[No. 177]

TO AUTHORIZE THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONED WARRANT AND WARRANT OFFICERS TO COMMISSIONED RANK IN THE LINE AND STAFF CORPS OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 12, 1941.

The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Reference is made to the letter of the acting chairman dated October 16, 1941, in which study and recommendation by the Navy Department relative to the provision of promotional outlets for the warrant and commissioned warrant officers of the Navy and Marine Corps was requested.

Such a study has been made and the results have been incorporated in the draft of a proposed bill which is enclosed. The Navy Department is of the opinion that enactment of the proposed legislation will provide suitable promotional outlets for the warrant officers and commissioned warrant officers of the Navy and Marine Corps.

No worth-while estimate of cost of the proposed legislation can be furnished.

The Navy Department recommends enactment of the proposed legislation.

The Navy Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection to the recommendation. JAMES FORRESTAL, Acting.

Sincerely yours,

[No. 178]

TO PROVIDE FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE DUTIES OF CHIEFS OF BUREAU AND THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL IN THE NAVY DEPARTMENT, AND THE MAJOR GENERAL COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 16, 1941.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed bill to provide for performance of the duties of chiefs of bureau and the Judge Advocate General in the Navy Department, and the major general commandant of the Marine Corps, and for other purposes.

The purpose of the proposed legislation is as stated in its title.

In connection with vacancies in offices of chiefs of bureau and similar offices, section 178, Revised Statutes (U. S. C., title 5, sec. 5) provides as follows:

In case of the death, resignation, absence, or sickness of the chief of any bureau, or of any officer thereof, whose appointment is not vested in the head of the department, the assistant or deputy of such chief or of such officer, or if there be none, then the chief clerk of such bureau, shall, unless otherwise directed by the President, as provided by section 6 of this title, perform the duties of such chief or of such officer until a successor is appointed or such absence or sickness shall

cease.

Since the enactment of the above-quoted provision of law, the expansion of the Navy has resulted in a corresponding expansion of all activities of the Navy Department and its bureaus, with a resultant increase in the complexity of administration. Heading the divisions of the various bureaus in the Navy Department are officers of high rank who, by virtue of wide experience afloat and ashore, are considered best qualified to act for the chiefs of bureau during their absence and in the absence of the assistant to the chief of any such bureau.

Section 2 of the proposed bill would establish the office of the assistant to the major general commandant of the Marine Corps, and would provide for the performance of the duties of the major general commandant of the Marine Corps in a manner similar to that contemplated for the bureaus of the Navy Department.

The Navy Department considers that the proposed legislation would be to the best interests of the service at all times, particularly under the emergency conditions which exist at the present time.

In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends enactment of the proposed legislation.

The Navy Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection to the submission of this recommendation.

Sincerely yours,

66266-42-No. 178

(2267)

FORRESTAL, Acting.

[No. 179]

TO AMEND THE ACT APPROVED APRIL 22, 1941 (PUBLIC LAW 39, 77th CONG.), SO AS TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED ENLISTED STRENGTH OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 19, 1941.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed bill to amend the act approved April 22, 1941 (Public Law 39, 77th Cong.), so as to increase the authorized enlisted strength of the Navy and Marine Corps.

The purpose of the proposed bill is to increase the authorized emergeney enlisted strength of the Regular Navy from the present figure of 300,000 to a new figure of 500,000, and to authorize an emergency enlisted strength for the Regular Marine Corps of 104,000.

Based upon the contemplated shipbuilding program it is estimated that a total of slightly more than 1,000,000 enlisted men will be required upon its completion. It is considered advisable at this time. to increase the emergency enlisted strength of the Navy to 500,000 men to keep pace with the progress of the building program. It is to be noted that, if the proposed bill is enacted, the permanent authorized strength of 232,000 men will undergo no change. It is upon this latter figure that the authorized officer strength of the line of the Regular Navy is computed.

With respect to the Marine Corps, the present authorized enlisted strength of 60,000 men will shortly be reached. While it is possible after the authorized strength is reached to continue to enlist men in the Marine Corps Reserve, recruiting reports indicate that applicants for enlistment at the present time prefer to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps rather than in the reserve component thereof, in a ratio of about three and a half to one. In view of this situation, and having in mind the prospective needs of the Marine Corps, it is considered advisable at this time to provide for an emergency enlisted strength, when authorized by the President, of 104,000 men.

In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends enactment of the proposed legislation and considers it a matter of special urgency.

The Navy Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection to the submission of this proposal to the Congress.

Sincerely yours,

JAMES FORRESTAL, Acting.