One of the aims of this 1920 act was to bring about an equitable distribution of steamship services to all sections of our seaboard and this was to be made the more certain by a preference, provided in section 7 of the 1920 act, in the sale of lines to the persons who had the support of the domestic communities primarily interested in such lines or to persons who might then be maintaining a service from the United States port to or in the general direction of the world market port to which the Shipping Board had determined that such service should be established. It has been asserted that to construe section 407 as a mandatory direction to award the contract to the lowest bidder brings that section in conflict with these basic purposes of the 1920 act. No present advantage is served by argument as to the proper construction of existing law or by referring to administrative action thereunder. After thoughtful consideration of the problem presented, your committee hold the view that a positive and effective preference in the awarding of mail contracts should be given to purchasers from the United States of lines established by the Shipping Board and operated upon an essential mail route. It is desirable in the extreme that those services which have been purchased from the Government and those which may be hereafter acquired by private interests shall be successfully maintained, for in the judgment of the Shipping Board and of this committee they are essential services for the movement of the commerce of the United States. This desirable harmony of purpose is effected by the amendment of section 407, which your committee recommend. It gives legislative assurance through its mandatory language that a purchaser of a line established by the board and operated on a certified route shall be awarded the mail contract thereon if the purchaser makes application and submits a proposal for the contract, subject, however, to three definite conditions which are deemed necessary safeguards against an improper contract or an excessive rate of pay. The first is that the Postmaster General must be of opinion that the purchaser applying for the contract has such qualifications as will insure its proper performance; the second condition is that the rate of pay shall not exceed the maximum fixed by statute; and the third limitation is that the Shipping Board must find and certify to the Postmaster General that the awarding of the contract to the applying purchaser is in the public interest and will aid in carrying out the purposes of our merchant marine act. Except as to this definite preference thus given to a purchaser of a service established by the board, the general provisions of the 1928 act as to advertising and competitive bids continue to apply. Your committee unanimously recommend this amendment. The members reaffirm their belief, expressed in the 1920 and 1928 acts, that the distribution of shipping services to our various important ports and the building up therein of domestic support to the lines serving them, is sound policy. It gives opportunity for the trade of the country to seek natural outlets to foreign markets; it shortens rail hauls and levels and stabilizes freight rates; it stimulates local loyalty to the shipping service and it brings to the whole country a new appreciation of the advantage of American ships. This amendment now urged upon the favor of the House gives further assurance of still greater accomplishments in behalf of an American merchant marine. о GRANTING LAND IN WRANGELL, ALASKA, TO THE TOWN OF WRANGELL, ALASKA FEBRUARY 26, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. EVANS of Montana, from the Committee on Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 8713] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill H. R. 8713 begs leave to report that it has had this legislation under consideration and after hearings thereon has directed me to report the same to the House with recommendation that the bill do pass. The purpose of this bill is for Congress to confirm the action of the United States Office of Education whereby the town of Wrangell, Alaska, assumed all responsibility and expense for teaching native Indian children in consideration of the use of the school building and grounds of the Office of Education. An agreement was entered into whereby title to this property would be transferred to the town of Wrangell, Alaska, with the consent of Congress. On February 3, 1930, the Secretary of the Interior reported to Hon. Don B. Colton, chairman of the Committee on the Public Lands, as follows: Hon. DoN B. COLTON, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Referring again to your request of January 18 for a report on H. R. 8713, which would grant certain land to the town of Wrangell, Alaska, I transmit herewith a memorandum that has been prepared by Commissioner Moore of the General Land Office. After a review of the measure, I concur in Commissioner Moore's favorable recommendation. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary. MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY Reference is had to H. R. 8713, authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Interior to convey the tract of land delineated as United States school reserve No. 3, on the plat of Wrangell town site, Alaska, together with a United States school building located thereon to the incorporated town of Wrangell, Alaska. It appears that the school building under consideration was erected by the office of education in 1904, for the education of the native children in that vicinity, and that under an agreement between the office of education and the Wrangell School Board, the school board assumed the duty of providing for the education of such native children on the condition that it be granted the use and occupancy of the school building and the land on which it is situated. The commissioner of education reported to you on May 17, 1929, that the Wrangell School Board has fulfilled the terms of said agreement and he recommended that this office be requested to prepare a bill for transmission to Congress, to convey the school building and the land on which it is situated to the town authorities. This recommendation was approved by the assistant secretary, and in accordance therewith a proposed bill was prepared in this office which you forwarded to Hon. Dan A. Sutherland on July 18, 1929. H. R. 8713 is identical therewith. Inasmuch as the town of Wrangell has assumed the entire responsibility of this school and the transfer of the property is mutually satisfactory to the office of education, and the Wrangell School Board, I believe that title thereto should be conveyed to the town. I, therefore, recommend the approval of the proposed legislation. O C. C. MOORE, Commissioner. CERTAIN BENEFITS TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS, ETC. FEBRUARY 26, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. MOUSER, from the Committee on Pensions, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6997] The Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6997) proposing to grant pensions to the crews of vessels owned or chartered by the United States and engaged in the transportation of troops, supplies, ammunition, or materials of war during the war with Spain, the Philippine insurrection, or the China relief expedition, and for other purposes, respectfully submit the following report with the recommendation that the bill H. R. 6997 do pass. Oral and documentary evidence was adduced showing that the men who manned the Government transports during the SpanishAmerican War were under war-time military discipline; they wore a uniform; they were subject to court-martial; and they received honorable discharges at the close of the war. Amend the bill as follows: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the following in lieu thereof: That all persons who served ninety days or more in the Quartermaster Corps or under the jurisdiction of the Quartermaster General during the war with Spain, the Philippine insurrection, or the China relief expedition on vessels owned or chartered by the United States and engaged in the transportation of troops, supplies, ammunition, or materials of war, and who have been honorably discharged from such service, or who, having served less than ninety days, were discharged for disability incurred in the service in line of duty, shall (1) Be entitled to the benefits provided for by paragraph (10) of section 202 of the World War veterans' act, 1924, as amended; and (2) For the purpose of receiving the benefits of the Soldiers' Home, the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and the naval home, be held to have been honorably discharged from the military or naval forces of the United States. |