Mr. SNYDER. Do you mean to say that the wooden ships we built in 1917, 1918, and 1919, that have been left standing for over 25 years, are still capable of being used? Mr. SMITH. Personally, I do not know of any ships in that region that have not been in use. I have no doubt that all the ships that we had out there on the west coast are in use. In fact, on account of the diversion sometime ago, we have a shortage of shipping facilities. Some criticism has been made that some of those ships built of green timber leaked, that they became warped, and were otherwise unsatisfactory; but now we have perfected a chemical-seasoning process for preventing that, which has proved to be very successful. Furthermore, in view of the fact that we used wooden ships to transport 4,000,000 men to Europe during the last World War, I think it is highly illogical to claim that wooden ships are not sufficient for the purpose, and that we have to build ships out of steel. That is especially true when you have an acute shortage of steel in this country. Steel is essential for armaments, munitions, tanks, guns, shells, but not for ships. Ships should not be built exclusively of steel. That is a mistaken policy, now proven to be so. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Will there be any local funds available to aid in this fire-protection work? Mr. SMITH. You have the fullest cooperation from the States, counties, municipalities, and private timber owners. The counties have their fire wardens assisting in this work, from funds raised by taxation for this purpose. You have the cooperation of the various counties, as well as of the private owners of forest lands. But the magnitude of this task, due to the war and sabotage hazard, is so great that the Federal Government should undertake the most extensive program in history. Anything short of that will expose us to dangers and losses which we cannot begin to estimate. It will be a costly program, running into many millions of dollars-much more than $5,000,000-if all the fire-fighting equipment and men are to be employed to do the job required and if we are not to take any chances, and we shouldn't take any chances. I wish to thank you, Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen of the committee, for the time allotted me and your courtesy. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1942. FOREST-FIRE PROTECTION STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLES H. LEAVY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I appreciate the courtesy extended me in permitting me to make a statement on behalf of an item for your consideration that is of tremendous significance not only to the western part of the United States but to the Nation as a whole. I appear today on behalf of the Budget estimate of $5,000,000 for forest-fire protection. It is my considered opinion that the facts fully warrant twice that sum to be made available for the protection of the national forests of this country, as well as State and privately held forest lands, during the coming year. There is no single interest of the Federal Government that falls such an easy prey to destruction by the fifth columnists as do the forests of this Nation. The amount involved in the appropriation, or double that amount, is very small compared to the great national asset sought to be protected and preserved. It is true that in the regular supply bill we have a small contingent fund for fire protection on national forests, and then no limit whatever is placed upon the amount that would be spent in fighting forest fires that actually occur. It is important and essential that such a contingent provision be made, but here is a request that we take preventive steps that, in my humble opinion, will save many times the sum required to fight fires and also save hundreds of millions of dollars in forest values. It is a matter of wise economy always to endeavor to prevent, rather than to exert ourselves to control, forest fires. As a Member of this Congress who comes from a region richly endowed with great forests, where large areas are still in the absolute ownership of the Federal Government, I keenly appreciate the problem. My work on the Agricultural Subcommittee on Appropriations during my service in Congress, where we handle all items involving national forests, has given me an exceptional opportunity to appreciate the significance of this problem. I am hopeful that this distinguished committee will not reduce the Budget estimate, but rather increase it substantially. I am just in receipt of a letter from the Honorable Arthur B. Langlie, the Governor of the State of Washington, who has lived most of his life in our State, and who has a splendid understanding of the whole problem, and with the permission of the committee, I desire to make this letter a part of my remarks: STATE OF WASHINGTON, Hon. CHARLES H. LEAVY, Hon. RUFUS C. HOLMAN, Washington, D. C. (Attention of Representative Leavy.) GENTLEMEN: It has come to my attention that a bill before Congress, contemplating an appropriation for forest-fire protection, has been limited to the amount of $5,000,000 for the entire United States, which is less than what was recommended for the west coast alone. In view of war conditions, I wanted to urge that every consideration be given to making available sufficient funds to afford the necessary protection. The Pacific Northwest defense area is particularly vulnerable to bombing attacks from enemy planes. This fact, coupled with the increased danger in our forested area from saboteurs, has caused the military authorities to ask for increased detection points and increased suppression crews in this area. At the San Francisco meeting on February 4, it was recommended that the sum of $8,000,000 for State, private, and national-forest lands be requested from the Federal Government. This sum did not include either the Park or Grazing Service figures. This indicates that the protection authorities believe that approximately $10,000,000 is necessary for the entire coastal area. Of this amount, Mr. F. H. Brundage, associate regional forester of the north Pacific region, believes that $2,000,000 should be made available to Washington and Oregon for State, private, and national forest lands. On the basis of the $5,000,000 allotment now recommended, this sum would be reduced to about $1,000,000 and the share allocated to State and private forests for Washington would be reduced to about $210,000. This is slightly more than was allocated last year to protect only that portion of the State west of the Cascades. This sum, based on the increased wages necessary this year, would allow for approximately 300 extra men. Since the State is charged with the protection of 12,000,000 acres, this means an addition of one man per 40,000 acres, which is equivalent to 66 square miles. The Army is aware of the seriousness of the situation and has authorized us to construct and man 5 new look-out sites in western Washington. In addition they have called on us to man at this early date 20 of our regular towers. We are working in close cooperation with