MARCH 2 (calendar day, MARCH 3), 1932.—Ordered to be printed Mr. HOWELL, from the Committee on Claims, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 2703] The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2703) for the relief of the State of Indiana, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment. The sole purpose of the bill is to relieve the State of Indiana from accountability for certain property belonging to the United States, of the value of $540.40, which was loaned by the Indiana National Guard, at the request of the American Red Cross for emergency relief work at the Francisco mine disaster, Francisco, Ind., on December 9, 1926, such property having been unavoidably lost or destroyed in the course of such work. The bill has the favorable indorsement of the Secretary of War, as will be seen from the following letter, which is appended hereto and made a part of this report. Hon. R. B. HOWELL, Chairman Committee on Claims, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., February 13, 1932. United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR HOWELL: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (S. 2703) designed for relief of the State of Indiana, which was transmitted to the War Department under date of January 8, 1932, with request for information and the views of the War Department relative thereto. The bill pertains to certain property belonging to the United States and issued to the State of Indiana for use by its National Guard, which was loaned by the National Guard as an emergency relief measure in connection with a mine disaster in the vicinity of Francisco, Ind., or on about December 9, 1926. Of the property thus loaned, the National Guard was unable to recover certain articles valued at $540.40. The property lost was duly surveyed and submitted for approval by the Secretary of War. There being no authority of law for the loan of Federal SR-72-1-VOL 1-42 property issued for use by the National Guard, the survey reports were not approved. Such loans, however, are made occasionally by State authorities to meet some overruling demand of humanity to prevent suffering and loss of life. Section 87 of the national defense act requires the State of Indians to reimburse the Federal Government for the property lost as a result of the loans made in connection with emergency relief unless relief is granted by the Congress. It has been the uniform practice of the Congress to grant relief in cases of this kind in the past. In view of the fact that the property in question was lost as a result of rendering emergency relief during a period of public disaster, it is recommended that legislation looking to the relief of the State of Indians be favorably considered. Sincerely yours, PATRICK J. HURLEY, O MARCH 2 (calendar day, MARCH 3), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. NYE, from the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6485] The Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6485) to revise the boundary of the Mount McKinley National Park, in the Territory of Alaska, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment. The facts regarding the proposed legislation_are set forth in the report of the House Committee on the Public Lands (H. Rept. No. 276, 72d Cong., 1st sess.), which is appended hereto and made a part of this report, as follows: [House Report No. 276, Seventy-second Congress, first session] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6485) to revise the boundary of the Mount McKinley National Park, in the Territory of Alaska, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon and recommend that it do pass with the following amendments: Page 1, line 5, strike out the quotation marks. Page 1, line 7, strike out the words "sixty-five" and insert in lieu thereof the words "sixty-three". Page 2, line 16, after the word "stream", insert the word “flowing”. Page 2, line 20, strike out the word "southwesterly" and insert in lieu thereof the word "southeasterly". Page 3, line 10, strike out the period and insert a colon, strike out the quotation marks and add the following: "Provided, however, That such isolated tracts of land lying east of the Alaska Railroad right of way and the west bank of the Nenana River between the north bank of Windy Creek and the north park boundary as extended eastward are also included in said park.' "" The purpose of this bill is to add approximately 246,693 acres of land to the Mount McKinley National Park. If this land is added, it will provide for an easier and more efficient supervision of the park and will allow a better development of this national park in the future. The Secretary of the Interior, in his letter of January 21, 1932, addressed to the chairman of the Public Lands Committee, recommends the enactment of this legislation. A memorandum of the Director of the National Park Service, inclosed with the Secretary's letter, fully explains the purpose and reasons for its enactment. The letter from the Secretary, together with the memorandum mentioned above, are herein set out in full for the information of the House. They are as follows: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, January 21, 1932. Hon. JOHN M. EVANS, Chairman Public Lands Committee, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your request of January 8, for a report on H. R. 6485, entitled "A bill to revise the boundary of Mount McKinley National Park, in the Territory of Alaska, and for other purposes," I transmit herewith a memorandum of the subject that has been submitted by the Director of the National Park Service and in which full details regarding the purpose of this legislation are given. I heartily concur in the memorandum report of the Director of the National Park Service and urge that H. R. 6485 receive favorable consideration by Congress. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR. Memorandum for the Secretary. DEPARTMENT Of the Interior, Reference is made to letter dated January 8, from the chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives, inclosing copy of H. R. 6485, entitled "A bill to revise the boundary of Mount McKinley National Park, in the Territory of Alaska, and for other purposes," with request for report thereon. This legislation, if enacted, would add to the Mount McKinley National Park approximately 83.392 acres on the eastern boundary and approximately 163,301 acres on the northwestern boundary, or a total of 246,693 acres. The east side extension from Windy Creek north brings the park boundary to the right of way of the Alaska Railroad. There are a few isolated tracts lying east of the Alaska Railroad right of way and the west bank of the Nenana River which should also be included in the park, as proposed by amendment No. 4, hereinafter recommended. This would make the west banks of the Nenana River for all practicable purposes a natural boundary line for the park. This extension will bring into the park the administrative headquarters development now constructed on lands withdrawn for this purpose. The National Park Service already maintains roads and trails within this area, and the main park road begins at the railroad station. A new hotel will sooner or later be erected near the railroad and this park road. This hotel should be on park land and built under park policies regarding architecture. Furthermore, better protection can be given the mountain sheep in this section, because the present line is now high up on the side of mountains and can not be observed by hunters to avoid trespass and for the same reason can not be physically patrolled by rangers. The proposed extension to the northwest will bring Wonder Lake into the park. The shores of this lake would provide an advantageous site for another hotel-lodge development and would afford a finer view of Mount McKinley than any now had in the park. The extension would permit us to continue to this scenic region the road now being constructed. In the most part this area consists of lowlands well adapted for game uses, especially during winter, and will form a better boundary line from a game-protection standpoint. It will also aid in better conserving the moose in the park by giving them winter range protection. An additional benefit from Alaska's standpoint would come from the opening of the Wonder Lake region under the park program. It would then be a comparatively simple matter for the territory to connect up with the Kantishna district making that region accessible. |