ested in improving the facilities for handling foreign and offshore commerce and deep-water traffic in Pacific-coast ports in general and in Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor in particular: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Congress of the United States and the several committees who will be called upon to consider the bills aforesaid, together with the authors of said bills, and the Director of the Budget, be urged to undertake at the earliest possible date the improvement of the East Basin, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, provided for in said bills, at United States Government expense, and that Federal funds be made available in the 1954 budget now undergoing revision, to provide moneys to reimburse local interests for sums expended, to carry on said project and to complete the same in accordance with said Report of the Chief of Engineers; be it further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be forwarded to Hon. Edward Martin, United States Senator, chairman, Public Works Committee of the Senate; Hon. Prescott S. Bush, United States Senator, chairman, Subcommittee on Flood Control, Rivers and Harbors, of the Senate; Hon. Styles Bridges. United States Senate, chairman, Appropriations Committee of the Senate: Hon. George A. Dondero, Member of Congress, chairman, Public Works Committee of the House of Representatives; Hon. Homer D. Angell, Member of Congress, chairman, Subcommittee on Rivers and Harbors of the House: Hon. John Taber, Member of Congress, chairman, Appropriations Committee of the House; and Hon. Glenn R. Davis, Member of Congress, chairman, Subcommittee on Civil Functions and Military Construction of the House. RESOLUTION OF PACIFIC AMERICAN STEAMSHIP ASSOCIATION Whereas the Port of Los Angeles has constructed, at local expense, a new terminal at berths 195-198, east basin, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, to be assigned to Matson Navigation Co. for use as general passenger and freight terminal in Pacific American steamship service; and Whereas the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has expended to date approximately $8 million to insure that said facility will be one of the finest terminals of its kind ever constructed; and Whereas the wharf and clear span transit shed, over 1,200 feet in length, together with 43 acres of back land for parking and cargo-handling purposes will be completed and ready for operation on July 11, 1953; and Whereas the 35-foot channel facing the wharf requires widening in order to permit the operation of deep-draft vessels, such as the steamship Lurline, to use the terminal; and Whereas an approved report by the Chief of Army Engineers, recommending the widening of said east basin channel at Federal expense by dredging a triangular area of water, approximately 80 acres, immediately south of said terminal at an estimated cost of $896,500 and $5,000 annual maintenance expense, is now in the hands of Mr. Joseph M. Dodge, Director of the Budget, for analysis of engineering and economic aspects of the recommended improvement in the light of President Eisenhower's policy with respect to the 1954 budget, now in process of revision; and Whereas in order to insure the completion of sufficient dredging to permit the opening of said terminal on July 11, 1953, the Los Angeles Harbor Board has let a contract for a portion of the dredging, at local expense, total approximately $457,000; and Whereas three bills, now pending consideration by the Committees on Public Works of the House and Senate, have been introduced by Congressmen Gordon L. McDonough and Cecil R. King, respectively, and by Senators William F. Knowland and Thomas H. Kuchel, jointly, being bills H. R. 3086, H. R. 3054, and S. 1060, which bills provide for reimbursement to local interests for the expense undertaken in furtherance of said dredging project: and Whereas the Pacific American Steamship Association is vitally interested in improved facilities for handling foreign and offshore commerce and deepwater traffic in Pacific coast ports in general, and in Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor in particular: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of this association that the Congress of the United States and the several committees, who will be called upon to consider the bills aforesaid, together with the authors of said bills and the Director of the Budget, be memorialized to undertake at the earliest possible date the improvement of the east basin, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, provided for in said bills, at United States Government expense and that Federal funds be made available in the 1954 budget now undergoing revision to provide moneys to reimburse local interests for the sums expended to carry on said project and to complete the same in accordance with said report of the Chief of Army Engineers; and be it further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be forwarded to Hon. Joseph M. Dodge, Director of the Budget; Hon. William F. Knowland, United States Senate; Hon. Thomas H. Kuchel, United States Senate; Hon. Edward Martin, United States Senate; Hon. Gordon L. McDonough, Member of Congress; Hon. Cecil R. King, Member of Congress; Hon. Glenn R. Davis, Member of Congress; Hon. George A. Dondero, Member of Congress; and Hon. Homer