A final roll of these Indians was approved by this department January 22, 1920, in accordance with the act of June 30, 1919, (41 Stat. L. 9), for the purpose of segregating the tribal funds of the Flathead Tribe under the act of May 26, 1918 (40 Stat. L. 591). It has since been discovered that there were a number of children left off the final roll who were entitled to enrollment. The omission appears to have been through the failure of their parents to report the births of the children and for other reasons which are not prejudicial to their rights to enrollment. There have been other children added to the rolls of this reservation heretofore by act of Congress and these children stand in the same relationship to the tribe as those heretofore enrolled by congressional authority. The fund which was proposed to be segregated by the making of the finai roll has all been disbursed, and the children named i the bill can not share therein. However, the tribe has to its creuit other funds sufficient in amount to pay the enrollees a sum equal to that heretofore received by the others. There is very little land left which will make satisfactory allotments, but the superintendent reported in 1928 that he believed he could find land for allotments although such land is not as good as what has heretofore been given the membership of the tribe. By letter of January 14, approved by the department January 16, 1928, the rights of all the persons mentioned in this bill were discussed and it was decided that they were all entitled to enrollment. It is therefore recommended that S. 2393 be enacted. APRIL 7 (calendar day, APRIL 8), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. ASHURST, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 3864] The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 3864) authorizing expenditures from Colorado River tribal funds for reimbursable loans, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with a recommendation that the bill do pass with amendments as follows: On page 1, line 11, after the word "support" and before the word "Provided" change the colon to a comma, and insert the words "and Indians having irrigable allotments to assist them in the development and cultivation thereof". On page 2, line 5, after the word "of" and before the word "advances" insert the words "loans on irrigable lands for permanent improvement of said lands in which the period for repayment may run for not exceeding 20 years, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, and". This bill has the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior, as set forth in the following letter, which is appended hereto and made a part of this report. Hon. LYNN J. FRAZIER, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your request of March 1, 1932, for a report on S. 3864, a bill authorizing expenditures from Colorado River tribal funds for reimbursable loans, I transmit herewith a memorandum on the subject that has been submitted by the Assistant Commissioner of the General Land Office. After a review of the proposed measure, I agree with Mr. Scattergood. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Memorandum for the Secretary. This will refer to the request of March 1, 1931, from the chairman Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate, for a report on S. 3864, a bill authorizing the expenditure of $25,000 from Colorado River tribal funds for use on the reimbursable plan. A similar appropriation was made available in the 1930 appropriation act and the records show that it has been used as follows: Although the appropriation was $25,000, the repayments made by the Indians have made it possible to use $25,746.75 to June 30, 1931. Collections from the Indians have been small, owing to the low prices of cotton and other products. The entire amount of the appropriation has been used and there is great need that the Indians get assistance in planting spring crops. Last year 78 heads of families cultivated 2,773 acres of land on the reservation, which yielded crops valued at $67,512.75. The total value of the livestock and fowls owned by individuals was $28,860. These Indians are willing to cultivate their land, but are not able to get ahead to the extent that they can finance their planting each year. The superintendent reports that there are 80 heads of families farming this year, that 49 of this number were able to secure some outside assistance last year, but that it is evident that very few, if any, of the 49 can receive such asistance this year, principally because the financial agencies that previously helped them are not in position to do so now. He feels that if a tribal reimbursaable appropriation is made available, the Indians' financial needs can be handled more satisfactorily in this way than has been done by outside financial agencies. In many cases loans would not be made to the extent that outside agencies would make them because the superintendent knows that the Indian can get along on less and consequently have less to repay. Also by handling the matter at the Indian agency further diversification of crops can be encouraged. From information at hand it appears that this is the only means of enabling the Indians to utilize their land this year, and as there is approximately $55,488 tribal funds available and the Indians, through the chairman of the tribal business committee, have requested the action outlined in the bill, favorable action is recommended. However, in order that the authorization may conform to similar items carried in the annual Interior Department appropriation act, the following amendments are suggested: On page 1, line 11, after the word "support", change the colon to a comma, and insert the words "and Indians having irrigable allotments to assist them in the development and cultivation thereof". On page 2, line 5, after the word "of", insert the words "loans on irrigable lands for permanent improvement of said lands in which the period for repayment may