MAINTENANCE OF CENTRAL WAREHOUSES IN NATIONAL PARKS FEBRUARY 20, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. COLTON, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6121] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred H. R. 6121, to authorize the maintenance of central warehouses in national parks and national monuments and authorizing appropriations for the purchase of supplies and materials to be kept in said warehouses, having considered the same, report it to the House favorably and with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amend ments: Page 2, line 1, after the word "cost" insert a comma and the following: "including transportation and handling" and a comma. Page 2, line 5, after the word "materials" insert a comma and the following: "including transportation and handling" and comma. Page 2, line 10, after the word "appropriations" insert the following "made for the administration, protection, maintenance, and imimprovement of said parks and monuments for the fiscal year". This legislation is made necessary by reason of a decision of the Comptroller General holding that it is necessary for specific authority of law in the establishment and operation of storehouses in the national parks. These storehouses are made necessary by reason of the distance of the various parks from the source of supply. The need for the legislation is explained fully in a letter from the Secretary of the Interior and a memorandum prepared by the Director of the National Park Service which are herein set out in full for the information of the House. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. DoN B. COLTON, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your request of December 4 for an opinion as to the merits of H. R. 6121, there is transmitted herewith a memorandum submitted by the Director of the National Park Service. After a review of the situation I am in agreement with Director Albright in his favorable report upon the bill. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary. Memorandum for the Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, February 8, 1930. Reference is made to letter dated December 4, 1929, from Hon. Don B. Colton, chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives, inclosing copy of H. R. 6121, to authorize the maintenance of central warehouses in national parks and national monuments and authorizing appropriations for the purchase of supplies and materials to be kept in said warehouses, with request for a report thereon. Storehouses in the various national parks and national monuments are maintained under the regular appropriations for the administration, protection, maintenance, and improvement of the various national parks and monuments. As supplies are issued to other appropriation projects they are either replaced by purchasing stores of equal value from the appropriations benefited or by a transfer of funds to cover same. In approving the above procedure the Comptroller General on June 14, 1929, stated: "While the accounting procedure is approved for the storehouse activities now in operation, as a matter of sound business and not as determining the lawful existence of such activities, your attention is invited to the need for specific authority of law for the establishment and operation of storehouses in the National Park Service." Unless legislative authority is given for the operation of storehouse there will be no authority for having any supplies left over which were purchased from a prior fiscal year appropriation. This would necessitate purchasing in small quantities which would not only result in increased prices and increased clerical work, but would obviously, due to shortage of materials, necessitate curtailment of park activities near the end of the fiscal year, which is the period of greatest travel to the parks, and consequently the time of greatest need for unhampered operation of park facilities. The working seasons in the parks are comparatively short and most of the parks are located some distance from the sources of supply. Therefore, it is necessary to have sufficient supplies and materials on hand to meet the current needs. It is not intended to purchase more than would be reasonably required for the purposes authorized, and the bill prohibits purchasing solely for the purpose of increasing the value of storehouse stock beyond the reasonable requirements for any current fiscal year. Upon consideration of this measure, the Comptroller General has recommended to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget that the following amendments thereto be made, which meet with the approval of this service: Insert: "including transportation and handling" after word "cost", line 1, page 2, and after word "materials", line 5 page 2; and after the word "appropriations", line 10 page 2, insert "made for the administration, protection, maintenance and improvement of said parks and monuments for the fiscal year." It is respectfully recommended that the proposed legislation, if amended in accordance with the suggestions of the Comptroller General, be given favorable consideration. HORACE M. ALBRIGHT, Director. PROVIDING FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF THE TITLE OF CERTAIN PURCHASERS FROM LOUISIANA OF LANDS FORMERLY INCLUDED IN THE LIVE OAK NAVAL RESERVE ON NAVY COMMISSIONERS ISLAND, IN ST. MARY PARISH, LA., NOW ABANDONED FEBRUARY 20, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. FULLER, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6586] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6586) providing for the confirmation of the title of certain purchasers from Louisiana of lands formerly included in the Live Oak naval reserve on Navy Commissioners Island, in St. Mary Parish, La., now abandoned, having considered the same, report it to the House favorably and recommend that it do pass with the following