DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, Reference is made to letter dated February 19, from the chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives, inclosing copy of H. R. 9895, entitled "A bill to establish the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes," with request for a report thereon. The primary purpose of this bill is to change the status of the area now known as the Carlsbad Cave National Monument to that of a national park. The cave within the existing national monument is the most spectacular of underground wonders in America. In referring to it Dr. Willis T. Lee who visited the cave in 1922 and later led the National Geographic Society party in making thorough explorations, said: "For spacious chambers, for variety and beauty of multitudinous natural decorations, and for general scenic quality, it is king of its kind." It is a generally accepted fact that the outstanding grandeur of this underground phenomena entitled this area to national park status. In order to permit broader development of this area along lines consistent with the popularity of the cave as evidenced by the large number of visitors, temporary withdrawals by Executive orders were made of adjacent lands on April 2, 1924, and May 3, 1928, pending their study and determination as to their desirability for addition to the reservation. Under funds to be available for detailed examination of areas desirable for inclusion in national parks and national monuments it is proposed to have this adjoining area carefully inspected with a view to its permanent addition to the reservation. Under the provisions of H. R. 9895, the President would be authorized to make these additions to the proposed national park the same as he is now authorized by law to add lands to national monuments. I respectfully recommend that H. R. 9895 be favorably considered by the committee. HORACE M. Albright. Director. SALE OF TIMBERLAND IN MINNESOTA MARCH 20, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. NOLAN, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9934] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9934) providing for the sale of timberland in two townships in the State of Minnesota, having considered the same, report it favorably to the House with the recommendation that it do pass without amendment. A letter from the Secretary of Interior transmitting a memorandum of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, together with this memorandum, is herein set out in full. This correspondence fully explains the purpose of the legislation. 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 March 4, for a report on H. R. 9934, which would provide for the sale of timberland in two townships in the State of Minnesota, there is transmitted herewith a memorandum from the Commissioner of the General Land Office. After a review of the proposed measure, I agree with Commissioner Moore. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Memorandum for the Secretary. On March 4, 1930, the Hon. Don B. Colton, chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives, transmitted, with a request for report a copy of H. R. 9934. This bill provides for the sale of lands in two townships in the former Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, at the appraised value but at not less than $2.50 per acre, in quantities not exceeding 160 acres to any one person or association of persons. The lands in the two townships mentioned in the bill were not classified as valuable for the pine timber thereon but in accordance with the provisions of the act of January 14, 1889 (25 Stat. 642), were opened to entry at $1.25 per acre as agricultural land, under the provisions of the homestead laws. They are also subject to sale under section 2455, Revised Statutes, if isolated tracts at public auction at not less than the appraised price. The money derived from the sale of these lands goes to the Chippewa Indian fund. A considerable part of the lands in the two townships has been sold by the State for drainage taxes under the act of May 20, 1908 (35 Stat. 169). The lien of the State for taxes will take effect when patent issues on any lands so sold if not previously satisfied. As the lands have not been entered under the homestead laws, though subject thereto for a considerable time, and as the rights of the Indians are fully protected it is believed that the bill offers a practical way of disposing of the vacant lands in these townships, and no objection to the passage of the bill is seen. C. C. MOORE, Commissioner. 2d Session No. 951 CONSOLIDATION OF VETERANS' ACTIVITIES MARCH 21, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. WILLIAMSON, from the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 10630] (See Hearings on H. R. 6141) The Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 10630) to authorize the President to consolidate and coordinate governmental activities affecting war veterans, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments: Page 1, line 3, strike out the "(a)" and insert "(a)" before the word "That" at the beginning of the line. Page 2, line 10, after the word "regulation" and before the comma, insert the words "not inconsistent with law". Page 2, line 13, strike out the words "not inconsistent". Page 2, line 14, strike out the words "with law". Page 5, line 16, after the word "enforced" insert the words "by suit". Page 5, line 21, strike out the word "that" and insert in lieu thereof the words "as if". Page 5, line 21, strike out the word "may" and insert in lieu thereof the word "were". Page 5, line 22, strike out the words "now be sued" and insert in lieu thereof the words "party defendant". ANALYSIS OF BILL Section 1: Subdivision (a) provides for the consolidation and coordination of all activities having to do with veterans' relief, including the Veterans' Bureau, the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and the Pension Bureau, into an establishment to be known as the "Administration of Veterans' Affairs." The language is broad enough to permit the President to bring in under this administration any hospital units throughout the country now operated by some other department of the Government in the event that such units should no longer be needed by the departments now conducting them. Army and Navy hospitals and clinics utilized for the treatment of soldiers and sailors, the United States Soldiers' Home, Washington, D. C., and the United States Naval Home, Philadelphia, Pa., do not come within the terms of the bill and are not affected. In order that the new establishment may function efficiently, with as little duplication as possible, provision is made in subdivision (b) for regrouping the various activities and redistributing their functions so as to bring activities of a like nature under one head. For example, those compensation cases that have become fixed-which now compose nearly 70 per cent of the whole number-might well be administered by the Pension Bureau. Statutory bureaus will continue to function as the committee has not attempted to change the law prescribing their activities further than to transfer the duties and powers vested in their respective executive heads to the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs. This is essential if a uniform, consistent, and really efficient program of veterans' relief is to be realized. Section 2: This section provides for an Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, into whose hands are concentrated the duties and powers now exercised by the Commissioner of Pensions, the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and the Director of the Veterans' Bureau. Inevitably, the magnitude of the new administration will compel him to act in an administrative and supervisory capacity, and such is the intention. It is to be expected that the heads of the Pension Bureau, the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and the Veterans' Bureau will continue to function very much as they do at present, but in complete coordination and as a harmonious whole, in place of three competitive units, each striving to enlarge its program and to get the largest possible appropriations. Your committee believes that unity of direction, purpose, and program will be greatly in the interest of efficiency, economy of operation, and improved services to the veterans. Section 3: This section transfers all property now standing in the name of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers to the United States. The Board of Managers is a Federal instrumentality and stands in the capacity of trustee for the United States, which is the actual owner. Congress therefore has authority to make the transfer directly. The land upon which the Pacific Branch at Sawtelle, Calif., is located was donated to the Board of Managers by the late Senator John P. Jones. The deed of conveyance carries a defeasance clause which provides that in the event that the land should cease to be used for soldiers' home purposes it shall revert to the donor or to his heirs. While no complications are expected, your committee thought that |