80TH CONGRESS 2d Session } SENATE {No. 1734 REPORT AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO CONVEY A TRACT OF LAND TO WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARK: JUNE 16 (legislative day. JUNE 15), 1948.-Ordered to be printed Mr. MILLIKIN, from the Committee on Finance, submitted the following REPORT (To accompany S. 2849| The Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2489) to authorize the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to convey a certain tract of land in the State of Arkansas to Washington County, Ark., having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: On page 1, line 4, after the word "directed", insert a comma and add the following: "subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs may prescribe,". At the end of the bill add: The deed shall reserve to the United States all interest in and to any oil, mineral or fissionable material in said land, and shall provide for reversion to the United States if the land ceases to be used for hospital purposes. The first committee amendment will enable the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to insist that the hospital buildings it is proposed to construct on the land are constructed in accordance with the terms agreed upon. The second committee amendment reserves to the United States all interest in oil, mineral, or fissionable material in the land, and provides for its reversion to the United States if it ceases to be used for hospital purposes. GENERAL STATEMENT The bill would authorize and direct the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to transfer by quitclaim deed to Washington County, Ark., without consideration, certain described land located within the present boundaries of the Veterans' Administration hospital reservation at Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark. The Veterans' Administration's 305-bed general medical and surgical hospital at Fayetteville, Ark., is located on an 80-acre tract of land which was donated to the Government by the people of that city at a cost to themselves of approximately $73,000. The land described in the bill, which is a part of such tract, is desired by Washington County for use as the site of a proposed county hospital. Such land is not being used by the Veterans' Administration and your committee is informed its transfer to the county for such use will in no way interfere with the present or prospective operation of the Veterans' Administration's Fayetteville Hospital. Representatives of Washington County have agreed that the architecture of the proposed buildings will conform with the architecture now employed at the hospital, and that the Veterans' Administration shall have the right to approve the plans and architecture of the proposed structures so that they will not affect any of the views of the hospital. The report of the Veterans' Administration on this bill states: After careful consideration the Veterans' Administration is of the opinion that the location of a county hospital on the premises in question will act as an incentive to greater medical activity in that area; provide possibilities for training of nurses; and consultation between the staffs of both institutions, which will be of considerable benefit to the Veterans' Administration in the care and treatment of veterans. 80TH CONGRESS 2d Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 1735 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL SERIES OF STAMPS IN HONOR AND COMMEMORATION OF MOINA MICHAEL, ORIGINATOR OF FLANDERS FIELD MEMORIAL POPPY IDEA JUNE 16 (legislative day. June 15), 1948.-Ordered to be printed Mr. STENNIS, from the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, submitted the following REPORT To accompany H. R. 66341 The Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6634) to authorize the issuance of a special series of stamps in honor and commemoration of Moina Michael, riginator of Flanders Field memorial poppy idea, having considered he same, report favorably thereon and recommend that the bill, vithout amendment, do pass. GENERAL STATEMENT The bill (H. R. 6634) would authorize and direct the Postmaster General to issue a 3-cent commemorative stamp, at the earliest pracicable date, in honor and commemoration of Miss Moina Michael, f Athens, Ga., who originated the idea of the memorial poppy for World War I veterans and widows and orphans. Her contribution to the memory of these veterans warrants, in the pinion of the committee, the issuance of such a commemorative amp. The idea of the memorial poppy sprang out of an appeal to Miss Michael by the mother of a veteran who was lost at sea. Because he body had not been recovered, the mother was unable to place owers on her son's grave and Miss Michael conceived the idea of asting flowers upon the water in his memory every year as long as he lived. Out of that came the poppy tradition to honor all war ead. Miss Michael gave her poppy idea to the American Legion Auxiliary › create a rehabilitation fund for World War I veterans and their milies and the poppy idea was sponsored by the American Legion 1920. Millions of dollars have been raised from the sale of memorial oppies for beneficial purposes. In Boston in 1940 the American Legion recognized the contribution of this little Georgia woman in awarding her the Distinguished Service Medal. In 1931 the Georgia Legislature awarded her the distinguished citizen's citation. She was known as the Poppy Lady. A liberty ship was named the Moina Michael in 1944, at the sugges tion of the American Legion and a number of Congressmen. |