The requirements of the forces afloat have a very stimulating effect and often control the needs for research in certain fields, and for the eventual development of engineering of the results. So, the Chief of Naval Operations is very much interested in seeing this Office set up in the Navy Department which will not only facilitate our dealings within the Navy Department but will be the first step in order that we may deal with outside agencies like the War Department and other research agencies and industry.

However, the Chief of Naval Operations would like to be free to deal directly with the bureaus who are also interested parties in research and who conduct research of their own, and believes that although it favors the general character of the bill that has been proposed, that has passed the House, feels that in several cases which Mr. Kenney mentioned, they have gone too far and set up too autocratic an agency. Therefore, they favor the amendments that were proposed by Mr. Kenney, and the interested bureaus feel the same

way.

The CHAIRMAN. Very well, Admiral, thank you.

Secretary KENNEY. Thank you very much, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. All right, we will declare the hearing closed on this matter. The committee will hold this bill.

Next is S. 2178, Calendar No. 201, docket No. 201. (S. 2178 is as follows:)

[S. 2178, 79th Cong., 2d sess.]

A BILL To provide for making certain Navy Department articles and equipment available for use at the convention of the Veterans of Foreigns Wars to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1946

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 authorized and directed to lend to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, for use at the convention of that organization which is to be held at Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1946, such cots, blankets, pillowcases, sheets, vehicles, and other available articles and equipment, under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy, as may be needed for the comfort and convenience of the members of such organization attending such convention: Provided, That no expense shall be caused the United States Government by the delivery and return of said property, the same to be delivered at such time prior to the holding of the said convention as may be agreed upon by the Secretary of the Navy and the Veterans of Foreign Wars through its national convention committee: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Navy before delivering said property shall take from the Veterans of Foreign Wars a good and sufficient bond for the safe return of said property in good order and condition and the whole without expense to the United States.

The CHAIRMAN. This is to provide for making certain Navy Department articles and equipment available for use at the convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to be held in Boston in September 1946. Admiral Buck, you may proceed.

STATEMENT OF REAR ADM. WALTER BUCK, BUREAU OF

SUPPLIES AND ACCOUNTS

Admiral BUCK. This bill, Mr. Chairman, has not been referred to the Bureau of the Budget and therefore my statements do not represent the views of the Navy Department.

The bill, if enacted, would authorize and direct the Secretary of the Navy to lend to the Veterans of Foreign Wars for use at their

convention in Boston in September 1946, such cots, blankets, pillowcases, sheets, vehicles, and other available articles and equipment under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy, as may be needed for the comfort and convenience of the members of such organization attending such convention.

The bill further provides that there shall be no expense to the Government in connection with delivery and return of such property and would also require good and sufficient bond for the safe return of the property in good order and condition.

I shall try to explain to the committee that for the bedding items, it will be impossible to carry out the provisions of the bill without cost to Navy appropriations.

The Navy does not have any appreciable quantity of used bedding under its control. Excepting cots and vehicles, the items named which are stocked by the Navy are maintained for sale to enlisted men for cash.

If items of bedding should be loaned to members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, they would, when returned, be in a condition that renovation would be necessary and such renovated items would not be available for sale as new items to enlisted personnel.

This equipment would then be of little or no use to the Navy, and the practical effect of the loan of such equipment so far as the Navy is concerned, would be practically the same as if such equipment were disposed of by gift or declaration as surplus or any other manner which amounts to final disposition thereof.

Because of the Navy system of granting a cash allowance to its personnel for items of clothing and small stores, and the sale of such items to personnel for cash, legislation of this character would set an undesirable precedent.

Although the bill would require a bond for the safe return of property in good order and condition, by actual use, much of such property would not be returned in good order and condition, and the result would be that the Navy Department could not escape some expense involved in the time and services of personnel incident to the establishment of necessary claims under the bond, and at the same time, the property would no longer be available for the use for which it was procured, since it would be used material.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you any material that has been used during the war that is not new?

Admiral BUCK. Not in the clothing category, sir.

The CHAIRMAN: What do you mean by that?

Admiral BUCK. Not in the bedding categories.

