The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 7367) to authorize the construction and maintenance of a bridge across the St. Francis River at or near intersections of sections 13, 14, 23, and 24, township 15 north, range 6 east, in Craighead County, Ark., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the Department of War, as will appear by the following letter, which is made a part of this report: [Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, 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. 7367, present session, for the construction of the proposed bridge across the St. Francis River, Ark. WM. . INGRAHAM, Assistant Secretary of War. о Mr. SIMMONS, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 7380.] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 7380) for the construction of Coast Guard cutters, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the Department of the Treasury, as will appear by the following letter, which is made a part of this report: The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, United States Senate. SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, inclosing copy of bill (S. 7380) For the construction of Coast Guard cutters," and requesting that the committee be furnished with such suggestions as may be deemed proper touching the merits of the bill and the propriety of its passage. In my annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1916, I pointed out the necessity of providing three new cutters during the current fiscal year. As the bill which you have submitted embodies my recommendations in that respect, it is gratifying to know that your committee is already considering the program mapped out for this new construction. The necessity for each of these three vessels will be apparent from the following statements: 1. New cutter to be stationed at Detroit, Mich.-The Morrill, which now has headquarters at this port and is assigned to the important duties of patrolling the waters of Lakes Ontario, Erie, St. Clair, and Huron and rendering aid to vessels in distress, has outlived her effective usefulness. She was built in 1889, and is consequently 27 years old. She is a small craft, having a displacement of only 420 tons, and is entirely inadequate in size and power effectively to perform the duties required of a cruising cutter. The average size of merchant vessels which she is called upon to assist has more than doubled since this vessel was constructed. The tonnage of vessels passing by Detroit each year is greater than that at any other point on the waters of the United States, if not in the world, and a new, larger, and more powerful cutter is urgently needed on this station. The original estimate on which the recommendation for this new vessel was based was $350,000, but owing to the considerable increase in cost of labor and materials and the fact that these conditions are likely to continue, a vessel of the type necessary will now cost $425,000. 2. A new cutter for service on the Pacific Ocean, to be stationed at Honolulu, Haiwaii.— During the past fiscal year it has been found necessary to condemn and dispose of the old cutter Thetis, which was formerly stationed at Honolulu. This leaves no vessel available for duty in connection with patrolling the waters of the Hawaiian group and the outlying Midway and Laysan Islands of the Pacific. Assistance to vessels in distress in the vicinity of the important shipping center of Honolulu, enforcement of the neutrality and navigation laws, and other duties of the Coast Guard, should not be neglected in these waters, and there is urgent need for an efficient new vessel to carry on the work. Although the original estimate of the cost of construction of this vessel was $400,000, conditions have changed so much since the estimate was made that an appropriation of $475,000 will be necessary to construct this new cutter. 3. A new cutter to be stationed at Beaufort, N. C.-The vicinity of Cape Hatteras is, as is well known, one of the most dangerous localities in American waters and annually a great many vessels meet disaster there. It might well be termed the "birthplace of derelicts," as years of experience in the destruction of derelicts have shown that a majority of them originate within a radius of 50 miles of Hatteras. On occasions of severe gales there are sometimes from 5 to 10 mishaps to passing vessels within a brief space of time. Calls for help are sent out broadcast but can not be answered promptly, sometimes not at all, as the only available cutters in this vicinity are the Yamacraw, with headquarters at Norfolk, Va., and the Seminole, stationed at Wilmington, N. C. At such times both of these vessels have much more assistance work near their headquarters than they can attend to, and there is urgent need for another vessel in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras. It is, therefore, recommended that a new cutter be authorized for duty in these waters, with headquarters at Beaufort, N. C., which is the nearest available port to Cape Hatteras. From that place prompt assistance can be rendered to vessels in distress, and derelicts can be more readily located and destroyed. The original estimate for this vessel was $350,000, but from conditions which developed since that estimate was made it is now apparent that the sum of $450,000 is needed. As I have stated in previous communications to your committee, it is highly important that the equipment of the Coast Guard be kept up to the top notch of efficiency in order that its work may be performed in the manner expected by Congress and the public. From 1905 to 1915 there were but 11 new cutters provided for the Coast Guard. At least two new vessels per annum are urgently necessary to keep the existing fleet in proper condition. The new vessels authorized at the last session of Congress will, when completed, fortify three of the weak points in the fleet. The three new vessels proposed in the bill pending before your committee will still further aid in maintaining the efficiency of the fleet of Coast Guard cutters which, as you know, annually performs heroic and humanitarian work in the saving of life and property. All of the new vessels authorized, while necessary for the routine work of the Coast Guard in times of peace, will be so constructed as to be of value to the Navy in time of war, for the law provides that they must immediately, upon the outbreak of hostilities, become a part of the naval forces. The plans of the two principal cutters authorized at the last session were submitted to the Navy Department, and the suggestions of that department are being followed out in making the designs to comply with the needs of the Navy. Therefore, in addition to their humanitarian functions, these vessels are a decided asset in the matter of national preparedness. The bill as drawn therefore meets my hearty approval. Respectfully, О W. G. McADOO, Secretary. SENATE. 64TH CONGRESS, 2d Session. { REPORT No. 895. TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUBSISTENCE FOR WARRANT OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN OF THE COAST GUARD. JANUARY 4, 1917.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. SIMMONS, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 7381.] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 7381) to provide adequate subsistence for warrant officers and enlisted men of the Coast Guard, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the Department of the Treasury, as will appear by the following letter, which is made a part of this report: The CHAIRMAN COMMITEE ON COMMERCE, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, United States Senate. SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, inclosing copy of bill S. 7381, "to provide adequate subsistence for warrant oflicers and enlisted men of the Coast Guard," and requesting that the committee be furnished with such suggestions as may be deemed proper touching the merits of the bill and the propriety of its passage. The warrant officers and enlisted men of the Coast Guard are subsisted by the Government. On cruising cutters rations in kind are issued to the enlisted men through the medium of the general mess. It is the usual practice for the warrant officers to have a separate mess, and for this mess rations in kind are commuted, each warrant officer receiving a money allowance with which to defray the cost of his subsistence. At Coast Guard stations and on harbor cutters and launches the rations for both enlisted men and warrant officers are commuted. Rations in kind are purchased under contract at the headquarters of the various cruising cutters, and the average cost of the daily ration for one man in the current fiscal year is $0.475 The average cost of rations for the fiscal years 1916, 1915, 1914, and 1913, was $0.483 $0.475, $0.483, and $0.432, respectively. Under the law rations are commuted at the rate of $0.30, and it is clear that, with the food prices prevailing for the past few years, it is utterly impossible for men to be subsisted on an allowance of $0.30 a day. In addition, the several messes to which commuted rations are issued are composed of a small number of men, usually not exceeding 10, whereas the general mess, to which rations in kind are issued, consists of from 30 to 50 men, and it is a fact that it costs more per man to subsist a small number than to subsist a large number, because in purchasing food in larger quantities more advantageous unit prices can be secured. |