D. Angell, Member of Congress. This is to certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the official resolution unanimously adopted by the board of directors of the Pacific Steamship Association in meeting, May 5, 1953. President. C. E. MAYS, HENRIETTA T. SMITH, RESOLUTION OF LOS ANGELES STEAMSHIP ASSOCIATION Whereas the port of Los Angeles has constructed, at local expense, a new terminal at berths 195-198, east basin, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, for use as a general passenger and freight terminal in American steamship service engaged in world commerce; and Whereas the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has expended to date approximately $8 million to insure that said facility will be one of the finest terminals of its kind ever constructed; and Whereas the wharf and clear-span transit shed, over 1,200 feet in length, together with 43 acres of paved backland for parking and cargo-handling purposes, will be completed and ready for operation on July 11, 1953; and Whereas the 35-foot channel facing the wharf requires widening in order to permit the operation of deep-draft vessels to use the terminal; and Whereas an approved report by the Chief of Army Engineers recommending the widening of said east basin channel at Federal expense, by dredging a triangular area of water, approximately 80 acres, immediately south of said terminal, at an estimated cost of $896,500 and $5,000 annual maintenance expense, is now in the hands of the Director of the Budget for analysis of the engineering and economic aspects of the recommended improvement in the light of President Eisenhower's policy with respect to the 1954 budget now in the process of revision; and Whereas in order to insure the completion of sufficient dredging to permit the opening of said terminal on July 11, 1953, the Los Angeles Harbor Board has let a contract for a portion of the dredging at local expense, totaling approximately $457,000; and Whereas three bills, now pending consideration by the Committees on Public Works of the House and Senate of the United States, have been introduced by Congressmen Gordon L. McDonough and Cecil R. King, respectively, and by Senators William F. Knowland and Thomas H. Kuchel, jointly, being bills H. R. 3086, H. R. 3054, and S. 1060, which bills provide for reimbursement to local interests for expenses undertaken in furtherance of said dredging project: and Whereas Los Angeles Steamship Association is vitally interested in improving the facilities for handling foreign and offshore commerce and deepwater traffic in Pacific coast ports in general and in Los Angeles-Long Beach Beach Harbor in particular: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of this association that the Congress of the United States and the several committees who will be called upon to consider the bills aforesaid, together with the authors of said bills, and the Director of the Budget, be memorialized to undertake at the earliest possible date the improvement of the east basin, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, provided for in said bills, at United States Government expense, and that Federal funds be made available in the 1954 budget now undergoing revision, to provide moneys to reimburse local interests for sums expended, to carry on said project and to complete the same in accordance with said report of the Chief of Engineers; be it further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be forwarded to Hon. Edward Martin, United States Senate, chairman, Public Works Committee of the Senate; Hon. Prescott S. Bush, United States Senate, chairman, Subcommittee on Flood Control, Rivers and Harbors, of the Senate; Hon. Styles Bridges, United States Senate, chairman, Appropriations Committee of the Senate; Hon. George A. Dondero, Member of Congress, chairman, Public Works Committee of the House of Representatives; Hon. Homer D. Angell, Member of Congress, chairman, Subcommittee on Rivers and Harbors of the House; Hon. John Taber, Member of Congress, chairman, Appropriations Committee of the House; and Hon. Glenn R. Davis, Member of Congress, chairman, Subcommittee on Civil Functions and Military Construction of the House. Los Angeles, Calif., May 14, 1953. LOS ANGELES STEAMSHIP ASSOCIATION, Mr. C. N. PERKINS, Deputy City Attorney, San Pedro, Calif. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, Washington 25, D. C., April 15, 1953 DEAR MR. PERKINS: This will acknowledge your letter of March 25, 1953, regarding the possibility of the Maritime Administration conducting an investigation. under section 8 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (46 U. S. C. 867), with a view to supporting the dredging project of east basin, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor as proposed under House Resolution 3054, 83d Congress, 1st session. In consideration of your request, the findings and recommendations on the subject matter, as contained in the reports of the Chief of Engineers, Department of the Army, and the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, have been carefully reviewed. In view of the coverage and favorable recommendations of the Department of the Army, it is our opinion that no real benefit would be served by the Maritime Administration undertaking a study of the project at this tim. Information available to us through