SERVICE OF REAR ADMIRALS ON SUBMARINES

Mr. PLUMLEY. Do any rear admirals ever go into submarines? Captain WILKINSON. Yes, sir; we have one who is the commander of the submarine force, and he frequently makes trips in submarines.

NUMBER OF OFFICERS ON SUBMARINE DUTY

Mr. UMSTEAD. Your operating force plan calls for 246 officers on submarine duty, but I notice that in the estimate here you use the figure of 302. How do you explain that difference?

Admiral CONARD. This is the estimated number that is furnished us by the Bureau of Navigation. I think that, perhaps, an officer from that Bureau should explain it. It may be due to the increase of the average for the year. They have estimated for the total number required for a given period.

Captain WILKINSON. A partial explanation of that. I think, is the number of unit commanders and staff officers employed in connection with submarines who cruise in submarines, as well as officers undergoing training at the submarine school. Three hundred and two is the correct number. This 246 includes only those attached to cruising submarines, and does not include those doing actual submarine work at the school. There are 23 unit commanders, and officers of their staffs, 24 at the school and 9 doing diving work, receiving this pay.

Mr. UMSTEAD. I believe, Admiral, that when the number of submarine officers is increased, the pay being fixed by statute, it automatically increases the necessity for a larger appropriation for the purpose.

Admiral CONARD. Yes, sir; that is correct.

INCREASED NUMBER OF OFFICERS ON NEW SUBMARINES

Mr. UMSTEAD. Admiral, it has been stated to this committee that the new submarines now being constructed and joining up with the fleet require more officer personnel, as well as enlisted personnel, than the old submarines that these new ones are replacing required. Does that account for the increase in the number of officers on submarine duty?

Admiral CONARD. There is actually a decrease in the number of officers on submarine duty by 13.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Then why should there be an increase in the pay? Admiral CONARD. That is due to the new calculation of the average pay under these estimates. They are of higher rank, and receive a higher average rate of pay. Page 45 of the justifications gives the break-down.

Mr. UMSTEAD. The increase is due to the higher rank of the officers rather than to the number in the submarine service.

Admiral CONARD. Yes, sir.

Mr. THOM. Is it a fact that you have been taking submarines out faster than you will put them in?

Captain WATROUS. They are of smaller size.

Captain WILKINSON. There is a slight decrease in the number of officers due to the new ones coming in. There is not much difference in the actual number required.

RENTAL ALLOWANCES TO ACTIVE OFFICERS

Mr. IMSTEAD. The next is rental allowances for officers on active luty.

Admiral CONARD. This item covers rental allowances at rates prorided by law for officers not occupying Government quarters. (The detailed figures are as follows:)

De appropriation 8,532-940-7,592-6 Veteran's Administration=7,586 at. estimate 8,732-940-7,790-6 Veteran's Administration=7,726 at.

Increase..

Base.

It is estimated that quarters will be available for 940 officers, and that rental allowances for officers are reduced by $900,000 because of These officers. The total number of officers entitled to quarters is estimated at 8,732 for 1939 and 8,532 for 1938.

Increase in number 200 at $929,091.
Decrease in rate 7,586×0.253.

Total

$185. 818

-1, 911

183,907

Mr. UMSTEAD. I believe that every officer in the service who is not occupying Government quarters is, under the law, entitled to an allowance for rental of quarters.

Admiral CONARD. Not precisely. Officers with no dependents, and serving at sea, do not receive rental allowances. That is in the law. Captain WILKINSON. That is correct.

Mr. UMSTEAD. The increase is due to the average number you expect to have above the number you have in 1938 who will be entitled, under the law, to rental allowances.

Admiral CONARD. Yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. That amount is fixed by law according to the grade or rank of the officer.

Admiral CONARD. Yes, sir; and his duty, in the case of an officer

at sea.

Mr. THOM. If the 940 officers who will occupy public quarters had to have rented quarters, you would have to have an additional amount of $960,000.

Admiral CONARD. Yes, sir.

HEAT AND LIGHT ALLOWANCES OF ACTIVE OFFICERS

Mr. UMSTEAD. The next subhead covers officers' heat and light allowances.

