Amend the title so as to read: A bill to confer to certain persons who served 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 the benefits of hospitalization and the privileges of the soldiers' homes. The effect of the bill as amended by the committee, will as its terms clearly specify in the committee amendment, give the beneficiaries under this act, the benefits of hospitalization under section 202 of the World War veterans' act of 1924, as amended, the benefits of the soldiers' homes, the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Volunteer Soldiers, and the naval home. The pension features of the bill have been eliminated by the Committee on Pensions. Under existing law these beneficiaries have no title to pension, hospitalization, or the benefits of the soldiers' and sailors' homes. Reports from the Secretary of the Interior and from the Secretary of War, are attached hereto, which are as follows: Hon. HAROLD KNUTSON, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on Pensions, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. KNUTSON: Under date of January 16, 1930, you transmitted a copy of H. R. 6997, requesting a report upon same. The original draft of the bill would confer three benefits upon persons having proper service with the Quartermaster Corps on vessels owned or chartered by the United States and engaged in the transportation of troops, supplies, ammunition, or materials during the Spanish-American War, Philippine insurrection, or the China relief expedition: (1) A pension of $20 per month; (2) the use of hospitalization facilities of the United States Veterans' Bureau, under certain conditions; (3) permission to enter the soldiers' home, the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and the naval home, on the same footing as one honorably discharged from the military and naval forces of the United States. From data furnished by the War Department, approximately 14,500 persons had such service as would bring them within the provisions of this bill. estimate about 7,000 of that number are now living and would be entitled to the benefits of the proposed legislation. We By letter dated February 8, 1930, you informed us the pension feature mentioned as benefit (1) had been eliminated from consideration by your committee and suggested our report be confined to the other sections of the proposed legislation. As the features (2) and (3) of H. R. 6997 would be administered by other agencies of the Government should the bill be approved, this department is unable to furnish for your committee an estimate of the cost of the proposed legislation; comment as to its merits should properly come from the agencies affected. Very truly yours, Hon. HAROLD KNUTSON, House of Representatives. RAY LYMAN WILBUR. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 4, 1930. DEAR MR. KNUTSON: Reference is made to your recent informal inquiry at the office of the Quartermaster General regarding the status of civilian employees constituting crews of owned and chartered transports during the Spanish-American War, Philippine insurrection, and the China relief expedition, especially as regards possible pension benefits and other privileges that might be extended to such persons. All vessels under charter during the periods referred to were engaged on time form basis. The owners provided the crew, equipment, and all running supplies, except water and fuel, which were furnished by the Government. The members of the crews of these vessels were in no sense employees of the Government. There was no record kept of such crews, nor is there any information of record regarding the period during which they served. With reference to crews on vessels owned by the Government it may be possible, through a check of the pay rolls for the periods mentioned, to ascertain the names of such persons, but there is no information of record to indicate the present whereabouts of such individuals or whether they are still alive. These individuals were engaged as a part of the civilian establishment and had no military status. Trusting that this will supply the information desired, I am Sincerely yours, PATRICK J. HURLEY, O EXCHANGE OF LAND FOR PARK SYSTEM IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FEBRUARY 26, 1930.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. HALL of Indiana, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6595] The Committee on the District of Columbia to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6595) to authorize the exchange of 663 square feet of property acquired for the park system for 2,436 square feet of neighboring property, all in the Klingle Ford Valley, for addition to the park system of the National Capital, having considered the same, report it to the House without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass. The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have had this proposition under consideration, and are unanimously of the opinion that it should pass. The area to be acquired is fully as valuable as that to be surrendered, and its location makes it decidedly advantageous to the National Capital park system to be able to secure this transfer. The owners have consented to this exchange because the small area they are acquiring will assist in the matter of an approach to their building. 718T CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session { REPORT TURKEY THICKET PLAYGROUND, RECREATION, AND FEBRUARY 26, 1930.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. HALL of Indiana, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6596] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6596) to effect the consolidation of the Turkey Thicket Playground, Recreation, and Athletic Field, having considered the same, report it to the House without amendment with the recommendation that it do pass. The bill provides for the exchange of 4.2012 acres of land recently acquired by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission for exactly the same amount of land, which is located in a neighborhood more suitable for the purposes of a playground and recreation field. The exchange is made without any additional cost, as the land has been offered at the same price per acre as paid for the land now owned by the commission. The land to be acquired will adjoin land already owned by the commission and will enable a consolidation of playgrounds to be made. in this neighborhood. O |