No. 262, page 2469.-To eliminate unfairness and discrimination against enlisted personnel of the Hospital Corps of the Navy (H. R. 5172).

No. 263, page 2471.-To provide a uniform allowance for members of the Navy patrol and Navy guard forces (H. R. 4912).

No. 264, page 2473.-To provide for the donation of certain property of the United States in Vieques, P. R., to the municipal government of Vieques, P. R. (H. R. 4863).

No. 265, page 2475.-To authorize the Secretary of the Navy to lease certain lands situated in San Diego County, State of California (H. R. 5456). No. 266, page 2477.-To authorize the Secretary of the Navy to convey to Oahu Railway & Land Co. an easement for railway purposes in certain lands situated at Halawa, Ewa, Oahu, T. H. (H. R. 5457).

No. 267, page 2479.-To provide for the donation of certain property of the United States in Vieques, P. R., to the municipal government of Vieques, P. R. (H. R. 4863).

No. 268, page 2481.-To authorize the Secretary of the Navy to grant to the city of Canton, Ohio, for highway purposes only, a strip of land situated within the United States naval ordnance plant at Canton, Ohio (H. R. 5472).

No. 269, page 2483.-Authorizing appropriations for the United States Navy for additional ordnance manufacturing and production facilities, and for other purposes (H. R. 5489).

No. 270, page 2485.-To further amend section 22 of the act approved March 4, 1925, entitled "An act providing for sundry matters affecting the naval service, and for other purposes," by removing the limitation on the total personnel of the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and for other purposes (H. R. 5490).

No. 271, page 2487.-Report covering various assignments pertaining to the women in the naval services.

No. 272, page 2493.-Investigation of congested areas.

No. 273, page 2505.-To provide for the donation of certain property of the United States in Vieques, P. R., to the municipal government of Vieques, P. R. (H. R. 4863).

No. 274, page 2507.-To provide for a temporary increase in the age limit for candidates for admission to the United States Naval Academy (H. R. 5382).

[No. 165]

FOR THE RELIEF OF ERNEST H. WEST (H. R. 3533). MR. CLASON

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 20, 1943.

The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 3533) for the relief of Ernest H. West, was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with request for report and recommendation.

The purpose of this bill is to provide that Ernest H. West shall be considered as having been honorably discharged from the Navy on August 20, 1919.

The records of the Navy Department show that Ernest Hardy West was born on November 10, 1899, and enlisted in the Navy on December 14, 1916, to serve until November 9, 1920. His record for this period of service shows the following:

May 1, 1917: Shirking.

April 26, 1918: Absent over leave about 22 hours, 30 minutes. He was convicted by deck court.

February 16, 1919: Returned on board by patrol under influence of intoxicating liquor. He was convicted by summary court martial.

March 25, 1919: Shirking duty.

May 17, 1919: Absent without leave about 5 days 6 hours 30 minutes. He was convicted by summary court martial and his sentence included a bad-conduct discharge which was remitted subject to his conduct during a probationary period of 6 months beginning June 3, 1919.

August 20, 1919: West was discharged as undesirable because of unfitness.

While the commanding officer could have properly effected a badconduct discharge, for reasons not shown in West's record, he decided on an undesirable discharge, to which character of discharge there does not attach the stigma that attaches to a bad-conduct discharge. The records of the Navy Department further show that West reenlisted in the Navy on August 25, 1942, and served with a clear record until March 19, 1943, when he was honorably discharged by reason of approved board of medical survey for physical disability not the result of his own misconduct, and which existed prior to enlistment.

This bill, if enacted into law, would result in no cost to the Navy; however, it is probable that a charge under the Veterans' Administration would be involved now or in the future.

The Navy Department recommends against enactment of the bill H. R. 3533.

If the committee, regardless of the recommendation of the Navy Department, decides to give favorable consideration to this bill it is suggested that the following proviso be added:

Provided, That no compensation, retirement pay, back pay, pension or other benefit shall be held to have accrued prior to the passage of this Act.

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,

94266-44-No. 165

(1227)

О

FRANK KNOX.

[No. 166]

FOR THE RELIEF OF WILFRID VERL WILSON (H. R. 3629). MR.

Hon. CARL VINSON,

MICHENER

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 30, 1943.

Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN. The bill (H. R. 3629) for the relief of Wilfrid Verl Wilson, was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with request for report and recommendation.

The purpose of this bill is to provide that Wilfrid Verl Wilson shall hereafter be held and considered to have been honorably discharged from the naval service on May 10, 1932.

The records of the Navy Department show that Wilfrid Verl Wilson was born on August 17, 1900, and first enlisted July 22, 1922. His record for this period of service shows two convictions by deck court, one for sleeping on anchor watch and one for breaking arrest and being absent without leave 30 minutes. There is a further record of the commission of two minor offenses not necessitating trial by court martial. Wilson was honorably discharged from this enlistment July 20, 1926.

Wilson reenlisted February 25, 1931, for 6 years. He was convicted by summary court martial on April 27, 1932, on the charge of disposing of property of the United States intended for the naval service thereof, 10 gallons of Navy paint, and was sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge which was effected at the receiving station, Navy Yard, Washington, D. C., on May 10, 1932.

This bill, if enacted into law, would result in no cost to the Navy but it is probable that a charge under the Veterans' Administration would be involved now or in the future.

The Navy Department recommends against enactment of the bill H. R. 3629, in view of the nature of the offense of which Wilson was found guilty.

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