Hon. JAMES R. MANN, THE ALBERT DICKINSON Co., House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. MANN: Referring to your letter of January 13, the writer has been very negligent in replying to you regarding H. R. 14483. There has been such a marked difference of opinion on the question of vetches that it has caused a great deal of delay. Both associations wish me to write you stating that the bill is very acceptable and that there are only two or three suggestions which they would make, namely: Insert on page 2, lines 10 to 12, the words "Kafir corn" and "sorghum." Insert on page 2, line 16, line 20, and line 24, the words "by weight," after the words "per centum," so as to clarify the method of making the test. Add to the end of the bill that "The bill shall go into effect six months after its passage.' It seems to be the opinion of the majority of the trade to leave vetches out altogether, as you have done in H. R. 18495. If the bill comes up for hearing and there should be any changes suggested other than these by the committee, we should be very glad if you would advise us and give us an opportunity to be present before final decision is reached. Thanking you again for your many courtesies, and with kindest regards, Yours, truly, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Hon. JAMES R. MANN, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. SIR: I am in receipt of a copy of House bill 18495, entitled "To regulate foreign commerce by prohibiting the admission into the United States of certain adulterated seeds and seeds unfit for seeding purposes.' The only difference between this and House bill 14483, introduced by you in December of 1911, appears to be the omission of vetch from the later bill. Regarding this omission I would like to call your attention to the following data regarding hairy-vetch seed. During the six months ending October 31, 1910, 339,442 pounds of hairy-vetch seed was imported into the United States, as shown by samples submitted to the seed laboratory by collectors of customs. This seed showed a purity of 78.3 per cent and a germination of 60.3 per cent, or an actual value of 47.2 per cent; that is, of this seed 47.2 per cent was hairy-vetch seed capable of germinating. During the six months ending June 1, 1911, a slightly larger amount of hairy vetch seed was imported which showed an actual value of 84.3 per cent. The hairy-vetch seed which was imported during the six months prior to October 31, 1910, was of an unusually low grade, being badly mixed with the seeds of other vetches, and the hairy-vetch seed itself was of low vitality. During the calendar year 1911, 113 lots of hairy-vetch seed purchased on the open market in connection with our work were found to be adulterated. Of the vetch in these samples an average of 69.6 per cent was hairy vetch, the balance of 30.4 per cent being other vetches, mostly forms of spring vetch. The hairy-vetch seed in thes lots germinated 80.3 per cent, showing an actual value of 55.9 per cent; that is, the 113 lots of hairy-vetch seed purchased on the open market contained an average of 55.9 per cent of live hairy-vetch seed. It is evident that the quality of hairy-vetch seed imported into the United States is low in comparison with the quality of other forage-plant seeds, and that it is especially worthy of attention under any proposed legislation to regulate the importation of seeds into the United States. JAMES WILSON, Secretary. Respectfully, (H. R. 22340, Sixty-second Congress, second session.] A BILL To regulate foreign commerce by prohibiting the admission into the United States of certain adulterated seeds and seeds unfit for seeding purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after six months after the passage of this act the importation into the United States of seeds of alfalfa, barley, Canadian blue grass, Kentucky blue grass, awnless brome grass, buckwheat, clover, field corn, Kafir corn, meadow fescue, flax, millet, oats, orchard grass, rape, redtop, rye, sorghum, timothy, and wheat, or mixtures of seeds containing any of such seeds as one of the principal component parts, which are adulterated or unfit for seeding purposes under the terms of this act, is hereby prohibited; and the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, jointly or severally, make such rules and regulations as will prevent the importation of such seeds into the United States: Provided, however, That such seed may be delivered to the owner or consignee thereof under bond, to be reclaimed in accordance with and subject to such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, and when cleaned to the standard of purity specified in this act for admission into the United States such seed may be released to the owner or consignee thereof after the screenings and other refuse removed from such seed shall have been disposed of in a manner prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture: Provided further, That this act shall not apply to the importation of barley, buckwheat, field corn, Kafir corn, sorghum, flax, oats, rye, or wheat not intended for seeding purposes. SEC. 2. That seed shall be considered adulterated within the meaning of this actFirst. When seed of red clover contains more than three per centum by weight of seed of yellow trefoil, or any other seed of similar appearance to and of lower market value than seed of red clover. Second. When seed of alfalfa contains more than three per centum by weight of seed of yellow trefoil, burr clover and sweet clover, singly or combined. Third. When any kind or variety of the seeds, or any mixture described in section one of this act, contains more than five per centum by weight of seed of another kind or variety of lower market value and of similar appearance: Provided, That the mixture of the seed of white and alsike clover, red and alsike clover, or alsike clover and timothy, shall not be deemed an adulteration under this section. SEC. 3. That seed shall be considered unfit for seeding purposes within the meaning of this act First. When any kind or variety of clover or alfalfa seed contains more than one seed of dodder to five grams of clover or alfalfa seed, respectively. Second. When any kind or variety of the seeds or any mixture described in section one of this act contains more that three per centum by weight of seeds of weeds. CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. No. BRIDGE ACROSS SABINE-NECHES CANAL, PORT ARTHUR, TEX. APRIL 5, 1912.