PROVIDING A NAUTICAL SCHOOL AT THE PORT OF NEWPORT NEWS, VA. (H. R. 2234). MR. BLAND NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 21, 1973. The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 2234) providing a nautical school at the port of Newport News, Va., has been referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation. The purposes of the bill H. R. 2234 are to promote a nautical education by authorizing the use of a suitable naval vessel as a school ship at the port of Newport News, Va., for the benefit of any nautical school, or school or college having a nautical branch, established at that port, for the instruction of youths in navigation, steamshipmarine engineering and kindred subjects; to authorize an annual appropriation to aid in the maintenance and support of said school; and to authorize the detail of proper naval officers to duty in connection therewith. The basic law governing the natuical schools (36 Stat. 1353; U. S. C., title 34, secs. 1121-1123) provides for the establishing of such a school under like conditions at Norfolk, Va. It is understood that the purpose of the bill H. R. 2234 is not to establish two such schools in the State of Virginia, but to permit that State to select for its one school either of the two sites which would be available after the enactment of this bill. Based on the costs of other school ships, the Navy Department estimates the total Federal cost would be about $75,000 per year if the bill H. R. 2234 is enacted and if the school is established. The Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 2234. The bill H. R. 2234 is not in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely yours, CLAUDE A. SWANSON. TO AUTHORIZE THE ACQUISITION OF LANDS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AS A SITE FOR A NAVAL SUPPLY BASE AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF FACILITIES FOR A NAVAL SUPPLY BASE THEREON (H. R. 266, H. R. 3480, AND H. R. 6734) NAVY DEPARTMENT, The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington. D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 266) to authorize the acquisition of lands in the San Francisco Bay area as a site for a naval supply base and to authorize the construction and installation of facilities for a naval supply base thereon was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation. The purpose of the bill (H. R. 266) is to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to acquire on behalf of the United States by purchase, donation, or otherwise, a tract of land in the San Francisco Bay region for use as a naval supply base and to construct, install, purchase, and equip buildings, piers, and other facilities and accessories as may be required for the construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of such naval supply base. On November 3, 1936, the people of the city of Oakland, Calif., in a special election, by a vote of 87,275 to 9,688, voted to grant to the United States 392 acres, more or less, of tidelands and submerged lands belonging to the city, subject to existing encumbrances, for use as a naval supply depot for a nominal consideration and upon condition that at least $2,000,000 be expended, or contracted to be expended, in the actual development of such naval supply depot, otherwise said lands to revert automatically to the city, "and upon the further conditions, if any, as the council and board of port commissioners of the city may hereafter prescribe, all as provided in Ordinance No. S. M. C. of the city council and Port Ordinance No. 243 of the board of port commissioners of the city, be approved and authorized." The existing encumbrances on this tract consist of certain franchise rights owned by the Western Pacific Railway Co. covering approximately 28 acres of the tract and franchise rights, piers, trackage, etc., owned by the Southern Pacific Co. covering approximately 208.5 acres of the tract. The Western Pacific Railway Co. has given assurance that it will relinquish its franchise rights to the Government free of all cost. In addition to the 392 acres to be granted to the United States as above there is an adjoining tract of about 10 acres owned by the Southern Pacific Co. which together with the franchise rights, piers, trackage, etc., mentioned above, the Navy Department desires to acquire as a part of the site for use as a naval supply depot. On January 22, 1937, the Honorable John H. Tolan, who introduced the bill H. R. 266, introduced the bill H. R. 3480 entitled "To authorize the acquisition of lands in the city of Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, as a site for a naval supply base and to authorize the construction and installation of facilities for a naval supply base thereon", and on April 28, 1937, the same Congressman introduced the bill (H. R. 6734) to authorize the acquisition of lands in the city of Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, as a site for a naval supply depot and to authorize the construction and installation of facilities for a naval supply depot thereon. The later bills would authorize the Navy Department to accept the offer of the city of Oakland and to purchase the holdings of the Southern Pacific Co. referred to above. As this site is deemed to be well suited for a naval supply depot and as the arrangements outlined above are considered highly advantageous to the Government, it is recommended that the bills H. R. 266 and H. R. 3480 be not enacted into law but that consideration be given instead to the bill H. R. 6734 which conforms to the views of the Navy Department concerning this project. These bills have also been referred to the Navy Department. The Navy Department has proposed the bill (H. R. 6868) to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to proceed with the construction of certain public works, and for other purposes, which will include the following item: Naval Supply Depot, Oakland, Calif.: Fleet supply facilities, including buildings and accessories, waterfront structures, dredging, and purchase of land, in substantial accord with Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing Au-2 approved April 27, 1937. This item is intended to obtain the same authority as proposed in the bill H. R. 6734. The Navy Department recommends enactment of the bill H. R. 6734 if the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives prefers to consider this matter under the separate bill instead of in connection with the legislation proposed by the Navy Department and referred to above. The bill H. R. 6734 is in accord with the program of the President. |