The CHAIRMAN. Not in that.

Admiral BUCK. Because on issue, it becomes the property of the personnel and is not returned to the Navy.

The CHAIRMAN. Sheets and blankets become the property of the personnel to whom it is issued? That is odd; I didn't know that before. And they can take it away with them when they leave, these men being discharged?

Admiral BUCK. They do, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Do they always do that?

Admiral BUCK. Not always, sir; there is some that are abandoned by the enlisted personnel; they don't take it away. But by and large that material is in poor condition and wouldn't be suitable.

The CHAIRMAN. So that you will have only new material; all that you would have would be new material?

Admiral BUCK. New material in store.

The CHAIRMAN. And you could not resell it afterwards because it was used?

Admiral BUCK. It was used.

The CHAIRMAN. How about cots?

Admiral BUCK. Cots and vehicles in the bill are not under the cognizance of my particular bureau so I couldn't speak for it authoritatively.

The CHAIRMAN. Who handles those!

Admiral BUCK. Cots would be Bureau of Ships items, sir, or the Bureau of Yards and Docks; and vehicles would be Bureau of Yards and Docks, material cognizance.

I think I am safe in saying, that there are quantities of used material in those categories that might be made available, though I couldn't bind the other bureaus.

The CHAIRMAN. That would be under the Bureau of Yards and Docks, you say?

Admiral BUCK. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. What are the other items besides cots?

Admiral BUCK. Vehicles.

The CHAIRMAN. Vehicles?

Admiral BUCK. Vehicles.

The CHAIRMAN. That is, automobiles?

Admural BUCK. Automobiles, trucks, I presume, busses.

The CHAIRMAN. They are under whom?

Admiral BUCK. The Bureau of Yards and Docks; the majority of them are under the Bureau of Yards and Docks.

The CHAIRMAN. I suppose there would be a limited number of those in Boston?

Admiral Buck. Yes, sir. I can't tell you how many.

The CHAIRMAN. All right. Any questions? Very well.

No action by the committee. The Navy Department to present substitute bill.

The next bill is docket 149, S. 1547, to provide for the disposition of vessels, trophies, relics, and material of historical interest by the Secretary of the Navy and for other purposes.

(S. 1547 is as follows:)

[S. 1547, 79th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To provide for the disposition of vessels, trophies, relics, and material of historical interest by the Secretary of the Navy, and for other purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Thať as a symbol of American naval glory and notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the Secretary of the Navy is authorized, upon such terms and conditions as he may in his discretion prescribe, to transfer by gift or otherwise obsolete or condemned vessels of the United States Navy or captured vessels in the possession of the United States Navy to any of the several States, Territories, or possessions of the United States, and political subdivisions or municipal corporations thereof, the District of Columbia, Canal Zone, or to corporations or associations whose charter or articles

of agreement denies them the right to operate for profit. In addition to any other condition imposed by the Secretary of the Navy, the transfer agreement shall include an undertaking by the transferee that such vessel shall be maintained in a condition satisfactory to the Navy Department: Provided, however, That no expense shall result to the United States as a consequence of such transfer, or as a consequence of the terms and conditions prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, or as a consequence of the use and maintenance of the ship by the transferee subsequent to transfer.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Navy is authorized, in his discretion, to loan or give to any of the several States, Territories, or possessions of the United States, and political subdivisions or municipal corporations thereof, the District of Columbia, Canal Zone, soldiers' monument associations, posts of the Grand Army of the Republic, posts of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, posts of The American Legion, and other recognized war veteran associations, State museums, libraries, historical societies, and incorporated museums operated and maintained for educational purposes only, whose charter denies them the right to operate for profit, and posts of the Sons of Veterans Reserve, captured, condemned, or obsolete ordnance, guns, projectiles, books, manuscripts, works of art, drawings, plans, models, and other condemned or obsolete material and trophies, flags, and other material of historical interest which may not be needed in the service of the Navy Department.

Such loan or gift shall be made subject to such rules and regulations covering the same as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, and the Government shall be at no expense in connection with any such loan or gift.

