EXCHANGE OF LAND AT RANDOLPH FIELD, TEX.

JANUARY 6, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. WURZBACH, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 10134]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 10134) to authorize the exchange of land at Randolph Field, Tex., in order to straighten the boundary line of said reservation, introduced by Mr. James by request of the War Department, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

The purpose of this measure, designed to authorize the exchange of a piece of property which projects into Randolph Field for Government-owned land not required as a part of the field, is given in the report of the Secretary of War, which reads as follows:

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 18, 1930.

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is inclosed the draft of a bill to authorize the exchange of land in connection with Randolph Field, Tex., which the War Department presents for the consideration of the Congress with a view to its enactment into law.

There is no existing law applicable in effecting the exchange desired. Randolph Field consists of approximately 2,318 acres of land and was donated to the Government without cost by the citizens of San Antonio. The citizens of San Antonio in accquiring title to the land of Randolph Field were unsuccessful in securing at a reasonable price a piece of land of approximately 1.017 acres which projected into the reservation at the northeast side near the sewage-disposal plant. The projection of this land into the field should be eliminated. The owners of the property which projects into the field, Robert E. and Clara Schertz, are agreeable to change the boundary line as suggested by the officer in command of the flying field and will give title to this land provided that conveyance will be made to them of an equal area of land now owned by the Government and not required as part of Randolph Field.

HR-71-3-VOL 1-24

There is inclosed a blue print of that portion of the military reservation of Randolph Field showing the parcels of land to be exchanged. The privately owned land is crosshatched in orange and marked A, while the Government-owned land to be exchanged therefor is crosshatched in red and marked “B." There will be no fiscal effect by the transfer of this property, inasmuch as it will be on an even basis and the exchange will be area for area.

Sincerely yours,

O

PATRICK J. HURLEY,
Secretary of War.

CLAIM OF THE POLISH GOVERNMENT

January 7, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. TEMPLE, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 12037]

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to which was referred H. R. 12037, authorizing the payment of a claim presented by the Polish Government for the reimbursement of certain expenditures incurred by the community authorities of Rzeczyczany, Poland, to which place an insane alien was erroneously deported, having considered the same, reports it to the House and unanimously recommends that it do pass. The nature of the claim and the facts on which it is based are fully set forth in a report of the acting Secretary of State to the President, which was transmitted by the President in a special message to Congress. The President's message and the report of the Acting Secretary of State are printed below as a part of the report of the committee:

To the Congress of the United States:

I transmit herewith a report from the Acting Secretary of State in regard to a claim presented by the Polish Government for the reimbursement of certain expenditures incurred by the community authorities of Rzeczyczany, Poland, to which place an insane alien was erroneously deported. The conclusion reached by the Acting Secretary of State has my approval and I recommend that the Congress authorize an appropriation of $152.35 to be paid to the Polish GovernHERBERT HOOVER.

ment.

In a letter dated January 20, 1927, the Department of Labor informed this department that it had under deportation an alien named Oleksa or Oleska Maskymowicz or Maksynim, who was believed to be a citizen of Poland, and that it was desired to obtain a passport in order that his deportation might be effected. The Department of Labor requested that the matter be taken up with the appropriate authorities in Poland with a view to having the Polish consul general in New York City instructed to issue the desired passport.

Pursuant to a request of the American legation at Warsaw, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed the consulate general of Poland in New York City to issue a suitable deportation passport in favor of this alien.

Acting upon these instructions, the consulate general issued the above passport upon application of the immigration authorities at Ellis Island, and subsequently the alien was deported on the steamship George Washington on September 13, 1927. It appears from the record of this case that when this alien arrived in Poland he was sent to Mr. Stefan Maksymowicz at Rzeczyczany, who was alleged to be his father. Mr. Maksymowicz protested that the individual who had been placed in his care was not his son, and that the latter had resided at 1959 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Ill., since 1918.

On June 11, 1928, the Department of Labor informed this department that the Bureau of Immigration was satisfied from its investigation that a mistake in identity had been made, and that the insane alien deported to Poland was not in fact the man who he was believed to be.

The Polish Legation has submitted to the department an itemized account amounting to 1,362.30 zlotys ($152.35), compiled by the community authorities in Rzeczyczany showing the expenses incurred by the said authorities under whose jurisdiction the alien was held, and requested a refund thereof.

The Department of Labor advises this department that in view of the error of identity made in deporting the alien in question, it is prepared to pay the entire costs of his transportation from Poland to New York City, but that no appropriation is available for payment of the expenses incurred by the authorities in Rzeczyczany. It also expresses the view that such reimbursement should be made and that "it will be appreciated if your department can secure an appropriation from Congress for satisfaction of the claim."

It is the view of this department that since the expenditures which the local authorities seek to have refunded were incurred on account of an error made by agents of this Government, the request of the Polish Legation is a fair one. I venture to express the hope, therefore, that you will see fit to recommend that Congress authorize an appropriation of $152.35 in payment of the claim of the Polish Government. As a matter of convenience, a tentative draft of proposed legislation is inclosed herewith.

Respectfully submitted.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, April 25, 1930.

J. P. COTTON, Acting Secretary of State.

A BILL Authorizing the payment of a claim presented by the Polish Government for the reimbursement of certain expenditures incurred by the community authorities of Rzeczyczany, Poland, to which place an insane alien was erroneously deported

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $152.35 to be paid to the Polish Government for the reimbursement of certain expenditures incurred by the community authorities of Rzeczyczany, Poland, to which place an insane alien was erroneously deported.

CLAIM OF THE OWNERS OF THE DANISH SHIP "INDIEN"

JANUARY 7, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. TEMPLE, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 12067]

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to which was referred H. R. 12067 for compensation to the owners of the Danish motor ship Indien for damages sustained as a result of a collision with the United States Guard cutter Shawnee at San Francisco on April 5, 1925, having considered the same, reports it to the House and unanimously recommends that it do pass.

The nature of the claim and the facts on which it is based are fully set forth in a report of the Acting Secretary of State to the President, which was transmitted by the President in a special message to Congress. The President's message and the report of the Acting Secretary of State are printed below as a part of the report of the committee.

To the Congress of the United States:

I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State in relation to a claim presented by the Government of Denmark for the payment of compensation to the owners of the Danish motor ship Indien for damage sustained as a result of a collision with the United States Coast Guard cutter Shawnee at San Francisco on April 5, 1925, and I recommend that an appropriation be authorized to effect a settlement of this claim in accordance with the recommendations of the Secretary of State.

THE WHITE HOUSE, April 30, 1930.

The PRESIDENT:

HERBERT HOOVER.

I have the honor to bring to your attention a request made by the Danish Government for compensation to the owners of the Danish motor ship Indien for damages sustained as the result of a collision with the United States Coast Guard cutter Shawnee at San Francisco on April 5, 1925.