MARCH 1, 1932.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. DRANE, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6444.] The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6444) for the purpose of authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to deliver the custody of the silver service of the U. S. Š. Montgomery to the Alabama Society of Fine Arts, having had the same under consideration, reports favorably thereon, without amendment, and recommends that the bill do pass. The U. S. S. Montgomery has been sold (1919) and stricken off list of active naval vessels. It is customery to make the disposition of the silver service that is being proposed in this bill. The Navy Department recommends it, as shown by the following letter from the Secretary of the Navy, addressed to the Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs. WASHINGTON, January 21, 1932. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of December 23, 1931, transmitting the bill (H. R. 6444) authorizing the Secretary of the Navy, in his discretion to deliver to the custody of the Alabama Society of Fine Arts the silver service presented to the United States for the U. S. S. Montgomery, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to inform the committee that the Navy Department recommends the enactment of this proposed legislation. Sincerely yours, C. F. ADAMS, Secretary of the Navy. о RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON MARCH 1, 1932.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. DRANE, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6637] The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill H. R. 6637, having had the same under consideration, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. Captain Hobson received a special meritorious medal of honor such as was given the officers generally who distinguished themselves in combat during the Spanish-American War. The enlisted men under his command in the sinking of the Merrimac at Santiago were awarded medals of honor, but the law in effect at that time permitted only enlisted men to receive such medals. The purpose and design of this bill is to authorize the President to present a medal of honor to Captain Hobson. The Navy Department recommends the enactment of the bill. The following letter from the Secretary of the Navy, addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, sets forth the Navy Department's views on the bill, and is hereby made a part of this report: WASHINGTON, January 25, 1932. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of December 24, 1931, transmitting the bill (H. R. 6637) authorizing the President to present a medal of honor to Richmond Pearson Hobson, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to inform the committee that the Navy Department recommends the enactment of the bill H. R. 6637. It is noted that the enlisted men who served under the command of Captain Hobson on the occasion of the sinking of the Merrimac in 1898 were awarded medals of honor, but the law in effect at that time permitted only enlisted men to receive such medals. A bill H. R. 16816 for the same purpose was introduced in the Seventy-first Congress. Sincerely yours, C. F. ADAMS, Secretary of the Navy. о 72D CONGRESS 1st Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT No. 651 RUSSELL N. BOARDMAN AND JOHN L. POLANDO MARCH 1, 1932.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. DRANE, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 7939] The Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives, to whom was referred the bill H. R. 7939, having had the same under consideration, report favorably thereon, without amendment, and recommend that the bill do pass. The purpose of this bill is to authorize the President to present, in the name of Congress, the distinguished-flying cross to Russell N. Boardman and John L. Polando, who achieved a 5,011.8-mile nonstop trans-Atlantic flight from the United States to Istanbul, Turkey. It is recommended by the Navy Department that this bill be enacted. The following letter from the Acting Secretary of the Navy, addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives, sets forth the views of the Navy Department in this case, and is hereby made a part of this report. WASHINGTON, February 12, 1932. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MP. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of January 20, 1932, transmitting the bill (H. R. 7939) to authorize the presentation of a distinguished-flying cross to Russell N. Boardman and John L. Polando, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department relative thereto, I have the honor to inform the committee as follows: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the President to present, in the name of Congress, the distinguished-flying cross to Russell N. Boardman and John L. Polando, who achieved a 5,011.8-mile nonstop trans-Atlantic flight from the United States to Istanbul, Turkey. The Navy Department recommends that the bill H. R. 7939 be enacted. Sincerely yours, ERNEST LEE JAHNCKE, о NAVY BAND AT THE UNITED SPANISH WAR VETERANS' CONVENTION AT MILWAUKEE MARCH 1, 1932.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. DRANE, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 8635.] The Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 8635) authorizing the attendance of the Marine Band at the United Spanish War Veterans' convention at Milwaukee, having had the same under consideration, report favorably thereon, and with the following amendments recommend that the bill do pass. Title, strike out the words "Marine Band" and insert in lieu thereof the words "Navy Band". Page 1, line 3, strike out the words "band of the". Page 1, line 4, strike out the words "United States Marine Corps" and insert in lieu thereof "United States Navy Band". Section 2, line 11, strike out the numerals "$8,171.44" and insert in lieu thereof "$7,000." This bill provides for the authorization of the Navy Band to attend the United Spanish War Veterans' national convention to be held. at Milwaukee, Wis., from August 21 to 25, inclusive, 1932. It also provides for the expense of the band while on the detail. The committee calls attention to the fact that there is a bill pending to authorize this band to attend and give concerts at the convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to be held at Sacramento, Calif., from August 28 to September 3, 1932. If that bill be enacted, then this band could go first to Milwaukee and proceed from that point to Sacramento, Calif. The expense of the trip to Milwaukee, independent of the trip to Sacramento, would amount to $9,226, and the trip to Sacramento, independent of the trip to Milwaukee, would amount to $15,838.88, whereas, if the band goes first to Milwaukee and then proceeds from that point to Sacramento, the joint trips would amount in expense to the sum of $18,645.08. In an arrangement as suggested the amount of $7,000 will be sufficient to defray the expenses of the trip to Milwaukee and $11,645.08 will defray the expenses to Sacramento. The following letter from the Secretary of the Navy, addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives, and which sets forth the views and recommendations of the department, is hereby made a part of this report: CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, WASHINGTON. February 5, 1932. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of January 30, 1932, transmitting the bill (H. R. 8635) to authorize the attendance of the Marine Band at the United Spanish War Veterans' convention at Milwaukee, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to inform the committee as follows: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the attendance of the Marine Band at the national convention of the United Spanish-American War Veterans at Milwaukee, and to appropriate money to carry out its provisions. If enacted, it is estimated that this bill will result in a cost to the Government of $7,291. In view of the economic situation of the country at this time, the Navy Department recommends that the bill H. R. 8635 be not enacted. Sincerely yours, C. F. ADAMS, Secretary of the Navy. о |