PUBLIC WORKS HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS UNITED STATES, SENATE SEVENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON S. 830 A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 135737 MARCH 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, AND 14, 1939 Printed for the use of the Committee on Naval Affairs CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PUBLIC WORKS MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1939 UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, Washington, D. C. The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:30 a. m., in room 212, Senate Office Building, Senator David I. Walsh, presiding. Present: Senators Walsh (chairman), Russell, Bone, Gerry, Andrews, Gillette, Lucas, Ellender, Barbour, Davis, Johnson, and Gibson. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order, please. The committee has met this morning to begin its hearings on S. 830, Docket No. 38, known as the naval air bases bill. I call the committee's attention to a pamphlet that has been prepared under the direction of the chairman of the committee called Preliminary Data on Bills to Increase Naval Aviation Facilities (S. 830 and H. R. 4278), to Authorize the Secretary of the Navy to Proceed With the Construction of Certain Public Works, and for Other Purposes. This preliminary data contain copies of the House and Senate bills, a copy of the Hepburn Board report, the House of Representatives report on H. R. 4278, a letter from the Navy Department to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, dated January 19, 1939, explaining the bill, a statement of Admiral William D. Leahy, United States Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, before the Committee on Naval Affairs, House of Representatives, a statement of Hon. Charles Edison, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, before the Committee on Naval Affairs, House of Representatives, a statement of Rear Admiral Arthur B. Cook, United States Navy, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, before the Committee on Naval Affairs, House of Representatives, the estimated costs of various projects, the chief differences between S. 830 and H. R. 4278, a table of distances between various points, and an outline chart of the world showing the existing and proposed United States naval air, submarine, destroyer, and mine bases. I think the chart is similar to the map on my left here in the committee room. Senator JOHNSON. May I congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, upon the preparation of this particular memoranda and in furnishing it to us. The CHAIRMAN. I thought it would be helpful to the committee. Senator JOHNSON. Very helpful. The CHAIRMAN. Now, sooner or later the committee ought to have before it a brief explanation as to the differences between Senate bill and the House bill, the bill that has already passed the House and 1 |