STOREHOUSE FOR AMMUNITION AT FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON, IND. January 6, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. WAINWRIGHT, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6867] The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6867) to authorize appropriations for construction of a storehouse for ammunition at Fort Benjamin Harrison, introduced by Mr. Ludlow, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments: Line 3, strike out the amount, "$3,000", and insert in lieu thereof "a sum not to exceed $4,500". Line 4, strike out "a building" and insert "two magazines". These amendments are in accordance with those suggested in the report of the Secretary of War explaining the measure. As there are two distinct types of explosives to be stored they can not be stored in the same building with safety. It is therefore necessary to construct two magazines, one for black powder, and the other for small-arms ammunition. According to standardized plans in the War Department for magazines, one magazine costing $700 and one costing $3,800 would provide the most satisfactory solution. The letter of the Secretary of War mentioned above is as follows: FEBRUARY 25, 1930. Hon. W. FRANK JAMES, Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. JAMES: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 6867) to authorize appropriations for construction of a storehouse for ammunition at Fort Benjamin Harrison, transmitted with your letter of December 16, 1929, with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. STOREHOUSE FOR AMMUNITION AT FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON, IND. JANUARY 6, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. WAINWRIGHT, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6867] The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6867) to authorize appropriations for construction of a storehouse for ammunition at Fort Benjamin Harrison, introduced by Mr. Ludlow, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments: Line 3, strike out the amount, "$3,000", and insert in lieu thereof "a sum not to exceed $4,500". Line 4, strike out "a building" and insert "two magazines". These amendments are in accordance with those suggested in the report of the Secretary of War explaining the measure. As there are two distinct types of explosives to be stored they can not be stored in the same building with safety. It is therefore necessary to construct two magazines, one for black powder, and the other for small-arms ammunition. According to standardized plans in the War Department for magazines, one magazine costing $700 and one costing $3,800 would provide the most satisfactory solution. The letter of the Secretary of War mentioned above is as follows: FEBRUARY 25, 1930. Hon. W. FRANK JAMES, Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. JAMES: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 6867) to authorize appropriations for construction of a storehouse for ammunition at Fort Benjamin Harrison, transmitted with your letter of December 16, 1929, with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. Ordinarily, this minor construction project could be authorized by the Secretary of War under the provisions of Revised Statutes 1136 as a matter of routine and financed from the appropriation item "Barracks and quarters, other buildings and utilities.' Construction under the foregoing provision is rendered impracticable by lack of available funds under the current appropriation and may be impossible in future by reason of a restrictive amendment which has been inserted in the pending War Department appropriation bill for the fiscal year 1931. The War Department does not favor the restrictive amendment. Should it be enacted authorizations for minor projects such as that contemplated by H. R. 6867 would be necessary. The existing facilities for ammunition storage at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., have been unsatisfactory for some time. To remedy this situation two storehouses or magazines should be constructed, one for black powder and the other for small-arms ammunition. The construction of one small and one large magazine is necessitated by the different types of explosives which must be stored. Owing to different properties of these explosives, they can not be stored in the same building with safety. The construction of these magazines and the site selected for their location would be in accordance with the provisions of House Document No. 199, Seventieth Congress, first session, "Ammunition storage conditions." The War Department has standardized plans for magazines and it has been determined that one magazine costing approximately $700 and one magazine costing approximately $3,800, a total cost of $4,500 for both magazines, would provide the most satisfactory solution. In view of the foregoing, the War Department favors the passage of the proposed legislation, provided it be amended to authorize an appropriation not to exceed $4,500 for the construction of two magazines at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. Sincerely yours, O PATRICK J. HURLEY, |