FOR THE RELIEF OF CHARLES A. WALLACE (H. R. 2396). MR. MCCORMACK NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 4, 1937. The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 2396) for the relief of Charles A. Wallace was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation. The purpose of this bill is to consider Charles A. Wallace as having been honorably discharged from the Navy on September 17, 1923. In reviewing Wallace's record the Navy Department found that the marks assigned him for his enlistment, which was terminated by ordinary discharge under honorable conditions on September 18, 1923, entitled him to an honorable discharge certificate and that the commanding officer of the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, N. J., erroneously issued him an ordinary discharge certificate. Accordingly, on May 23, 1936, the Navy Department issued an honorable discharge certificate in the case of Wallace and on May 28, 1936, forwarded it to the Honorable John W. McCormack, Member of Congress, in compliance with his request. The above action obviates any necessity for this proposed legislation and therefore no further comment or recommendation is made on the bill H. R. 2396. Sincerely yours, CHARLES EDISON, Acting. TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NAVAL ATHLETIC FIELD AT SAN PEDRO, CALIF. (H. R. 247). MR. COLDEN NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 4, 1937. The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill (H. R. 247) to provide for the establishment of a naval athletic field at San Pedro, Calif., was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for comment and recommendation. The purpose of the bill is to authorize and direct the Secretary of the Navy to acquire a tract of land in San Pedro, Calif., to be used as an athletic field for the Navy. The bill carries an authorization for an appropriation for such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the act. Information on file in the Navy Department indicates that the cost of acquiring this property will be somewhere between $225,000 and $467,000. While this athletic field is of great value to the personnel of the Navy serving in the San Pedro area, it is contrary to the policy of the Government to purchase such areas outside the regularly prescribed limits of navy yards and naval stations. Local authorities have in the past loaned land to the Navy for such uses. It would appear that the benefits received by the local communities where the fleet normally operates are a justification for such communities to provide these facilities for the recreation of the personnel. Furthermore, there are several new projects which are of greater importance to the efficiency of the Navy and which involve an expenditure of many millions of dollars and the Navy Department does not feel justified in urging the enactment of this project which it believes not so essential. The Navy Department recommends against the enactment of H. R. 247. The bill H. R. 247 is not in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely yours, 91216-37-No. 178 CLAUDE A. SWANSON. (371) |