with that word left out. Therefore, the act is incomplete and this resolution is merely to correct the omission. It is necessary also to change the title because the title of the Joint Resolution has not been correctly stated. Is there any objection? If not, we will report this resolution together with this amendment correcting the title and will try to have it corrected so as to have the word "encumbrances" put back into the law as it passed the House and passed the Senate. Mr. Drewry, will you make the report? Mr. DREWRY. Yes, sir. (Thereupon the committee proceded to the consideration of other business.) О HEARING ON H. R. 3608 TO AUTHORIZE THE DISPOSITION OF RADIO STATION PROPERTY AT ST. THE FORMER NAVAL AUGUSTINE, FLA. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, February 10, 1937. The committee met at 10:30 a. m., Hon. Carl Vinson (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. We will take up for consideration H. R. 3608. The clerk will report the bill. (The clerk read the bill and report referred to as follows:) [H. R. 3608, 75th Cong. 1st sess.] A BILL To authorize the disposition of the former naval-radio-station property at Saint Augustine, Florida. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized to dispose of all or any part of, or interest in, the lands, improvements, and equipment comprising the former naval radio station located at Saint Augustine, Florida, in like manner and under like terms, conditions, and restrictions as prescribed for the disposition of certain other naval properties by the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the disposition of lands no longer needed for naval purposes", approved June 7, 1926 (44 Stat. 700): Provided, That the net proceeds from the sale of said property shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of miscellaneous receipts. [No. 11] TO AUTHORIZE THE DISPOSITION OF THE FORMER NAVAL RADIO STATION PROPERTY AT ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. (H. R. 3608), MR. VINSON OF GEORGIA The SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 19, 1937. Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed bill "To authorize the disposition of the former naval radio station property at Saint Augustine, Florida." The purpose of this proposed legislation is to authorize the disposal of all, or any part of, or interest in, the lands, improvements, and equipment comprising the former naval radio station located at St. Augustine, Fla., in like manner and under like terms, conditions, and restrictions as prescribed for the disposition of certain other naval properties by the act entitled "An act to authorize the disposition of lands no longer needed for naval purposes", approved June 7, 1926 (44 Stat. 700), the net proceeds from the sale of said property to be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of "Miscellaneous receipts.' The radio station site at St. Augustine, Fla., was acquired by the Navy Department by transfer from the Department of Commerce by letter dated November 21, 1925. It consists of all that part of lot 2, section 21, T. 7 S., R. 30 E., Tallahassee meridian, Florida, lying north of the prolongation, easterly to the Atlantic Ocean, of the north boundary of the 5-acre tract on which the St. Augustine Lighthouse is situated, containing 4.7 acres, more or less. This land was originally acquired by the Department of Commerce by setting the same aside from the public domain by Executive order dated February 1, 1883. The Navy Department recommends that the proposed legislation be enacted. The proposed legislation is in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely yours, CLAUDE A. SWANSON. The CHAIRMAN. We will hear from Captain Whitman. STATEMENT OF CAPT. RALPH WHITMAN, CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS UNITED STATES NAVY, BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS, NAVY DEPARTMENT The CHAIRMAN. You are with the Bureau of Yards and Docks? Captain WHITMAN. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Your branch of the Navy Department has jurisdiction over this piece of property? Captain WHITMAN. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Why does the Bureau of Yards and Docks have control of the radio station? Captain WHITMAN. For the reason that the station is not now active and under the Department practice the Bureau of Yards and Docks has cognizance of inactive property. The CHAIRMAN. If it was an active radio station what department would have charge? Captain WHITMAN. The Bureau of Engineering. The CHAIRMAN. With the idea that it is inactive that gives the Bureau of Yards and Docks control? Captain WHITMAN. A custodial function. The CHAIRMAN. Why do you want to get rid of it? Why does the Navy Department want to get rid of this station? Captain WHITMAN. The station has been inactive for some time and the Department sees no further use for it. The CHAIRMAN. How much is it costing you? The CHAIRMAN. You have five buildings on it? Captain WHITMAN. There are five buildings-eight structures, including all the buildings, a radio mast, steel tower and elevated water tank, most of them old, beginning in 1905, and ranging up the newest, 1919, some of them so old that we have no record of the cost, but the principal building cost $4,500 in 1917. That was in war time. The CHAIRMAN. Is it not bringing some income to the Government now? Captain WHITMAN. