from October 1, 1918, to February 10, 1919, and that it will not be necessary to furnish you a copy as requested. The copy of the account current for the period from March 25 to June 30, 1918, is returned herewith.

It will be appreciated if steps are promptly taken looking to the adjustment of these items of disallowance, the explanations furnished by R. J. Graff being unsatisfactory.

Respectfully,

J. R. MCCARL, Comptroller General.

A BILL For the relief of R. J. Graff, former ensign, Supply Corps, United States Naval Reserve Force Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $345.60, to reimburse R. J. Graff, former ensign in the United States Naval Reserve Force, for items (which do not represent cash transactions) outstanding against his accounts in the Treasury Department, the clearing up of which can not be accomplished owing to the fact that the records of the said R. J. Graff were lost from the United States submarine boat Parksville in a storm at sea.

Hon. JAMES W. WADSWORTH,

United States Senate, Washington, D. C.

APRIL 30, 1926.

DEAR SIR: In endeavoring to settle my accounts as paymaster in the United States Navy there has arisen a discrepancy of $235.60 that I have been trying to adjust for several years. The difficulty of the whole situation is that my records were all lost in a storm at sea, making it impossible for me to verify the various charges.

If possible, I would appreciate your interest in my behalf in the endeavor to have the Bureau of Accounts of the Navy Department write off this amount, as there was no profit accruing to me on this discrepancy, but there is a difference between balances on my accounts current and schedule of disbursements and owing to my lack of records there is no way for me to straighten out this matter.

I would respectfully call your attention to like conditions in Captain Sterling's accounts, of Rochester, whose accounts you so kindly investigated and solved, and would call your attention to the act of April 22, 1922. (42d Stat. 860.)

I have taken this matter up with our Congressman, S. Wallace Dempsey, but have received no reply, and I do not feel that I should. be called upon to reimburse the Government for this sum for which I received no benefit, and as we were ordered to keep in touch with our records at all times and after my discharge from the United States Navy I was appointed Shipping Board representative and was assigned to the U. S. S. B. Lake Duncan and it was on this vessel in a storm off Cape Hatteras where my records were lost.

Your interest in my behalf in this matter will be greatly appre

ciated.

Very truly yours,

R. J. GRAFF.

[No. 18]

TO CORRECT THE MILITARY RECORD OF HOSSIE R. KINNEY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS (H. R. 11969)

26255-1160:2-L.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 6, 1926.

The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of May 7, 1926, inclosing the bill (H. R. 11969) "To correct the military record of Hossie R. Kinney, United States Marine Corps," and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to advise you as follows:

The records of the Navy Department show that Hossie Robert Kinney, born December 9, 1899, enlisted in the Marine Corps May 3, 1918, as a private for the duration of the war and was dishonorably discharged, pursuant to the sentence of a general court-martial, June 12, 1919. He served at the recruit depot, Parris Island, S. C., from date of enlistment until August 2, 1918, when he was transferred to the marine barracks, Newport, R. I., where he was stationed until October 29, 1918, when he was transferred to the marine barracks, Boston, Mass., under guard, for trial by general court-martial for absence over leave from September 11 to 16, 1918; was convicted and sentenced to six months' confinement and dishonorable discharge; placed on probation; convicted by deck court of leaving post before being regularly relieved January 11, 1919; deserted March 2, 1919, from marine barracks, Boston; delivered by civil authorities May 25, 1919, at marine barracks, Philadelphia, Pa., where discharged June 12, 1919, in pursuance of the sentence of the general court-martial above referred to.

The cost of this proposed legislation, if enacted, would be $36.70 for travel pay, $60 discharge bonus, and $346 adjusted compensation credit, plus an unknown amount of monthly compensation payable by the United States Veterans' Bureau if Kinney has a disability of service origin. With respect to compensation payable by the Veterans' Bureau, the bill (H. R. 11969) was referred to that bureau for information as to the cost of such proposed legislation, and under date of June 19, 1926, the Navy Department was advised by the Director United States Veterans' Bureau that inasmuch as Mr. Kinney had never filed claim for compensation with that bureau there was no information available upon which an estimate could be based.

The bill H. R. 11969 was referred to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget with the above information as to cost and a statement to the effect that the Navy Department contemplated making an unfavorable recommendation on the bill, and under date of June 28, 1926, the Navy Department was advised that this report would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President.

[No. 20]

FOR THE RELIEF OF ROSS F. COLLINS (H. R. 12937)

26255-1183-L.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 6, 1926.

The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of June 19, 1926, inclosing the bill (H. R. 12937) for the relief of Ross F. Collins, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to advise you as follows:

The purpose of this proposed legislation is to authorize the promotion of Ross F. Collins from lieutenant to lieutenant commander, United States Naval Reserve, as an extra number in that grade.

The records of the Navy Department show that Ross F. Collins entered the United States Naval Academy on May 6, 1913. He was commissioned an ensign on March 30, 1917; a lieutenant (junior grade) (temporary) on July 1, 1917; a lieutenant (temporary) on July 1, 1918; and on March 30, 1920, he was given an ad interim appointment as a lieutenant (junior grade). He resigned from the Navy on May 5, 1921. He was enrolled as a lieutenant, class 6, United States Naval Reserve Force, on June 11, 1924, and automatically transferred from the volunteer class of the United States Naval Reserve Force to the volunteer class of the United States Naval Reserve for the balance of his enrollment. On August 28, 1925, he was appointed a lieutenant (deck duties only), United States Naval Reserve.

Upon the appointment of this officer to the Fleet Naval Reserve, he was given a date of precedence, for promotion, in accordance with. existing law and regulations. Had he remained continuously in the naval service, his position on the precedence list would have been higher. He applied for enrollment in the Naval Reserve Force on July 18, 1921, and had he been enrolled on that date his service would have been continuous. However, he was refused enrollment by the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department on that date; again, in August, 1921; and again in June, 1922, due to the then stagnant condition of the Naval Reserve Force, to lack of funds, and to unsatisfactory remarks contained in one of his fitness reports.

The bill H. R. 12937, which, if enacted into law, will result in an additional cost to the Government of $145.25 per annum while Collins is on inactive duty, and $1,116 per annum when assigned to active duty, was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with information that the Navy Department contemplated making an unfavorable recommendation on the bill, and under date of August 3, 1926, the Navy Department was advised that this report would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President.