headquarters, Ninth Army Corps, on protection plans. It is felt by this office and Army headquarters that the original plan would be adequate only if supplemented by civilian-defense crews and crews detached from Army units in areas where the Army has assumed a large degree of control. Any reduction of a force planned would meet with disapproval. At the February meeting General Wash, who was then in charge of the interceptor command, made several recommendations, among which was one leading to the Forest Service's responsibility of reporting and acting on all dangerous fires. The Forest Service in this instance included State and private lands. It was also recommended that no burning be permitted after the Forest Service had determined that the safety period had passed. This calls for extra supervision and patrol for enforcement. The meeting fully recognized the shortage of the normal manpower which is usually counted on for fire-suppression work. Additional equipment was recommended to partially cover this shortage. The opinion of the meeting, however, was that the protection plans as outlined should be adhered to and the requested funds be made available by March 15. Sincerely yours, ARTHUR B. LANGIE, Governor. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION Miscellaneous expenses, Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor.To provide an additional amount for miscellaneous expenses, by the transfer from the salaries appropriation, for the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, for the fiscal year 1942, $45,000. Miscellaneous expenses, Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor ANALYSIS AND JUSTIFICATION FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR REPORTING SERVICES, WITNESS COSTS, AND OTHER EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH LITIGATION AND INVESTIGATION CASES As has been pointed out on numerous occasions before to the Bureau of the Budget and to the House Appropriation Committees, it is not possible to forecast, with any degree of accuracy, the estimated cost of litigation expenses in connection with civil actions instituted against employers for violation of the wage and hour law, for the reason that it is not possible to estimate to what extent violations will be found, or to estimate what percentage of the cases will be contested by the employer. In addition, it is not possible to estimate the number of witnesses which would be required to testify in court until after a trial is underway, nor to determine what additional material the courts will require until a request is made by the court. The need for tran scripts of the testimony in court depends entirely upon the peculiar circumstances in each case. It is not possible to estimate which decisions will be appealed, either by the Division or the employer. In such instances, the appeal court always requires the printed record of the case in the lower court. As a further indication of the extreme difficulty encountered in estimating this type of cost, the item of "Field printing" in connection with litigation cases is cited. Each year the Joint Congressional Committee on Printing and Binding establishes a limitation on the amount which may be expended in the field for printing. Originally the total limitation for the whole Department of Labor was $2,000, of which amount $1,500 was allocated to the Wage and Hour Division. Since then, however, the Joint Committee on Printing has seen fit to increase this limitaton for the Wage and Hour Division to $7,000 annually for the reason that this field printing arises in connection with litigation cases and appeal cases in which the appeal court's rules and regulations require that the lower court records be printed in the field by the court printer. Every effort is made by the Division administratively to minimize these costs before any legal action may be taken. Our regional offices must submit an estimate of the approximate cost, showing in detail the number of witnesses it is believed will be needed, the period of time in which the services will be required, possible volume of transcripts of the testimony needed, and all other incidental expenses in connection with the case involved. This must be approved administratively from a budget standpoint before any further action may be taken in litigating the case. For the current fiscal year 1942 the Division justified before the House Appropriation Committee an allotment of $31,000 to be expended for litigation expenses. This amount represented approximately what had been expended during the year 1941. Up to February 28, 1942, the Wage and Hour Division had encumbered on its books for litigation expenses an amount of $50,000 against the appropriated amount of $31,000. This $50,000 represents amounts actually expended, or estimated to be expended, for litigation cases instituted, or expected to be instituted, during the first 8 months of the current fiscal year. Shown below is a statement indicating the costs actually expended for 1940, 1941, and the amount encumbered for the first 8 months for 1942: The amount of $23,900 expended for 1940 applied to 379 civil actions instituted during that year. The amount of $30,500 expended in 1941 applied to 1,883 civil actions instituted. While the costs increased 30 percent in 1941, the number of civil actions instituted increased almost 500 percent. Thus far during the fiscal year 1942 there have been instituted approximately 780 civil actions at an estimated cost of $50,000. At the present time there remain open for litigation approximately 111 of the 780 civil actions instituted since last July 1. During the month of January 82 civil actions were instituted. Therefore, in view of the fact that there is at the present time a possible deficit in our "Miscellaneous expense appropriation" of $19,000, and there still remain 4 months of the fiscal year, it is requested that the sum of $45,000 be transferred from the Wage and Hour Division appropriation for "Salaries, Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor, 1942," to the Wage and Hour Division appropriation for "Miscellaneous expenses, Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor, 1942," there being no possible savings in the present "Miscellaneous expense appropriations" to absorb this cost. The funds so transferred will not be used to defray the cost of ordinary operations, but will be used solely for costs arising as the result of possible litigation. Entomology and Plant Quarantine, Bureau of 154 Insect pests and plant diseases, control of incipient and emer- 154 Forest Service. 137 Forest-fire control_. 142 National forest protection and management, care of plantations Guayule rubber plant, cultivation of. 137 514 312, 317 501, 503. 10 514 192, 391 1, 448 Capital and legislative buildings, safeguarding of 448 1 4 166 Barbash, J., statement of. 31 National defense activities, salaries and expenses_ National Roster of Scientific and Specialized personnel_. Recruitment and placement functions_. Retirement function__ Coffman, J., statement of_ Colwell, H. R., statement of. 1 323 426 437 426 433 431 440 369 269, 523 |