SUPPLEMENTAL ESTIMATES-DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING SUPPLEMENTAL ESTIMATES OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, FISCAL YEAR 1945, AMOUNTING TO $18,496,188.36 TOGETHER WITH A DRAFT OF A PROPOSED PROVISION PERTAINING TO AN EXISTING APPROPRIATION MAY 17 (legislative day, MAY 9), 1944.-Read; referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, May 15, 1944. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress supplemental estimates of appropriations for the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year 1945, amounting to $18,496,188.36, together with a draft of a proposed provision pertaining to an existing appropriation, in the form of amendments to the Budget for said fiscal year. The details of these items, the necessity therefor, and the reasons for their transmission at this time are set forth in the letter of the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, transmitted herewith, in whose comments and observations thereon I concur. Respectfully, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, The PRESIDENT, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, D. C., May 12, 1944. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith for your consideration supplemental estimates of appropriations for the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year 1945, amounting to $18,496,188.36, together with a draft of a proposed provision pertaining to an existing appropriation, in the form of amendments to the Budget for said fiscal year, as follows: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY On page 413 of the Budget, preceding the item for "Contingent expenses, Department of the Interior," insert the following paragraph as a new item of appropriation: Payment of awards, war minerals claims: To complete payment of awards made by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Act of May 18, 1936 (49 Stat. 1355), amending the War Minerals Relief Act of March 2, 1919, and as authorized by the Act of April 4, 1944 (Public Law 284), $54,775.82: Provided, That the settlement of awards under this appropriation shall be made through the General Accounting Office__ __ $54, 775.82 This estimate of appropriation is submitted in compliance with the act of April 4, 1944 (Public Law 284), authorizing the payment of certain awards made by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the act approved May 18, 1936, amending section 5 of the act approved March 2, 1919, which will complete payment on all awards under the War Minerals Relief legislation. SOLID FUELS ADMINISTRATION FOR WAR On page 420 of the Budget, preceding the item for "Southwestern Power Administration," insert the following paragraph as a new item of appropriation: Fuels conservation: For all necessary expenses of the Solid Fuels Administration for War in carrying out a Nation-wide program of fuel conservation, including the preparation for and dissemination of fuel conservation information by various media (including radio, and still and motion pictures to be commercially made and released); such expenses to include personal services in the District of Columbia; not to exceed $100,000 for the employment of technically qualified persons or organizations, by contract or otherwise, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes or the civil service and classification laws; printing and binding; travel expenses, including attendance at meetings of organizations concerned with the purposes of this appropriation, and actual transportation and other necessary expenses and not to exceed $10 per diem in lieu of subsistence of persons serving, while away from their homes, in an advisory capacity without other compensation from the United States, or at $1 per annum; books of reference, periodicals, and newspapers; office supplies; furniture and equipment; purchase, maintenance, repair, and operation of passenger-carrying automobiles; reimbursement at not to exceed three cents per mile of employees for expenses incurred by them in official travel in privately owned automobiles within the limits of their official stations; and the acceptance and utilization of voluntary and uncompensated services; to be immediately available, $700,000: Provided, That section 3709, Revised Statutes, shall not apply to any purchase under this appropriation when the aggregate amount involved does not exceed $300.... $700,000 The purpose of the above estimate is to enable the Solid Fuels Administration for War to initiate and prosecute a comprehensive program for the conservation of solid fuels, in order to minimize to the greatest possible extent an anticipated shortage during the coal year ending March 31, 1945, in the supply of anthracite and bituminous coals. GENERAL LAND OFFICE On page 425 of the Budget, following the schedule of obligations for payment to Oklahoma from royalties, oil and gas, South Half of Red River, insert the following paragraph as a new item of appropriation: Payment to Department of Forestry, Oregon, et al.: For reimbursement of certain organized protection agencies in the State of Oregon for protection of unappropriated public-forest lands intermingled with Oregon and California lands, pursuant to the Act of March 1, 1, 1944 (Public Law 243), as set forth in Senate Report Numbered 653, 78th Congress__ $4,852. 54 The foregoing estimate of appropriation is submitted pursuant to the authorization contained in the act of March 1, 1944 (Public Law 243), for the relief of the Department of Forestry, State of Oregon, and certain organized protection agencies, for protection of unappropriated public forest lands from July 1, 1938, to June 30, 1939. BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS On page 429 of the Budget, preceding the item for "Payment to Indians, States, counties, etc., act, June 11, 1940," insert the following paragraph as a new item of appropriation: Purchase of improvements on lands, Havasupai Indian Reservation, Arizona: For the purchase of improvements on exchanged lands as authorized by and in accordance with the provisions of the Act of March 4, 1944 (Public Law 246), $11,100: Provided. That title to any improvements so purchased shall be taken in the name of the United States in trust for the Indians of the Havasupai Reservation - - $11,100 The purpose of the foregoing item is to provide funds to carry out the provisions of the act of March 4, 1944 (Public Law 246), authorizing the exchange of public land for lands owned by the State of Arizona and the purchase of improvements thereon from the lessee thereof, for addition to the Havasupai Indian Reservation, Arizona. On page 450 of the Budget, under the head "Natives in Alaska," increase the estimate for the item from $1,400,000 to $1,488,500 (increase)____ $88, 500 The purpose of this item is to provide funds for child-welfare assistance to the Indians, Eskimos, and other natives of Alaska, and is made necessary by reason of the tremendous increase in the amount of delinquency among juveniles in this group, brought about and accentuated by war conditions in the Territory. