FOR THE RELIEF OF HOMER ELMER COX (H. R. 10611)

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January, 1929.

The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: With reference to your letter of February 8, 1928, inclosing a copy of bill H. R. 10611, for the relief of Homer Elmer Cox, I have the honor to submit the following report:

The purpose of this proposed legislation is to appropriate a sum not in excess of $147.73, to reimburse Homer Elmer Cox, formerly Coxswain, United States Navy, for losses of clothing and other personal effects sustained by him when the U. S. S. San Diego was sunk on July 19, 1918. The bill provides that reimbursement shall be made under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy and upon vouchers to be approved by him.

Cox submitted a claim dated July 27, 1918, for reimbursement for the articles lost in the sinking of the San Diego, and on August 8, 1918, his claim was approved by the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, under the provisions of the act of October 6, 1917 (sec. 981, title 34, U. S. Code). Settlement was not made prior to his separation from the service and thereafter payment could not be made under the act of October 6, 1917, supra. It is recommended that

bill H. R. 10611 be enacted.

Bill H. R. 10611 was referred to the Bureau of the Budget and under date of September 11, 1928, the Navy Department was informed that the above report is not in conflict with the financial program of the President.

Sincerely yours,

CURTIS D. WILBUR,
Secretary of the Navy.

A BILL For the relief of Homer Elmer Cox

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not to exceed $147.73, to reimburse Coxswain Homer Elmer Cox, United States Navy, for losses of clothing and other personal effects sustained by him when the United States ship San Diego was sunk off Fire Island Light on July 19, 1918: Provided, That such reimbursement shall be made under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy and upon vouchers to be approved by him.

TO ESTABLISH A NAVAL AIRSHIP BASE IN ONE OF THE PACIFIC COAST STATES (H. R. 16694)

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 26, 1929.

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 establish a naval airship base in one of the Pacific Coast States, this day forwarded to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Sincerely yours,

CURTIS D. WILBUR,

Secretary of the Navy.

NAVY DEPARTMENT,

Washington, January 26, 1929.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I have the honor to transmit herewith a proposed draft of a bill to establish a naval airship base in one of the Pacific Coast States.

The purpose of the proposed bill is to provide for the establishment of a naval airship base at a cost not to exceed $5,000,000 in one of the Pacific Coast States. It directs the Secretary of the Navy to appoint a board of naval officers, to examine and report upon locations, and to submit the report of the board to the Congress, together with recommendations and estimates in detail. It authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to secure an option or options at a cost not in excess of $25,000. For initiating the establishment of such a base, the bill authorizes an appropriation of $2,000,000.

Contracts for two large rigid airships were let on October 8, 1928. One of these ships is to be completed in 30 months and the other in 45 months from that date. The present rigid airship operations are handicapped by lack of proper shed facilities. Unless additional facilities are assured prior to the date of completion of the first of these two new airships, it may be necessary to cancel the contract for the second ship. If the two ships are to be completed, there will have to be an additional airship base ready for occupancy within less than four years. To that end, it will be necessary to make an actual start on the work within less than two years, which in turn requires that an appropriation be secured for the fiscal year 1931. To do that in an ordinary and orderly course of events, the authorization should be secured at the earliest possible moment.

Since additional shed facilities are necessary, it is believed to be desirable that the new base be constructed on the west coast, rather than to enlarge the present base on the east coast.

The proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would result in an additional cost to the Navy of not to exceed $5,000,000.

The proposed draft of bill was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with the above information as to cost and a statement that the Navy Department contemplated making a favorable recommendation thereon. Under date of January, 1929, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advised the Navy Department that this proposed legislation is not in conflict with the financial program of the President. In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends that the proposed legislation be enacted.

Sincerely yours,

CURTIS D. WILBUR,
Secretary of the Navy.

A BILL To establish a naval airship base in one of the Pacific Coast States

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the establishment of a naval airship base at a cost not to exceed $5,000,000 on a site of one thousand acres, more or less, in one of the Pacific Coast States, is hereby authorized, and the Secretary of the Navy is directed to appoint a board of naval officers to examine and report upon such locations as may be deemed most suitable therefor and to submit to the Congress the report of said board concerning the several locations considered and his recommendations as to the location of the airship base, together with estimates in detail of costs of the best sites available and of the structures, facilities and improvements necessary to the efficiency of the airship base; and the Secretary of the Navy is further authorized to secure, if deemed advisable, an option or options, at a cost not in excess of $25,000, payable from the appropriation "Aviation, Navy, 1930," on the lands comprising such a site or sites as the said Secretary may consider advantageously located for the purpose. For initiating the establishment of such a naval airship base and its attendant facilities, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $2,000,000.

TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFITTING OF THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION" (H. R. 15204)

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 29, 1929.

The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of December 17, 1928, transmitting the bill H. R. 15204, to provide for the refitting of the frigate Constitution, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to advise you as follows:

The purpose of the proposed legislation is to restore the frigate Constitution as far as may be practicable to her original condition. For such purpose there is appropriated the sum of $300,000. The bill also provides for the annual appropriations necessary for the upkeep of the ship.

The act of March 4, 1925 (43 Stat. 1278), authorized the Secretary of the Navy to repair, equip, and restore the frigate Constitution as far as may be practicable to her original condition but not for active service, and in addition authorized the Secretary of the Navy to accept and use any donations or contributions which might be offered for this purpose. The act of March 3, 1927 (44 Stat. 1358), authorized the Secretary of the Navy to give or sell such parts of the frigate Constitution, as not needed in her restoration, as souvenirs to persons, clubs, or associations contributing to the restoration and preservation of the vessel, the costs in connection with such souvenirs to be charged against the sales. On December 28, 1928, the total amount received from contributions and sale of souvenirs and pictures was $626,579.35, of which amount approximately $150,000 had been expended for pictures and souvenirs intended for sale for the benefit of the fund and for expenses of collection.

The $300,000 proposed in the bill H. R. 15204 approximates the amount required, in addition to contributions already received, for reconditioning the Constitution. However, the Navy Department desires to complete the reconditioning from funds contributed for that purpose. The commandant first naval district, who is in charge of the collection of the funds, is of the opinion that sufficient contributions can be obtained to complete the work.

The bill H. R. 15204, if enacted into law, will result in an additional cost to the Government of $300,000.

The bill H. R. 15204 was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with the above information as to cost and a statement that the Navy Department contemplated making an unfavorable recommendation thereon. Under date of January 21, 1929, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advised the Navy Department that this proposed (553)

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