[No. 74] TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT CERTAIN MEDALS TENDERED THEM BY THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND TO AUTHORIZE CAPT. WALTER S. CROSLEY, UNITED STATES NAVY, TO ACCEPT A MEDAL Of Honor AND MERIT AND A DIPLOMA TENDERED HIM BY THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI (H. R. 16067) NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 14, 1927. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of January 8, 1927, transmitting copy of the bill (H. R. 16067) to authorize certain officers of the United States Navy and civilian employees of the Navy Department to accept certain medals tendered them by the Republic of China, and to authorize Capt. Walter S. Crosley, United States Navy, to accept a medal of honor and merit and a diploma tendered him by the Republic of Haiti, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to advise you that the Navy Department has no objection to the enactment of this proposed legislation. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, A BILL To authorize certain officers of the United States Navy and civilian employees of the Navy Department to accept certain medals tendered them by the Republic of China, and to authorize Capt. Walter S. Crosley, United States Navy, to accept a medal of honor and merit and a diploma tendered him by the Republic of Haiti. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following-named officers and civilians be, and they are hereby, authorized to accept from the Republic of China the medals mentioned below after their respective names, which medals have been tendered to such officers and civilians, through the Department of State, in appreciation of services rendered by them to the hydrographic mission of the Chinese Government during the years 1925 and 1926: Vice Admiral Albert P. Niblack, United States Navy, First Order of Wen Hu; Captain Walter S. Crosley, United States Navy, Second Medal of Wen Hu; Captain Paul P. Blackburn, United States Navy, Third Medal of Wen Hu; J. H. Larrabee, Navy Department, Washington, District of Columbia, Third Order of Chia Ho Medal; and A. E. Weeks, Navy Department, Washington, District of Columbia, Fourth Order of Chia Ho Medal. SEC. 2. That Captain Walter S. Crosley, United States Navy, be, and he is hereby, further authorized to accept a medal of honor and merit and a diploma tendered to him by the Republic of Haiti in appreciation of services rendered by him to the said Republic of Haiti. [No. 75] TO AUTHORIZE REAR ADMIRAL ALBERT P. NIBLACK, UNITED STATES NAVY, RETIRED, TO ACCEPT CERTAIN DECORATIONS FROM THE PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO AND FROM THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK (H. R. 15916) L. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 14, 1927. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of January 6, 1927, transmitting copy of the bill (H. R. 15916) to authorize Rear Admiral Albert P. Niblack, United States Navy, retired, to accept certain decorations from the Principality of Monaco and from the Kingdom of Denmark, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to advise you that the Navy Department has no objection to the enactment of this proposed legislation. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, A BILL To authorize Rear Admiral Albert P. Niblack, United States Navy, retired, to accept certain decorations from the Principality of Monaco and from the Kingdom of Denmark Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Rear Admiral Albert P. Niblack, United States Navy, retired, be, and he is hereby, authorized to accept from the Principality of Monaco the decoration of "Grand Officer of the Order of Saint Charles" and from the Kingdom of Denmark the decoration of "Commander of the Order of Daneborg," which have been tendered said officer, through the Department of State, in appreciation of services rendered by him in his official capacity as director of the International Hydrographic Bureau. [No. 761 TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY TO MODIFY AGREEMENTS HERETOFORE MADE FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF CERTAIN CLAIMS IN FAVOR OF THE UNITED STATES (H. R. 15131) NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 15, 1927. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Further replying to your letter of December 15, 1926, transmitting for the views and recommendations of the Navy Department a bill (H. R. 15131) "To authorize the Secretary of the Navy to modify agreements heretofore made for the settlement of certain claims in favor of the United States," there is transmitted herewith a report made on June 26, 1926, upon an identical bill (S. 4332) to the Committee on Naval Affairs of the United States Senate. The information that you desire for consideration of the House bill will be found in that letter. In the schedule of the outstanding notes attached thereto, the "present value" is estimated as of July 1, 1926, but it will give you an approximation of the amount at the present time. Since it was made up the New York Shipbuilding Corporation has paid $11,768.20; the Staten Island Shipbuilding Corporation has paid $48,030; and the Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co. has paid $3,000, the last being on the indebtedness stated in the schedule at $9,000. It will be seen by the accompanying copy of the letter to the Senate committee that the Senate bill was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with a statement that the Navy Department contemplated making a favorable recommendation on its enactment and a report was received that this proposed report would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President. A favorable report was therefore made upon Senate bill. The Navy Department for the reasons given in its letter believes that it will be advantageous to the United States to receive settlement of these obligations before their maturity and at a discount, and, therefore, recommends the enactment of H. R. 15131. Sincerely yours, The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, CURTIS D. WILBUR, NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 26, 1926. United States Senate. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of May 25, 1926, forwarding bill S. 4332 "To authorize the Secretary of the Navy to modify agreements heretofore made for the settlement of certain claims in |