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION On page 478 of the Budget, under the title "Colorado River Front Work and Levee System," in the sixth line of the paragraph, delete the figure "$50,000" and insert in lieu thereof the words and figures "to be immediately available, $350,000, of which not to exceed $100,000 may be expended for the purchase of lands subject to seepage or overflow and improvements thereon: Provided, That the expenditure of any moneys for the purchase of said lands and S. Docs., 78-2, vol. 12- -31 improvements or for remedial or other necessary works for the protection of public or private property in or near the city of Needles, California, shall not be deemed a recognition of any obligation or liability whatsoever on the part of the United States: Provided further, That any moneys received by the United States as reimbursement in accordance with contracts heretofore entered into under the authority of the Act of December 21, 1928 (45 Stat. 1057), as amended, and ratified by the Act of August 30, 1935 (49 Stat. 1028), for work in or near said city of Needles shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts" (increase).. $300,000 Silt being deposited in the bed of the Colorado River in the slack water above Parker Reservoir has raised the level of the river so that a portion of the city of Needles, Calif., is now flooded, resulting in damage to property and danger to health. Steadily rising waters are threatening to overtop the existing dike which protects the yards of the transcontinental Santa Fe Railroad and public utilities serving the city. Funds in the amount of $300,000 above that required for normal operation and maintenance of the levee system are required immediately for raising and extending the dike at Needles, and to purchase the flooded lands if deemed necessary. On page 706 of the Budget, under the title "Reclamation Fund, project, Oregon," from $1,250,000 to $2,500,000 (increase) ------- $1, 250, 000 The War Production Board in April 1944 modified its restrictions on construction of the partially finished Deschutes project, Oregon, to permit early completion of the irrigation and power features contributing food and electric energy to the war program. The available balance of unobligated funds and the estimate now shown in the Budget will be insufficient by $1,250,000 to provide funds necessary for the accelerated construction program scheduled for 1945. On page 709 of the Budget, under the head "General Fund, Construction," insert under the title "Davis Dam Project, Arizona-Nevada (Reimbursable)" the following: Davis Dam project, Arizona-Nevada: The appropriation heretofore made for this project shall be available for construction of that part of the Davis DamPhoenix transmission line extending from the vicinity of Parker Dam to Phoenix, Arizona. A large quantity of electric energy from Parker Dam on the Colorado River is furnished to important war industries in the Phoenix-Tucson area of central Arizona over a single circuit transmission line which is now operated to the limit of its capacity. The War Production Board in March 1944 approved the immediate installation of a second line from Parker to Phoenix in order to provide reliable service to war industries and to supply additional quantities of off-peak electric energy to the area. The new line will be a section of the proposed transmission line which will extend from Davis Dam to Parker to Phoenix. As work on the Davis Dam has been temporarily suspended because of the war, congressional authorization is deemed necessary to expend a part of the unobligated balance for the transmission line which now has been approved. On page 712 of the Budget, under the head "General Fund, Construction,' restore the item "Tucumcari project, New Mexico," and insert as the estimate therefor the figures "$2,500,000". $2,500,000 In view of a War Production Board stop-construction order issued in December 1942 against the Tucumcari irrigation project, New Mexico, no estimate for this project was included in the Budget for 1945. The War Production Board order was rescinded in April 1944 to permit early completion of the project's food-production facilities needed in the war food program. As available balances are insufficient by $2,500,000 to provide adequate funds for the program of construction scheduled in 1945, an amendment to the Budget is necessary. On page 712 of the Budget, under the head "General Fund, Construction," increase the estimate for Lugert-Altus Project, Oklahoma," from $545,000 to $1,045,000 (increase) – $500, 000 The relaxation in April 1944 of all War Production Board restrictions which have previously retarded work on the Lugert-Altus irrigation project, Oklahoma, will permit the Bureau, through accelerated construction, to increase agricultural production essential to the war food program. The estimate included in the Budget for 1945 was based on continuation of a restricted program. The expanded program requires an amendment to provide an additional $500,000. On page 717 of the Budget, insert under the title "Fort Peck Power Project, Montana (Reimbursable)" the following: Fort Peck project, Montana: For construction of transmission lines, substations, and other facilities as may be required by the Bureau of Reclamation, as authorized by the Act of May 18, 1938 (16 U. S. C., Sec. 833), $800,000, to be immediately available and to remain available until expended, which amount shall be available for personal services in the District of Columbia (not to exceed $12,000) and for all other objects of expenditure as specified in this Act under the head: "Administrative Provisions and Limitations" appearing under the caption "Bureau of Reclamation," but without regard to the amounts of the limitations therein set forth____. $800, 000 A critical shortage of natural gas required for fuel in steam electric generating plants in eastern Montana and western North Dakota requires that additional sources of fuel or electric energy be obtained. The War Production Board has determined that the construction of a transmission line from the Fort Peck power plant to Glendive, Mont., would use less critical materials than would the drilling of new gas wells. No provision was made in the 1945 Budget for an appropriation for this project and the unobligated balance from previous appropriations is insufficient by the amount of $800,000 to complete the necessary transmission line. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY On page 484 of the Budget, under the subhead "Mineral resources of Alaska," increase the estimate for the item from $177,000 to $1,252,000, and the limitation on the amount which may be expended for personal services in the District of Columbia from $65,000 to $155,000 (increase) __ $1,075, 000 The purpose of the foregoing item is to provide funds to enable the Geological Survey to undertake the investigation of certain areas of Alaska that seem, on the basis of earlier work done by it, to offer the best possibilities of containing significant petroleum reserves, with a view to making Alaska self-sustaining in regard to petroleum products, and, if possible, to contribute to requirements outside of the Territory. |