view of the small size and short period of existence of the Navy flying arm. Since the enactment of this provision considerable study has been given to the proper proportion of enlisted pilots to officer pilots and the experience of three years' flying has been gained, with a gradually increasing air arm, and particularly with an enormous increase in flying from carriers at sea. As a result of this study and experience, the final proportion of the enlisted pilots can not now be definitely established even for the conditions of the moment. Furthermore, as the conditions of flying and the actual components of the Navy air squadrons vary with the rapid development of the flying art, it would appear unwise to fix for all time a definite proportion or even a minimum definite proportion for enlisted pilots.

The bill H. R. 6599 is proposed by the Navy Department, and the following letter from the Secretary of the Navy, addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, House of Representatives, clearly sets forth the recommendations of the department and is hereby made a part of this report:

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 18, 1931.

The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: There is inclosed herewith a copy of a letter, together with a copy of a proposed bill to amend the act entitled "An act to authorize the construction and procurement of aircraft and aircraft equipment in the Navy and Marine Corps, and to adjust and define the status of the operating personnel in connection therewith," approved June 24, 1926, with reference to the number of enlisted pilots in the Navy, this day forwarded to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It is requested that this proposed legislation be included on the priority list of legislation submitted December 15, 1931, to the Committee on Naval Affairs under item No. 4, appearing on the "desirable list."

Sincerely yours,

C. F. ADAMS, Secretary of the Navy.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., December 18, 1931.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I have the honor to transmit herewith a draft of a bill to amend the act entitled "An act to authorize the construction and procurement of aircraft and aircraft equipment in the Navy and Marine Corps, and to adjust and define the status of the operating personnel in connection therewith," approved June 24, 1926, with reference to the number of enlisted pilots in the Navy.

The purpose of the proposed legislation is to amend the act of June 24, 1926, paragraph 8, section 3 (44 Stat. 767; U. S. C., Supp. V, title 34, sec. 735), so that the number of enlisted pilots in the Navy may be changed to such percentage of the total number of pilots employed in the Navy on aviation duty as the Secretary of the Navy may from time to time determine to be best adapted to the flight operations of the Navy.

The proposed amendment to paragraph 8 will place the Navy Department in the same position as to the control of the percentage of the enlisted pilots as now exists under law in the Army.

The minimum figure of 30 per cent of the total number of pilots employed in the Navy on aviation duty by existing law was based upon experience gained prior to the enactment of the law mentioned above in 1926, which, however, was a somewhat limited experience in view of the small size and short period of existence of the Navy flying arm. Since the enactment of this provision considerable study has been given to the proper proportion of enlisted pilots to officer

pilots and the experience of five years' flying has been gained, with a gradually increasing air arm, and particularly with an enormous increase in flying from carriers at sea. As a result of this study and experience, the Navy Department finds that the minimum of 30 per cent of enlisted pilots now prescribed by law is too high and recommends that it be reduced to 20 per cent.

The inclosed draft follows the wording of the present law fixing the minimum per cent of enlisted pilots in the Army, and is identical with the bill H. R. 16588, which was favorably reported on by the House Committee on Naval Affairs on January 31, 1931.

Computation of the increased cost, if any, that would be involved by the proposed legislation presents some difficulty. On the one hand there is an increased cost due to the difference in flying pay of the officer and the enlisted pilot. On the other hand there is considerable saving due to the increased cost of training the enlisted pilot and to the increased turnover, through greater attrition due to failure to reenlist, of the enlisted pilots. On the whole, however, it is believed the proposed legislation would represent a saving rather than an increased cost to the Government.

In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends that the proposed legislation be enacted.

Sincerely yours,

C. F. ADAMS, Secretary of the Navy.

O

REGULATE DISTRIBUTION, PROMOTION, RETIREMENT, AND DISCHARGE OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF MARINE CORPS

FEBRUARY 18, 1932.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. COYLE, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 5344]

The Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5344) to regulate the distribution, promotion, retirement, and discharge of commissioned officers of the Marine Corps and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill do pass.

In compliance with clause 2a of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, there is herewith printed in parallel columns (1) the text of the provisions of existing laws which it is proposed to repeal or amend, and (2) the parts of the bill making the repeal or amendment.

United States Code, title 34, section 626.-Commissioned personnel; proportionate distribution: The total number of commissioned officers of the active list of the line and staff of the Marine Corps, exclusive of officers borne on the Navy list as additional numbers, shall be 4 per centum of the total authorized enlisted strength of the active list of the Marine Corps, exclusive of the Marine Band, and of men under sentence of discharge by court-martial, distributed in the proportion of one officer with rank senior to colonel to four with the rank of colonel, to five with the rank of lieutenant colonel, to fourteen with the rank of major, to thirty-seven with the rank of captain, to thirty-one with the rank of first lieutenant, to thirty-one with the rank of second lieutenant. (August 29, 1916, c. 417, 39 Stat. 609.)

Section 1 of bill.-That hereafter commissioned officers of the Marine Corps shall be distributed in grades, promoted, retired and discharged in like manner and with the same relative conditions in all respects as are provided for commissioned officers of the line of the Navy by existing law, or by laws hereafter enacted, except as may be necessary to adapt the said provisions to the Marine Corps, or as herein otherwise provided.

United States Code, title 34, section 630.-Brigadier generals: Brigadier generals of the line shall, subject to physical examination, be appointed from colonels of the line whose names are borne on the eligible list prepared annually by a board of not less than five general officers of the Marine Corps and approved by the President. (August 29, 1916, c. 417, 39 Stat. 609; March 4, 1925, c. 536, sec. 7, 43 Stat. 1272.)

United States Code, title 34, section 661.-Promotions as in Army: Promotions to every grade of commissioned officers in the Marine Corps below the grade of major general commandant shall, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, be made in the same manner and under the same conditions as were, prior to June 4, 1920, prescribed in pursuance of law, for commissioned officers of the Army. (October 1, 1890, c. 1241, sec. 1, 26 Stat. 562; July 28, 1892, c. 315, 27 Stat. 321; June 3, 1916, c. 134, sec. 24 39 Stat. 183; August 29, 1916, c. 417, 39 Stat. 609, 610; June 4, 1920, c. 227, sec. 24, 41 Stat. 774.)

United States Code, title 34, section 662. Examining board; composition; examining boards which may be organized under the provisions of the preceding section to determine the fitness of officers of the Marine Corps for promotion shall in all cases consist of not less than five officers, three of whom shall, if practicable, be officers of the Marine Corps, senior to the officer to be examined, and two of whom shall be medical officers of the Navy: Provided, That when not practicable to detail officers of the Marine Corps as members of such examining boards, officers of the line in the Navh shall be so detailed. (July 28, 1892, c. 315, 27 Stat. 321.)

United States Code, title 34, section 663.-Certificate of examining board: No officer of the Marine Corps below the grade or rank of colonel shall be promoted or advanced in grade or rank on the active list unless the examining board provided for in the preceding section shall, in addition to making such certificate of qualification for promotion or advancement as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, certify that there is sufficient evidence before the board to satisfy the board that the officer is fully quali fied professionally for the higher grade or rank. (March 4, 1925, c. 536, sec. 7, 43 Stat. 1272.)

United States Code, title 34, section 664.-Examinations generally: The officers of the Marine Corps above the