Admiral CONARD. The item for officers' heat and light allowances covers the cost for heat and light for Government owned quarters occupied by officers. The estimate for 1936 was the first item in

cluded for this purpose. These are estimated to be quarters for 940 officers to be heated and lighted in 1939, and, also, certain bachelor quarters which are used for temporary quarters.

The detailed justification is as follows:

Mr. UMSTEAD. The next subhead covers subsistence allowances for active officers.

Admiral CONARD. This item covers subsistence allowances for all officers. The estimate provides for 8,390 officers with dependents and 1,796 without dependents in 1939. The increase in rate is due to the increase in the number of officers with dependents. (The detailed justification is as follows:)

1938 appropriation 9,945—6=9,939 at $438.51+ (base). 1939 estimate 10,186-6-10,180 at $439.776+

Increase

ANALYSIS OF INCREASE

Increase in numbers 241 at $439.776

Increase due to changes in grade 9,939×1.266 (−)

Total

$4,358, 427 4,476,922

118,495

$105,986

12,509

118, 4:5

Mr. UMSTEAD. Admiral, I believe the allowance for subsistence is regulated by statute.

Admiral CONARD. Yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. And the amount necessary under this appropriation item is determined solely by the number of officers in the service during the fiscal year who are entitled to this statutory allowance. Admiral CoNARD. Yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. That is, for all of these officers.
Admiral CONARD. That is precisely correct.

USE BY OFFICERS OF THEIR OWN AUTOMOBILES

Mr. PLUMLEY. May I ask, Admiral, if anywhere in this budget, or n these tables, there is anything included or suggested to be inluded to cover the expense incurred by officers who use their private utomobiles on Government business?

Admiral CONARD. We have no estimate of that nature.

Mr. PLUMLEY. There is no item included for that, so far as you

now.

Admiral CONARD. Except insofar as an officer traveling under orders nd drawing mileage may use his automobile for the transportation. Mr. PLUMLEY. I read something that Admiral Andrews had to say bout the inequity and injustice of compelling an officer to use his wn car in Government business.

Admiral CONARD. That is very true, and we have considered at varous times that there should be some legislation to provide for conlitions of that sort.

Mr. PLUMLEY. But there is no provision made for it here.
Admiral CONARD. We have made no provision for it.

PAY OF RETIRED OFFICERS

Mr. UMSTEAD. The next subhead covers the pay of retired officers. Admiral CONARD. This item covers the pay of officers on the reired list. The details of the estimate are as follows:

Mr. UMSTEAD. I notice that you are requesting an increase here of 414.000 over the appropriation for the current fiscal year. This appropriation item is constantly increasing, is it not?

Admiral CONARD. It is; yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. The allowance paid to retired officers is fixed by

-tatute.

Admiral CONARD. That is correct.

Mr. UMSTEAD. The amount is determined, therefore, under the statute, by the number who will be on the retired list.

Admiral CONARD. That is true.

Mr. UMSTEAD. The amount required for the payment of retired officers has increased very rapidly during the past 5 years, has it not! Admiral CONARD. Yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. I beliee the appropriation for the fiscal year 1934 was $5,883,000.

Admiral CONARD. The appropriation for 1935 was $6,003,774.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Based upon the difference between that amount and the appropriation being requested for 1939, about 1940 it will be practically double the amount requested in 1934, will it not?

Admiral CONARD. It appears to be approaching that. I cannot state definitely, but in that connection I would like to state that although the cost of the retired list is increasing, we have a value there in officers for reserve purposes, and so it is not entirely a cost without a due return.

HIRE OF QUARTERS FOR OFFICERS AND MEN

Mr. UMSTEAD. The next subhead covers the hire of quarters for officers and men.

Admiral CONARD. This amount is required for rentals for officers whose ships are being decommissioned.

The details of the estimate are as follows:

These rentals are authorized in lieu of rental allowances as being less expensive.

Decrease due to less number of submarines being decommissioned.

PAY OF RETIRED ENLISTED MEN

Mr. UMSTEAD. The next subhead covers the pay of retired enlisted

men.

Admiral CONARD. The details of the estimate covering the pay of retired enlisted men are as follows: