and economic investigations and studies of conditions in Palo Verde and Cibola Valleys and vicinity on the Colorado River, and for other purposes.

The investigations authorized in this bill should be made by the Department of the Interior to give information required in preparing the plans for the allAmerican canal and to determine the relation between the water levels established by this canal and the river heights in Palo Verde and Cibola Valleys. It is now known that the agriculture of both valleys will require the protection of levees. It is not known what these levees should include or even the approxi mate cost. The preliminary study soon to be made by Mr. Dobbel may give the information required, but if not, it will give the information needed to prepare for a more systematic engineering and economic survey.

It is believed that the bill should have the approval of the department. ELWOOD MEAD, Commissioner.

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GRAVEL ROAD IN WALKER RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION

MARCH 1, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. ARENTZ, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 5057]

The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5057) to provide for the construction of a gravel road in the Walker River Indian Reservation, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass without amendment.

This proposed road, which would traverse the Walker River Indian Reservation, would be a vital connecting link between the towns of Yerington and Hawthorne, in the State of Nevada. A highway has been recently constructed from Schurz to Fallon in that State, omitting, however, this particular link. It is believed by the committee that the construction of this piece of road would be a most worthy project, not only being of invaluable benefit to the Indians who live on the reservation through which the road would pass, but in addition eliminating a very bad spot from an otherwise first-class gravel highway.

The report of the Secretary of the Interior is as follows:

Hon. SCOTT LEAVITT,

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, February 6, 1930.

Chairman Committee on Indian Affairs,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Reference is made to your request for report on H. R. 5057, being a bill to provide for the construction of a gravel road in the Walker River Indian Reservation, Nev.

The road in question traverses the Walker River Reservation north and south and would connect the towns of Yerington and Hawthorne, a distance of 1.52 miles. It is a link in a new highway recently completed from Schurz to Fallon and it will be necessary in the construction of this link of the highway to erect a bridge across Walker River. The cost of the road and bridge based on surveys and estimates prepared by the State highway engineer of Nevada is $21,773.67.

This road would be of material benefit to the Indians of the reservation. Since the enactment of the Federal highway act a considerable amount of road construction has been carried on in States throughout the West where Indian reservations are located, and some roads have been constructed across Indian reservations where such roads have been included within the 7 per cent systems. It has not been possible to include all reservation roads within the State's 7 per cent system, and there has been a growing demand for special legislation authorizing the construction of highways on Indian reservations. This has been brought about, first, through the fact that State highways have been brought to the boundaries of the reservations and have left in some instances impassable roads through the reservations; and, second, because of the large amount of untaxed Indian land the States and counties have been unable to advance funds for the construction of needed improved highways. Numerous bills were introduced in Congress from time to time seeking special authorization for road construction. By the act of May 26, 1928 (45 Stat. 750), appropriations for road, work on Indian reservations were authorized and the Interior Department appropriation act for the fiscal year 1930 carries an appropriation of $250,000 for this purpose. A similar appropriation is contained in the appropriation act for the next fiscal year now pending before the Senate. The purpose of the legislation authorizing appropriations for road construction on Indian reservations was to preclude the enactment of special authorization acts for Indian reservation roads.

Because of the vast territory covered by Indian reservations it became necessary to allot small sums of money to many jurisdictions. Requests from the field for allotment of funds from the initial appropriation for road construction totaled more than $950,000. For road work on the Walker River Reservation during the present fiscal year only $2,000 could be allotted and if this appropriation is applied to construction on the project covered by H. R. 5057, there will still be needed more than $19,000 for the completion of the project. When appropriations for the next fiscal year become available, consideration will be given to the needs of the Walker River Reservation together with the needs of other reservations throughout the service. Because of the large amount involved it may not be possible to allot a sum sufficient to complete the bridge and highway in question. In view of the provisions of the act of May 26, 1928, and the appropriations made subsequent to its passage, I am unable to recommend favorable consideration of H. R. 5057.

Very truly yours,

RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary.

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AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, IN HIS DISCRETION, TO DELIVER TO THE CUSTODY OF THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS, MO., THE SHIP'S BELL, BUILDER'S LABEL PLATE, A RECORD OF WAR SERVICES, LETTERS FORMING THE SHIP'S NAME, AND SILVER SERVICE OF THE CRUISER "ST. LOUIS"

MARCH 1, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed.

Mr. BRITTEN, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 9109]

The Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9109) authorizing the Secretary of the Navy, in his discretion, to deliver to the custody of the Jefferson Memorial Association, of St. Louis, Mo., the ship's bell, builder's label plate, a record of war services, letters forming the ship's name, and silver service of the cruiser St. Louis, that is now, or may be in his custody, having had the same under consideration, report favorably thereon, with the following amendments, and with the recommendation that the bill do pass:

Amend title; strike out, after the word "bell", the words "plaque, war record, name plate" and insert the following: "builder's label plate, a record of war services, letters forming ship's name".

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized, in his discretion, to deliver to the custody of the Jefferson Memorial Association of Saint Louis, Missouri, the ship's bell, builder's label plate, a record of war services, letters forming the ship's name, and silver service of the cruiser Saint Louis that is now or may be in his custody: Provided, That no expense shall be incurred by the United States through the delivery of said articles.

The bill meets with the approval of the Navy Department, as shown by 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, and which is hereby made a part of this report:

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 26, 1930.

The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of January 27, 1930, transmitting the bill (H. R. 9109) authorizing the Secretary of the Navy, in his discretion, to deliver to the custody of the Jefferson Memorial Association of St. Louis, Mo., the ship's bell, plaque, war record, name plate, and silver service of the cruiser St. Louis that is now or may be in his custody, 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 Secretary of the Navy to deliver to the custody of the Jefferson Memorial Association of St. Louis, Mo., the ship's bell, plaque, war record, name plate, and silver service of the cruiser St. Louis that is now or may be in his custody, and that no expense shall be incurred by the United States through the delivery of said articles.

It is noted that the bill H. R. 9109 gives an inaccurate description of some of the articles in the custody of the Navy Department. The department recommends the enactment of the bill H. R. 9109, provided it be amended to read as follows: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized, in his discretion, to loan to the Jefferson Memorial Association of Saint Louis, Missouri, the ship's bell, builder's label plate, a record of war services, letters forming the ship's name, and silver service of the cruiser Saint Louis that is now or may be in his custody: Provided, That no expense shall be incurred by the United States through the loan of said articles." The bill H. R. 9109, if enacted, will result in no additional cost to the Navy. Sincerely yours, ERNEST LEE JAHNCKE, Acting Secretary of the Navy.

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