PONTOON BRIDGE ACROSS RED RIVER OF THE NORTH, N. DAK. MAY 7, 1912.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. NELSON, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 6614.] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 6614) to authorize the construction of a pontoon bridge across. the Red River of the North between Pembina, N. Dak., and St. Vincent, Minn., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the Department of War, as will appear by the following communication from the Secretary of that department, inclosing a draft of a bill, which is the same as the one now reported: [Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, 1. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. 2. The Red River of the North is a navigable water of the United States not wholly within the limits of a single State, but is navigable in the States of Minnesota and North Dakota. By an act approved February 28, 1900, Congress authorized the city of Drayton to construct a pontoon bridge across said river within the city limits. This is understood to be the bridge mentioned within, which it is proposed to remove from Drayton to Pembina. 3. The authority granted for a bridge at the city of Drayton does not authorize the construction of a bridge at the city of Pembina, hence the special consent of Congress is necessary for the erection of a bridge at the latter point whether the structure is to be built of new material or of material used at another locality. 4. In accordance with Senator Nelson's request I submit a draft of a bill to authorize the erection of a bridge between Pembina, Ñ. Dak., and St. Vincent, Minn. Under the provisions of this bill, if enacted, the municipal authorities may build an entirely new structure, or use the old bridge at Drayton, provided the latter affords suitable facilities for navigation. W. H. BIXBY, Chief of Engineers, United States Ármy. (Third indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, April 20, 1912. Respectfully returned to Hon. Knute Nelson, United States Senate, inviting attention to the preceding indorsement hereon and to the accompanying draft of bill referred to. о ROBERT SHAW OLIVER, Mr. BRANDEGEE (for Mr. McLEAN), from the Committee on the Philippines, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 5455.] The Committee on the Philippines, to whom was referred the bill (S. 5455) to establish a system of wireless telegraphy in the Philippine Islands, having considered the same, report said bill to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments, viz: On page 2, line 1, strike out the words "in time of peace." The net deficit, if any, resulting from maintenance and operation in any fiscal year shall be reimbursed in equal parts by the United States and the insular Govern ment. On the 8th day of February, 1912, the President transmitted to the Senate with his approval the report of the conferees appointed by the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy for the purpose of making a joint recommendation concerning further action that may be necessary in connection with the report of the board of review of the wireless telegraph system of the Philippine Islands, convened under Executive order September 4, 1911, which report was printed as Senate Document No. 299, Sixth-second Congress, second session. EMERGENCY CROPS IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. MAY 8, 1912.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. BURNHAM, from the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 6658.] The Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, having had under consideration S. 6658, a bill to provide for emergency crops on overflowed lands in the Mississippi Valley, submits the following report: It has been made clear to the committee that the condition of the agricultural population of this large territory is extremely distressing and deplorable, and that the present extraordinary emergency there existing fully warrants the immediate appropriation of the sum carried by this bill. The Secretary of Agriculture, under dates of May 1 and 6, 1912, in letters directed to Senator Burnham, the chairman of this committee, recommends as follows: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULture, DEAR SENATOR BURNHAM: Within the last few days my attention has been called by a number of gentlemen, including Senators and Members of Congress, to the serious conditions existing in the South, where the Mississippi River and other rivers have overflowed the lands. I am reliably informed that there are from 30 to 35 counties now seriously affected. The War Department is making every effort at the present time to feed and care for these people, but the serious difficulty will come when the water recedes, which will not be this year until toward the middle of June. The time will be so late that it will not be practicable to get in a cotton crop, and a cotton crop is an absolute essential to securing the money which these people will need to tide themselves over until the next season. It seems to me imperative that some action should be taken toward relieving this situation, and I beg to offer the suggestion that your committee consider the advisability of adding an emergency item of not less than $100,000 for the purpose. It is my view that this fund should be used for