your committee feel that the objective in connection with the Old Point Comfort Hotel Corporation, as well as in regard to any similar situations that might arise on other reservations, can best be obtained, by amending section 289 of the Criminal Code so as to bring it up to date.

The above-noted amendment to section 289 of the Criminal Code will give the War Department ample authority to discontinue any acts on military reservations which are in violation of State laws in force on April 1, 1935. This amendment will also permit the Federal Government to punish the omitting of the doing of any act on a reservation required by State laws in force on April 1, 1935. Section 289 of the Criminal Code now enables the Federal Government to enforce compliance on reservations with State laws in force on June 1, 1933. Therefore, the above-noted amendment to section 289 of the Criminal Code merely brings this section up to date. The amendment proposed above by your committee to Senate Joint Resolution 42 is in accordance with the War Department's opinion in this matter. Report of the War Department on Senate Joint Resolution 42 follows:

Hon. MORRIS SHEPPARD,

Chairman Committee on Military Affairs,

United States Senate.

DEAR SENATOR SHEPPARD: Careful consideration has been given to Senate Joint Resolution 42, a joint resolution "To cede to the Commonwealth of Virginia jurisdiction over that portion of the Fort Monroe Military Reservation leased to the Old Point Comfort Hotel Corporation", which you transmitted to the War Department under date of February 12, 1935, with a request for information and the views of the Department relative thereto.

This resolution, if enacted into law, would operate to create in the very heart of a small and congested military post an island of civil authority subject to all existing laws of the State of Virginia, as well as such laws as may be passed in the future. While the resolution proposes the transfer of jurisdiction only insofar as it is not incompatible with the military control, discipline, and use by the United States of Fort Monroe as a military post, many vexing situations are bound to arise to further complicate an already complicated situation.

The War Department is opposed to legislation which would confer upon any agency other than the President the power to exercise direct authority and control within military posts and reservations. Such legislation would involve dual authority over these reservations, with consequent conflicts and misunderstandings and the possible creation of intolerable situations.

On the other hand, the War Department is of the opinion that in cases where military reservations or parts thereof, by reasons of having been leased for long terms under congressional direction for purposes other than military, and have temporarily at least lost their military character, such reservations or parts thereof should not be permitted to become instrumentalities for the evasion of local laws, and it is believed that the interests of the United States and those of the State of Virginia in the premises can best be served by further amendment of section 289, of the Criminal Code (U. S. C., title 18, sec. 468).

Furthermore, the import of the language of the last five lines of section 2 is not understood in the War Department.

The War Department recommends that Senate Joint Resolution 42 be not enacted into law.

Sincerely yours,

GEO. H. DERN, Secretary of War.

COINAGE OF 50-CENT PIECES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CALIFORNIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION TO BE HELD IN SAN DIEGO, CALIF., IN 1935 AND 1936

APRIL 15 (calendar day, APRIL 23), 1935.-Ordered to be printed

Mr. FLETCHER, from the Committee on Banking and Currency, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 5914]

The Committee on Banking and Currency, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5914) to authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in connection with the California Pacific International Exposition to be held in San Diego, Calif., in 1935 and 1936, having considered the same, report favorably thereon to the Senate, and recommend that the bill do pass without amendment.

Representative George Burnham, of the Twentieth Congressional District of California, who introduced the bill, appeared before the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures and assured that committee that there would be absolutely no expense to the Government of any kind. He submitted the following letter to the acting chairman of that committee:

Hon. JOHN COCHRAN,

Acting Chairman Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This bill (H. R. 5914) which was referred to your committee and which I am now asking you to give consideration to is for the purpose of authorizing the coinage of 50-cent pieces in connection with the California-Pacific International Exposition, to be held in San Diego, Calif., opening on May 29 of this year and carrying through into 1936.

The exposition company is requesting that 50-cent pieces to the number of not more than 250,000 of a special appropriate design to be fixed by the Director of the Mint with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, be coined and the expense of making the models for master dies or other preparation of this coinage be borne by the exposition company and to be issued at par upon the request of the California-Pacific International Exposition Co. or its duly authorized agents. In addition to paying for the models and dies the exposition company, or its duly authorized agents, will place in escrow a sufficient amount to protect the Government against any loss which might be sustained in the coinage of these 50-cent pieces.

