MERCHANT MARINE MEDAL ACT. DECEMBER 16, 1920.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. JONES of Washington, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 13264.] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 13264) to provide for the award of a medal of merit to the personnel of the merchant marine of the United States of America, having considered the same, report thereon favorably with the recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment. The text of the report of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the House of Representatives follows: [House Report No. 988, Sixty-sixth Congress, second session.] The Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 13264) to provide for the award of a medal of merit to the personnel of the merchant marine of the United States of America, having considered the same, report thereon and recommend that it pass. The purpose of this bill is to authorize the President to present, but not in the name of Congress, a medal of merit of appropriate design with a bar and ribbon, together with a rosette or other device to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person in the merchant marine of the United States who since the 6th day of April, 1917, has distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism or distinguished service in the line of his profession or by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government. The merchant marine was one of the very important factors in the winning of the war. In fact, victory could not have been achieved without the facilities for carrying troops and supplies of all kinds across the seas. Many men performed deeds of great heroism and extraordinary worth during their service in the merchant marine of the country. During the war this merchant marine was a branch of the Government. Not only the ships that were built by the Government and upon its orders but as well the privately owned vessels which were commandeered during the war constituted an arm of the national defense. It is therefore eminently proper that recognition should be given to those who were engaged in this service along the lines similar to the consideration which has been given to men and officers in the Army and Navy Establishments. The bill provides for only one style and grade of medal and will therefore not raise any questions of preference or relative degree of merit. The estimated total cost for all purposes is $15,000. The bill is indorsed by the Secretary of Commerce, and by the Bureau of Navigation in the Department of Commerce as is evidenced by the following communications, which also contain arguments for the passage of the bill: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Washington, D. C., March 17, 1920. SIR: I have the honor to inclose, for your consideration, the draft of a bill and a copy of the report of an informal committee appointed by my predecessor on the subject of a suitable recognition of heroic and meritorious service on the part of the merchant marine of the United States during the war. The propriety of recognition of acts of heroism and distinguished service in the merchant marine I am confident will appeal to you and the committee of which you are chairman without argument on my part. There may be differences of opinion as to the extent and method of such recognition, but the recommendations transmitted herewith seem to me to be practicable and reasonable and the medal of merit proposed will confer distinction on those to whom it may be awarded. In form the bill follows generally the language of those sections of the act of February 4, 1919, "to provide for the award of medals of honor, distinguished service medals, and Navy crosses, and for other purposes" (40 Stats., 1056), so far as it can be applied to conditions in the merchant service. The bill provides for only one medal, however, and questions of comparison of the relative degree of merit of the act recognized with the degree of recognition awarded to it are thus avoided. I trust the bill will meet with your approbation and that you will see your way clear to introduce it and favor its passage. I shall be pleased to furnish you any information at my command when you may wish, and if you care for a hearing, members of the informal committee which prepared the report and bill are at your command. SIR: The committee' appointed by you to examine into the subject of suitable recognition of heroic and meritorious service on the part of the merchant marine of the United States has the honor to recommend: First. That official recognition should be made of meritorious service performed by the personnel of the merchant marine of the United States during the World War. Second. That only one medal, preferably designated as the medal of merit, be awarded without regard to class or service. Third. That this medal be awarded only for extraordinary heroism or distinguished service in the line of his profession, or for exceptionally meritorious service to the country. Fourth. That the medal may be awarded to owners, operators, masters, officers, and crews, without regard to citizenship, an essential requirement being that the individual served on board a merchant ship under the flag of the United States or was directly connected with the merchant marine of the United States. Fifth. That the act or service recognized should have been done subsequent to April 6, 1917. Sixth. That for an award of a medal, application in writing must be made by the individual, properly substantiated, or recommendation of an individual, properly substantiated, must be made by his employer, master, an officer of the ship upon which he served, or by a member of the Cabinet. Seventh. That a committee or board of three persons be authorized to receive, investigate, and classify such applications and report thereon with recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce. Eighth. The draft of a bill to carry out these recommendations is inclosed. Ninth. The estimated cost of medals, bars, ribbons, rosettes, etc., $5,000, estimated necessary expenses for proper awards, $10,000. The following facts are submitted: 1. That Great Britain has similarly decorated 1,519 officers and men of her merchant marine. 2. That owners or operators of ships of the merchant marine of the United States as a rule have sufficient data available to substantiate the facts of an application which an individual might make. 3. That there is on file in the Navy Department considerable military data which would assist in substantiating many cases. EUGENE T. CHAMBERLAIN, Supervising Inspector General, Steamboat-Inspection Service. RYLAND DRENNAN, Special Assistant to Director of Operations, United States Shipping Board. BRIDGE ACROSS THE ALABAMA RIVER, ALA. DECEMBER 20, 1920.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. SHEPPARD, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 4519.] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4519) to authorize the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, its successors and assigns, to construct and maintain a bridge across the Alabama River at or near a point approximately 4 miles from the city of Montgomery, Ala, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear from the following communication: [Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, December 14, 1920. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. 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. 4519, Sixth-sixth Congress, third session, to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Alabama River, approximately 4 miles from the city of Montgomery, Ala. W. R. WILLIAMS, Assistant Secretary of War. Mr. SHEPPARD, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 4587.] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4587) granting the consent of Congress to the counties of Brooks and Lowndes, in the State of Georgia, to construct a bridge over the Withlacoochee River, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear from the following communication: [Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, December 14, 1920. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. 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. 4587, Sixty-sixth Congress, third session, to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Withlacoochee River, in the State of Georgia. W. R. WILLIAMS, Assistant Secretary of War. |