the extension of the work now being done by the Bureau of Plant Industry in connection with the farmers' cooperative demonstration work to the overflowed lands. It would necessitate the putting of at least an additional man in each county and the furnishing of these men with sufficient funds for the purchase of emergency seeds for crops that may be grown after the waters recede. The experts in the Bureau of Plant Industry are of the opinion that there are quite a number of crops which might be put in which would result in bringing money to the farmers in case there were good men on the ground to advise and assist in organizing the work and giving instructions as to how the crops should be put out, grown, handled, and marketed. If in the wisdom of your committee it is desirable to adopt the suggestions and recommendations herein made, I believe that the item might go in at the back of the bill under "Miscellaneous" projects. I would suggest the following wording for the item: "Emergency crops on overflowed lands: To meet the crop emergency in the overflowed lands of the south Mississippi Valley by extending the farmers' cooperative demonstration work of the Bureau of Plant Industry, the purchase and distribution of suitable seed, and all other necessary expenses for the employment of local agents, experts, and assistants, one hundred thousand dollars, of which sum twenty-five thousand dollars shall be immediately available." Very sincerely, Hon. HENRY E. BURNHAM, Chairman Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, JAMES WILSON, Secretary. United States Senate. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEAR SENATOR BURNHAM: I have before me Senator Thornton's bill, No. 6658, providing an appropriation of $100,000 to meet the emergency in the overflowed lands in the Mississippi Valley, also the request of your clerk for recommendations regarding this bill. In this connection I would refer you to my letter of May 1, copy of which is inclosed and which, I think, covers the ground pretty fully. I can only add that further information from the region in question shows the extreme necessity of doing something for the people in the overflowed districts. In all probability the water will not recede until near the middle of June, and it will then be too late to put out cotton. To carry these people through until the next season some kind of money-making crops are absolutely essential. I believe that if the bill is passed that the extension of the farmers' cooperative demonstration work into the region would have great value, resulting in the tiding over of a large number of deserving farmers who, unless something is done for them, will be in a serious condition the coming winter and the following spring. Very truly, yours, Hon. HENRY E. BURNHAM, JAMES WILSON, Secretary. United States Senate. Chairman Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, The committee, therefore, recommends that the bill be passed with the following amendments: Page 1, line 5, strike out the words "one hundred" and insert in lieu thereof the word "fifty." Page 1, line 6, strike out the words "south" and "by." Page 1, strike out lines 7, 8, and down to the word "for" in line 9. Page 1, line 8, after the word "industry" insert the words "to be expended by the Secretary of Agriculture." Page 1, line 9, after the word "the" insert the word "temporary, and after the word "assistants" in line 10, add the following words: "and for the payment of all other necessary expenses during the present emergency." Amend the title so as to read: "A bill to provide for emergency crops on overflowed lands in the Mississippi Valley." CERTAIN RETIRED OFFICERS OF NAVY AND MARINE CORPS. MAY 8, 1912.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. LODGE, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 5955.] The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 5955) for the relief of certain retired officers of the Navy and Marine Corps, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. The bill has the approval of the Navy Department, as will appear by the following communication to the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, House of Representatives: RETIRED OFFICERS PERFORMING ACTIVE DUTY. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter transmitting a bill (H. R. 1619) for the relief of certain retired officers of the Navy and Marine Corps, and requesting the views and recommendations of the department thereon. The object of the bill is to give credit for active duty performed after retirement to all those officers so employed who were "retired for disability incident to the service." It is believed, however, that the bill should be amended by striking out the words "for disability incident to the service," on page 1, lines 3 and 4, and inserting in lieu thereof "in accordance with law," thus including within its terms not merely a single class of retired officers who have done active duty, but all such officers who have, since retirement, performed active duty. The bill in this form would apply to all classes generally rather than to a single class specially. With the amendment suggested, it is recommended that the bill be given favorable consideration by the committee. G. v. L. MEYER. Faithfully, yours, The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives. |