FOR THE RELIEF OF FRANK WHEELOCK PLUMMER BREED (H. R. 4532). MR. OLIVER

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 26, 1937.

The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 4532) for the relief of Frank Wheelock Plummer Breed was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation.

The purpose of this bill is to consider Frank Wheelock Plummer Breed as having been honorably discharged from the Navy on April 4, 1899.

The records of the Navy Department show that Frank Wheelock Plummer Breed was born on October 8, 1876, and enlisted in the Navy on December 18, 1896, to serve for 3 years. His record shows the following offenses:

June 6, 1897: Absented himself from the U. S. S. Maine and remained so absent until April 26, 1898, when he surrendered to naval custody. He was not punished for this offense, but was permitted to sign an agreement to extend his enlistment for the period of his unauthorized absence, and his enlistment was, therefore, extended to expire on November 11, 1900.

May 31, 1898: Absent without permission.

September 5, 1898: Absent without leave from the U. S. S. Topeka 12 days.

There are four undated entries in his record showing the following offenses: Dirty clothes at inspection; 11 hours over leave; clothes lying around; 12 days over leave.

Breed again absented himself from the Navy on October 28, 1898, and remained so absent until March 25, 1899. It is not shown that he was punished for this offense, but that the commanding officer held he was undesirable material for the Navy and on April 4, 1899, discharged Breed as undesirable for the naval service. The discharge was effected at New York, N. Y.

This bill, if enacted into law, would result in no cost to the Navy; however, it is probable that a charge under the Veterans' Administration would be involved now or in the future.

The Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 4532.

Sincerely yours,

CLAUDE A. SWANSON.

91216-37--No. 164

(343)

FOR THE RELIEF OF VICTOR OSCAR GOKEY (H. R. 634). MR. HANCOCK OF NEW YORK

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 23, 1937.

The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 634) for the relief of Victor Oscar Gokey, was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation.

The purpose of this bill is to provide that in the administration of any laws conferring rights, privileges, and benefits upon honorably discharged sailors Victor Oscar Gokey, late of the United States Navy, shall be held and considered to have been honorably discharged from the naval service on May 22, 1918, and that no bounty, back pay, pension, or allowance shall be held to have accrued prior to the passage of the act.

The records of the Navy Department show that Victor Oscar Gokey was born on February 6, 1896, and enlisted in the Navy on April 19, 1917, for a period of 4 years. He served until June 29, 1917, when he deserted from the receiving ship, Navy Yard, New York. Gokey remained in desertion until July 10, 1917, when he was delivered to naval jurisdiction. He was tried by general court martial, found guilty of absence from station and duty without leave, was sentenced to be confined for a period of 2 years, to be dishonorably discharged from the Navy and to suffer all other accessories of his sentence. The sentence was approved, but the period of confinement, with corresponding accessories, was reduced to 18 months. On October 9, 1917, Gokey was transferred to the naval prison, Portsmouth, N. H. On May 14, 1918, the Secretary of the Navy directed that the unexecuted portion of his sentence relating to confinement with corresponding accessories. be remitted, and that he be discharged from the naval service in accordance with the remaining terms of his sentence. Gokey was given a dishonorable discharge from the naval service on May 22, 1918. This bill, if enacted into law, would result in no cost to the Navy; however, it is probable that a charge under the Veterans' Administration would be involved now or in the future.

The Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 634.

Sincerely yours,

CLAUDE A. SWANSON.

FOR THE RELIEF OF ODA HERBERT PLOWMAN (H. R. 1187). MR.

SHORT

NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, February 23, 1937.

The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 1187) for the relief of Oda Herbert Plowman 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 Secretary of the Navy to accept for enlistment in the Navy, without regard to physical or other qualifications, Oda Herbert Plowman, formerly chief gunner's mate, United States Navy, in the rating held by him when last discharged therefrom, and to transfer him immediately to the Fleet Naval Reserve in that rating. The bill also provides that Plowman shall be entitled, upon such transfer to the Fleet Naval Reserve, to receive the pay, allowances, and other benefits accorded enlisted men of that rating transferred to the Fleet Naval Reserve after 16 years' service.

The records of the Navy Department show that Oda Herbert Plowman was born on May 9, 1884, and enlisted in the Navy on February 13, 1904. He served until June 15, 1920, when he was discharged by medical survey on the diagnosis of "neuritis, multiple", with finding as follows: "Origin-in line of duty. Disability is not the result of his own misconduct."

At the time of Plowman's discharge his service amounted to more than the 16-year requirement for transfer to the Fleet Naval Reserve. By the law in effect at that time, however, men could not be transferred to the Fleet Naval Reserve except at the expiration of a term of enlistment and consequently he was not eligible for that transfer. By the act of February 28, 1925, however, transfers to the Fleet Reserve are authorized on the completion of 16 years of service without awaiting the expiration of the current enlistment. Accordingly, had this act been in effect at the time of Plowman's discharge he would then have been eligible for direct transfer to the Fleet Naval Reserve. This bill, if enacted into law, would result in a cost to the Government of $882 per annum.

The Navy Department recommends against the enactment of the bill H. R. 1187.

Sincerely yours,

CLAUDE A. SWANSON.