The exposition is being held for the purpose of inspiring national confidence and a higher appreciation of American institutions, stimulating business and industry, assisting the Government in bringing a more abundant life to its people and creating a better understanding among the nations of the world. It represents an investment of close to $20,000,000 and, as you know, the Federal Government is participating to the extent of $350,000. We are expecting an attendance of from 7 to 10 million during the period the exposition is to run. Preparation of the grounds and buildings for this exposition has given employment to approximately 3,000 otherwise idle men for the past 12 months. Many of America's great industrial and commercial enterprises are participating and the flags of some 29 nations will be represented.

Sincerely yours,

GEO. BURNHAM.

O

APRIL 15 (calendar day, APRIL 23), 1935.-Ordered to be printed

Mr. PITTMAN, from the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. 2131]

The Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, having had under consideration by reference from the Senate the bill (S. 2131) to provide for the establishment of the Big Bend National Park in the State of Texas, and for other purposes, hereby reports the same favorably and recommends its passage.

The bill provides that when title to such lands as may be determined by the Secretary of the Interior as necessary for recreational park purposes within the boundaries to be determined by him within the area of approximately 1,500,000 acres in the counties of Brewster and Presidio, in the State of Texas, known as the "Big Bend area", shall have been vested in the United States, such lands shall be, and are hereby, established, dedicated, and set apart as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people and shall be known as the "Big Bend National Park."

The bill provides that the land necessary for the purposes heretofore described shall be secured only by donations to the United States and not by appropriation from the Federal Treasury.

The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior in his discretion. and on submission of evidence of title satisfactory to him to accept on behalf of the United States title to such lands within the area heretofore mentioned as may be deemed by him necessary or desirable for national park purposes.

The bill provides that no land for said park shall be accepted until exclusive jurisdiction over the entire area, in form satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior, shall have been ceded by the State of Texas. to the United States.

The bill further provides that the administration, protection, and development of the aforesaid park shall be exercised under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior by the National Park Service, subject to the provisions of the act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535),

entitled, "An act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes" and that the provisions of the act of June 10, 1920, known as the "Federal Water Power Act" shall not apply to the park.

The Big Bend region, within which the proposed park is to be located, is the triangular portion of southwest Texas enclosed by the big bend of the Rio Grande on the east, west, and south and roughly by latitude 30° on the north. It comprises approximately 5,500 square miles. In general character it is a semiarid plain, verging on desert, through which a group of mountain ranges, principally the Chisos, have been thrust. These constitute the southernmost spur of the Rocky Mountains. Of these, the Chisos Range "Phantom", the highest and most rugged, attaining an altitude of 7,835 feet, is literally a biological island.

The Big Bend area is the last great wilderness area of Texas. No railroad line transgresses its vastness. Its few roads are largely makeshift, leading in from the north, or improved wagon trails serving its few ranches and mining claims. The nearest thing to a town which exists are the two mining camps of Terlingua and Study Butte, some 25 miles west of the Chisos Range.

The reason for the long isolation of this area is its low economic value. Aside from the two quicksilver mines there has been no need for the arteries of trade, and the semiarid character of the plains surrounding the group of mountain ranges has offered little to agriculture save scattered areas for grazing.

The varied forest cover in the Chisos is still virgin. Large mammals, such as deer, bear, panther, and fox, still survive. The vegetation of the surrounding semiarid plains is principally a growth of chaparral and cactus. The forest cover in the higher levels of the Chisos, however, is extensively varied, with Douglas spruce, pine, junipers, oaks, and hackberry well represented.

The entire Big Bend region, comprising some three and a half million acres, would probably not be considered in its entirety as a national park area since the northern portion thereof consists principally of dry plains having no superlative features. To the south, however, the landscape is dominated by mountain ranges and is felt to be of high caliber to rank well as a national park. In the Chisos Mountains the visitor is agreeably surprised at the colorful rock expanses, rose-colored and tinged with faint greens and yellows.

One of the dramatic features in this area is the Rio Grande itself, which, in its tortuous course, cuts through three steep-walled canyons, the Santa Helena, the Mariscal, and the Boquillas, and meanders over flat river plains between.

The romance of old frontier Mexico is in the atmosphere of the Big Bend region. In the Chisos Mountains the visitor is continually aware of its presence. The outstanding views in three directions carry the eye over into the mountains of Old Mexico. From the south rim, over 5,000 feet above the river the eye obtains the most dramatic panorama of the Chisos-a 200-mile sweep of American and Mexican terrain. Below the Rio Grande winds through walled canyons and river flood plains. As a unit of the national park system the region would be unique in this international flavor.

The scenic standard of the Mexican side is apparently similar to that of the American. The aspects of a possible international park are highly intriguing. In fact it is contemplated that an effort will