Mr. SHEPPARD, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 19239.] The Committee on Commerce, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 19239) granting the consent of Congress to the county of Pearl River, Miss., and the fourth ward of the parish of Washington, La., to construct a bridge across Pearl River, between Pearl River County, Miss., and Washington Parish, La., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report. [Second Indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, January 11, 1917. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration by Congress of the accompanying bill (H. R. 19239, present session) for the construction of a bridge across the Pearl River between the States of Mississippi and Louisiana. O WM. M. INGRAHAM, Assistant Secretary of War. BRIDGE ACROSS RED RIVER, TEX. FEBRUARY 19, 1917.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. SHEPPARD, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 8228.] The Committee on Commerce, to which was referred the bill (S. 8228), authorizing the commissioners of the Red River Bridge District to construct a bridge across the Red River at or near Index, Tex., having considered the same report it back with amendments and as amended recommend its passage. A report of the War Department is appended hereto. [Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, February 16, 1917. Respectfully returned to the chairman, Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration by Congress of the accompanying bill S. 8228, present session, for the construction of the proposed bridge across the Red River at or near Index, Tex., if amended as indicated in red thereon. Q WM. M. INGRAHAM, Assistant Secretary of War. CHANGING NAME OF STEAMER "CHARLES L. FEBRUARY 19, 1917.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. FLETCHER, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 8252.] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 8252) to authorize the change of name of the steamer Charles L. Hutchinson to Fayette Brown, having had the same under consideration, report it back with the recommendation that it do pass. A favorable report by the Department of Commerce on said bill is hereto attached: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, DEAR SENATOR FLETCHER: I have received your letter of the 15th instant, inclosing S. 8252, "A bill to authorize the change of name of the steamer Charles L. Hutchinson to Fayette Brown," and requesting that I furnish your committee with such suggestions as I may deem proper touching the merits of the bill and the propriety of its passage. In reply I have to state that after careful consideration of the papers submitted, I do not perceive any material objection to the passage of this bill. Respectfully, Hon. DUNCAN U. FLETCHER, WILLIAM C. REDFIELD, Secretary. United States Senate. O Mr. JOHNSON of Maine, from the Committee on Finance, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 10749.] The Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 10749) amending section 3285 of the Revised Statutes, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that the bill do pass. The report of the Ways and Means Committee of the House is appended hereto and made a part hereof. [House Report No. 782, Sixty-fourth Congress, second session.] The Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the bill 10749, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass. The object of the bill is to amend section 3285 of the Revised Statutes so as to permit distillers to empty their fermenting tubs any time after 48 hours as a minimum fermenting period. At present they are only permitted to fill these tubs once in 72 hours, the actual fermenting period being, however, in some processes, 30 to 35 hours. The distillers are therefore obliged to keep their tubs empty until the actual ferment ing period of 72 hours is completed. In doing this the fermenters are rendered foul, and it is necessary that they apply a great deal of extra work in washing and cleaning these tubs which could be avoided if the amendment to section 3285 as proposed in the bill herewith reported is approved and passed. If the change of time would be allowed the distillers could increase their capacity 50 per cent with the same number of tubs that they now have at their plants, meaning, of course, a greater revenue from this source to the Government without any additional cost for inspection. Herewith is appended letter from the Treasury Department addressed to Hon. George W. Edmonds approving of the bill with the suggestions that certain amendments be made. These amendments were embodied in the accompanying bill. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Hon. GEORGE W. EDMONDS, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 27th ultimo, inclosing draft of a bill further amending section 3285, Revised Statutes, as amended, 2 FIXING THE MINIMUM FERMENTING PERIOD. and requesting to be advised if there is any objection to the enactment into law of the proposed bill. In reply I would state that there would appear to be no objection to the enactment into law of the proposed bill, or one of like purport. It is suggested that the proposed amendment be changed to read "unless the distiller, upon giving the proper notice, is granted permission by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to fill not oftener than once in forty-eight hours." In the copy of the bill submitted the words "end of the," which appear in section 3285, are omitted in the second line of the second paragraph following the word "the" and before the words "fermenting period." Respectfully, O DAVID A. GATES, Acting Commissioner. |