TO CORRECT THE NAVAL RECORD OF RAYMOND WALLACE (H. R.

16783)

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 9, 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 February 4, 1929, transmitting the bill (H. R. 16783) to correct the naval record of Raymond Wallace, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department relative thereto, I have the honor to inform you as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide that in the administration of any laws conferring rights, privileges, and benefits upon honorably discharged enlisted men, Raymond Wallace, who was a member of the United States Navy, shall hereafter be held and considered to have been discharged honorably from the naval service on September 22, 1919.

The records of the Navy Department show that Wallace was born on March 8, 1892. He enlisted in the Navy on April 18, 1917, to serve for a period of four years. On October 1, 1919, Wallace was declared a deserter as of September 22, 1919, from the U. S. S. Vulcan and the naval service, and is still carried on the rolls and records of the Navy Department in the status of a deserter at large. It will be noted that Wallace deserted while the United States was technically in a state of war.

The Navy Department is unaware of any good reason for considering Wallace as having been honorably discharged, and without such reason does not believe that any special action toward his case should be taken. Further, any legislation, such as this bill, restoring the rights, privileges, and benefits of an honorably discharged man to a man in a deserter's status is a partial revocation of the penalties incurred by the desertion, and, by the accumulation of cases in which such remission is accomplished by acts of Congress, tends to weaken the force of the penalties consequent upon desertion.

The bill (H. R. 16783), if enacted into law, will result in no additional cost to the Navy; however, it is probable that a charge against the appropriations of the Veterans' Bureau will be involved now or in the future.

The bill (H. R. 16783) 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 February 26, 1929, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advised the Navy Department that the recommenda

tion against the enactment of the proposed legislation is in accordance with the financial program of the President.

In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 16783. Sincerely yours,

C. F. ADAMS, Secretary of the Navy.

A BILL To correct the naval record of Raymond Wallace

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in the administration of any laws conferring rights, privileges, and benefits upon honorably discharged enlisted men Raymond Wallace, who was a member of the United States Navy and serving as fireman, first class, on the United States ship Vulcan, shall hereafter be held and considered to have been discharged honorably from the naval service of the United States as a member of that organization September 22, 1919: Provided, That no bounty, back pay, pension, or allowance shall be held to have accrued prior to the passage of this act.

FOR THE RELIEF OF HARRY A. C. HALL, ALIAS CHARLES A. BROOKS (H. R. 16777)

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 9, 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 February 4, 1929, transmitting the bill (H. R. 16777) for the relief of Harry A. C. Hall, alias Charles A. Brooks, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to inform you as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide that in the administration of any laws conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon honorably discharged sailors of the United States Navy Harry A. C. Hall, who was a fireman, first class, United States Navy, shall hereafter be held and considered to have been discharged honorably from the naval service.

The records of the Navy Department show that the above-named man was born on August 12, 1875. He enlisted in the Navy on March 10, 1898, to serve for a period of three years. During his service Hall committed the following offenses: Late reporting for watch; 25 hours over leave; drunk on duty; leaving ship without permission; and 231 hours overtime. For the latter offense he was tried by summary court-martial and sentenced to be discharged from the naval service with a bad conduct discharge. The discharge was. effected on December 9, 1898, while the United States was at war with Spain.

The Navy Department is unaware of any good reason for considering Hall as having been honorably discharged from the naval service, and without such reason does not believe that any special action toward his case should be taken. Further, any legislation, such as this bill, restoring the rights, privileges, and benefits of an honorably discharged man to a man discharged for his offenses is a partial revocation of the penalties of the discharge and by the accumulation of cases in which such remission is accomplished by acts of Congress tends to weaken the force of subsequent discharges of the same

nature.

The bill (H. R. 16777), if enacted into law, will result in no additional cost to the Navy; however, it is probable that a pension charge will be involved now or in the future.

The bill (H. R. 16777) 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 February 27, 1929, the Director of the (881)

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Bureau of the Budget advised the Navy Department that the recommendation against the enactment of the proposed legislation is in accordance with the financial program of the President.

In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 16777.

Sincerely yours,

C. F. ADAMS, Secretary of the Nary.

A BILL For the relief of Harry A. C. Hall, alias Charles A. Brooks

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in the administration of any laws conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon honorably discharged sailors of the United States Harry A. C. Hall, who was a fireman first class, United States Navy, shall hereafter be held and considered to have been discharged honorably from the naval service of the United States as a sailor of the above rank: Provided, That no back pay, bounty, pension, or other emolument shall accrue prior to the passage of this act.

AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF SIX MONTHS' DEATH GRATUITY TO BENEFICIARIES OF TRANSFERRED MEMBERS OF THE FLEET NAVAL RESERVE AND FLEET MARINE CORPS RESERVE WHO DIE WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY (H. R. 16445)

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 9, 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 January 22, 1929, transmitting the bill (H. R. 16445) authorizing payment of six months' death gratuity to beneficiaries of transferred members of the Fleet Naval Reserve and Fleet Marine Corps Reserve who die while on active duty, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to inform you as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide that the provisions of the act of June 4, 1920, which authorized the payment of an amount equal to six months' pay to the beneficiaries of personnel of the regular Navy or Marine Corps, and retired personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps, when on active duty, shall be extended to transferred members of the Fleet Naval Reserve and Fleet Marine Corps Reserve who die while on active duty and not as a result of their own misconduct, and providing that the act shall be retroactive to June 4, 1920.

The cost of the bill (H. R. 16445), if enacted, is estimated at $3,300 per year in the future, and $13,500 for back payments as authorized by the final proviso.

The bill (H. R. 16445) was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with the above information. Under date of March 1, 1929, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advised the Navy Department that the proposed legislation is in conflict with the financial program of the President at this time.

In view of the above, the Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 16445.

Sincerely yours,

C. F. ADAMS, Secretary of the Navy.

A BILL Authorizing payment of six months' death gratuity to beneficiaries of transferred members of the Fleet Naval Reserve and Fleet Marine Corps Reserve who die while on active duty

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the provisions of the act of June 4, 1920, which authorized the payment of an amount equal to six months' pay to the beneficiaries of personnel of the regular Navy or Marine Corps, and retired personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps, when on active duty, shall be extended to transferred members of the Fleet Naval Reserve and Fleet Marine Corps Reserve who die while on active duty and not as a result of their own misconduct, and transferred members of the Fleet Naval Reserve and Fleet Marine Corps Reserve shall be required to file with the Navy Department the name of beneficiary other than wife or child to which payment of the amount equal to six months' pay shall be made in the event of their death while on active duty and not the result of their own misconduct: Provided, That this act shall be retroactive to June 4, 1920.