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. How much is it bringing in? Captain WHITMAN. It is now leased for a period of 5 years from August 5, 1933, at $180 per quarter of 3 months. (NOTE. This information has been found incorrect. Examination of the actual lease shows the rental to be $180 per year.) The CHAIRMAN. In case of national emergency, you would probably ask to establish a radio station in that vicinity. Captain WHITMAN. I am not sure about that as I think there are other stations up and down the coast that take the place of this. The CHAIRMAN. Why was it established there in the first instance, then? Captain WHITMAN. I think it was during the experimental period of radio. The CHAIRMAN. It is not costing the Government anything at all? Captain WHITMAN. No. Mr. DREWRY. There is some cost of maintenance. Captain WHITMAN. Those structures involve some cost, perhaps not a great deal. Of course, the $180 goes into miscellaneous and general receipts of the Treasury. The CHAIRMAN. The proceeds of the sale, if the buildings were sold, would probably go there, too. Captain WHITMAN. If sold for cash; yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What is the valuation of the property? Captain WHITMAN. The search that I have been able to make indicates that there was never any private ownership. The Navy did not have to pay for it. The CHAIRMAN. It has some value. Captain WHITMAN. The Treasury Department Procurement Division, Section of Space Control and Real Estate Records, give an appraisal of $405. The CHAIRMAN. It is bringing in an income to the Government every quarter of how much? Captain WHITMAN. $180. The CHAIRMAN. It is a good piece of property for the Government to own. Of course, if there was any large maintenance cost and you had a large number of men there, or if there was any pressing reason to dispose of this property, I would approve of your action, but I cannot see any reason for getting rid of it because it is inactive. It is not costing the Government anything. It is bringing in a little income, and you have some development there that might be useful. in a national emergency. What is the motive behind this proposition to dispose of this land? Captain WHITMAN. I do not know. The CHAIRMAN. Who else is interested? Captain WHITMAN. I understand that there is a similar bill before Congress at this time for the transfer of some adjoining land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, and the two things may be related. I have no knowledge of my own as to that. The CHAIRMAN. As I understand the act, the first thing to be done if Congress passed the bill would be to take up with the various Departments to see if they would want this piece of property. Captain WHITMAN. That is my understanding. The CHAIRMAN. If they do not want this piece of property, it would be put up at public auction? Captain WHITMAN. I think there is a step in between. My understanding is that if this bill should pass, it could be released or turned over to any other Federal agency, but if no other Federal agency wanted it, it would then be in order to set up its appraised value and offer it to the State, the county, and the town in turn, and if no public body wanted it, then it would be available to private sale. The CHAIRMAN. Has any Federal agency asked for this piece of property? Captain WHITMAN. Not so far as I know. The CHAIRMAN. Would the Commerce Department want it or any Captain WHITMAN. Not that I know of. The CHAIRMAN. Personally, I do not think that the Department has made out a good case to justify getting rid of this piece of property. I would be glad for you to show me why the Navy Department is advocating disposition of it. Captain WHITMAN. I can only say this as a general statement, that the Navy Department is not in the real-estate business, and there is always administrative labor involved in retaining property for which it has no present or prospective use. The CHAIRMAN. How much more property in an inactive status has the Navy? Is there a great deal of it? Captain WHITMAN. That is a question I would not be able to answer. I suppose there is considerable. Mr. MILLARD. I agree with the chairman that it is a bad bargain, appraised at $405 and an income of $720 from it. I cannot see selling it for only $405. The CHAIRMAN. Here is the Bureau of Yards and Docks bringing this proposition up here for the disposition of this radio station when they should have a great deal of important legislation for us to consider. Captain WHITMAN. We hope to have a Public Werks authorization bill for your consideration later on. The CHAIRMAN. It would be more profitable to use our time on these other matters rather than to release this piece of land for $405 when we get an income of $180 every quarter from it. Are there any questions from any members of the committee? Mr. MCFARLANE. This property is appraised at $405 and it is bringing in an income of $720 a year. Do you not think that on its face it is a bad bargain? It is not costing us anything to maintain it, according to the testimony. Captain WHITMAN. Excepting for occasional repairs on the buildings and I think the cost of maintaining is small. Mr. MCFARLANE. How much does the property consist of? Captain WHITMAN. It consists of 4.7 acres adjoining the lighthouse reservation on Anastasia Island. I have a chart here showing the location. Mr. MCFARLANE. Let us see that. Mr. SUTPHIN. Let us reject it without spending time on it. Mr. O'CONNELL. For what purpose is the property used? Mr. MCFARLANE. It is on an island right outside of the city of St. Augustine. Is that the property? Captain WHITMAN. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What is the pleasure of the committee? Mr. MCFARLANE. I move that it be tabled. The CHAIRMAN. It is moved that it be adversely reported. All in favor of rejecting it say aye; opposed no. The ayes have it and it is rejected. Thank you very much, Captain. Tell the Bureau of Yards and Docks we are sorry we do not agree with them on this. Captain WHITMAN. Yes, sir. (Thereupon the committee proceeded to the consideration of other business.) |