FOR THE RELIEF OF THOMAS ARTHUR HUGHES (H. R. 5306). MR.

The CHAIRMAN,

BATES

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 21, 1937.

COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 5306) for the relief of Thomas Arthur Hughes, was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation.

The purpose of this bill is to consider Thomas Arthur Hughes as having been honorably discharged from the naval service on May 20,

1919.

The records of the Navy Department show that Hughes was born. on January 26, 1897, and enrolled in the Naval Reserve Force on June 12, 1918, to serve for 4 years. While attached to the OfficerMaterial School for the Pay Corps at Princeton, N. J., he was found to be using unfair means in the final examination. The matter was referred to a Board of Investigation composed of three officers. Hughes was found guilty of cheating; the finding of the Board of Investigation was reviewed by the Navy Department, and on April 19, 1919, the Navy Department directed that Hughes be discharged as undesirable for the Naval Reserve Force. He was given an undesirable discharge on May 20, 1919.

While the enactment of the bill H. R. 5306 would result in no cost to the Navy; it is probable that there would be a charge under the Veterans' Administration now or in the future.

The Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 5306.

Sincerely yours,

CLAUDE A. SWANSON.

91216-37-No. 378

(891)

TO PROVIDE THAT THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE CHAPLAINS' DIVISION OF THE BUREAU OF NAVIGATION OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT SHALL HAVE THE RANK, PAY, AND ALLOWANCES OF A CHIEF OF BUREAU OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT (H. R. 6212). MR. STACK

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 19, 1937.

The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 6212) to provide that the officer in charge of the Chaplains' Division of the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department shall have the rank, pay, and allowances of a chief of bureau of the Navy Department, was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation.

The purpose of the bill is to give the rank, pay, and allowances prescribed by law for a chief of bureau of the Navy Department to the officer in charge of the Chaplains' Division in the Bureau of Navigation.

The Chaplains' Division was established in the Bureau of Navigation during the World War and has been an integral part of the Bureau since that time. No officer is assigned to duty as head of the Chaplain Corps, but an officer of that corps is assigned to the Bureau of Navigation for the purpose of advising the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation as to the religious needs of the Navy. His responsibility is to the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation and not to the Secretary, as in the case of a chief of bureau.

The Navy Department is unable to see that any benefit or increase in efficiency to the Navy would result by the passage of this legislation. On the contrary, it is felt that the rank, pay, and allowances now enjoyed by the officer in charge of the Chaplains' Division is adequate, considering his responsibilities as opposed to those of a chief of bureau.

The bill H. R. 6212, if enacted into law, would result in an additional cost to the Government of approximately $2,500 per annum. The Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 6212.

The bill H. R. 6212 is not in accord with the program of the President.

Sincerely yours,

CLAUDE A. SWANSON.

TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY OF A GOVERNMENT STEEL PLANT IN THE VICINITY OF LEAGUE ISLAND, PHILADELPHIA, PA. (H. J. RES. 245). MR. STACK

The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: House Joint Resolution 245, to provide for the construction and operation by the Secretary of the Navy of a Government steel plant in the vicinity of League Island, Philadelphia, Pa., was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation.

The purpose of House Joint Resolution 245 is to authorize and direct the Secretary of the Navy to acquire a site for a Government steel plant in the vicinity of League Island, Philadelphia, Pa., to construct thereon a plant fully equipped for the manufacture of steel which shall be capable of supplying the Navy's needs for steel for warship construction and to operate such steel plant exclusively for the requirements of the Navy.

It is assumed that the subject resolution includes under "steel for warship construction" all steels of whatever grades which enter into the hull and machinery of vessels. If such is the case, the necessity for providing facilities for the manufacture and fabrication of practically every kind of steel now made and in practically every form and shape now made, and to be limited only to the needs of the Navy, would require an unusual type of plant with innumerable full-size units, including blast furnaces; open-hearth and electric furnaces; forging hammers; presses of small and large capacities; rolling mills for wire, rods, bars, sheets, plates, and shapes; and a large collection of finishing equipment. It would also necessitate the providing carbonizing and heat-treating furnaces and other special equipment needed in the manufacture of armor. The result would undoubtedly be a plant of extraordinarily high cost, difficult or impracticable to operate, and with an output of extremely high-priced products. Prices would be further increased because certain departments would at times have very low work loads. A commercial plant can combine its naval orders with its commercial work so as to balance its work load and give cheaper costs to both classes of work.

Furthermore, although the proposed plant could not meet Navy war requirements, the Navy would further suffer during times of emergency through its operation because commercial plants would be