FOR THE RELIEF OF DEFOREST LOYS TRAUTMAN (H. R. 3109). MR. SCOTT NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 8, 1937. The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 3109) for the relief of DeForest Loys Trautman, was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation. The purpose of this bill is to commission Lieutenant Trautman a lieutenant commander as of the date that he originally made his number for promotion, that is, next junior to Lt. Comdr. C. R. Jeffs, United States Navy. By reason of his seniority, Lieutenant Trautman became eligible for promotion to the grade of lieutenant commander on February 20, 1934, but at this time he was performing duty in connection with the Civilian Conservation Corps and an immediate recall from this duty for the purpose of examination was not practicable. On May 20, 1934, while Lieutenant Trautman was in this status, the President approved the act extending the system of promotion by selection to the grades of lieutenant and lieutenant (junior grade). The enactment of this law precluded Lieutenant Trautman from promotion by seniority and established, as a requirement to his promotion, his selection by a selection board. Under existing law a selection board is required to certify that it has carefully considered every officer eligible for consideration and that in the opinion of at least six of the nine members the officers recommended for promotion are the best fitted of all those under consideration to assume the duties of the next higher grade. Lieutenant Trautman failed to be selected by the selection boards convened in 1934, 1935, and 1936 and his record has been presented to the selection board which has just completed its consideration of the records presented to it. The Navy Department, therefore, is of the opinion that enactment of this bill would have the effect of defeating the purpose of the Act of May 29, 1934. In addition to the above, Lieutenant Trautman is but one of a number of officers affected by the act of May 29, 1934, and by the act of August 5, 1935, which had a similar effect on officers of the Staff Corps. A total of 12 officers are in this category, and as each of these is as worthy of special consideration as Lieutenant Trautman, the Navy Department is opposed to legislation which would single him out for preferential treatment. Sincerely yours, CLAUDE A. SWANSON. TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESTORATION, PRESERVATION, AND MAINTENANCE, AS HISTORIC NAVAL RELICS, OF THE UNITED STATES SHIP "WOLVERINE" AND FLAGSHIP "NIAGARA”, NOW LOCATED AT ERIE, PA., AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION THEREFOR (H. R. 4091). MR. CROSBY NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 6, 1937. The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 4091) to provide for the restoration, preservation, and maintenance, as historic naval relics, of the U. S. S. Wolverine and flagship Niagara, now located at Erie, Pa., and making an appropriation therefor, was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation. The purposes of the proposed bill are to restore the above-named ships as far as practicable to their original condition; to place them on permanent foundations at a site at Erie, Pa.; and to provide for maintaining them as historic naval relics. The bill authorizes an appropriation to carry out the above purposes, not to exceed $200,000. The Niagara is not the property of the Navy Department and the U. S. S. Wolverine was loaned to the city of Erie, Pa., by authority of the act of December 21, 1926 (44 Stat. 923), which contains the proviso that no expense to the Government would be involved. It is noted that the proposed bill authorizes an appropriation not to exceed $200,000 to carry out its provisions. The Navy Department estimates the cost of restoration as follows: Niagara- Total__ $207, 500 107, 500 315, 000 It is further noted that the bill H. R. 4091 requires that the Secretary of the Navy shall also provide for the preservation, care, and maintenance of these vessels after restoration which would involve an estimated total cost of $6,000 per year. The Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 4091. The bill H. R. 4091 is not in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely yours, CLAUDE A. SWANSON. AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF MARION LEWIS COOPER, JR., TO THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY AS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST CLASS (H. R. 4373). MR. COSTELLO NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 1, 1937. The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 4373) authorizing the appointment of Marion Lewis Cooper, Jr., to the United States Naval Academy as a member of the first class was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation. The purpose of this bill is to authorize the President to appoint Marion Lewis Cooper, Jr., to the United States Naval Academy notwithstanding provisions of law governing such appointments and to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to assign him to the first class of the Naval Academy at that time. It has been the uniform policy of the Navy Department to recommend against special legislation to reinstate a midshipman who has severed his connection with the Naval Academy for any reason. Furthermore there have been several midshipmen compelled to resign from the Naval Academy during the past few years because of defective vision, and this bill would discriminate against them. In view of the above the Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 4373. If the committee decides to make a favorable report on the bill H. R. 4373, notwithstanding the above recommendation of the Navy Department, it is recommended that this bill be amended so that the following provisions will be included: (a) Requirement that readmission to the Naval Academy be contingent on passing successfully a physical examination prior to such readmission. (b) It is not believed to be the intention of this bill to make Mr. Cooper a member of the present first class (class of 1937) should this bill be enacted prior to the graduation of that class, therefore it is recommended that this provision more specifically indicate to which class at the academy he shall be assigned. (e) The bill should not act to reduce the number of appointments now authorized by the President for the year in which Mr. Cooper may be appointed. If the bill H. R. 4373 be enacted into law, it is estimated that the cost to the Government would be about $1,100. There is enclosed herewith a draft of the bill H. R. 4373 drawn in accordance with the Ramseyer rule to include the provisions recommended herein. Sincerely yours, CLAUDE A. SWANSON. |