72D CONGRESS 1st Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 258 DIRECTING THE RETIREMENT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AT THE AGE OF 64 YEARS FEBRUARY 17, 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. WALSH of Massachusetts, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 894] The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 894) directing the retirement of acting assistant surgeons of the United States Navy at the age of 64 years, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The bill provides for the retirement of two acting assistant surgeons of the Navy, who came into the service under the provisions of the act of May 4, 1898, and who have reached the age of 64 years or more. For humanitarian reasons it is just and proper that these officers should be granted retirement benefits, as in view of their age and their length of service it would be highly unjust to revoke their Navy appointments, the only alternative the department has, unless for the same humanitarian reasons they are retained indefinitely on the active list, though of such age and doubtless in the future of such physical condition as to prevent their rendering active-service duty. An economy is effected by the bill, as the retired pay provided is considerably less than the active-duty pay these two officers are now receiving; and, further, the department does not contemplate appointing any more assistant surgeons under the provisions of the act of May 4, 1898. A similar bill passed the Senate during the Seventy-first Congress. The Navy Department recognizes the humanitarian purposes of the bill and the merits thereof but considers it legislation of an individual character. The following letter of the Secretary of the Navy, dated February 3, 1932, gives the department's views on the 72D CONGRESS 1st Session SENATE { REPORT No. 258 DIRECTING THE RETIREMENT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AT THE AGE OF 64 YEARS FEBRUARY 17, 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. WALSH of Massachusetts, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 894] The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 894) directing the retirement of acting assistant surgeons of the United States Navy at the age of 64 years, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The bill provides for the retirement of two acting assistant surgeons of the Navy, who came into the service under the provisions of the act of May 4, 1898, and who have reached the age of 64 years or more. For humanitarian reasons it is just and proper that these officers should be granted retirement benefits, as in view of their age and their length of service it would be highly unjust to revoke their Navy appointments, the only alternative the department has, unless for the same humanitarian reasons they are retained indefinitely on the active list, though of such age and doubtless in the future of such physical condition as to prevent their rendering active-service duty. An economy is effected by the bill, as the retired pay provided is considerably less than the active-duty pay these two officers are now receiving; and, further, the department does not contemplate appointing any more assistant surgeons under the provisions of the act of May 4, 1898. A similar bill passed the Senate during the Seventy-first Congress. The Navy Department recognizes the humanitarian purposes of the bill and the merits thereof but considers it legislation of an individual character. The following letter of the Secretary of the Navy, dated February 3, 1932, gives the department's views on the The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 3, 1932. United States Senate, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's communication dated December 19, 1931, transmitting the bill (S. 894) directing the retirement of acting assistant surgeons of the United States Navy at the age of 64 years, and requesting the views of the Navy Department relative to this measure, I have the honor to inform the committee as follows: The purpose of the proposed legislation is to provide that acting assistant surgeons of the United States Navy who, on the date of the passage of the_act, have reached the age of 64 years, shall be placed on the retired list of the Navy with pay at the rate of three-fourths of their active-duty pay. Acting assistant surgeons are carried on the naval rolls in a status somewhat similar to contract surgeons of the Army, for whom no retirement privileges are accorded by law. This proposed measure would affect two officers, namely, Acting Asst. Surgs. James Henry Payne and William Guy Townsend. Doctor Payne, 68 years of age, formerly attached to the dispensary at the Boston Navy Yard, is now a patient at the Chelsea Naval Hospital. Doctor Townsend, aged 67 years, remains on recruiting duty in Baltimore. This bill will, if enacted, result in a cost of $5,220 a year when the two officers affected are retired. They are now receiving active duty pay and allowances amounting to $9,636 a year. In view of the economical situation, the Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill S. 894 at this time. Sincerely yours, FEBRUARY 17 (calendar day, FEBRUARY 18), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. McNARY, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 7912] The Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 7912) making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1933, and for other purposes, reports the same to the Senate with various amendments, and presents herewith information relative to the changes made: The changes in the amounts of the House bill recommended by the committee are as follows: 57, 472, 048 10, 500, 759 Weather Bureau: INCREASE General weather service and research, supplies, materials and equipment, travel expenses, and other incidental items, exclusive of personnel.. Aerology, airways weather service for Alaska.. Total, Weather Bureau... $30, 500 8,000 38, 500 |