IMPROVEMENT OF WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER, FLA. COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING DRAFT OF A PROPOSED PROVISION PERTAINING TO EXISTING AP- JUNE 19 (legislative day, MAY 9), 1944.-Read; referred to the Committee on The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, June 17, 1944. SIR: I have the honor to transmit for the consideration of Congress a draft of a proposed provision pertaining to existing appropriations of the War Department for rivers and harbors, designed to make available unobligated balances of such appropriations for the improvement of the Withlacoochee River, Fla., between its mouth and Inglis. The details of this proposed provision, the necessity therefor, and the reasons for its 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, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, D. C., June 16, 1944. The PRESIDENT, The White House. SIR: I have the honor to submit for your consideration a draft of a proposed provision pertaining to existing appropriations of the War Department as follows: CIVIL FUNCTIONS CORPS OF ENGINEERS-RIVERS AND HARBORS The appropriations for rivers and harbors shall be available for the improvement, in the interest of national defense and subject to the approval of the Chief of Engineers, of the channel in the Withlacoochee River, Fla., between its mouth and Inglis. The existing Federal project for the Withlacoochee River, Fla., provides for securing and maintaining a channel 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water from that depth in the Gulf of Mexico to Port Inglis, at the mouth of the river, by dredging and rock excavation, and for removing snags, overhanging trees and loose rock, and cutting through shoals in the upper river, with a view to making a draft of 2 feet available above Port Inglis for about one-half the year as far as Pembertons Ferry, 85 miles above the mouth. All fuel oil used at the steam plant of the Florida Power Corporation at Inglis, 8 miles above the mouth, is transported by barge from Port Tampa. The tows consist of one and two barges, the draft when loaded ranging up to 8% feet. About 14 round trips a month are required in order to keep the plant supplied with fuel. Submerged rock ledges at 5 sharp bends between the mouth and Inglis now restrict navigation, and it is reported that tugs and barges have been placed out of commission on account of damage suffered by striking the ledges. The Office of Defense Transportation has stated to the War Department that it is its opinion that, from a transportation standpoint, the improvement of the channel by the removal of these ledges should be deemed necessary for the prosecution of the war. The War Production Board has stated that the Office of War Utilities regards the improvement in transportation facilities essential for the maintenance of adequate power supply in Florida, and that the Board therefore recommends that the War Department undertake the improvement as an essential war measure. The War Department advises that the channel improvement considered necessary would cost about $25,000. However, the War Department has no river and harbor authority to make the improvement. In view of the absence of legislative authority to use funds available to it for the proposed channel work, the War Department has requested an allotment from your emergency funds. However, since a sufficient unobligated and unprogramed balance of river and harbor funds is available to the War Department, it is proposed, in lieu of making an allocation from your emergency fund or of requesting an appropriation of new money, that Congress be asked to make available for the proposed work the existing appropriations for rivers and harbors. The foregoing proposed provision is necessary to provide for a contingency which has arisen since the transmission of the Budget for the fiscal year 1944. I recommend that it be transmitted to Congress. Very respectfully, HAROLD D. SMITH, Director of the Bureau of the Budget. O JUDGMENT RENDERED BY THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING PROPOSED PROVISION RELATING TO A JUDGMENT RENDERED BY THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TOGETHER WITH AN ESTIMATE OF AN INDEFINITE APPROPRIATION TO PAY INTEREST JUNE 19 (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, June 17, 1944. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress a proposed provision relating to a judgment rendered by the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia, together with an estimate of an indefinite appropriation to pay interest. The details of this provision, the necessity therefor, and the submission of the estimate for an indefinite appropriation in compliance with the provisions contained in the Deficiency Act of April 27, 1904 (31 U. S. C. 583, par. 2), 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. |