This bill would authorize the States of Illinois and Missouri to construct a free highway bridge across the old channel of the Mississippi River at a point suitable to the interests of navigation between Kaskaskia Island, Ill., and St. Marys, Mo. Favorable action on the bill is recommended. M. L. WILSON, Acting Secretary. Hon. SAM RAYBURN, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Chairman Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We, the undersigned Members of Congress whose districts are contiguous and on opposite sides of the Mississippi River, desire to present the following facts for the consideration of your honorable committee, and request a report as soon as possible in this matter, as there is no contention, no dispute, no adverse interests to be considered. The facts in the case are attached hereto for the information of your committee. KENT E. Keller, Twenty-fifth District, Illinois. CLYDE WILLIAMS, Eighth District, Missouri. STATEMENT RELATING TO H. R. 6535 A change in the channel of the Mississippi River about 30 years ago cut off the peninsula between the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers on the Illinois side, upon which peninsula the second oldest settlement in the Mississippi Valley was made. This change in the channel of the Mississippi made an island of the peninsula now known as Kaskaskia Island. The old channel of the Mississippi along the Missouri shore gradually filled up, except during high water, and Kaskaskia Island in Illinois became physically attached to Missouri's shore, except for the channel of the Saline Creek. This condition has compelled the thousand people on Kaskaskia Island to use a small ferry across Saline Creek and to trade at St. Marys, Mo. The ferry charges over the Saline Creek were comparatively so exorbitant and the service so precarious as to largely cripple the farmers, even on the rich land of that island. The ferriage across the present Mississippi Channel, to Chester, being a full mile wide and even more precarious, was quite out of the question. It, therefore, became necessary for the dwellers on the island to provide a bridge that they may trade at St. Marys in Missouri. The last Congress provided means to meet such a condition as this, and the two States now ask the authorization for that purpose. The War Department holds that the old and largely filled and overgrown channel is still a navigable stream, and therefore an act of Congress is required for the authorization for building a bridge; and for that reason we are asking that H. R. 6535 be reported out, with recommendation that it do pass. The spring is opening, and this work should proceed at once; wherefore, immediate action by your committee is requested. BEQUEST OF FRED C. AINSWORTH TO WALTER REED HOSPITAL APRIL 18, 1935.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. SCHAEFER, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. J. Res. 244] The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred House Joint Resolution 244, to authorize the acceptance on behalf of the United States of the bequest of the late Maj. Gen. Fred C. Ainsworth for the purpose of establishing a permanent library at the Walter Reed General Hospital to be known as the "Fred C. Ainsworth Endowment Library", having considered the same, submit the following report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass: The will of Maj. Gen. Fred C. Ainsworth, deceased, provided in part that the sum of $10,000 should go to the Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D. C., to provide a permanent library to be known as the "Fred C. Ainsworth Endowment Library." H. J. Res. 244 authorizes the acceptance on behalf of the United States of this bequest. War Department report under date of April 4, 1935, is as follows: The SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: On December 15, 1934, the American Security & Trust Co., Washington, D. C., acting as executor for the estate of the late Maj. Gen. F. C. Ainsworth, advised the executive officer, Walter Reed General Hospital, that General Ainsworth's will made provision for a bequest of $10,000 to provide a permanent library at Walter Reed General Hospital to be known as the "Fred C. Ainsworth Endowment Library." The language of the bill left with the executor full and final decision as to acceptance or nonacceptance of the agency to receive and administer the fund, as well as to certain details of its administration. The executor has advised that, at the present market value of the securities involved, the amount available would be between $7,500 and $8,000. The War Department desires to accept the bequest but is of the opinion that congressional action is necessary therefor. A draft of a joint resolution to that end is enclosed herewith, with request that the same receive favorable action by the House of Representatives. Due to the final provision of the will making a decision of the executor obligatory within 1 year from death, which would be June 5, 1935, congressional action must be obtained without delay if the War Department is to secure this bequest. For this reason early action by the House of Representatives on the proposed joint resolution will be appreciated. A similar letter is being sent to the Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, United States Senate. Respectfully, Memorandum for the Chief of Staff. HARRY H. WOODRING, Acting Secretary of War. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 1, 1935. Subject: New legislation: Bequest of General Ainsworth to Walter Reed General Hospital. 1. On December 15, 1934, the American Security & Trust Co., Washington, D. C., acting as executor for the estate of the late Maj. Gen. F. C. Ainsworth, advised the executive officer, Walter Reed General Hospital, that General Ainsworth's will made provision for a bequest of $10,000 to provide a permanent library at Walter Reed General Hospital to be known as the "Fred C. Ainsworth Endowment Library". The language of the will left with the executor full and final decision as to acceptance or nonacceptance of the agency to receive and administer the fund, as well as certain details of its administration. A final provision of the will required the executor to reach its decision within 1 year of death, which would be before June 5, 1935. The executor advised that, at the present market value of the securities involved, the amount available would be between $7,500 and $8,000. 