BRIDGE ACROSS LAKE ST. CROIX AT OR NEAR PRESCOTT, WIS. JANUARY 10, 1921.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. CALDER, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 4737.] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4737) granting the consent of Congress to the Prescott Bridge Co. to construct a bridge across Lake St. Croix at or near the city of Prescott, in the State of Wisconsin, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass with amendments. In line 3, strike out the words "the consent of Congress" and insert in lieu the words "authority. Amend the title by striking out, in the first line, the words "Granting the consent of Congress to" and inserting in lieu the word 'Authorizing. The bill as amended has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report. Senate. WAR DEPARTMENT. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Commerce, United States So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I do not know of any objection to the favorable consideration by Congress of the accompanying bill, S. 4737, Sixty-sixth Congress, third session, to authorize the construction of a bridge across Lake St. Croix at or near the city of Prescott, Wis. W. R. WILLIAMS, Assistant Secretary of War. Mr. CURTIS, from the Committee on Indian Affairs submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 517.] The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 517) amending an act to provide for drainage of Indian allotments of the Five Civilized Tribes, approved March 27, 1914 (38 Stat., 310, Public, No. 77), having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment. The bill amends the statute referred to in the title, that the drainage assessment on any Indian allotment shall not exceed $25 per acre, instead of $15 per acre as provided in the act of March 27, 1914, the existing law. The Secretary of the Interior reports favorably upon the measure, as follows: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, MY DEAR SENATOR: I am in receipt of your request of April 9, 1920, to submit my views on H. R. 517, introduced in the House of Representatives on May 19, 1919, by Mr. McKeown, of Oklahoma, in order that your committee may have the benefit of my opinion as to the advisability of the legislation proposed thereby. H. R. 517 proposes to amend an act to provide for drainage of Indian allotments of the Five Civilized Tribes, approved March 27, 1914 (38 Stat., 310). A comparison of H. R. 517 with the above approved act, which it proposes to amend, shows that the only difference between the two items is to be found in line 24, page 2, of the bill, which proposes to increase the amount of the assessment on any Indian allotment included within the drainage district from $15 per acre to not to exceed $25 per acre, increasing the amount $10 under existing law. I assume that the increase in the assessment of $10 per acre over the existing law is justified on account of the increased cost of labor and material. Inasmuch as the laws of Oklahoma provide for the creation of drainage districts for the reclamation of swamp and overflowed lands, which enhances the value of the land included within the drainage districts, and inasmuch as the Indian allottee is protected from such increased assessment "unless the Indian allottee affected, or his legal guardian, shall consent thereto," the imposition of the assessment is not made arbitrary or compulsory. If the Indian allottee or his guardian consents thereto, authority is to be given the Secretary of the Interior, under the act, to pay the expense of such assessments from individual Indian moneys to the credit of said Indian under his control arising from any source. I offer no objection to the bill if Congress sees fit to increase the assessment from $15 to not to exceed $25 per acre. Cordially, yours, Hon. CHARLES CURTIS, JOHN BARTON PAYNE, Secretary. Chairman Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate 1 О Mr. PENROSE, from the Committee on Finance, submitted the fol lowing REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 15275.] The Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R 15275), "An act imposing temporary duties upon certain agricultural products to meet present emergencies, to provide revenue, and for other purposes," having considered the same, report favorably thereon with certain amendments and as so amended recommend that the bill do pass. The amendments adopted by the Committee on Finance are as follows: On page 1, line 10, strike out "30" and insert "40" so that it will read: 1. Wheat, 40 cents per bushel." On page 2, line 12, after the word "pound," insert "except rice, cleaned for use in the manufacture of canned foods." Following paragraph 13, insert two new paragraphs as follows: 14. Fresh or frozen beef, veal, mutton, lamb, and pork, 2 cents per pound. Meats of all kinds prepared or preserved, not specially provided for herein, 25 per centum ad valorem. 15. That cattle and sheep and other stock imported for breeding purposes shall be admitted free of duty. On page 3, line 1, strike out "14" and insert "16;" and strike out three-eighths" and insert "one-eighth.' On page 3, line 3, strike out "15" and insert "17." I |