Department. The above properties are not required for military purposes and the Secretary of the Navy has requested their transfer to the jurisdiction of the Navy Department for use of the Department. PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO Approximately 46 acres of land comprising the main reservation of San Juan, which were formerly used as a target range. The facilities being inadequate, the War Department agreed to exchange this tract for an area consisting of 286 acres known as "Camp Buchanan." The latter area was acquired and conveyed to the United States by the insular government by deed dated May 31, 1931. However, in view of the prohibition contained in the act of February 29, 1931 (46 Stat. 1191), that no War Department property be sold or disposed of without specific authority of Congress, the Government is unable to transfer the 46 acres above mentioned to the people of Puerto Rico in accordance with the agreement until specific legislation is obtained O MARCH 13 (calendar day, March 29), 1935.-Ordered to be printed Mr. SHEPPARD, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 2395] The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2395) to authorize exchange of lands at military reservations, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with a recommendation that it do pass. The purpose of S. 2395 is to authorize the Secretary of War to dispose of portions of certain military reservations no longer required, and in exchange therefor to acquire title to lands required for military purposes. There is no existing law which authorizes the exchange of the properties included in S. 2395, and the War Department recommends and approves the enactment of this legislation. The measure provides for disposal and exchange of certain described lands at Randolph Field, Tex., Hamilton Field, Calif., Jeffersonville Quartermaster Depot, Ind., and Plattsburg Barracks, N. Y. The disposal and exchange of the described lands is for the purpose of straightening boundaries of the several reservations and the fixing of definite boundary lines. No additional funds will be required to carry out the provisions of this measure. The properties involved and the reasons for their disposal are as follows: Randolph Field, Tex.-Randolph Field consists of approximately 2,318 acres of land, which were donated to the Government without cost by citizens of San Antonio. In acquiring title to the land of Randolph Field, the grantor was unsuccessful in securing at a reasonable price a piece of land which projects into the reservation at the northeast corner, near the sewage-disposal plant. This projection of land is undesirable and its elimination will shorten the boundary line of the field and considerably improve the layout. The owners of the property which projects into the field are agreeable to changing the boundary line and will give title to this land provided that conveyance will be made to them of an equal area of land, now owned by the Government, and not required as part of Randolph Field. The tracts of land are of equal value and no funds will be required to effect this exchange. Hamilton Field, Calif.-Hamilton Field consists of approximately 927 acres of land which were donated to the Government without cost by the County of Marin, Calif. The southern boundary line traverses the lower contour of a range of hills comprising the high land of Hamilton Field, thereby making difficult to construct a boundary fence and proper drainage facilities. The adjoining property owner, the Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco, is agreeable to changing the boundary line and will give title to his land (approximately 12.083 acres) provided a conveyance will be made to him of an equal area of land now owned by the Government and not required as part of Hamilton Field. The exchange of properties will straighten out a very irregular property line and permit the construction of the boundary fence on level ground and of the proper drainage facilities. The tract to be acquired is of greater value than the tract to be disposed of, but no funds will be required to effect this exchange. Jeffersonville Quartermaster_Depot, Ind.-During the World War period the Jeffersonville Quartermaster Depot established in 1870, was extended so that it nearly surrounded the terminal yards of the Louisville & Jeffersonville Bridge & Railroad Co. As a consequence, an inconvenient and dangerous traffic situation was created, making it necessary to cross the terminal yards of the railroad company in passing from one portion of the depot to another. In order that this undesirable situation might be remedied, and also that title might be obtained by the Government to land upon which buildings had been erected during the war, steps were taken to acquire additional land at this depot under the authority contained in the act of March 8, 1932 (42 Stat. 418). The Government now has title to all of the land contained in this project except approximately 17 acres which are owned by the Louisville & Jeffersonville Bridge & Railroad Co. Condemnation proceedings for the acquisition of this tract of 17 acres have been held in abeyance for several years, with the view of obtaining authority to transfer to the railroad company a small tract of Government-owned land as partial payment for the area to be acquired. The proposed transfer will eliminate the opposition of the railroad company to the acquisition of land upon which several Government buildings were erected during the war, and will cause the removal of the railroad repair shop and other facilities from undesirable proximity to the depot. The Government land to be disposed of (area, 6% acres) is not required for military purposes and its transfer will enable the railroad company to extend its classification yards to the north, improving the condition in the area enclosed by the depot which caused serious congestion during the war. No additional funds will be required to complete the acquisitions of the desired land. Plattsburg Barracks, N. Y.-Plattsburg Barracks consists of approximately 703 acres of land of which 200 acres, known as the "original reservation", were acquired in 1814. The western boundary line of the "original reservation" has been in dispute for many years. Legal proceedings looking to the ejectment of those occupying the disputed area were dismissed as it was not possible to establish the original boundary line. A tentative boundary line has been established which is agreeable to all parties concerned. If finally adopted, the Government will retain all of the disputed area which is used and required for military purposes, and private parties will continue in possession of the land which they have occupied for many years. This land has not been appraised, but a recent appraisal and sale in the vicinity indicates that the value may be approximately $600 per acre. The proposed boundary divides the acreage of the disputed area as follows: Government 3.75, Roman Catholic cemetery 5.4, all others 6.7. There is no evidence that any of the interested parties have acted other than in good faith in regard to their respective holdings. The Catholic cemetery has been in existence for many years and is now filled almost to capacity. No funds will be required in affecting this adjustment. MARCH 13 (calendar day, MARCH 29), 1935.-Ordered to be printed Mr. HATCH, from the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 1402] The Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1402) providing for payment to Bureau of Reclamation employees for mileage traveled in privately owned automobiles, having considered the same, report favorably thereon and recommend that the bill do pass with minor clarifying amendments. The bill has the approval of the Department of the Interior and its purposes are set out in full in the following letter from the Secretary: Hon. ALVA B. ADAMS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, United States Senate. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I have received, with request for report, copy of S. 1402 "Providing payment to employees, Bureau of Reclamation, for mileage traveled in privately owned automobiles." The circumstances upon which this bill is predicated are as follows: In the interest of practical economy and efficient business administration in the conduct of operations it has been the practice of the Bureau of Reclamation to authorize employees to use their personally owned automobiles for travel to and from their official headquarters to their designated work. To sanction this practice there was incorporated in the Interior Department Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1932 the following provision: "Whenever, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1932, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation shall find that the expenses of travel, including the local transportation of employees to and from their homes to the places where they are engaged on construction or operation and maintenance work, can be reduced thereby, he may authorize the payment of not to exceed 3 cents per mile for a motorcycle or 7 cents per mile for an automobile used for necessary official business." Substantially similar provisions had been incorporated in the appropriation acts for prior years. Under this authority it had been the customary and continuous practice to pay project-operating employees for the use of their privately |