72D CONGRESS 1st Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 489 BRIDGE ACROSS HUDSON RIVER AT OR NEAR CATSKILL, N. Y. MARCH 23 (calendar day, MARCH 29), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. VANDENBERG, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 4122] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4122) granting the consent of Congress to the State of New York to construct, maintain, and operate a highway bridge across the Hudson River at or near Catskill, Greene County, N. Y., have considered the same and report thereon with amendments, and as so amended recommend that the bill do pass. The amendments referred to therein have been incorporated in the bill as reported, and which are as follows: Page 1, lines 3 to 5, beginning with the word "consent" in line 1, strike out all the language down through the word "thereto" in line 5, and insert in lieu thereof the following: "times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge authorized by act of Congress approved June 5, 1930, to be built by the State of New York.' Page 1, lines 5 and 6, beginning with the word "at" in line 5, strike out the language down through the word "navigation," in line 6. Page 1, lines 7 to 9, beginning with the word "in" in line 7, strike out all the language down through line 9 and insert in lieu thereof the following: "are hereby extended one and three years, respectively, from the date of approval hereof." Page 2, lines 1 to 22, beginning with line 1, strike out all the language down through line 22. Page 2, line 23, strike out the figure "3" and insert in leiu thereof the figure "2". Amend the title of the bill to read as follows: To extend the time for the construction of a bridge across the Hudson River at or near Catskill, Greene County, New York. The bill thus amended has the approval of the Departments of War and Agriculture, as will appear by the annexed communications. measure. This administration can not recommend favorably at this time concerning any proposed legislation that has for its purpose the liberalization of the loan privileges provided by the World War adjusted compensation act. It is estimated that if this bill becomes a law there will be an additional cost of approximately $70,000,000 over and above the amount which has been appropriated for loans to veterans on adjusted-service certificates. A copy of this letter is inclosed for your use. Very truly yours, FRANK T. HINES, Administrator. 72D CONGRESS 1st Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 489 BRIDGE ACROSS HUDSON RIVER AT OR NEAR CATSKILL, N. Y. MARCH 23 (calendar day, MARCH 29), 1932.—Ordered to be printed Mr. VANDENBERG, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 4122] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4122) granting the consent of Congress to the State of New York to construct, maintain, and operate a highway bridge across the Hudson River at or near Catskill, Greene County, N. Y., have considered the same and report thereon with amendments, and as so amended recommend that the bill do pass. The amendments referred to therein have been incorporated in the bill as reported, and which are as follows: Page 1, lines 3 to 5, beginning with the word "consent" in line 1, strike out all the language down through the word "thereto" in line 5, and insert in lieu thereof the following: "times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge authorized by act of Congress approved June 5, 1930, to be built by the State of New York." Page 1, lines 5 and 6, beginning with the word "at" in line 5, strike out the language down through the word "navigation," in line 6. Page 1, lines 7 to 9, beginning with the word "in" in line 7, strike out all the language down through line 9 and insert in lieu thereof the following: "are hereby extended one and three years, respectively, from the date of approval hereof." Page 2, lines 1 to 22, beginning with line 1, strike out all the language down through line 22. Page 2, line 23, strike out the figure "3" and insert in leiu thereof the figure "2". Amend the title of the bill to read as follows: To extend the time for the construction of a bridge across the Hudson River at or near Catskill, Greene County, New York. The bill thus amended has the approval of the Departments of War and Agriculture, as will appear by the annexed communications. Hon. HIRAM W. JOHNSON, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. Dear SENATOR: Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of March 18, transmitting a copy of a bill (S. 4122) with request that the committee be furnished with such suggestions touching its merits and the propriety of its passage as the department might deem appropriate. This bill would authorize the State of New York to construct, maintain, and operate a highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Hudson River at or near Catshkill, Green County, State of New York. The State would be authorized to charge tolls for the use of the bridge, but the bill would require that the rates of toll shall be so adjusted as to provide funds sufficient to pay reasonable maintenance, repair, and operation costs, and create a sinking fund sufficient to amortize the cost of the bridge within not to exceed 20 years from its completion. Thereafter the bridge would have to be maintained and operated free of tolls or the rates of tolls would have to be so adjusted as to provide only for annual maintenance, repair, and operation costs. The location indicated for the proposed bridge is not on the system of Federal-aid highways approved for New York but would constitute a lateral connection therewith. The bill is without objection so far as this department is concerned. Sincerely yours, C. V. MARVIN, Acting Secretary. WAR DEPARTMENT, March 22, 1932. Respectfully returned to the chairman, Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. The accompanying bill S. 4122, present session, to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Hudson River at or near Catskill, Greene County, N. Y., is identical with an act of Congress approved June 5, 1930, subject to the provisions of the general bridge act of March 23, 1906. The time for commencing and completing the construction of the bridge, as implied by section 6 of the general act, expired June 5, 1931, and it is assumed that the purpose of the bill under consideration is to extend the time for construction. ,So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, no objec tion is known to extending the times for commencing and completing the work of construction for the customary periods of one and three years, respectively, but I am of the opinion that it is preferable to authorize the extension of time in direct terms than to duplicate the existing act. The bill, herewith, has been amended accordingly and as thus amended I know of no objection to its favorable consideration by Congress. F. H. PAYNE, Acting Secretary of War. O MARCH 23 (calendar day, MARch 30), 1932.—Ordered to be printed Mr. JOHNSON, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. J. Res. 82] The Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. J. Res. 82) authorizing an appropriation for the expenses of the sixteenth session of the International Geological Congress to be held in the United States in 1933, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the joint resolution do pass. Hon. HIRAM JOHNSON, United States Senate. INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL CONGRESS, MY DEAR SENATOR JOHNSON: During the sessions of the Seventy-first Congress, you accepted sponsorship for Senate Joint Resolution 253, authorizing an appropriation for the expenses of the Sixteenth International Geological Congress, then proposed to be held in the United States in June, 1932. Through your good auspices this resolution was favorably reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and later passed the Senate. It failed of passage in the House during the last days of the session. Following this failure and partly because of it but also partly because of the general unfavorable economic conditions throughout the world, our organization committee decided to postpone the sixteenth congress for one year, until June, 1933. The matter has this year again been presented to the Secretary of State and the Bureau of the Budget, who have again indorsed the plan to ask for official recognition of the congress and a small appropriation to aid in defraying its expenses. The Department of State has transmitted to the Senate and the House a brief favorable message by the President, a supporting letter by the Secretary of State, and a draft of a joint resolution. This resolution has been introduced into the House by Mr. Linthicum, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. It is House Joint Resolution 181. I am inclosing a copy for your information. I am also inclosing a copy of the second circular of the congress issued since your indication of interest a year ago. This circular sets forth the excursions that it is proposed to offer to delegates. Among these are four transcontinental excursions. One of these, before the opening of the congress, is for those coming |