States Navy, and to Archie Biggs, baker, first class, United States Navy, respectively, in accordance with directions of the Secretary of the Navy.

SEC. 12. That the General Accounting Office is hereby authorized and directed to credit the accounts of Daniel A. Neumann, formerly a lieutenant in the Supply Corps of the Naval Reserve Force, in the amount of $894. which sum represents payments made by said officer to Lieutenant Harry S. Lyons, United States Naval Reserve Force, on forged pay receipts.

SEC. 13. That the General Accounting Office is hereby authorized and directed to credit the accounts of Captain Walter B. Izard, Supply Corps, United States Navy, retired, in the amount of $455.22, which sum represents payments made by said officer to H. Hanakahi, carpenter's mate, United States Navy, during the period from July 1, 1923, to March 15, 1924, on forged pay receipts.

SEC. 14. That the General Accounting Office is hereby authorized and directed to credit the accounts of Lieutenant Thomas C. Edrington, Supply Corps, United States Navy, in the amount of $7,388.78, which sum represents a payment made by said officer to the F. W. Mark Construction Company (Incorporated), under department contract Numbered 2005 (Yards and Docks, 3269), dated September 30, 1918, as amended by letter change issued by the Bureau of Yards and Docks, under date of December 21, 1921, authorizing an increase in the contract price on account of "the elimination of work in excess of eight hours a day after the date of the armistice, November 11, 1918."

SEC. 15. That the General Accounting Office is hereby authorized and directed to credit the accounts of Lieutenant Henry Guilmette, Supply Corps, United States Navy, in the amount of $49.80, which sum represents a payment made by said officer to Joseph Daniel Morrison, machinist's mate, first class, United States Navy, as a travel allowance upon transfer to the Fleet Naval Reserve Class F-4-C, after sixteen years' service.

SEC. 16. That the General Accounting Office is hereby authorized and directed to credit the accounts of Lieutenant Francis D. Humphrey, Supply Corps, United States Navy, in the amount of $3,754.82, which sum represents payments made by said officer to a number of enlisted men for quarters and subsistence while attached to the United States ship Scorpion and serving on shore at Constantinople, Turkey.

SEC. 17. That the General Accounting Office is hereby authorized and directed to credit the accounts of Lieutenant Robert O'Hagan, Supply Corps, United States Navy, in the amount of $554.72, which sum represents payments made by said officer to a number of enlisted men for quarters and subsistence while attached to the United States ship Scorpion and serving on shore at Constantinople, Turkey.

SEC. 18. That the General Accounting Office is hereby authorized and directed to credit the accounts of Lieutenant Edward Mixon, Supply Corps, United States Navy, in the amount of $387.73, which sum represents overpayments to civilian laborers at the Helium Production Plant, Fort Worth, Texas, during the first quarter, 1924, disallowed by the Comptroller General in the final settlement of the accounts of said officer.

SEC. 19. That the General Accounting Office is hereby authorized and directed to credit the accounts of Captain George S. Seibels, Supply Corps, United States Navy, in the amount of $2,778.01, which sum represents payments made to Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate Willie Perry Conway, Fleet Naval Reserve, for retainer pay during the period from October 1, 1922, to June 30, 1926, disallowed by the Comptroller General in Statement of Differences M-23367-N, dated August 4, 1927.

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TO AUTHORIZE ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS TO THE UNITED STATES SHIP CALIFORNIA (H. R. 14660)

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 4, 1928.

The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: There is inclosed herewith a copy of a letter, together with a copy of a proposed bill to authorize alterations and repairs to the U. S. S. California, this day forwarded to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Sincerely yours,

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I have the honor to transmit herewith a draft of a proposed bill to authorize alterations and repairs to the U.S. S. California.

The purpose of the proposed legislation is to authorize alterations and repairs to the U. S. S. California at a total cost not to exceed $650,000.

