Mr. BRADLEY. Gentlemen, it appears that this man is the victim of circumstances, that he actually was discharged, that he had an order of discharge at the time he applied for this civil-service position referred to. Through somebody's zealousness he was taken into custody as a deserter, probably due to the previous episodes in his record, but it appears that he was actually discharged at the time he applied for this position.

Captain, do you have anything to say regarding the report, or anything to supplement it?

Captain HEDERMAN. No, sir.

Mr. HEIDINGER. Do you feel that this bill ought to be enacted, Captain?

Captain HEDERMAN. The chairman has said that this man was the victim of circumstances. I think that the Navy was the victim of circumstances due to inefficient administration somewhere.

Mr. BRADLEY. Somebody gave him a discharge through channels that were not absolutely official, but, nevertheless, he had an official discharge, and he was not apprehended until he applied for a Government position. Then somebody took him into custody for not having served the balance of his sentence, which was previously imposed, and the records of the Navy showed that he was actually paid off, and he was not a deserter officially.

Mr. GRANT. Not the second time, but he was the first time. He was not going to be foolish enough to go back there to apply for civilian employment.

Mr. BRADLEY. When he has a discharge he is discharged. If there is something wrong in the way of inefficient administration that is something we are to condemn the Navy for.

Captain HEDERMAN. Yes, sir; that is the way I look at it.

Mr. BRADLEY. He was a free agent, and he was discharged, is that not so?

Captain HEDERMAN. Yes, sir.

Mr. BRADLEY. He was a free agent; he was discharged. I feel it is unfair to hold this against a man throughout his life, and they made him go back and serve his sentence anyhow.

Mr. GRANT. I move that we favorably report the bill, Mr. Chairman. Mr. BRADLEY. It is moved that we report the bill with the amendment correcting the date as suggested by the Department. (The motion to report the bill favorably was adopted.)

(Thereupon the committee proceeded to the consideration of other business.)

[No. 185]

HEARING ON H. R. 634, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF REAR ADMIRAL EMORY S. LAND, CONSTRUCTION CORPS, UNITED STATES NAVY, RETIRED, TO THE RANK OF VICE ADMIRAL

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON PRIVATE BILLS NO. 1,

Washington, D. C., Wednesday, February 16, 1944.

The committee met at 11 a. m., Hon. Michael J. Bradley (chairman) presiding.

Mr. BRADLEY. We will now take up H. R. 634. (The bill referred to is as follows:)

[H. R. 634, 78th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To provide for the advancement of Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, Construction Corps, United States Navy, Retired, to the rank of vice admiral

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to advance Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, Construction Corps, United States Navy, Retired, to naval constructor with the rank of vice admiral on the retired list.

Mr. BRADLEY. Mr. Clerk, will you read the report?
The CLERK (reading):

[No. 1]

TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF REAR ADMIRAL EMORY S. LAND, CONSTRUCTION CORPS, UNITED STATES NAVY, RETIRED, TO THE RANK OF VICE ADMIRAL (H. R. 634). MR. VINSON

Hon. SAM RAYBURN,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 5, 1943.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed bill to provide for the advancement of Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, Construction Corps, United States Navy, retired, to the rank of vice admiral.

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

Rear Admiral Emory S. Land was, on April 1, 1937, upon his own request, placed on the retired list of the Navy with the rank of rear admiral, which rank he held at that time as Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair of the Navy Department. Admiral Land, on April 16, 1937, accepted an appointment by the President as a member of the Maritime Commission and has served continuously since that time on such Commission, having been appointed chairman thereof on February 18, 1938. He is, in addition, Administrator of the War Shipping Administration.

The importance of the merchant marine as an auxiliary of the Navy has always been recognized. The vital part, however, that it plays in the defense of the Country has never been more forcefully demonstrated than in the present war. Admiral Land's outstanding services as a member, and later Chairman, of the Maritime Commission have been of inestimable value to the country as a whole (1317)

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and to the Navy in particular. The immense strides recently made in merchantship construction have been, in a large part, due to the efficient and tireless efforts of Admiral Land.

It is believed that conferring of the additional prestige inherent in the rank of vice admiral would be of assistance in the discharge by Admiral Land of his important duties as Chairman of the Maritime Commission and Administrator of the War Shipping Administration. The Navy Department also considers that the advancement of Rear Admiral Land to the rank of vice admiral on the retired list is amply warranted by his conspicuous services and, accordingly, recommends early 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 the proposed legislation to the Congress. Sincerely yours,

JAMES FORRESTAL, Acting.

Mr. BRADLEY. We have had this up before the committee before. I understand that there will be no cost to the Government attached to it. There will be no increase in his retirement pay. Is that not true?

STATEMENT OF CAPT. T. H. HEDERMAN, UNITED STATES NAVY

Captain HEDERMAN. There would be no cost to the Navy.

Mr. BRADLEY. Or the Government. He will merely have the rank which is a recognition of his service. We passed it before.

Mr. WARD JOHNSON. He will be a vice admiral on the retired list. Mr. BRADLEY. It will not carry any increase in pay because that is fixed by statute.

Without objection, H. R. 634, to provide for the advancement of Admiral Land to the rank of vice admiral, is approved by the committee.

(Whereupon the subcommittee proceeded with the consideration of other business.)

[No. 186]

HEARING ON H. R. 1232 FOR THE RELIEF OF ROSCOE MCKINLEY

MEADOWS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON PRIVATE BILLS NO. 1,
Washington, D. C., Wednesday, February 16, 1944.

The committee met at 11:10 a. m., Hon. Michael J. Bradley (chairman), presiding.

Mr. BRADLEY. We will now take up H. R. 1232. (The bill referred to is as follows:)

[H. R. 1232, 78th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL For the relief of Roscoe McKinley Meadows

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in the administration of the Emergency Officers' Retirement Act of May 24, 1928, Roscoe McKinley Meadows shall be held and considered to have served as an officer of the Navy of the United States during the World War other than as an officer of the Regular Navy.

Mr. BRADLEY. The clerk will now read the report.

The CLERK (reading):

[No. 60]

FOR THE RELIEF OF ROSCOE MCKINLEY MEADOWS (H. R. 1232).
MR. SATTERFIELD

Hon. CARL VINSON,

Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs,

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 12, 1943.

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 1232) for the relief of Roscoe McKinley Meadows was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with request for report and recommendation.

The bill provides that in the administration of the Emergency Officers' Retirement Act of May 24, 1928, Roscoe McKinley Meadows shall be held and considered to have served as an officer of the Navy of the United States during the World War other than an officer of the Regular Navy.

The records of the Navy Department show that Roscoe McKinley Meadows was born on July 1, 1891, and was appointed an acting chaplain in the Navy, with the rank of lieutenant (junior grade), from January 23, 1918, and served until July 7, 1920, when his resignation was accepted from the naval service under honorable conditions.

The health record of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Meadows, Chaplain Corps, during his entire service with the Navy shows no entry of disease or disability of such serious nature as to warrant retirement. At the time of his resignation, on June 30, 1920, he signed the following statement:

"I hereby certify that I have no injury or disability which would entitle me to compensation under the War Risk Insurance Act."

It will be noted that Mr. Meadows was appointed an acting chaplain in the Regular Naval Establishment in 1918 and that at no time during his service was he an "emergency" officer, within the meaning of the Emergency Officers' Retirement Act. He was inducted into the Regular Navy in the only manner provided (1319)

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