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. Mr. SMITH of Texas, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 21960.] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 21960) to authorize the Port Arthur Pleasure Pier Co. to construct a bridge across the Sabine-Neches Canal, in front of the town of Port Arthur, having considered the same, report thereon with amendment, and as so amended recommend that it pass. 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. Amend the bill as follows: On page 2, line 2, after the word "six" insert the words "Provided, That the said Port Arthur Pleasure Pier Company is also authorized to cross and occupy with the aforesaid bridge the land owned by the United States adjacent to and along said canal under such terms and conditions as the Secretary of War may deem equitable and fair to the public." THE SECRETARY OF WAR. WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, SIR: 1. I have the honor to return herewith a letter dated the 19th ultimo, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of Representatives, inclosing for the views of the War Department thereon H. R. 21960 (62d Cong., 2d sess.), A bill to authorize the Port Arthur Pleasure Pier Co. to construct a bridge across the Sabine-Neches Canal, in front of the town of Port Arthur." 2. The Sabine-Neches Canal is an artificial waterway dug through the lands of the United States along the shore of the Sabine Lake, and connects the mouths of the Sabine and Neches Rivers with the mouth of Taylors Bayou. The Port Arthur Pleasure Club, a local organization having for its object the building of a pleasure pier and amusement resort in Sabine Lake, in May, 1911, made application to the War Department for the privilege of constructing and maintaining a bridge across the said canal to connect with its pleasure pier in the lake. As this project involved the permanent occupation and use by private interests of lands belonging to the United States, the War Department was without legal authority to sanction it. Being a matter of considerable local importance, however, the department decided to grant the privilege of occupying this property temporarily and of building a temporary bridge on the express understanding "that such occupation shall cease and such bridge structure shall be wholly removed unless the authority of Congress for a permanent occupation and maintenance of a permanent bridge shall be obtained by the applicant within six months from the beginning of the next regular session in December, 1911." 3. The bill under consideration is understood to be designed to meet the foregoing condition, and it is further understood that it is the desire of the proponents of the measure to secure the consent of Congress to the occupation of the Government property as well as to the construction of the bridge. If this assumption be true, the bill should be amended as indicated thereon in red, and as thus amended I know of no objection, so far as navigation interests are concerned, to its favorable consideration by Congress. Very respectfully, W. H. BIXBY, Chief of Engineers, United States Ármy. [First indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, April 2, 1912. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, inviting attention to the accompanying report of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, dated 1st instant, and to copy of amended bill referred to. ROBERT SHAW Oliver, GRANT OF LAND FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES, POWELL, WYO. APRIL 5, 1912.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. Mr. MONDELL, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 21221.] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 21221) making a grant of lands for school purposes in block No. 31, town site of Powell, Shoshone reclamation project, Wyoming, present the following report: The town site of Powell, in Park County, Wyo., is a Government town site on the Shoshone reclamation project. In accordance with provisions of the law, the block referred to was reserved for public purposes and designated "school block." School district No. 2, of Park County, covers the town of Powell and adjacent territory. The school district has been occupying this block for school purposes, having small temporary buildings thereon. The school district now desires to erect larger and more permanent school buildings, and therefore seeks the title to the tract. This tract would, under the law, be deeded to the town upon its organization as a municipality; but it is believed that this particular reservation should belong to the school district. The committee is therefore of the opinion that the bill should pass, and so recommends. A letter of the Secretary of the Interior is appended hereto. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. JOE T. ROBINSON, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. SIR: I am in receipt of your request for report upon H. R. 21221, which proposes to authorize and direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue patent for block 31, town site of Powell, in the Shoshone reclamation project, Wyoming, to school district No. 2, Park County. Under the provisions of the act of April 16, 1906 (34 Stat., 116), under |