During the contemplated overhaul of the U. S. S. California in the fiscal year 1930 the Navy Department desires to install a 5-inch antiaircraft battery, hoist, etc., and a protected flag battle station, being of the opinion that their installation at this time would be most economical. However, the cost of these alterations would exceed the statutory limit of repairs to naval vessels ($300,000) (39 Stat. 605; U. S. C., Title 5, sec. 468).

The proposed legislation was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with the above information. Under date of December 3, 1928, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advised the Navy Department that the proposed legislation is not in conflict with the financial program of the President.

The Navy Department recommends the enactment of the proposed legislation.

Sincerely yours,

CURTIS D. WILBUR,
Secretary of the Navy.

A BILL To authorize alterations and repairs to the United States ship California Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That alterations and repairs are hereby authorized to the United States ship California at a total cost not to exceed $650,000. The alterations herein authorized shall be subject to the limitations prescribed in the treaty limiting naval armament ratified August 17, 1923.

TO AUTHORIZE AN INCREASE IN THE LIMIT OF COST OF ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS TO CERTAIN NAVAL VESSEL (H. R. 13249)

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 1, 1928.

MY DEAR MR. BRITTEN: Referring to your letter of May 19, 1928, informing the Navy Department that the Committee on Naval Affairs did not report out H. R. 13249 increasing the limit of cost for the alterations and repairs authorized to the U. S. battleships Oklahoma and Nevada from $13,150,000 to $13,600,000 because the bureau chiefs were not able to specify to the satisfaction of the committee where the additional funds were to be used but that the committee would be glad to have the further views of the department in December of this year, I have the honor to furnish such additional information as is now available relative to the probable cost of the work.

The Philadelphia and Norfolk Navy Yards were instructed to submit revised estimates of the cost of all work already authorized, based on the actual cost returns to the month of October, 1928, inclusive, and an estimate of the cost of the work required to complete. The navy yards were also directed to submit estimates covering any items not yet authorized which were considered necessary for the purpose of completing the modernization in accordance within the intent of the authorization. These estimates have been carefully studied by the department and have been discussed with representatives of the navy yards with a view to eliminating any items not considered of sufficient immediate urgency to justify the expenditures required and also to making certain that no necessary items have been overlooked.

It appears from the study of the revised estimates that the probable cost of the work already authorized under all bureaus on the two vessels will be $155,000 in excess of the present authorized limit of $13,150,000 and if this limit is not increased it will be necessary to defer a sufficient amount of work to keep the expenditures within the present limit of cost. While it is estimated that it would be practicable within the present limit of cost to place the vessels in condition to operate with the fleet at the conclusion of the overhaul, such a procedure would be obviously undesirable as the vessels would be incomplete in a military sense.

The navy yards have recommended the undertaking of repairs in addition to the repairs already authorized amounting for the two vessels to $255,000 and have proposed for consideration additional alterations amounting for the two vessels to $420,000. The approval of this additional work would bring the total cost to $13,980,000. While all of the additional work proposed is desirable and while it might be advisable, considering the two vessels by themselves, to (45)

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undertake all of this work during the modernization overhaul, the department is of the opinion that it will be practicable, within the increased limit of cost already proposed, to place the Oklahoma and Nevada in a condition at the termination of the overhaul that will compare favorably with the condition of the more modern battleships in service. Considering the restrictions imposed on the work undertaken on all vessels of the fleet by the amount that can be allocated for naval expenditures, the department does not recommend an expenditure on the Oklahoma and Nevada in excess of the amount already proposed and renews its recommendation that the authorized limit of cost be increased from $13,150,000 to $13,600,000.

Sincerely yours,

Hon. FRED A. BRITTEN, M. C.,

CURTIS D. WILBUR.

Acting Chairman House Naval Affairs Committee,

Washington, D. C.

A BILL To authorize an increase in the limit of cost of alterations and repairs to certain naval vessels

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the limit of cost for the alterations and repairs to the United States ships Oklahoma and Nevada, authorized to be modernized by the act of March 2, 1927 (Forty-fourth Statutes at Large, page 1343) in accordance with the limitations prescribed in the treaty limiting naval armaments ratified August 17, 1923, is hereby increased from $13,150,000 to $13.600,000 in all. O