The CHAIRMAN. We understand that amendment will be included in the substitute.

Mr. COLE. The other amendment is where it says, "there may be in the Chaplains' Corps," that should be changed to read: "there shall be in the Chaplains' Corps."

Mr. BRADLEY. The original bill does have a provision "that until the termination of the wars in which the United States is now engaged or such earlier date as Congress by concurrent resolution may fix." That is in the original bill.

The CHAIRMAN. We have amended the substitute.

Mr. MAAS. I would like to offer for consideration that the language should specify commodore or rear admiral to keep it parallel with the Army, and if the Army goes to a major general, then make the Chief Chaplain a rear admiral.

The CHAIRMAN. Do not do that. If you are going to do something, do it well.

Mr. BATES. I wrestled with that in my own mind, and inasmuch as the Army has been ahead of the Navy, it would do no harm for the Navy to go ahead of the Army.

Mr. RIVERS. Your amendment carries a proviso to make it permanent, or just for the duration?

The CHAIRMAN. Temporary.

Mr. RIVERS. I would like to move at the proper place that there be inserted the following language: "not for the duration of the war, but permanent." I think we can settle that here this morning.

The CHAIRMAN. All those in favor of Mr. Rivers' motion that the rank should be permanent hold up your hands.

(A showing of hands indicated seven for and seven against the proposed amendment.)

The CHAIRMAN. The motion does not prevail.

Mr. RIVERS. I will put it on the floor of the House.

The CHAIRMAN. And we will give you a good chance to make a good speech.

Mr. MAAS. If you try to make it permanent you will kill all chance of getting it passed.

Mr. RIVERS. I will make a better speech for it than the Bureau of Naval Personnel can make against it, I will say that.

The CHAIRMAN. I offer the amendment as a substitute in lieu of H. R. 1023. All in favor of the substitute please hold up your hands. Mr. BRADLEY. Before we vote, it should be pointed out that the difference between that bill and this is that it does not give recognition to the designation of Chief of Chaplains.

(Whereupon a vote was taken.)

The CHAIRMAN. What is the vote?

The CLERK. There are eight ayes and six noes.

The CHAIRMAN. On the motion, the substitute is agreed to, and now the vote comes on the bill as amended by the substitute. Mr. BRADLEY. Amending the whole bill now?

The CHAIRMAN. That is right.

Mr. Clerk, read the whole bill.

(The clerk read the bill as follows:)

A BILL To establish a Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That until the termination of the wars in which the United States is now engaged, by proclamation of the President, or such earlier date as the Congress by concurrent resolution may fix, there shall be in the Chaplains Corps of the Navy one officer who shall be entitled to hold the temporary rank of rear admiral, and shall receive the pay and allowances of a rear admiral of the lower half while serving in such grade.

The CHAIRMAN. All in favor of the bill as amended, say aye. (The bill is carried.)

The CHAIRMAN. The ayes have it, and the bill is favorably reported by the committee. I will ask Mr. Bradley to present it to the House today.

Mr. BRADLEY. I will present the bill, and I will make a very valiant effort to have an amendment passed creating a Chief of Chaplains.

Mr. COLE. Those of us who supported the chairman in this bill want it understood that our support does not mean that this is the end of the question.

The CHAIRMAN. Captain Workman, will you present in the form of a bill in a short time the establishment of a Chaplains Bureau for the Navy?

Captain WORKMAN. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. After January we will try to give you a hearing on it, and I think we will accomplish something along that line.

I think this disposes of everything we have right now. So I think we can take a recess. Congress will take an adjournment soon and there will be nothing else for us unless something happens that the Navy Department decides is very important.

Thank you, gentlemen.

(Whereupon, at 12:25 p .m., the committee recessed.)

[No. 170]

TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY TO ACCEPT GIFTS AND BEQUESTS FOR THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (H. R. 3958). MR. VINSON

Hon. SAM RAYBURN,

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 11, 1944.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed bill to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to accept gifts and bequests for the United States Naval Academy, and for other purposes.

The purpose of the proposed bill, as its title indicates, is to provide a ready means for the acceptance of gifts offered to the Naval Academy. In the past offers of gifts of great value have been made to the Academy. Such gifts included sailing yachts and boats for recreational use, paintings and objects of art of traditional and inspirational value, library collections and similar items.

Under existing law, it is necessary to obtain specific legislative authority to accept each individual gift or bequest. An example of such legislation is the act approved April 25, 1936 (49 Stat. 1239) which authorized the Secretary of the Navy to accept on behalf of the United States the collection of ship models bequeathed by the late Col. Henry H. Rogers, of the United States Naval Academy.

Under the provisions of an act approved March 26, 1938 (52 Stat. 119; 34 U. S. C. 1116-1120), the Secretary of the Navy is authorized to accept gifts and bequests for the use and benefit of the United States Naval Academy Museum, but gifts of articles that are not intended for the museum such as boats, cannot be accepted without specific legislation in each case.

The enactment of the proposed legislation will result in no immediate cost to the Government, but the acceptance of some gifts may entail future expenditures for maintenance and operation. Such expenditures would be borne by regular Navy appropriations, but the discretionary power that would be given to the Secretary of the Navy under the proposed bill will guard against the acceptance of gifts that would require excessive costs for maintenance and operation. The Navy Department recommends the 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 proposed legislation to the Congress.

Sincerely yours,

FRANK KNOX.

[No. 171]

PROCEEDINGS ON THE OCCASION OF THE UNVEILING OF THE PORTRAIT OF HON. CARL VINSON, CHAIRMAN, NAVAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1944

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, Washington, D. C., Thursday, January 20, 1944. The committee met at 10:30 o'clock a. m., the Honorable William E. Hess presiding.

Mr. HESS. The committee will come to order, please.

Distinguished guests, my colleagues, ladies and gentlemen: I feel extremely honored in having been delegated to preside today at this ceremony, honoring the distinguished chairman of the House Naval Affairs Committee, the Honorable Carl Vinson, of Georgia.

We who have known him over a period of years and have had the privilege of serving with him on this great committee, have learned to love him.

His has been a busy committee, but through his untiring efforts, his fairness and impartiality, and his unswerving devotion to the Navy, he has guided through the Congress a multitude of measures which have resulted in making our Navy the most powerful in the history of the world.

Mr. Vinson's leadership has proven beyond question that a democracy can work effectively and efficiently in a crisis such as the one through which we have been passing. He has the respect and admiration of every Member of the House of Representatives, regardless of party affiliation, and is looked upon by the Members as an authority on matters pertaining to the Navy.

Chairman Vinson's colleagues on his committee, together with some of his many friends, arranged with an artist of renown to paint from life his portrait, which will be presented this morning.

A number of telegrams and letters have been received, but time will not permit the reading of all of them. I will, however, read one at this time. It is from the White House, Washington, D. C., dated January 20, 1944:

MY DEAR CARL: You have performed many services for our country during your long and successful tenure of office in the House, but I have always felt that your unselfish devotion to the Naval Affairs Committee has been your greatest. In your 27 years of service on that committee you have constantly endeavored to strengthen American sea power. Today, you have your desire. We have the strongest Navy in the world.

You have made many friends for the Navy. No man has more friends in the Navy than yourself.

Very sincerely yours,

[Applause.]

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.

I wish to present to you a member of the Naval Affairs Committee who will make the presentation of the portrait, the Honorable W. Sterling Cole, of New York.