LOAN OF WAR DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE OF TWELFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

APRIL 17 (calendar day, APRIL 18), 1930.-Ordered to be printed

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

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 10118]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 10118) to authorize the Secretary of War to lend War Department equipment for use at the twelfth national convention of the American Legion at Boston, Mass., during the month of October, 1930, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments: Page 1, line 7, change the word "fifteen" to read "twenty". Page 1, line 8, change the word "thirty" in each instance to read "forty".

Page 1, line 9, change the word "fifteen" in each instance to read "twenty".

Page 2, line 1, change the word "fifteen" to read "twenty". The War Department interposes no objection to this measure, including the amendments.

There is attached hereto and made a part of this report a letter from the Secretary of War to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, reporting on a similar Senate bill (S. 3738), which reads as follows:

Hon. DAVID A. REED,

Chairman Committee on Military Affairs,

United States Senate.

MARCH 14, 1930.

DEAR SENATOR REED: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (S. 3738) authorizing the Secretary of War to loan certain camp equipment to the American Legion 1930 Convention Corporation, for use at the twelfth national convention of the American Legion to be held at Boston, Mass., in the month of October, 1930, with a request for information and the views of the department relative thereto.

All of the items enumerated in the bill for loan, with the exception of blankets, are now being purchased for the current supply of the Army. However, in view of the short time these articles will be withdrawn from Army use and the provision of the bill requiring a bond for the safe return in good order and condition of all the property without expense to the United States, the War Department has no objection to its enactment.

Sincerely yours,

71ST CONGRESS 2d Session

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SENATE

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REPORT No. 479

ACQUISITION OF LAND IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, ALA., FOR MILITARY PURPOSES

APRIL 17 (calendar day, APRIL 18), 1930.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. BLACK, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 8805]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 8805) to authorize the acquisition for military purposes of land in the county of Montgomery, State of Alabama, for use as an addition to Maxwell Field, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

The purpose of the bill is set forth in the House report thereon, which is made a part of this report and reads as follows:

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 8805) to authorize the acquisition for military purposes of land in the county of Montgomery, State of Alabama, for use as an addition to Maxwell Field, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass without amendment.

The purpose of this bill is simply to authorize the Secretary of War to receive a donation of some 75 acres of land in the county of Montgomery, State of Alabama, and contiguous to Maxwell Field as an addition to the flying field and to permit the Secretary of War to request condemnation proceedings to acquire such land in the name of the United States, with the proviso that any and all awards in payment for title to such land as is condemned shall be made by the donors. The fact is that the deeds to the land from the city of Montgomery to the Government are now in the hands of the War Department, and it seems clear that the titles conveyed in these deeds are good and that there will be no need for any condemnation proceedings. The condemnation provision is simply put into the bill in the event that any cloud should appear on any title to any of the property. The land is a gift from the City of Montgomery, Ala., to the Government and does not cost the Government one cent.

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SENATE

71ST CONGRESS 2d Session

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REPORT No. 482

EXCHANGING OF LANDS ADJOINING CATOOSA SPRINGS, GA., TARGET RANGE

APRIL 21, 1930.-Ordered to be printed

Mr. HARRIS, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 4198]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 4198) to authorize the exchange of certain lands adjoining the Catoosa Springs, Ga., target range, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. The purpose of the bill is set forth in the House report thereon, which is made a part of this report and reads as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to determine the true boundary line of the Fort Oglethorpe target range reservation, at Catoosa Springs, Ga. It seems a fence was built along the supposed boundary line, and Mr. Benjamin F. Harris, of Ringgold, Ga., improved 70,000 square feet of land outside of and contiguous to the fence. An inspection in 1926 showed the fence was not along the true boundary line, and the land occupied by Mr. Harris did in fact belong to the Government. Mr. Harris, however, has continually occupied the property for a sufficient number of years to establish title by adverse possession under the laws of the State of Georgia.

The War Department officials believe it will best serve the interest of the Government to settle the dispute by an agreement whereby Mr. Harris will deed to the War Department a 3-acre tract of land near the summit of Sand Mountain in exchange for the property he now occupies. By the exchange, the Government will acquire 3 acres of land on Sand Mountain which is deemed to the best interest of the Government to own, and Mr. Harris will obtain a parcel of ground which he has improved by the erection of a home. At the same time a true boundary line will be definitely determined and be duly recorded. The letter of the War Department explaining the matter is as follows:

Hon. W. FRANK JAMES,

Chairman Committee on Military Affairs,

House of Representatives.

JANUARY 30, 1930.

DEAR MR. JAMES: In compliance with the verbal request of the Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives, of January 27, 1930, for information concerning H. R. 4198, to authorize the exchange of certain lands adjoin

ing the Catoosa Springs (Ga.) target range, the War Department submits the following:

The Fort Oglethorpe (Ga.) target-range reservation was established at Catoosa Springs, Ga., under authority of an act of Congress approved June 30, 1906 (Public, No. 383, 59th Cong.). It is a permanent Army target range used in connection with Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.

During an inspection of this reservation in 1926, considerable variation was discovered between the reservation fence line and the true boundary line of the reservation. In some places the fence was found to be inside of the boundary line. In one instance the property outside of the fence was claimed by Mr. Benjamin F. Harris, of Ringgold, Ga., and although the records of the War Department indicate that title to the land in dispute is vested in the United States, it was considered advisable to settle the dispute by negotiation. As a result of these negotiations, Mr. Harris has agreed to deed to the Government his interest in a 3-acre tract of land at or near the summit of Sand Mountain, which he now owns, in exchange for the Government's interest in the tract of 70,000 square feet in dispute.

The land in dispute with Mr. Harris is no longer required by the War Department, and since the 3 acres at the summit of Sand Mountain are constantly being fired over, it is deemed to the best interest of the Government to acquire this 3-acre tract.

The authority requested is for the even exchange of titles to these lands without cost to the Government.

Trusting that the above fully covers the points in question, believe me,

Sincerely yours,

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

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 707]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 707) to authorize an appropriation for construction at Fort McKinley, Portland, Me., having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

The merits of the bill are set forth in the House report thereon which is made a part of this report and reads as follows:

The Committee on Military Affairs to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 707) to authorize an appropriation for construction at Fort McKinley, Portland, Me., introduced by Mr. Beedy, having considered the same report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

This is a bill to authorize construction at Fort McKinley of barracks destroyed by fire in January, 1929. The letter from the Secretary of War explaining the necessity for the legislation is made a part of the report, as follows:

Hon. W. FRANK JAMES,

Chairman Committee on Military Affairs,

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., July 2, 1929.

House of Representatives.

DEAR MR. JAMES: I am pleased to comply with your request of April 25, 1929, for a report on H. R. 707, a bill to authorize an appropriation for construction at Fort McKinley, Portland, Me.

There are no applicable provisions of existing law on this subject.

I favor the passage of the bill for the following reasons:

On January 15, 1929, one of the barracks at this post was destroyed by fire. The company which was quartered in this barrack is now quartered with another company. This raises certain difficulties in administration, discipline, and training.

Even before this barrack was destroyed, there were certain times of the year, notably during the summer training period, when barrack accommodations were not sufficient for the post. It is considered necessary that the replacement of the burned barrack be accomplished as soon as possible. Pending reconstruction it will be necessary to care for summer trainees at this post in tents.