"(a) That, furthermore, the amounts be raised as there is no evidence of fraud or collusion but merely an endeavor to get the various items aboard this ship in accordance with instruction from my commanding officer and that the time and facilities did not at all times allow me to properly execute the various actions."

By indorsement of May 19, 1924, you transmitted the letter just quoted and also a copy of public bill No. 74, stating:

"2. It is recommended that the statements contained in the attached letter and inclosure (A) be considered in connection with item No. 13, appearing on certificate of settlement M-6698-N, dated April 16, 1924, * * *

"3. It appears that this officer was seriously handicapped by lack of proper forms, etc., to handle the disbursing duty to which he had been assigned, and that he was unfamiliar with Navy regulations and accounting procedure."

The disallowance, item 13, was not removed because the purported copy of public bill No. 74 contained no detail whatever except the name of the vendor and the amount claimed to have been paid by personal check of R. J. Graff.

In the absence of evidence of the character of the items purchased, their delivery to the vessel for its official account, and payment therefor by R. J. Graff removal of the disallowance would not be authorized. As to items 14 and 15, you state in your letter of August 11, 1924, that

"2. It is noted from an examination of reference (a) that there are two account current items of $69 and $235.60, respectively. The first item represents the difference between the amount for which credit is taken on account current as transfer of funds and the amount taken up by the officer to whom the transfer was made. The other item of $235.60 represents the difference between the amount credited on account current as expended per public bills and the amount expended as per schedule of disbursements.

"3. It is noted from reference (a) that the amount claimed as expended per public bills is $13,937 and the amount expended as per schedule of disbursements is $13,701.40. The account current rendered by this officer to this bureau for the fractional third and fourth quarters, 1918, shows that credit is claimed for $12,219.90 as expenditures on public bills. The schedule of disbursements and the public bills submitted substantitate this credit. It is also noted that the account current submitted to this bureau contains no notation of transfer of funds to Lieut. H. N. Hartley (S. C.), United States Navy, as stated on reference (a). A copy of the account current rendered this bureau is forwarded for your information.

"4. In view of the fact that the account current submitted to this bureau and the account current rendered with the returns to the General Accounting Office do not agree, it is requested that this bureau be furnished with a copy of the account current and schedule of disbursements on file in the General Accounting Office."

The account current on which the transactions here in question were recorded was for the period from October 1, 1918, to February 10, 1919, and not for the period from March 25 to June 30, 1918, as indicated in settlement No. N-4005-E, of February 12, 1923, and supplemental settlement No. M-6698-N, of April 16, 1924. It is assumed that you have a copy of the account current for the period

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 appreciated. Very truly yours,

R. J. GRAFF.

O

[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.

In view of the foregoing and the further fact that this proposed legislation is individual in character and is not for the general good of the naval service, the Navy Department does not recommend the enactment of the bill H. R. 11969.

Sincerely yours,

CURTIS D. WILBUR,
Secretary of the Navy.

A BILL To correct the military record of Hossie R. Kinney, United States Marine Corps

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Hossie R. Kinney shall hereafter be held and considered to have been honorably discharged as a private in the Marine Corps of the United States as of the 12th day of June, 1919: Provided, That no pension or compensation shall accrue prior to the passage of this act.