the reports of the Chief of Engineers and the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors indicates that substantial benefits could be achieved by the proposed dredging improvement of east basin as it relates to the nearly completed modern terminal adjacent thereto. In the matter of faster turnaround and obtaining fullest utilization of designed draft, the larger and faster cargo ships being built today require channels and turning basins designed for their accommodation. Efficient utilization of ships depends upon a maximum time spent at sea and a minimum time in port. Therefore, if channel and terminal improvements are not kept abreast of technological advances in ship design, apparent gains through increased speeds at sea are partially or wholly nullified by time spent in port. Favorable consideration by the Congress of H. R. bill 3054, or other similar channel improvement legislation, directly benefits the merchant marine in faster turnaround of ships, full utilization of designed draft, and availability of maximum terminal capacity in periods of full emergency. I offer the above comments indicating the general support of the Maritime Administration for port improvements of the above nature, and make known our interest in the dredging improvements of east basin, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor. Sincerely yours, A. W. GATOV, Maritime Administrator. MARCH 2, 1953. Hon. JOSEPH M. DODGE, Director of the Budget, Executive Office Building, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. DODGE: Reference is made to H. R. 3086, H. R. 3054, and Senate 1060, companion bills in the House and Senate recently introduced by Congressman McDonough and King and Senators Knowland and Kuchel, respectively, of California. These bills have for their purpose the authorization of a dredging improvement of East Basin, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, Cal., in accordance with the approved report of the Chief of Engineers now in progress of transmittal through channels to your office. The estimated cost of the improvement is $896,500. The bills also provide that the Secretary of the Army is authorized to reimburse local interests for such work as may have been done upon this project subsequent to April 1, 1953, insofar as the same shall be approved by the Chief of Engineers and done in accordance with the project authorized. An emergency exists requiring the inclusion of the item mentioned above by supplement to the general budget heretofore reported to the Congress for the following reasons: The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has by application filed nearly 3 years ago sought to obtain the approval of the Chief of Engineers for the dredging of a shoal area in the East Basin of Los Angeles Harbor covering approximately 80 acres of water varying in depth from 35 feet to about 10 feet. This shoal is situated immediately adjacent to a new terminal constructed by local funds which has already cost nearly $8 million and by its completion date, July 1, 1953, will represent an expenditure of approximately $10 million. This substantial investment by local interests has been made in reliance upon the fact that since rivers and harbors improvements have generally been undertaken by the Government in the past, that such practice would likely be followed in the future. Now that a favorable report has been completed, it is our earnest desire that Government funds be made available at the earliest possible date to take care of this necessary dredging. This terminal will be for use of deep-draft vessels engaged in passenger and cargo service to Hawaii and other Pacific points, and will generally handle world commerce in United States flag vessels. The narrow channel in front of the terminal is of insufficient width to permit maneuvering of the class of vessels requiring the use of this facility and consequently the terminal when completed will be of little value for the purpose for which it is constructed until the dredging project is accomplished. Huge ocean liners such as the Lurline, 631 feet long with 90-foot beam and approximately 30-foot draft, require not less than 35 feet of water for sufficient room to maneuver and turn around alongside the terminal. If other vessels are moored at the dock and winds exist requiring tugs to assist in maneuvering such vessels, the shoal area must be removed otherwise such vessels cannot be brought in or leave. The terminal is one of the finest of its kind ever constructed and will be of inestimable value from a national defense standpoint in time of war as a point of embarkation for military personnel, tanks, guns, airplanes, etc. It is strategically situated for such use from the standpoint of accessibility to rail and truck transportation and is in a protected location in the inner harbor. Because the dredging project has been recommended by the Department of the Army, it will doubtless be completed at Government expense at sometime in the future. Since the huge terminal is now nearing completion and will not be able to be fully utilized until the dredging is completed, it is submitted that the dredging project should be undertaken at the earliest practicable date. Due to the fact that the report of the Chief of Engineers did not clear all governmental requirements until after the budget was prepared and forwarded