in connection therewith as well as numerous other items of development. The list of class 4 and larger projects submitted by the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics for the fiscal year 1948 (S. Doc. No. 14, 80th Cong., 1st sess.), contained a project for the development of this airport at an estimated cost to the Federal Government of $800,000 consisting of construction of runways and taxiways and the installation of airport lighting. Similarly, the list submitted in the fiscal year 1949 (S. Doc. 151, 80th Cong., 2d sess.) contained a project for the development of this airport at an estimated Federal cost of $800,000. Neither of these projects ever materialized, however, due to the inability of the Commonwealth authorities to accept Federal aid on the terms and conditions set forth in the regulations of the Administrator in effect at that time. The particular condition giving rise to difficulty was the requirement that a project sponsor agree to certain limitations with respect to the sale and delivery of aviation gasoline and oil at their airports. Due to this requirement it is understood that the Attorney General of the Commonwealth ruled that under Massachusetts law the Commonwealth could not legally accept Federal aid on the conditions proposed. In preparing its current list of class 4 and larger airport projects (S. Doc. No. 77, 81st Cong., 1st sess.) the Civil Aeronautics Administration omitted any project for the development of the Logan International Airport, after first ascertaining from responsible officials of the Commonwealth that the Commonwealth was still not in a position to participate in the program. Subsequent to the submission of that list, however, the regulations of the Administrator were amended to eliminate entirely the requirement with respect to aviation gasoline and oil above referred to. For this reason and others the Commonwealth is now desirous of participating in the program, and the present Attorney General has ruled that there is now no legal objection to such participation. Unless Federal aid is provided during the present fiscal year for a portion of the additional development necessary at the Logan International Airport, the entire program of the Commonwealth for improvement of that airport will be retarded. The Civil Aeronautics Administration considers it necessary that there be undertaken with Federal aid as soon as possible during the present fiscal year the construction of the administration building together with certain grading, drainage, and paving work at a total estimated cost to the Federal Government of $600,000. In view of the above considerations the Secretary of Commerce in his report on House Joint Resolution Res. 338 has approved and recommended the adoption of this resolution, and representatives of the Civil Aeronautics Administration have testified that the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics considers the resolution adequate to provide the required authority. Hon. ROBERT CROSSER, THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. ChAIRMAN: This letter is in reply to your letter of August 12, 1949, requesting the comments of the Department of Commerce on H. J. Res. 338, to authorize the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics to undertake a project under the Federal Airport Act for the development and improvement of Logan International Airport at Boston, Mass., during the fiscal year 1950. The purpose of H. J. Res. 338 is to authorize the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics to undertake a project under the Federal Airport Act during the fiscal year 1950 for the development of Logan International Airport at Boston, Mass., to the same extent as if a project for the development of that airport had been included in the Administrator's request for authority to undertake certain projects for the development of class 4 and larger airports during the fiscal year 1950, which request was submitted to the Congress under letter of the Acting Secretary of Commerce dated April 18, 1949, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of the Federal Airport Act. Since the submission of the list of projects for development of class 4 and larger airports, under the letter of April 18, 1949, the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics has determined that a project for the development of the Logan International Airport at Boston, Mass., should be undertaken during the fiscal year 1950, and that the adoption of H J. Res. 338 is necessary to provide the required authority. In view of this determination by the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics, the Department of Commerce approves and recommends the adoption of H. J. Res. 338. Because of the urgency of the request of your committee, we have not ascertained whether the views expressed herein are in accord with those of the Bureau of the Budget. Chairman, Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. MY DEAR MR CROSSER: In response to your request of August 12, and in confirmation of advice telephoned to the committee staff on that day, there would be no objection from the standpoint of the program of the President to the enactment of House Joint Resolution 338. Sincerely yours, FRANK PACE, Jr., Director. AUTHORIZING SALE OF PUBLIC LANDS IN ALASKA AUGUST 17, 1949.-Ordered to be printed Mr. PETERSON, from the committee of conference, submitted the following CONFERENCE REPORT (To accompany H. R. 2859 The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H. R. 2859) to authorize the sale of public lands in Alaska, having met, after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same. J. HARDIN PETERSON, L. M. BENTSEN, Jr., ERNEST W. MCFARLAND, E. D. MILLIKIN. GUY CORDON, Managers on the Part of the Senate. STATEMENT OF THE MANAGERS ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE The managers on the part of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H. R. 2859) to authorize the sale of public lands in Alaska, submit the following statement in explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon and recommended in the accompanying conference report as to each of such amendments, namely: The Senate amendments which were agreed to in conference established the following changes in the bill as passed by the House: (a) The land shall be sold only at public auction after 30 days' published notice, to a purchaser who has furnished proof satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior of a bona fide intention and means to develop the tract for industrial or commercial purposes including housing construction. (b) No sale shall exceed 160 acres. (c) The sales price shall not be less than the appraised price of the land and cost of survey to describe same. (d) The purchaser shall first receive a certificate of purchase to be followed by a patent in fee only after the purchaser shall within 3 years file proof by affidavit of two disinterested witnesses that the land was used for the purpose for which it was sold for not less than 6 months. (e) Mineral prospectors shall be required to pay to the purchaser for damages that may be caused to the land value and tangible improvements. J. HARDIN PETERSON, Managers on the Part of the House. AUTHORIZING THE ADDITION OF CERTAIN LANDS TO THE BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AUGUST 17, 1949.-Ordered to be printed Mr. PETERSON, from the committee o. conference, submitted the following CONFERENCE REPORT [To accompany H. R. 2877) The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H. R. 2877) to authorize the addition of certain lands to the Big Bend National Park, in the State of Texas, and for other purposes, having met, after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows: That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the language inserted by the Senate amendment insert the following: Provided, however, That the aggregate cost to the Federal Government of properties acquired hereafter and under the provisions hereof shall not exceed the sum of $10,000.; and the Senate agree to the same. J. HARDIN PETERSON, JOHN R. MURDOCK, KEN REGAN, FRED L. CRAWFORD, Managers on the Part of the House. JOSEPH C. O'MAHONEY, J. E. MURRAY, CLINTON P. ANDERSON, HUGH BUTLER, E. D. MILLIKIN, Managers on the Part of the Senate. H. Repts., 81-1, vol. 6-18 |