Reports were called for from the War Department on H. R. 2562, what was known as the 50-50 bill, and it is shown that this bill would cost $42,000,000. This report was referred to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, who reported that the proposed measure is not in accord with the financial policy of the President of holding expenditures within the probable income of the Government for the next fiscal year. This being true, the bill was carefully considered by a subcommittee with a view of making an equitable adjustment. The committee, after careful study and investigation, found by raising the rate of $30 a month for one-half disability to $35 a month, that it would immediately take care of 43,846 veterans at an additional cost of $2,630,760, and by raising the rate of $40 a month allowed for three-fourths disability to $50 a month it would immediately take care of 34,177 veterans at an additional cost of $4,101,240, and by raising the rate of $50 a month for total disability to $60 a month it would immediately take care of 24,912 veterans at an additional cost of $2,989,440. By eliminating vicious habits from the bill it was found that it would take care of 5 per cent more of the claims allowed, there being admitted on an average of 13,000 original claims a year, with an addition of this 5 per cent it would mean 650 additional veterans who would ordinarily receive an average of $25 a month more if vicious habits were eliminated or an average of $300 per year less because vicious habits are a factor under existing laws. By eliminating vicious habits it will benefit more veterans and make an additional expense of $195,000, meaning a total of $10,416,440, to take care of the 90 days' service section of this bill. The increased rates for age under this section will add approximately $500,000. With reference to sections 3 and 4 of this bill, providing for the 70 days, it was found upon investigation that the War Department has reported to the effect that it would be necessary for them to examine over 400,000 personal service records in order to get an accurate estimate as to the number who would receive benefits under these provisions, and as there appears to be no other way in which to determine a basis upon which a report could be made, the enormity of the task in itself precludes the undertaking in making a specific report of this item. These facts were brought out in a report on H. R. 8631, which provides for a service of 60 days. The cost of this item was determined by going over the roster of the organizations which rendered service between 1898 and 1902, which had less than 90 days, and by taking the total number of persons in those organizations at the time of enrollment, adding them up, making an approximate total of 10,000, which number is overestimated, and deducting a possible third of them on account of deaths within the last 30 years, it would leave an approximate estimate of 6,000 still alive who would have title to pension under the provisions of this bill for the 70 days' service at an average rate of $18 per month, which would be an additional item of approximately $1,296,000, making a grand total of approximately $11,712,440 as the cost of this bill. The committee has had Spanish War legislation under consideration for many months and has devoted considerable time to the study of this legislation, which would give the greatest amount of relief to the largest number of veterans and feel that the disabled veterans are the ones to be provided for, and this bill H. R. 10466, as reported, is believed to be the best solution as to relief under present existing conditions. It is believed that this measure is not in accord with the financial policy of the President of holding expenditures within the probable income of the Government for the next fiscal year. PATENTS IN FEE FOR CERTAIN INDIAN HOMESTEADS MARCH 12, 1930.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. LEAVITT, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9761] The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9761) to authorize the issuance of patent in fee for Indian homesteads on the Crow Reservation, the Blackfeet Reservation, and the Fort Belknap Reservation, in the State of Montana, upon written application therefor, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass without amendment. The following favorable report from the Secretary of Interior and memorandum of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs set forth the advisability of enacting this measure: Hon. SCOTT LEAVITT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: With further reeference to your request of February 12, for a report on H. R. 9761, which would authorize the issuance of patents in fee for certain Indian homesteads, I transmit herewith a memorandum from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. After a review of the proposed measure, I agree with Commissioner Rhoads. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary. Memorandum for the Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Consideration has been given to H. R. 9761, being a bill to authorize the issuance of patents in fee for homesteads on the Crow Reservation, the Blackfeet Reservation, and the Fort Belknap Reservation, in the State of Montana, upon written application therefor. The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue patents in fee to allottees of the reservations named for land included in their homestead allotments, which are inalienable under existing laws even with the consent or approval of this department, and to permit the sale of homesteads on these reservations by the original allottees, and by the heirs of allottees on the Fort Belknap Reservation. The Crow allotment act of June 4, 1920 (41 Stat. L 751), provides that homesteads on that reservation shall remain inalienable for 25 years, or until the death of the allottee, with the exception that, under certain conditions, an allottee may sell not to exceed 320 acres of his or her homestead. The act of June 30, 1919 (41 Stat. L. 3-16), provides that homestead allotments on the Blackfeet Reservation shall remain inalienable and nontaxable until Congress shall otherwise direct, but the act of June 2, 1924 (43 Stat. L. 252), provides that the Blackfeet homestead allotments "shall, after the death of the original allottees, be subject to partition, sale, issuance of patents in fee, or any other disposition authorized by existing law relating to Indian allotments." In regard to the Fort Belknap allotments, provision is made in the act of March 3, 1921 (41 Stat. L. 1355-1358), that the homestead shall remain inalienable during the lifetime of the allottee or the minority of his or her heirs. The bill, if enacted, will eliminate the necessity for special legislation for the benefit of individual allottees of the Crow, Blackfeet, and Fort Belknap Reservstions for the purpose of granting said allottees patents in fee for their homesteads or permitting the sale thereof. In the past, the introduction and enactment of these special bills has required considerable time, and if the owner is in urgent need of funds, the delay often proves unfortunate. It is believed that the interests of the allottees affected will be fully protected by the rules and regulations of this department governing Indian allotments, and that it is unnecessary to continue their homesteads in an inalienable status. It is therefore recommended that the bill be enacted. PER CAPITA PAYMENTS TO SHOSHONE AND ARAPAHOE INDIANS MARCH 12, 1930.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. LEAVITT, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 10216] The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 10216) authorizing per capita payments to the Shoshone and Arapahoe Indians, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass without amendment. The following favorable report from the Secretary of the Interior and memorandum of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs set forth the need for this legislation: Hon. SCOTT LEAVITT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: With further reference to your request of March 4 for a report on H. R. 10216, which authorizes per capita payments to the Shoshone and Arapahoe Indians, I transmit herewith a memorandum from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. After a review of the proposed measure, I agree with Commissioner Rhoads. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary. Memorandum for the Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, This will refer to H. R. 10216 authorizing per capita payments to the Shoshone and Arapaho Indians in the State of Wyoming from their tribal funds deposited in the United States Treasury under the act of August 21, 1916 (39 Stat. L. 519). This act authorized oil and gas leases on the ceded portion of the reservation, the proceeds to be applied to the use and benefit of the tribe in the same manner as land sale accruals under the act of March 3, 1905 (33 Stat. L. 1017), which provides for a $50 per capita payment therefrom in the sum of $85,000 and the expenditure of the balance for irrigation and other stipulated purposes. Hence |