to the Congress, it is our earnest desire that a supplement to the present budget by the addition of this item be made in order that it may be considered by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in hearings on the budget soon to be undertaken. Since Government funds are not immediately available and no omnibus bill appears likely this year, it may be necessary for local interests to start work on the project in order to have some minimum access to the terminal by the time of its completion and be reimbursed later. In order to show the universal interest of the members of the House of Representatives from the Los Angeles area, the undersigned Congressmen from those districts within the general area have added their signatures to this letter. Some of these Representatives will doubtless call upon you and explain more fully the necessity for and urgency of this request. Very sincerely yours, Gordon L. McDonough, Member of Congress, 15th District, California; LOS ANGELES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hon. GEORGE A. DONDERO, House of Representatives, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR REPRESENTATIVE DONDERO: In connection with the scheduled hearings of your committee on H. R. 3086 and H. R. 3054, the board of directors of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce wish to submit their endorsement of this legislation. The bills would authorize the dredging of the East Basin Channel of the port of Los Angeles-Long Beach, as recommended by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and would reimburse the Los Angeles Harbor Department for money already expended on the project. The Los Angeles Harbor Department has expended approximately $8,000,000 on the construction of a modern passenger and freight terminal, to be assigned to the Matson Navigation Co. The terminal is scheduled for opening July 11, 1953. Before the terminal can accommodate the larger draft vessels, however, the dredging approved by the United States engineers must be accomplished. The legislation under consideration is necessitated due to the fact that the United States engineers approval for this project was not received in time to be included in the current budget. The Harbor Department and the people of Los Angeles are very desirous of inaugurating this new terminal as scheduled in July of this year, and this effort is being made to get Federal approval for this project at this time. The reimbursement to the Harbor Department is required because they have advanced funds in order that the dredging operations will be completed in time for the opening date. As you may know, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce has supported the principle of curtailment of all unnecessary Government expenditures. We do not view this legislation as a violation of that principle since these harbor expenses are customarily undertaken by the Federal Government under the authority of the Rivers and Harbors Act. It is our contention that this is a normal and legitimate expenditure of these Federal funds, and this legislation is only an effort to expedite the budgeting for this project. In light of the obvious validity of the proposal contained in these two House bills, we sincerely trust and urge that you report them favorably out of your committee, and assist in securing approval by the Congress. Respectfully, R. M. HAGEN, President. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, Subject: Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, Calif. Washington, D. C. 1. I submit herewith for transmission to Congress the report of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors in response to resolution of the Committee on Rivers and Harbors of the House of Representatives, adopted February 1, 1946, requesting the Board to review the reports on Los Angeles Harbor, Calif., contained in House Document No. 896, 63d Congress, 2d session, with a view to determining if it is advisable at this time to improve Bixby Slough and Dominguez Del Amo for the purpose of providing an inner harbor closer to the city of Los Angeles; and also a resolution of the Committee on Public Works of the House of Representatives, adopted February 17, 1950, requesting the Board to review the reports on Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, Calif., submitted in House Document No. 843, 76th Congress, 3d session, and prior reports, with a view to determining whether further harbor and channel improvements in the east basin area, Los Angeles, are advisable at this time. 2. After full consideration of the reports secured from the district and division engineers, the Board recommends modification of the existing project for Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, Calif., to provide for a depth of 35 feet over an area of about 80 acres in east basin, generally in accordance with the plan of the district engineer and with such modifications thereof as in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers may be advisable; at an estimated cost to the United States of $896,500 for new work and $5,000 annually for maintenance in addition to that now required; provided that local interests agree to: (a) Furnish without cost to the United States all lands, easements, rights-of-way, and suitable spoil-disposal areas for new work and for subsequent maintenance when and |