INVESTIGATE LOSSES RESULTING FROM CAMPAIGN FOR THE ERADICATION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY APRIL 30, 1935.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. JONES, from the Committee on Agriculture, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 1419] The Committee on Agriculture, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 1419) to provide for an investigation and report of losses resulting from the campaign for the eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly by the Department of Agriculture, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass with the following amendment: On page 2, line 16, strike out "1935" and insert in lieu thereof "1936". The report of the Secretary of Agriculture on this bill is quoted below: In response to your request for a report on the legislation, you are advised that the Department has no objection to the conduct of an investigation and survey to determine what losses, if any, were sustained in the eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly in Florida with the distinct understanding that the survey is to provide information only and that the report of such information shall not be construed as imposing any legal or moral obligation upon the Government of the United States. Upon reference of this matter to the Budget Bureau, as required by Budget Circular 49, the Department was advised by the Acting Director thereof under date of March 4, 1935, as follows: "You are advised that, insofar as the financial program of the President is concerned, there would be no objection to this proposed legislation, provided it be amended to authorize an appropriation of not to exceed $10,000." It will also be noted that a similar bill passed the Senate during the last session of Congress. O AMEND SECTIONS 3 AND 4 OF THE ACT FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE BITTER ROOT IRRIGATION PROJECT, MONTANA MAY 1, 1935.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. KNUTE HILL, from the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 946] The Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, to whom was re, ferred the bill (S. 946) to amend sections 3 and 4 of the act of July 31930, entitled "An act for the rehabilitation of the Bitter Root irrigation project, Montana", having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass. The bill in its present form has the approval of the Department of the Interior, as stated in the following letter from the Secretary: Hon. COMPTON I. WHITE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I have received, with request for report, copy of S. 946, to amend sections 3 and 4 of the act of July 3, 1930, entitled "An act for the rehabilitation of the Bitter Root irrigation project, Mont.," as passed by the Senate and containing the suggested amendments made in my report of February 25, 1935, to Hon. Alva B. Adams, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation. There is nothing I wish to add to the report made to the chairman of the Senate committee. I therefore recommend favorable consideration of the act as passed by the Senate. Sincerely yours, HAROLD L. ICKES, H. Repts., 74-1, vol. 2-37 The report made to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, referred to in the above letter from the Secretary, is added and made a part of this report: Hon. ALVA B. ADAMS, INTERIOR Department, Washington, February 25, 1935. Chairman Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, United States Senate. MY DEAR SENATOR ADAMS: I have received, with request for report, copy of S. 946, to amend sections 3 and 4 of the act of July 3, 1930, entitled "An act for the rehabilitation of the Bitter Root irrigation project, Montana." Under the contract of August 24, 1931, between the United States and the Bitter Root irrigation district, entered into pursuant to the act of July 3, 1930 (46 Stat. 852), the district obligated itself to repay Government advances to the district for two distinct purposes: (1) Advances under subsection (1) of section 2 of the act for liquidating the district's bonded and other outstanding indebtedness and (2) advances under subsection (3) of section 2 of the act for construction betterment and repair work on the district's irrigation system. Section 3 of the act requires that all funds used or advanced shall be repaid to the United States with interest at the rate of 4 percent per annum from the date of such use or advancement until repaid. The bill authorizes a segregation of the district's repayment obligation into two components, as above, and continues the requirement that interest be paid on the first component. Because of the unusual use of the Reclamation Fund in connection with the Bitter Root project, it is believed to be proper that interest be collected on the first component. Apparently it is the intent of section 2 of the bill to relieve the district from paying interest on money advanced under component (2); i. e., money advanced for construction, betterment, and repair work. I am in favor of this, but suggest that the bill definitely state that the amount so advanced will be repaid without interest. I suggest that in line 18, page 2 of S. 946 the words "without interest" be inserted after the word "States" and before the word "within." The intent of the bill being to relieve the district of the payment of any interest on component (2), it becomes necessary to amend the language in the proviso in section 1 of the bill which language is the same as that used in S. 3116, passed by the Senate during the second session of the Seventy-third Congress, but which is now inappropriate as it inferentially refers to July 1, 1934, as being in the future. It is suggested that the proviso be amended to read as follows: "Provided, That all interest now due and unpaid on component (1) shall be added to and merged with the principal sum advanced under that component. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as authorizing a modification in said amendatory contract of the interest charges heretofore paid by the district under the contract of August 24, 1931." The bill was referred to the Acting Director of the Bureau of the Budget who states that the proposed legislation with the amendments herein suggested would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President. Therefore I recommend favorable consideration of the bill with the above amendments. Sincerely yours, HAROLD L. ICKES, TRANSFER OF PORTION OF LIGHTHOUSE RESERVATION TO CITY OF GRAND HAVEN, MICH. MAY 1, 1935.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. WARREN, from the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R 4239] The Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4239) to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to convey to the city of Grand Haven, Mich., certain portions of the Grand Haven Lighthouse Reservation, Mich., having had the same under consideration, report it back to the House without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. The Department of Commerce has approved the bill, and the reasons for its enactment are set forth in a letter from the Secretary of Commerce, dated April 15, 1935, together with an explanatory statement, as follows: Hon. S. O. BLAND, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., April 15, 1935. Chairman Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Under date of January 21, 1935, the Chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, requested the report of the Department concerning H. R. 4239, a bill authorizing the Secretary of Commerce to convey to the city of Grand Haven, Mich., certain portions of the Grand Haven Lighthouse Reservation, Mich. Enclosed is a memorandum from the Commissioner of Lighthouses, this Department, concerning the above bill, in which I concur. The Department has been informed that the property involved is not desired by any other agency of the Government. Sincerely yours, DANIEL C. ROPER, |