amendment: Page 2, line 13, after the word "purchasers" strike out the period and insert the following: Upon the payment of $1.25 per acre for such land, which sum shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States: Provided further, That the provisions of this act shall not impair the rights of valid settlers upon said land. A report from the Secretary of the Interior and a memorandum prepared by the Commissioner of the General Land Office explain the reasons for this legislation. The above-mentioned correspondence is herein set out in full for the information of the House. Hon. DoN B. COLTON, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your request of January 14, for an opinion as to the merits of H. R. 6558, there is transmitted herewith a memorandum submitted by the Commissioner of the General Land Office. After a HR-71-2-VOL 233 review of the situation I am in agreement with Commissioner Moore in his report upon the bill. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary. GENERAL LAND OFFICE, Washington, January 27, 1930. Memorandum for the Secretary. House bill No. 6586 proposes to confirm title to certain purchasers from the State of Louisiana of lands formerly included in the Live Oak Naval Reserve on Navy Commissioners Island, in St. Mary Parish, La. Navy Commissioners Island, embracing among other lands fractional secs. 36 and 37, T. 15 S., R. 12 E., Louisiana, were included in the Live Oak Naval Reserve by Executive order of February 29, 1820. These two fractional sections were claimed by the State of Louisiana as swamp land in selection list No. 3, Opelousas series, reported May 5, 1856. The State's claim was finally rejected by this office December 18, 1913, because of the abovementioned naval reserve. Certain lands on said islands were entered at the United States Land Office at Opelousas, La., and paid for at the legal rate at the time of the entry for Government lands in that locality. Certificates of purchase were issued to the original entrymen and their titles were confirmed by an act of Congress approved February 16, 1923 (42 Stat. 1258). Said act further provided that the remainder of the lands no longer needed for naval purposes should be restored to and become a part of the public lands of the United States, and also provided for a preference right period of six months from the date of the act to make entry for settlers who were qualified to enter under the homestead law and for six months after date of settlement when settlement occurred after the date of the act, and that persons who entered same under the homestead law should pay the value of such lands determined by appraisement. Lots 5 and 6, sec. 36; lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, sec. 37, T. 15 S., R. 12 E., Louisiana meridian, were appraised at $1.25 per acre and opened to entry by Circular No. 1065, dated May 25, 1926. Only lot 2, sec. 37, has been entered to date. On July 15, 1929, the State of Louisiana filed in this office a swamp-land list under the provisions of the act of September 28, 1850 (9 Stat. 519), for certain lands, including the above-described lots, with the exception of said lot 2, sec. 37. The list was rejected November 2, 1929, as to said lots for the reason that they were reserved for naval purposes at the date of the passage of the act of September 28, 1850, supra. I do not believe that the titles of persons who purchased from the State of Louisiana should be confirmed without payment to the Government of at least $1.25 per acre. Also, since the act of February 16, 1923, provided for settlement as above indicated, I am of the opinion that provision should be made to protect any settlers who may have valid settlements on the land involved. Should said House bill 6586 be amended so as to provide for payment of not less than $1.25 per acre and to protect valid settlers, I am not aware of any objection to its enactment into a law. C. C. MOORE, Commissioner. HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, TERRITORY OF HAWAII FEBRUARY 20, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. HOUSTON of Hawaii, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9183] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred H. R. 9183, to provide for the exercise of sole and exclusive jurisdiction by the United States over the Hawaii National Park in the Territory of Hawaii, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports it favorably to the House with an amendment, and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. The amendment is as follows: Page 2, line 1, strike out all after the words "Territory of Hawaii" to the end of the sentence, and insert the following: "the right to tax persons and corporations, their franchises and property on the lands included in said park." The bill was introduced, after a request had been made by the Hon. Louis C. Cramton of the National Park Service, who drafted a bill to provide for the exercise of sole and exclusive jurisdiction by the United States of the Hawaii National Park. Mr. Cramton's letter to Mr. Houston follows: Hon. VICTOR S. K. HOUSTON, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., January 6, 1930. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. HOUSTON: Knowing something of the difficulties confronting the National Park Service in its administration of the Hawaii National Park, they drafted for me at my request several months ago a bill to provide for the exercise of sole and exclusive jurisdiction by the United States of the Hawaii National Park. I am inclosing herewith a copy of the bill as drafted by them. If you feel that you care to take the responsibility, it will be very agreeable to me for you to introduce the bill. If, however, you prefer, I am willing to take the responsibility and introduce it myself. I will be very glad to talk with you about it at any time. Yours sincerely, LOUIS C. CRAMTON. |