MELLON, the Treasury } SENATE INCREASE IN WHITE HOUSE POLICE FORCE APRIL 21 (calendar day, APRIL 28), 1930.-Ordered to be printed Mr. KEYES, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9437] The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9437) to authorize a necessary increase in the White House police force, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The present law restricts the number of men for the White House police force to 35 privates and 4 sergeants, and the proposed legislation provides that the force shall consist of 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeants, and such number of privates as may be necessary, but not exceeding 43 in number. This legislation is asked for and is recommended by the Secretary of the Treasury, as shown by the following letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives: TREASURY DEPARTMENT, January 30, 1930. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Furthermore, it is the belief of this department that the present force is inade- An estimate of the amount needed for 1931 was submitted to the Congress by the President in the Budget, but the amount has been reduced by the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, to the appropriation for the cur rent year, pending the enactment of legislation reorganizing the force under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service. It is recommended that the proposed legislation be given early and favorable consideration. The Director of the Bureau of the Budget advises that, in so far as the financial program of the President is concerned, there is no objection to the submission of this proposed legislation to Congress for its consideration. Respectfully, A. W. MELLON, Before the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds of the House of Representatives, Mr. Moran, chief of the Secret Service, made the following statement: When the President directed that I should have supervision over the White House police force, I made a survey of the situation and found that the force was inadequate to properly protect the house and grounds, and therefore requested 8 additional men. Four of these came from the park police and four from the Metropolitan police. We have been carrying these men on detail ever since. That order of the President was dated March 13, 1929. The personnel of the police force on duty at the White House, under order of the President, is the same as provided for in this bill. O 1 71ST CONGRESS 2d Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 569 TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT-OWNED LAND AT DODGE CITY, KANS. APRIL 21 (calendar day, APRIL 28), 1930.-Ordered to be printed Mr. KEYES, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9845] The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9845) to authorize the transfer of Governmentowned land at Dodge City, Kans., for public-building purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The needs of the Weather Bureau for this legislation is explained in the following letter from Hon. C. F. Marvin, Acting Secretary of Agriculture, addressed to Hon. Andrew W. Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury: The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEAR MR. SECRETARY: Reference is made to your letter dated August 3, 1929, "SA-L," in relation to the acquisition of a site and construction of a Federal building at Dodge City, Kans., and inquiring whether there would be any objection to steps being taken to obtain legislation authorizing the transfer of the Weather Bureau property of the Department of Agriculture to the Treasury Department for the proposed Federal building site in said city. The Weather Bureau of this department occupies as an observatory and office building, a 2-story and basement brick building which was erected and completed on October 22, 1909, under authority by appropriation contained in an act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year 1909 (35 Stat. 253): "For the acquisition of sites and the erection of buildings for the use of the Weather Bureau, and for all necessary labor, materials, and expenses, plans, and specifications to be prepared by the Secretary of Agriculture, and the work to be done under the supervision of the Chief of the Weather Bureau, not to exceed $105,000." The site is trapezoidal in shape, with sides 125 feet, 145.5 feet, 134.8 feet, and 125.5 feet, computing to an area of approximately two-fifths acre. It was purchased from Adam Schmidt and Elizabeth Schmidt, and is described in the deed as follows: "Lots 14 and 15, block 16, Dodge City, Kans.; also that piece or parcel of land adjoining lot 15 on the west, and east of the east line of Railroad Avenue, which tract was vacated by the order of the county commissioners of Ford County, Kans." In order to secure the continuity and without interruption of the Weather Bureau observations and reports from Dodge City, it is desired that the office and work of that bureau be continued from a location at Dodge City similar to that now occupied. Therefore, in harmony with the desire of this department to cooperate with the Treasury Department in such housing problems, I am pleased to advise you that it will be satisfactory to this department for you to obtain legislation authorizing the transfer of the Weather Bureau's property to the Treasury Department for the proposed Federal building site under the following conditions and stipulations similar to those arranged in the case of the Federal building at Springfield, Ill., and which I believe is in the best interests of the Government: "(1) That the legislation to provide for the site, building, etc., at Dodge City, mention specifically that provisions are made for the Weather Bureau of the United States Department of Agriculture; "(2) That the rental for temporary quarters for the Weather Bureau from the time it vacates its present building to the time it occupies quarters in the new Federal building will be defrayed by the Treasury Department; "(3) That satisfactory office quarters for the Weather Bureau with floor space of not less than 1,200 square feet will be reserved on an upper floor of the projected Federal building; "(4) That necessary provisions will be made without expense to the Weather Bureau for satisfactory exposure for roof instruments including electrical conduits between the roof and office instruments; and "(5) That this department be afforded an opportunity if possible to have the Weather Bureau examine plans in connection with the needs of that bureau, especially as to roof exposures, in order that the meteorological requirements may be satisfied as far as practicable." Sincerely, C. F. MARVIN, Acting Secretary. No objection to the passage of the proposed legislation is made by the Secretary of the Treasury, whose letter, addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, is herewith appended: Hon. HENRY W. KEYES, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Chairman Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, United States Senate. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I have the honor to acknowlege receipt of your letter of April 10, 1930, requesting a report on bill (H. R. 9845) authorizing the transfer of the Government-owned Weather Bureau site at Dodge City, Kans., from the custody of the Agriculture Department to the Treasury Department, for use in connection with the new Federal building site in said city. No objection is interposed by this department to the passage of the proposed legislation. Very truly yours, A. W. MELLON, O APRIL 21 (calendar day, APRIL 29), 1930.—Ordered to be printed Mr. KEYES, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 3970] The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to whom was referred the bill (S. 3970) authorizing the Smithsonian Institution to extend the Natural History Building and authorizing an appropriation therefor, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass. This proposed legislation is asked for by the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution as is shown by the following correspondence: Hon. HENRY W. KEYES, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Washington, January 10, 1930. Chairman Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR KEYES: Mr. Delano, chairman of the permanent_committee of the Board of Regents, asked me to transmit to you his letter of January 10, with accompanying sketch plan of the proposed additions to the United States National Museum. His letter very fully explains the purposes of the additions and the great need for them, but I have suggested to Mr. Delano, and he quite approves, that the following note should be added for your information: "It should be understood that this proposed expenditure is not for the Smithsonian Institution per se, but for enlargement of the Natural History Building of the National Museum, built by appropriations of Congress, on Government land, and maintained by annual appropriations by the Congress, under the administration of the Smithsonian Institution." Very sincerely yours, C. G. ABBOTT, Secretary. |