61ST CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ( DOCUMENT 2d Session. No. 599. AMENDMENTS TO ESTIMATES FOR THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. LETTER FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, SUBMITTING, WITH A COPY OF A COMMUNICATION FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR, AMENDMENTS TO THE ESTIMATES FOR THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. JANUARY 27, 1910.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, January 27, 1910. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, copy of a communication from the Acting Secretary of Commerce and Labor, of the 26th instant, submitting certain amendments to the estimates of appropriations for the support of the Bureau of Standards for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911. Respectfully, CHARLES D. HILLES, Acting Secretary. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR, SIR: I have to request that the following amendments in the estimates of appropriations for the support of the Bureau of Standards of this department, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911, be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives: On page 154 amend the item "Two associate physicists, at $4,000 each (in lieu of 2, at $2,500 each), $8,000," so as to read: "Two physicists, at $4,000 each (in lieu of 2, at $2,500 each), $8,000.” On page 155, after the item "One associate physicist, at $3,000 (in lieu of 1, at $2,500), $3,000," add "Two associate physicists, at $2,500 each (submitted), $5,000." Amend the item "Fourteen laboratory assistants, at $1,200 each. (increase of 4 submitted), $16,800," so as to read: "Thirteen laboratory assistants, at $1,200 each (increase of 3 submitted), $15,600.” Amend the item "Four laboratory helpers, at $720 each (increase of 2 submitted), $2,880," so as to read: "Three laboratory helpers, at $720 each (increase of 1 submitted), $2,160." Amend the item "One glass blower, $1,200," so as to read: "One glass blower, at $1,400.” The result of these amendments will be a net reduction in the estimates for the Bureau of Standards for the fiscal year 1911 of $320. On page 156 amend the item "Equipment, Bureau of StandardsFor apparatus, machinery, tools, and appliances used in connection with the buildings or with the work of the bureau, laboratory supplies, materials and supplies used in the construction of apparatus, machinery, or other appliances; piping, wiring, and construction incident to the installation of apparatus, machinery, or appliances; furniture for laboratories and offices, cases for apparatus, $45,000," so as to read: "Equipment, Bureau of Standards-For apparatus, machinery, tools, and appliances used in connection with the buildings or with the work of the bureau, including their exchange, laboratory supplies, materials and supplies used in the construction of apparatus, machinery, or other appliances; piping, wiring, and construction incident to the installation of apparatus, machinery, or appliances; furniture for laboratories and offices, cases for apparatus, $45,000." This amendment adds to the language of the appropriation the phrase "including their exchange," which will make it possible for the Bureau of Standards to exchange old apparatus in connection with the purchase of new apparatus, which is very desirable, and should be done as a matter of economy, because the Director of the Bureau of Standards is always able to make a better bargain with the old apparatus in connection with the purchase of new apparatus than by selling it as old material under section 3618, Revised Statutes. Change the estimate for the "Investigation of damage due to electric currents, Bureau of Standards-For investigating the effects of electric currents upon gas and water pipes, and upon the reenforced foundations of buildings, bridges, and other structures, and for determining methods of discovering and preventing the destructive effects of such currents (submitted), $15,000," so as to read: "Investigation of damage due to electric currents, Bureau of Standards-For investigating the dangers to life and property incident to the generation, transmission, and use of electricity for power, light, and other pur poses, and of the precautions that should be taken to reduce such dangers to a minimum, including the effects of electric currents upon gas pipes, water pipes, and other metallic pipes and structural metal underground, and upon the reenforced concrete foundations of buildings, bridges, and other structures, and for determining methods of ascertaining the presence of such currents and preventing their destructive effects (submitted), $15,000." Respectfully, BENJ. S. CABLE, Acting Secretary. The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. O JANUARY 27, 1910.-Referred to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 24, 1910. SIR: The chairman and chief engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission considers it very desirable, and I fully concur with him, that the financial transactions and obligations of the Panama Railroad Company with the United States be simplified and reduced as much as possible. The Isthmian Canal Commission has been in the past requesting annual appropriations from Congress for the reconstruction and reequipment of the Panama Railroad, which have been made as loans. and on which the railroad pays 4 per cent interest. It is especially desirable for the Panama Railroad to reduce these and similar fixed charges and other expenditures to a minimum, to obviate, as far as possible, the necessity of calling on Congress for assistance. respect in which the Panama Railroad can be made more nearly selfsupporting is as follows: The Panama Railroad Company is paying annually from its earnings $250,000, as a concessionary subsidy to the United States, as the successor under the treaty with Panama of the latter's rights under the original contract between the Panama Railroad Company and the United States of Colombia. This amount is a fixed charge against the earnings of the Panama Railroad Company and practically amounts to a dividend to the United States of about 34 per cent on the par value of the capital stock of the railroad corporation. Neither the railroad nor the Isthmian Canal Commission in any way benefits or derives any credit from this payment. It amounts practically to a gratuity to the United States on one hand and a direct loss to the railroad and to the commission on the other. For, as the Isthmian Canal Commission must make good any shortcomings of the Panama Railroad Company through payments for freight and passenger transportation, etc., it is to the interests of the commission that the railroad be relieved of all unnecessary burdens, in order that canal construction work may benefit by a reduction in transportation charges. To accomplish this purpose I would recommend that section 2, page 36, of the estimates for 1911 be suitably amended. This section at present reads as follows: SEC. 2. That hereafter the Panama Railroad Company shall carry no insurance to cover marine and fire losses. The following amendment is suggested, to be added to section 2 above: Provided, That hereafter payment by the Panama Railroad Company to the United States, in accordance with the treaty with Panama, of the annual subsidy of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, as provided by the concession granted by the United States of Colombia, shall not be required. 61ST CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ( DOCUMENT 2d Session. 7 No. 603. PHILADELPHIA SUPPLY COMPANY. LETTER FROM THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL, SUBMITTING THE CLAIM OF THE PHILADELPHIA SUPPLY COMPANY FOR PAYMENT FOR CERTAIN POST-OFFICE SUPPLIES. JANUARY 28, 1910.-Referred to the Committee on Claims and ordered to be printed. POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL, Washington, D. C., January 25, 1910. MY DEAR SIR: I have the honor to invite attention to communications from this department dated June 26, 1906, and February 4, 1908, copies herewith, concerning an appropriation for the payment of a claim of the Philadelphia Supply Company, of Washington, D. C., for canceling stamps for rural letter carriers and rural postal stations, and ink for use in connection with such stamps. This matter is brought to your attention in order that it may be submitted to the Committee on Claims of the House of Representatives, with the recommendation that an appropriation of $2,566.40 be made for the purpose of paying the claim of the Philadelphia Supply Company for canceling stamps for rural letter carriers and rural postal stations, and ink for use in connection with such stamps. A memorandum containing a statement of facts and the findings of the department relative to this claim is inclosed herewith. Yours, very truly, Hon. JOSEPH G. CANNON, F. H. HITCHCOCK, Speaker of the House of Representatives. JUNE 26, 1906. SIR: There is submitted herewith a statement of facts embodying estimate for an appropriation of $2,566.40 for payment of claims of the Philadelphia Supply Company for canceling stamps for rural let |