Upon receipt of Mr. Cramton's letter, a communication was addressed to the Hon. L. M. Judd, Governor of the Territory of Hawaii, asking for his recommendation and comment on the proposed draft, to which letter the following dispatch was received: Delegate HOUSTON, HONOLULU, January 24, 1930. House Office Building, Washington. Referring to your inquiry of January 7, regarding Hawaii National Park jurisdiction. I perceive no objection, providing bill is amended by changing the period after the word "Park" at the end of the first sentence to a comma, and inserting "and saving further to the Territory of Hawaii all jurisdiction now existing, to tax all rightful subjects of taxation in respect to said park." Letter follows. JUDD, Governor. Accordingly, this bill was introduced with the amendment proposed by Governor Judd, and upon the request of the chairman, the following recommendation was received from the Department of the Interior: Hon. DoN B. COLTON, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: With further reference to your request of January 29 for a report on H. R. 9183, which would provide for the exercise of sole and exclusive jurisdiction by the United States over the Hawaii National Park, I transmit herewith a memorandum from the Director of the National Park Service. After a review of the measure, I agree with Director Albright. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Memorandum for the Secretary. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, Reference is made to letter dated January 29, from the chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives, inclosing copy of H. R. 9183, entitled "A bill 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," with request for report thereon. As a result of efforts of this service to have apprehended and brought to justice the perpetrator of an atrocious criminal assault committed upon the wife of a temporary park ranger while residing in the park in 1928, it was brought to light through a careful investigation of the law by the Department of Justice that the United States in Hawaii were without jurisdiction to punish crimes committed in the park since no provision was ever made by Congress for the exercise by the United States of exclusive jurisdiction over the park area when established and when the territorial laws and judicial system were extended over the Hawaiian Islands, Congress had made these applicable to the whole territory. Other offenses have also since been committed in the park over which the United States is without jurisdiction and which the National Park Service was powerless to have punished or prosecuted. This situation greatly handicaps satisfactory administration of the park and the enforcement of the laws and rules and regulations governing the area. Exclusive jurisdiction is now exercised by the United States over practically all of the principal national parks and has been found to be essential to their proper administration and protection. The bill (H. R. 9183) to provide for the exercise of exclusive jurisdiction by the United States over the Hawaii National Park has been drawn up and follows in substance legislation heretofore enacted for the purpose of accepting cessions of exclusive jurisdiction by various States in which other national parks are located, and the same appears to be satisfactory in every respect. It is respectfully recommended that this bill be favorably considered by the department and the committee. HORACE M. ALBRIGHT, Director. The committee amendment which was adopted is for the purpose of reserving to the Territory of Hawaii the right to tax persons and corporations, their franchises and property on the lands included in said park, and to conform to the language of similar acts. TO PAVE ROAD AT HOSPITAL NO. 90, MUSKOGEE, OKLA. FEBRUARY 20, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, from the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9325] The Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9325) which authorizes the expenditure of $4,950 of the funds appropriated for hospital purposes, for the purpose of paving the road running north and south immediately east of and adjacent to Hospital No. 90, at Muskogee, Okla., and between the said hospital and the Government cottages on the east side of the road, having considered the same, report thereon and recommend that it pass. The bill has the approval of the United States Veterans' Bureau, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report. UNITED STATES VETERANS' BUREAU, Hon. ROYAL C. JOHNSON, Chairman Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. JOHNSON: Further reference is made to your letter of recent date transmitting a copy of H. R. 9325, a bill to authorize the United States Veterans' Bureau to pave the road running north and south immediately east of and adjacent to Hospital No. 90, at Muskogee, Okla., and to authorize the use of $4,950 of funds appropriated for hospital purposes, and for other purposes, requesting a report thereon. This bill proposes to authorize the United States Veterans' Bureau to pave the road running north and south immediately east of and adjacent to Hospital No. 90, at Muskogee, Okla., and between the said hospital and the Government cottages on the east side of the road, and to use for said purposes $4,950 of the funds for the construction of hospital facilities. This is a public road and is open to and used by the public generally. In view of the material benefit to the hospital which would result from the resurfacing of this road, I have heretofore advised Congressman W. W. Hastings that I would favor the enactment of a special bill authorizing the use of the appropriations of the bureau for the construction work incident thereto. The committee is therefore advised that I recommend the favorable consideration of this legislation. A copy of this letter is inclosed for your use. Very truly yours, |