are procured for use outside continental United States." There are several sheltered workshops for the blind in various parts of the United States which afford to some 3,000 sightless persons productive work. These establishments are not operated for profit. The blind workmen receive the entire proceeds in sales after the cost of materials and other expenses are met. The employment thus furnished prevents the workmen so engaged from becoming public charges. The number of blind people who can thus be gainfully employed is limited by the market for their products. If the present market can be broadened, more blind workmen can be employed. Brooms and mops are the principal commodities produced in these workshops. The various departments of the Federal Government are required to buy their brooms from the Federal penitentiaries so far as their needs can be met from these sources. About half the broom requirements of the Federal Government must, however, be obtained in the open market. The bill (S. 2819) would provide after the supply of brooms from the Federal prisons has been exhausted, executive departments of the Government be required to purchase their brooms as well as mops from nonprofit-making agencies for the blind. The Government would also be required to purchase other suitable commodities produced by the blind where the procurement of such commodities is not presently required under the provisions of any law in effect on the date of enactment of this bill. The bill (S. 2819) further provides for the appointment by the President of the United States of a committee to determine the fair market price to be paid for brooms and mops and other commodities purchased from such agencies, this committee to be composed of a private citizen conversant with the problems incident to the employment of the blind and a representative of each of the Federal Departments buying any considerable number of brooms and mops. Since well-trained blind workmen can manufacture brooms and mops of a quality complying in every particular with Government specifications and since by providing these people with work the relief rolls can be correspondingly reduced and since the purchase of such brooms and mops and other commodities will entail no additional expense to the Government there would seem to be every reason for the enactment of this bill. The members of the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce feel that while every logical argument recommends passage there is also the element of humanity. The opportunities for gainful employment to those who have been afflicted with blindness are limited. The Government should spare no effort to aid and assist them by means other than a relief grant. The Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce recommends enactment of the bill (S. 2819) as amended. The bill introduced by Mrs. O'Day was referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, who made the following report: Hon. JOHN J. COCHRAN, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Reference is made to your letter of July 28, 1937, acknowledged July 29, requesting an expression of my views on bill H. R. 7973, |