71ST CONGRESS 2d Session

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SENATE

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REPORT No. 475

FOR THE RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 17 (calendar day, APRIL 18), 1930.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. METCALF, from the Committee on Education and Labor, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. J. Res. 149]

The Committee on Education and Labor voted to report to the Senate, Senate Joint Resolution 149, introduced by Mr. Brookhart, with adverse report. It was the opinion of the committee that an appropriation of $50,000,000 to be expended, as stipulated in this bill, would be unwise and ineffective. It was felt that unemployment problems are largely local in nature and can be best handled by the cities or communities without participation by the Federal Government, which would be a dangerous precedent. However, at the request of Mr. Brookhart, it was ordered that it be adversely reported to the Senate.

71ST CONGRESS 2d Session

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SENATE

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REPORT No. 477

COMMEMORATION OF THE TERMINATION OF THE WAR BETWEEN

THE STATES AT APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, VA.

APRIL 17 (calendar day, APRIL 18), 1930.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. PATTERSON, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. 3810.]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 3810) to provide for the commemoration of the termination of the War between the States at Appomattox Court House, Va., having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendment:

Page 2, line 5, change "$150,000" to read "$100,000".

This amendment is for the purpose of making the bill conform to the recommendation of the Secretary of War, contained in his report of December 6, 1928 (S. Doc. 187, 70th Cong., 2d sess.), made in compliance with section 2 of the act of Congress to provide for the study and investigation of battle fields in the United States for commemorative purposes, approved June 11, 1926.

There is attached hereto and made a part of this report a letter from the Secretary of War, dated April 1, 1930, reporting on this

measure.

Hon. DAVID A. REED,

United States Senate.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 1, 1930.

DEAR SENATOR REED: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (S. 3810) to provide for the commemoration of the termination of the War between the States at Appomattox Court House, Va., which you transmitted to the War Department under date of March 17, 1930, with a request for information and the views of the department relative thereto.

The applicable provision of existing law on this subject appears in Public No. 372, Sixty-ninth Congress, entitled "An act to provide for the study and investigation of battle fields in the United States for commemorative purposes," approved June 11, 1926.

In the report of progress made in the study and investigation of battle fields, submitted to Congress on December 6, 1928, and published as Senate Document

No. 187, Seventieth Congress, second session, it was recommended that Congress approve the general classification of battle fields as set forth in House of Representatives Report No. 1071, Sixty-ninth Congress, first session; that it indicate which battle fields, if any, it desires to commemorate or survey; and that it authorize the necessary appropriations to carry its wishes into effect. No action has been taken by Congress on this recommendation.

The method of commemoration of the historic events named in this bill is in accordance with the recommendations as to classification as set forth in the report of the War Department. The amount authorized to be appropriated for this commemoration, however, is not in accordance with the recommendations of said report.

The bill authorizes the appropriation of $150,000, and further authorizes an annual maintenance appropriation not to exceed $250.

The War Department recommends against enactment of the bill for the reason that it does not conform to the report submitted to Congress on this battle field. If the bill were amended by striking out "$150,000" on page 2, line 5, and substituting therefor "$100,000," it would then conform to the report on this battle field submitted to Congress by the War Department.

The question as to whether or not any historical place and event shall be commemorated is a matter of public policy which Congress must decide. When a bill is submitted which conforms to the report on that place and event, the War Department consistently withholds any definite recommendation as to whether or not the place and event should be commemorated.