AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY TO ACCEPT GIFTS AND BEQUESTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE OFFICE OF NAVAL RECORDS AND LIBRARY, NAVY DEPARTMENT (H. R. 3598). MR. VINSON OF GEORGIA NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 19, 1937. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted here with a draft of a proposed bill "Authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to accept gifts and bequests for the benefit of the Office of Naval Records and Library, Navy Department." The purpose of this proposed legislation is to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to accept, receive, hold, and administer gifts and bequests of personal property and loans of personal property other than money, from individuals or others for the benefit of the Office of Naval Records and Library, Navy Department, its collection or its services, such gifts or bequests of money to be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as trust funds under the title "Office of Naval Records and Library Fund." The draft of bill further provides that gifts and bequests for the benefit of the Office of Naval Records and Library, Navy Department, its collection or its services, shall be exempt from all Federal taxes. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the request of the Secretary of the Navy, to invest, or reinvest, the trust funds, or any part thereof, deposited in the Treasury pursuant to the first section of this act, in securities of the United States Government or in securities guaranteed by the United States Government, the interest accruing from such securities to be deposited to the credit of the Office of Naval Records and Library Fund. In order to extend the usefulness of the Navy Department Library and its services, the Navy Department desires to secure the necessary authorization to accept gifts, loans and bequests. Congress has enacted similar legislation in connection with gifts for use in providing recreation for enlisted men (act of June 30, 1932, 47 Stat., 424; U.S. C., title 5, sec. 419a) and in connection with gifts for the Library of Congress (act of Mar. 3, 1925, 43 Stat., 1107; U. S. C., title 2, ch. 5). There is not cost to the Government in connection with this proposed legislation. On the other hand the Government would be benefited to the extent of the value of gifts other than money and by the use of money for the use of the Office of Naval Records and Library. The Navy Department recommends that the proposed legislation be enacted. The proposed legislation is in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely yours, 91216-37-No. 2 CLAUDE A. SWANSON. (3) TO PROVIDE FOR THE BETTER ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN THE NAVY (H. R. 3599). MR. VINSON OF GEORGIA NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 19, 1937. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed bill "To provide for the better administration of justice in the Navy." The purpose of the proposed legislation is to confer authority upon the Navy Department similar to that conferred upon the War Department with respect to military prisoners (arts. 2, 12, 13, and 14, act of June 4, 1920, 41 Stat., 787, 789; U. S. C., title 10, secs. 1473, 1483, 1484, and 1485), whereby all naval prisoners undergoing confinement shall remain subject to the articles for the government of the Navy and all other laws for the administration of justice in the Navy, and shall be liable to trial by court martial for the offenses committed while under any sentence imposed pursuant to the first or subsequent court-martial. The status of naval prisoners undergoing confinement in naval prisons is threefold and as follows: (1) Former officers, tried by courts martial, found guilty, dismissed from the service, and held to the execution of the sentences imposed. (2) Former enlisted men tried by courts martial, found guilty, and held to the execution of the sentences imposed, after the expiration of their terms of enlistment. (3) Enlisted men undergoing confinement where enlistments have not expired. Authority exists under the present laws to bring to trial naval prisoners whose enlistments have not expired; also to bring to trial persons who have been discharged or whose enlistments have expired who have committed certain offenses prior to their separation from the service. The Navy Department is without jurisdiction in the absence of legislation on the subject, to court martial naval prisoners who have been dismissed from the naval service or whose terms of enlistment have expired and who committed offenses subsequent to such discharge or expiration of enlistment while yet in confinement. It thus happens that an anomaly exists in that the Navy Department is able to punish one group of naval prisoners for offenses committed while undergoing confinement and not able to punish other naval prisoners. This anomaly increases the difficulties of administration of naval prisons. The proposed legislation would not result in any additional cost to the Government. The Navy Department recommends the enactment of the proposed legislation. The proposed legislation is in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely yours, 91216-37-No. 3 CLAUDE A. SWANSON. (5) TO AMEND SECTION 7 OF THE ACT APPROVED MAY 29, 1934, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO REGULATE THE DISTRIBUTION, PROMOTION, RETIREMENT, AND DISCHARGE OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE MARINE CORPS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" (H. R. 3600). MR. VINSON OF GEORGIA NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 19, 1937. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed bill "To amend section 7 of the act approved May 29, 1934, entitled 'An act to regulate the distribution, promotion, retirement, and discharge of commissioned officers of the Marine Corps, and for other purposes."" The purpose of the proposed legislation is to provide that selection boards to recommend officers of the rank of brigadier general of the line of the Marine Corps for promotion to the rank of major general shall be composed as far as practicable of officers of the rank of major general of the Marine Corps and that rear admirals of the line of the Navy may be detailed to duty on such boards in order to constitute the required minimum membership. Under existing law the selection boards above mentioned are composed of nine rear admirals of the line of the Navy. The proposed amendment to section 7 of the Marine Corps Personnel Act of May 29, 1934, is necessary in order that major generals of the Marine Corps may be eligible for such duty. The proposed legislation involves no increased cost to the Govern ment. The Navy Department recommends that the proposed legislation be enacted. The proposed legislation is in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely yours, 91216-37-No. 4 CLAUDE A. SWANSON. (7) |