The first four amendments of your committee-i. e., lines 6, 7, 8, and 9-amend the bill to take care of future classes in addition to the class of 1932 and obviates the necessity for temporary legislation each year. All classes are thereby treated alike and equal opportunity is given to all midshipmen to obtain a commission in the Navy. The additional language inserted immediately after line 10 insures that no officers will be promoted to a higher rank by reason of the temporary increase in the number of ensigns.

The two sections added to the bill by your committee are explained as follows:

Section 2 provides hereafter for a 2-year probationary period for those midshipmen commissioned as ensigns. These commissions are revocable during the first two years of service after graduation. Such a provision is neither a new or novel feature; it reverts to a long established custom, one which was in vogue until 1912. All graduates of the Naval Academy formerly were required to spend two years at sea before being given commissions as ensigns and the course of midshipmen was in realty one of 6 years-4 years at the academy and 2 years at sea. The committee proposes a return to that practice, with the exception that instead of remaining midshipmen for six years those who are commissioned upon graduation are to be given commissions as ensigns which are revocable during the two years following graduation. By this procedure only those who demonstrate their fitness as officers in actual service may be retained permanently; and, furthermore, should there at any time be a desire to reduce the officer strength the Secretary of the Navy could do so by revoking commissions. This section also directs that the final precedence of officers appointed under this act shall be determined by boards of officers under such rules as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy. This will permit their final precedence to be determined by taking into consideration their class standing at the Naval Academy, their proficiency as officers in actual service, together with the marks made on a final competitive examination.

Section 3 provides for a reduction in the number of new appointments to be made to the Naval Academy, next after the class that will enter this year, from three to two for each Senator and Representative; thereby, in a few years, the line strength of the Navy should be stabilized in that the number of graduates from the Academy each year available for commissioning will not bring about an excess in the line strength, and the officer strength of the Navy will gradually return to the number now authorized. The last proviso of this section is necessary as for a short period, due to the class entering this year under a 3-appointment basis, the allowance at the Naval Academy for Senators and Representatives will exceed two such appointments, and it is not desired or intended that any midshipmen regularly appointed under existing law, authorizing three appointments, shall be removed by reason of this reduction to a 2-appointment allowance.

The Navy Department, in reporting on the bill to the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives, stated as follows: WASHINGTON, February 3, 1932.

The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of January 21, 1932, transmitting the bill (H. R. 8083), "Providing for the appointment

as ensigns in the line of the Navy of all midshipmen who graduate from the Naval Academy in 1932," and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to inform the committee as follows: The purpose of this bill is to appoint as ensigns in the line of the Navy all midshipmen who graduate from the Naval Academy in 1932.

After caring for the needs of the Marine Corps and the Supply Corps, it is estimated that about 261 graduates must be either discharged with one year's pay upon graduation or commissioned in excess by special legislation.

If 261 midshipmen are discharged with one year's pay on June 2, 1932, the cost payable from appropriations for 1932 would be $203,580. If this number be commissioned as ensigns, their pay from June 2 to July 1 would be $36,141.98, resulting in a saving in the fiscal year of 1932 of approximately $167,438. The cost to the Government for the fiscal year 1933, if the 261 midshipmen be commissioned, would be $448,659.

The Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 8083.

Sincerely yours,

C. F. ADAMS, Secretary of the Navy.

In considering the bill the committee had before it officers of the Navy Department. The testimony given indicates that the bill as amended will properly take care of the situation, and will not work an injustice to or abrogate the legal rights of any midshipman. Amend the title of the bill so as to read:

Providing for the appointment as ensigns in the line of the Navy of all midshipmen who graduate from the Naval Academy, and for other purposes.

O

SENATE

72D CONGRESS 1st Session

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REPORT No. 540

LOAN OF WAR DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT TO THE UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS

APRIL 7 (calendar day, APRIL 8), 1932.-Ordered to be printed

Mr. REED, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 5848]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 5848) authorizing the Secretary of War to lend certain War Department equipment to the entertainment committee of the United Confederate Veterans for use at their annual encampment at Richmond, Va., in June, 1932, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

The House report on the bill, containing a report from the Secretary of War, interposing no objection, is made a part of this report and reads as follows:

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5848) authorizing and directing the Secretary of War to lend to the entertainment committee of the United Confederate Veterans certain articles of equipage of the Army for use at their encampment to be held at Richmond, Va., in June, 1932, introduced by Mr. Montague of Virginia, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

This is a bill written in the usual form providing for the loan of equipment by the War Department to the properly authorized official of the United Confederate Veterans, who is required to give a good and sufficient bond for the return of the property in good order and condition and without expense to the United States. The property is to be used at the encampment of the United Confederate Veterans, to be held at Richmond, Va., in June, 1932. The report of the War Department on this bill is as follows:

Hon. PERCY E. QUIN,

Chairman Committee on Military Affairs,

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 16, 1932.

House of Representatives.

DEAR MR. QUIN: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 5848) which you transmitted to the War Department under date of December 21, 1931, with a request for information and the views of the department relative thereto.

The only existing law on the subject of the loan of Government property for the purpose indicated in this bill is contained in Joint Resolution No. 11, March 2, 1913 (37 Stat. 1025), as amended by Joint Resolution No. 65, July 26, 1919 (41 Stat. 272), which, however, authorized the loan of tents only.

There is a sufficient stock of the articles specified on hand, and the bill provides for a bond to protect the Government against possible loss and also a means for obtaining reimbursement for the cost of packing, handling, renovating, etc.

Similar bills authorizing loans of this nature to national encampments of veterans have been approved from time to time, and the department therefore interposes no objection to the enactment of this measure.

Sincerely yours,

APRIL 7 (calendar day, APRIL 8), 1932.-Ordered to be printed

Mr. REED, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 7788]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 7788) authorizing the granting by the Secretary of War of a right of way to the Georgia Highway Department, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

The House report, explaining the purpose of the bill, is made a part of this report and reads as follows:

The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 7788) authorizing the granting by the Secretary of War of a right of way to the Georgia State Highway Department, reports favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass.

The bill provides:

"That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized to grant to the Highway Department of the State of Georgia a right of way for a public, hardsurfaced road through a part of the uninclosed portion of the Government property embraced in the national cemetery reservation at Andersonville, Georgia."

The Secretary of War recommends the passage of this bill, and his letter to the committee reads as follows:

Hon. PERCY E. QUIN,

Chairman Committee on Military Affairs,

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 2, 1932.

House of Representatives.

DEAR MR. QUIN: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 7788) authorizing the granting by the Secretary of War of a right of way to the Georgia Highway Department through the Andersonville National Cemetery, which you transmitted to the War Department under date of January 19, 1932, with a request for a report in duplicate relative thereto.

Section 6 of the act of Congress approved July 5, 1884 (23 Stat. 104; U. S. C. 10: 1348), authorizes the Secretary of War to grant rights of way for the extension of State, county, or Territorial roads across military reservations or changing the