2. The Judge Advocate General advised that, in his opinion, Congressional action was necessary in order to accept the bequest. The executor was advised of this, and at the same time certain proposals were made to him by the Surgeon General with a view to early agreement on all details on which acceptance by the former is necessary. On March 7, 1935, the executor advised the Surgeon General that a caveat had been filed against this will and that they are therefore unable to take any further steps in this matter, though they expect to know, "within the next several weeks", the possibilities as to the contest of the will and will advise the surgeon General at that time. 3. Decision by the executor under the terms of the will must be made before June 5, 1935. Owing to the caveat filed against the will, it will be impossible for some time for the War Department to secure the agreement of the executor to the proposed details. Therefore, if the War Department is to secure this bequest, congressional approval must be obtained without delay and without waiting for further action by the executor. The Judge Advocate General has drafted a bill embodying the provisions desired by the Surgeon General. The Judge Advocate General (Major Bitzing) has been informally contacted and states that he is of the opinion that the executor, when permitted, will agree readily to the provisions incorporated in the proposed bill. 4. Action recommended: That the Secretary of War sign the attached letters to the Senate committee and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives requesting early action on the proposed joint resolution enclosed therewith. CHAS. S. LINCOLN, Brigadier General, Assistant Chief of Staff. о PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION LOAN FOR MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS APRIL 18, 1935.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. ELLENBOGEN, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 2035] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2035) to amend an act approved June 25, 1934, authorizing loans from the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works for the construction of certain municipal buildings in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report it back to the House with the following amendment and recommend that the amendment be adopted and the bill do pass: Page 1, line 9 after the word "Works" insert the words "or such other agency". The act of June 25, 1934, authorized the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to borrow $10,750,000 from the Public Works Administration, subject to the same conditions and restrictions as applied to other municipalities, and the act listed certain projects. It did not specify buildings for the police court, municipal court, juvenile court, or recorder of deeds. It has long been a matter of public knowledge that the present quarters of these branches of the District government were entirely inadequate and that larger, better arranged, and more sanitary buildings were greatly needed. This bill does not increase the amount of loan previously provided but merely permits the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to include the municipal court, police court, juvenile court, and recorder of deeds buildings in the list of projects heretofore approved. In compliance with paragraph 2a of Rule XII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, changes in existing law are shown as follows: H. Repts., 74-1, vol. 2-21 The list of projects authorized by the act of June 25, 1934, reads as follows: * said Administration is authorized to loan to said Commissioners, the sum of $10,750,000, or any part thereof, out of funds authorized by law for said Administration, for the acquisition, purchase, construction, establishment, and development of a tuberculosis hospital, a sewage-disposal plant, an extension or addition to Gallinger Hospital, a jail or other enclosure for prisoners at Lorton, Virginia, or any one or more of said projects as the said Commissioners may determine", and is amended by adding the following: and a building or buildings for the police court, the municipal court, the Recorder of Deeds, and the juvenile court, or any of them, to be located on such portions or parts of Judiciary Square, or the area bounded by Fourth and Fifth Streets, D and G Streets, Northwest, as shall be approved by said Commissioners, and the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Section 3 of the act reads as follows: SEC. 3. That 70 per centum of so much of said sum authorized by section 1 of this Act as may be expended as therein provided shall be reimbursed to the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works from any funds in the Treasury to the credit of the District of Columbia, as follows, to wit: Not less than $1,000,000 on the 30th day of June each year after such sum shall have been advanced to said District until the full amount expended hereunder is reimbursed, without interest for the first three years after any such advances and with interest at not exceeding 4 per centum per year thereafter on annual balances as of each June 30: Provided, That whenever the District of Columbia is under obligation by virtue of the provisions of section 4 of Public Act Numbered 284, Seventy-first Congress, entitled "An Act for the acquisition, establishment, and development of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and so forth", approved May 29, 1930, to reimburse the United States for sums appropriated by the Congress under that Act, the total reimbursement required under both that Act and this Act shall be not less nor more than $1,300,000 in any one fiscal year: Provided, That the Commissioners may, in their discretion, repay more than said amount: And provided further, That the Commissioners may, in their discretion, allocate any reimbursement as between the sums due by them to the United States under the aforesaid Act and the sums due by them to the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works under this Act: Provided, That such sums as may be necessary for the reimbursement herein required of or permitted by the District of Columbia, and for the payment of interest, shall be included in the annual estimates of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, the first reimbursement to be made on June 30, 1936. Until 70 per centum of so much of said sum authorized by section 1 of this Act as may be expended as therein provided shall be reimbursed to the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, with interest as provided in this section, 10 cents of the tax levied and collected upon each $100 of the assessed valuation of all real and tangible personal property subject to taxation in the District of Columbia shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of a special account for such reimbursement to the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works and shall not be available for any other purpose. The Commissioners may, in their discretion, anticipate from said special account the payments required by this Act. and is amended by adding the following: Provided, That whenever the District of Columbia is under obligation by virtue of the provisions of section 4 of said Public Act Numbered 284, Seventy-first Congress, reimbursement shall be not less than $300,000 in any one fiscal year. Attached hereto and made a part of this report are letters from the Commissioners of the District of Columbia submitting draft of the bill and from the National Capital Park and Planning Commission approving the measure in its amended form. |