SEC. 3. The Secretary of the Navy is authorized, to transfer, without reimbursement, such devices and trophies as the Secretary of the Navy in his discre tion shall determine, to the Secretary of the Treasury for the promotion of the sale of war or victory bonds, and to any other Government agency for scientific, experimental, monumental, or display purposes. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to sell or donate such war devices and trophies for the promotion of the sale of war or victory bonds.

The CHAIRMAN. This is Captain Robillard?

Captain ROBILLARD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. From the Bureau of Ships?

Captain ROBILLARD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. What do you say about this bill?

STATEMENT OF CAPT. GEORGE N. ROBILLARD, BUREAU OF SHIPS, NAVY DEPARTMENT

Captain ROBILLARD. Well, the Bureau of Ships, Mr. Chairman, favors the bill because it will eliminate the necessity of obtaining legislation for each transfer, particularly in such cases as the transfer of ship's silver service and will greatly reduce the administration that is necessary in taking care of such transfers.

It would facilitate the disposal and permit us to immediately grant to the proper organization the relic or trophy for which they have made application without any individual legislation-subject, of course, to the rules of the Secretary of Navy, which he sets up.

The CHAIRMAN. Without this bill you would have to get permission of Congress in each case?

Captain ROBILLARD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. What are some of these trophies and vessels and relics?

Captain ROBILLARD. Well, particularly on the vessels such as we have had recently, and on the silver service, these are the most important items.

The CHAIRMAN. We have had some of those bills?

Captain ROBILLARD. Yes; we have had a number of those recentlythe silver service of the New Orleans, of the Nevada, and Wyoming,

The CHAIRMAN. Where some of them would like to have a gun on their place.

Captain ROBILLARD. Or something in their museum-a flag.
The CHAIRMAN. All right; very well, sir.

Without objection the bill may be reported with an amendment. The next bill is docket 198, S. 2133, to amend further the Pay Readjustment Act of 1942, as amended. Witnesses, Capt. P. P. Brown, (SC), USNR, Commander C. J. Walters (SC), USNR, and Maj. D. J. Chandler, United States Marine Corps, United States Marine Corps headquarters.

(S. 2133 is as follows:)

[S. 2133, 79th Cong., 2d sess.]

A BILL To amend further the Pay Readjustment Act of 1942, as amended

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress arrembled, That the Pay Readjustment Act of 1942, as amended, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph at the end of section 4 thereof:

"Payments of allowances which have been or hereafter may be made under this Act based on a purported marriage and made prior to judicial annulment or termination of such marriage are valid: Provided, That it is adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction that the marriage was entered into in good faith on the part of the spouse in military service or that, in the absence of such an adjudg. ment, such finding of good faith is made by the head of the department concerned or by such officer of the department concerned as he may designate for the purpose."

The CHAIRMAN. Commander C. J. Walters. You are from the Bureau of Ships?

Commander WALTERS. No; Bureau of Supplies and Accounts. The CHAIRMAN. Very well.

STATEMENT OF COMMANDER C. J. WALTERS (SUPPLY CORPS), UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE, BUREAU OF SUPPLIES AND ACCOUNTS, NAVY DEPARTMENT

Commander WALTERS. The purpose of the bill S. 2133 is to eliminate the required repayment to the Government of increased allowances paid to service personnel by reason of a dependent spouse in cases where the marriage is subsequently annulled or set aside from its inception.

Under the present law increased rental and subsistence allowances are paid directly to personnel in service who have one or more dependents. Section 4 of the Pay Readjustment Act of 1942 in defining "dependents" uses the terms "husband" and "lawful wife."

The Comptroller General has held that marriages not merely voidable but adjudged to have been void from inception do not meet the requirement of "lawful wife" in the present law. The result is that the increase in allowances paid to service personnel by reason of the purported marriage must be repaid.

No attempt is made by the proposed bill to affect allowances originally payable to the dependent and over which the person in service has no control, such as the family allowance provided in 37 U.S. C. 201.

This statute provides for administration by the War and Navy Departments which are thus able to prevent the inequities which the proposed bill is intended to relieve.