approved March 2, 1929, May 26, 1930, and February 20, 1931. Almost four years have elapsed since the original authorization for the construction of this bridge was granted, and, since the beneficiaries of such grant have been unable within that period to arrange for commencing its construction they certainly are not entitled to longer tie up the proposed location through the medium of successive time extensions. When the original bill was pending to authorize the construction of a bridge at this point, this department submitted an adverse report thereon, stating that in its judgment a private toll bridge should not be authorized. It still is the view of the department that a private toll bridge should not be constructed at this point. It, therefore, recommends against favorable action on this bill. Sincerely, C. F. MARVIN, Acting Secretary. O HR-72-1-VOL 1- -39 REGULATING THE USE OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE MILITARY AND NONMILITARY ACTIVITIES OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT FEBRUARY 10, 1932.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. THOMASON, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 8330] The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 8330) regulating the use of appropriations for the military and nonmilitary activities of the War Department, introduced by Mr. Goss, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. This bill (H. R. 8330) is a substitute bill for H. R. 5337, also introduced by Mr. Goss. H. R. 8330 provides that in the expenditure of appropriations for the military and nonmilitary activities of the War Department the Secretary of War shall, unless in his discretion the interest of the Government will not permit, purchase, or contract for, within the limits of the United States, only articles of the growth, production, or manufacture of the United States, notwithstanding that such articles of the growth, production, or manufacture of the United States may cost more, if such excess of cost be not unreasonable. H. R. 8330 was substituted for H. R. 5337 to meet the suggestion of the Secretary of War that any "legislation which may be enacted conform to the existing law." The Secretary's suggestion is contained. in his letter to the late chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, which letter follows: Hon. PERCY E. QUIN, Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives. JANUARY 14, 1932. MY DEAR MR. QUIN: Careful consideration has been given to the bill H. R. 5337, "A bill regulating the use of appropriations for the military and nonmilitary activities of the War Department," which you transmitted to the War Department under date of January 9, 1932, with a request for information and the views of the War Department relative thereto. The War Department appropriation act approved February 3, 1931, making appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1931, contains a provision very similar to the proposed bill as follows: "That in the expenditure of appropriations in this act the Secretary of War shall, unless in his discretion the interests of the Government will not permit, purchase or contract for within the limits of the United States only articles of the growth, production, or manufacture of the United States, notwithstanding that such articles of the growth, production, or manufacture of the United States may cost more, if such excess of cost be not unreasonable." The provision quoted is applicable to appropriations made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1932. The proposed bill (H. R. 5337) would make this provision permanent. It is worded substantially as was Senate amendment No. 48 to H. R. 15593, Seventy-first Congress, third session. At the suggestion of the subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations the Senate amendment was changed into the form finally enacted. In view of the fact that the present law is working satisfactorily, it is suggested that any similar legislation which may be enacted conform to the existing law. This will give the War Department further opportunity to test its application in its present form, and should it be found advisable at any future time to make any changes I shall be pleased to make such recommendation to your committee: PATRICK J. HURLEY, Secretary of Wars Sincerely yours, BRIDGE ACROSS THE CONNECTICUT RIVER BETWEEN HARTFORD AND EAST HARTFORD, CONN. FEBRUARY 10, 1932.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. LONERGAN, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 8510] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was. referred the bill (H. R. 8510) granting the consent of Congress to the Connecticut River State Bridge Commission, a statutory commission of the State of Connecticut created and existing under the provisions of special act No. 496 of the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, 1931 session, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Connecticut River, having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Page 1, line 8, after the words "operate a" insert the words "free highway". The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Hon. SAM RAYBURN, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. RAYBURN: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 8510, transmitted with your letter of January 28 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize the Connecticut River State Bridge Commission of the State of Connecticut to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Connecticut River between Hartford and East Hartford, Conn. The location indicated for the proposed bridge is on the Connecticut system of Federal-aid highways. Favorable action on the bill is recommended. Sincerely yours, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. |