run for not exceeding 20 years, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, and". J. HENRY SCATTERGOOD, Asistant Commissioner. O 72D CONGRESS 1st Session } SENATE REPORT No. 539 PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT AS ENSIGNS IN THE LINE OF THE NAVY OF ALL MIDSHIPMEN WHO GRADUATE FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY IN 1932 APRIL 7 (calendar day, APRIL 8), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. HALE, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 8083] The Committee on Naval Affairs, to which was referred 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, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments, and as amended recommend that the bill do pass. Line 6, after the word "Academy" strike out "in 1932". Line 7, strike out the words and figures "until after 1936". Line 8, strike out the word "authorized". Line 9, after the first word "officers" and before the comma, insert "otherwise authorized by law". Line 10, change the period to a comma and add the following: and shall be excluded from any computation made for the purpose of determining the authorized number of line officers in any grade on the active list above the grade of lieutenant, junior grade, until the total number of line officers shall have been reduced below the number otherwise authorized by law. SEC. 2. That all commissions hereafter issued as ensigns in the line of the Navy, second lieutenants in the Marine Corps, and in the lowest commissioned grades of the Staff Corps of the Navy with the rank of ensign may be revoked by the Secretary of the Navy, under such regulations as he may prescribe, at any time during a period of two years from the dates of such commissions, and each officer whose commission is so revoked shall be discharged from the service with not more than one year's pay. The rank of such officers of the same date of commission among themselves at the end of said period shall be determined by boards of officers under such rules as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, and the recommendations of such boards shall be final when approved by him. SEC. 3. That after January 1, 1933, the number of midshipmen allowed at the United States Naval Academy for each Senator, Representative, Delegate in Congress, Resident Commissioner from Porto Rico, and the District of Columbia, by the act of July 11, 1919 (41 Stat. 140; U. S. C., title 34, sec. 1032), shall be reduced to two: Provided, That nothing herein shall exclude from the United States Naval Academy any midshipman appointed thereto prior to January 1, 1933. SR-72-1-VOL 1—66 The purpose of the bill is to provide legislation whereby, beginning with this year's class, those graduates of the United States Naval Academy who are fully qualified and available for commissioning as officers in the Navy may be so commissioned, and as amended by your committee provision is also made for a 2-year probationary period upon commissioning after graduation, and for a reduction in the number of new appointments hereafter to be made to the Naval Academy. Legislation permitting the commissioning as line officers in the Navy of the 1932 class, and succeeding classes, of midshipmen graduating from the Naval Academy is necessary because existing law places a limitation of 5,499 as the maximum number of line officers that the Navy may have, exclusive of additional numbers in grade, and to keep within this limitation there would be but 26 commissions in the line available to the qualified graduates this year. Four hundred and nineteen midshipmen will graduate in June, 1932, and it is estimated that about 78 will resign or not qualify for commissioning, leaving about 341 available for commissioning. Existing vacancies within the limitation of present law will enable 3 to be commissioned in the Supply Corps, 30 in the Marine Corps, and 26 in the line, leaving about 282 graduates fully qualified and available, but who, under present law, would have to be discharged with one year's pay. The bill as passed the House deals exclusively with the academy class of 1932. Last year the Congress similarly provided for the commissioning of the 1931 class. The necessity for similar special legislation will occur up through the class of 1935, and your committee has so amended the bill that hereafter all classes will be provided for and will be treated alike. To provide for but one specific class is unfair to succeeding classes. By commissioning all of this year's class who qualify upon graduation the line officer strength of the Navy will be increased to 5,781-282 over the authorized limitation of 5,499. Last year the commissioning of all the class resulted in 173 officers in excess of the authorized number; however, during the year they have all gradually been absorbed, due to deaths, retirements, resignations, etc., so that by July 1st of this year the excess will have been entirely eliminated and there will then be 26 vacancies. It is expected that under normal conditions the annual attrition will average not over 300, so that there should be regular vacancies each year for about that number of midshipmen graduates. At the present time the attrition has fallen considerably below this figure, and while the commissioning of all the classes will result in a temporary excess of officers over the authorized limit of 5,499, your committee has so amended the bill as to provide for a reduction in the number of midshipmen entering the academy hereafter which eventually will result in a less number of graduates being available for commissioning. Also in about four years' time the normal attrition should take care of excess officers, and ultimately the number will be within the limit of 5,499. In other words, by retaining these Naval Academy graduates as ensigns a permanent increase in the officer strength of the Navy is not provided for, and with normal conditions of attrition, etc., the number will be brought down to that now authorized by law. |