in said District of Columbia should not be allowed, as far as possible, the same political rights and privileges of all other American citizens. A Delegate in Congress from the District of Columbia would serve as a representative from the District people to keep Congress authoritatively informed of the legislative needs of the District of Columbia, and in these functions such a Delegate would be of great assistance to Congress in all matters of District legislation. The committee believes that while the District of Columbia, both for its own legislative good and the legislative good of Congress, should as speedily as possible be allowed a Delegate in Congress, that permission to elect such Delegate will not be full satisfaction of the claims of the people of the District of Columbia to their rights of representation in Congress. The committee believes that S. 14 should be immediately passed by Congress as a preliminary act toward ultimate full representation in Congress. It can not be denied that the District of Columbia is the only capital city or Federal district in the whole world without some sort of representative government in the various legislative assemblies of all the nations. Such a condition in the District of Columbia, the Nation's seat of government, with approximately 450,000 intelligent, patriotic, and prosperous people resident therein, is a strange anomaly in this modern age, and seems repugnant to our republican system of representative government. I am agreed with the foregoing except that I do not think the Senate should act until the House has acted. SENATE. 67TH CONGRESS, 2d Session. { REPORT No. 509. PAYMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS OF MILITARY PRISONERS, RESTORED TO DUTY, TO THE GOVERNMENT. FEBRUARY 20 (calendar day, FEBRUARY 21), 1922.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. WADSWORTH, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 3111.] The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 3111) to authorize the collection in monthly installments of indebtedness due the United States by general prisoners restored to duty, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment. The purpose sought to be attained is set forth in the following extract from a letter from the Secretary of War to the chairman of the committee: The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFfairs, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 1, 1922. United States Senate. SIR: The act of March 4, 1915 (38 Stat. 1085 and 38 Stat. 1074) authorizes the Secretary of War, whenever he shall deem such action merited, to remit the unexecuted portions of the sentences of convicted military offenders (designated "general prisoners") and honorably restore them to duty. Many offenders have been restored to duty under this act, and have made good. But there is one class of restored offenders that is seriously handicapped in attempting to make good after restoration to duty, namely, men who are so heavily indebted to the Government on restoration to duty that they draw no pay during their entire service after restoration. Convicted deserters are very apt to be in this class, as they are charged with the reward ($50) paid for their apprehension, with the cost of transporting themselves and guard from the point of apprehension to the place of trial, and with value of equipment lost as an incident of desertion. When a man is restored to duty and is so heavily indebted to the Government that he will draw no pay during the balance of his service, his status is almost intolerable in that he has no money for laundry, toilet articles, tobacco, etc. Unless legislation is enacted affording relief to these men, it would be better not to restore them to duty. It therefore seems that Congress, having authorized their restoration to duty, would favorably consider additional legislation needed to make the conditions of their service after restoration such that they will not become utterly discouraged, as some do under the present law. There is submitted herewith the draft of an act the enactment of which would afford the relief shown above as necessary if restoration to duty of military offenders is to accomplish the purpose intended. The enactment of this act, or similar legislation, is urgently recommended. Mr. WARREN, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 10329.] The Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 10329) making appropriations for the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1923, and for other purposes, reports the same to the Senate with various amendments, and presents herewith information relative to the changes made: The changes in the amounts of the House bill, recommended by the committee, are as follows: Contingent expenses.. Stationery...- S R-67-2-vol 1-25 INCREASE. $8,500.00 10,000.00 |