"Any payment heretofore made by the United States on account of any claim sued upon may be pleaded as a set-off to any such claim, but may not be pleaded as an estoppel.

I believe that two years should be sufficient time to allow for the institution of the suits or claims, and therefore suggest that the word "five" appearing at the beginning of line 10, page 2, and at the end of line 17, page 3, of the bill be changed to the word "two."

I see no objection to the enactment of H. R. 10105 if it be amended as above suggested.

Cordially, yours,

House of Representatives.

BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE BETWEEN DEL RIO, TEX., AND LAS VACAS, MEXICO.

FEBRUARY 24, 1921.—Ordered to be printed.

Mr. SHEPPARD, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 15769.]

The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 15769) to authorize the construction of a bridge over the Rio Grande, between the cities of Del Rio, Tex., and Las Vacas, Mexico, having considered the same, report it without amendment, and recommend its passage.

The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the annexed communication.

WAR DEPARTMENT, February 14, 1921. 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, H. R. 15769, Sixty-sixth Congress, third session, to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Rio Grande between the cities of Del Rio, Tex., and Las Vacas, Mexico.

O

W. R. WILLIAMS, Assistant Secretary of War.

SENATE.

66TH CONGRESS, 3d Session.

{

REPORT No. 815.

CURRENT PUBLICITY OF INFORMATION CONCERNING COAL INDUSTRY AND TRADE.

FEBRUARY 24, 1921.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. LA FOLLETTE, from the Committee on Manufactures, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany S. 4828.]

The Committee on Manufactures, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4828) "to promote the general welfare by gathering information respecting the ownership, production, distribution, costs, sales, and profits in the coal industry and by publication of same, and to recognize and declare coal and its production and distribution charged with public interest and use, and for other purposes," having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill receive early consideration, and do pass, with an amendment, at this session of the Congress, as a necessary, preliminary, and emergency measure.

The committee does not offer this bill as a complete legislative solution to prevent the recurrence of the deplorable conditions to which the consuming public has been subjected, more especially during the past year. The problem is so vital to all the people and to the industries of the United States that comprehensive final legislation should only be attempted after more thorough and complete study of all the facts and factors.

The committee believes that this bill takes a first and important step in providing for the immediate setting in motion of existing agencies of the Government for the gathering and dissemination of full facts, without which proper, effective, and just legislation can not safely be attempted.

In our present state of society coal is one of the universal basic necessities, both to life and industry. To-day, by reason of distances and congestion, coal to move transportation and as the chief power generator in the manufacture or conversion of food, shelter, and clothing, as well as the common household heating fuel, has become almost if not quite the subbasic necessity, and therefore it must be recognized as vital to the public health and general welfare and charged in the highest degree with a public interest and use.