The bill H. R. 9464, if enacted, will result in an additional estimated cost to the Government for the first six years as follows: The cost after the sixth year would then gradually diminish as officers become entitled to maximum pay and allowances or as they decrease in number. The bill H. R. 9464 was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with the above information as to cost, and under date of January 18, 1927, the Navy Department was advised that the enactment of the proposed legislation was not in conflict with the financial program of the President. In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends the enactment of this proposed legislation. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, A BILL To equalize the pay of certain officers of the Marine Corps with that of officers with corresponding service in the Navy Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in order to equalize the pay of certain officers of the Marine Corps with that of officers with corresponding service in the Navy, all officers now on the active list of the Marine Corps who were appointed to the Marine Corps from civil life on or before the 4th day of March, 1913, shall hereafter be credited, for computing their pay, with five years' service: Provided, That no back pay shall be allowed by reason of the passage of this act. [No. 133] AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE BY THE NAVY DEPARTMENT OF A SITE FOR AN AVIATION TRAINING FIELD IN THE VICINITY OF PENSACOLA, FLA., AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (H. R. 16994) NA9/N1-9 (270207) U. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 9, 1927. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: With reference to the bill (H. R. 16994) authorizing the acceptance by the Navy Department of a site for an aviation training field in the vicinity of Pensacola, Fla., and for other purposes, which was introduced by Mr. Smithwick, of Florida, on February 7, 1927, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, I have the honor to advise you as follows: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to accept on behalf of the United States the title in fee simple to a tract of land containing approximately 500 acres in the vicinity of Pensacola, Fla., for use as a site for an aviation training field to continue land-plane training from the United States naval air station, Pensacola, Fla. At the present time the Navy is using a site known as Corry Field, containing 250 acres, more or less, for an aviation training field. This site is located about 8 miles from the naval air station. It was made available to the Navy without cost to the Government under leases from the owners which expire on June 30, 1927. It has been in use by the Navy as an aviation training field since the summer of 1922. The leases contain options to purchase at any time prior to July 1, 1927, at an approximate cost of $56,000. The Chamber of Commerce of Pensacola intended to exercise these options to purchase and convey title to the United States without cost. Past experience at Corry Field, however, has demonstrated the desirability of acquiring a larger area of approximately 500 acres for land-plane training. The owners of the 250 acres adjoining Corry Field are demanding a price for their land which the chamber of commerce considers exorbitant and it therefore does not feel justified in purchasing those 250 acres as an addition to Corry Field to make up the 500 acres which it desires to convey to the United States without cost. As an alternative the chamber of commerce now offers to convey to the United States without cost title to a site containing approximately 500 acres of the Prieto grant located in section 56, township 2 south, range 30 west, between Pensacola and the United States naval air station and about 3 miles distant from the naval air station. The chamber of commerce further agrees in case this site is accepted by the United States to condition 250 acres thereof for a landing field, construct a railroad spur to the site, and construct and keep in repair a hard-surface road from the West Pensacola road to the site, all of which improvements it agrees to complete by June 30, 1927. This latter site is considered much more desirable and advantageous for naval aviation purposes than the old site at Corry Field, as it has a much larger area; it is about 5 miles nearer the naval air station and thus will greatly lessen transportation and communication difficulties; its location will eliminate necessity for personnel to fly over the city of Pensacola to reach it from the naval air station; and it permits relatively close concentration of station activities. The Navy Department therefore recommends the enactment of the proposed legislation. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. Wilbur, A BILL Authorizing the acceptance by the Navy Department of a site for an aviation training field in the vicinity of Pensacola, Florida, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized to accept on behalf of the United States, free from encumbrances and without cost to the United States, the title in fee simple to such land as he may deem necessary or desirable, in the vicinity of Pensacola, Florida, approximately five hundred acres, as a site for an aviation training field to contínue landplane training from the United States naval air station, Pensacola, Florida. о [No. 134] AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO APPOINT CAPT. REGINALD ROWAN BELKNAP, UNITED STATES NAVY, RETIRED, A REAR ADMIRAL ON THE RETIRED LIST OF THE NAVY (H. R. 16703) 00-Belknap, Reginald R/P17-2(270127) L. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 9, 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 27, 1927, transmitting copy of the bill (H. R. 16703) authorizing the President to appoint Capt. Reginald Rowan Belknap, United States Navy, retired, a rear admiral on the retired list of the Navy, 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 advance Capt. Reginald R. Belknap, United States Navy, retired, to the grade of rear admiral on the retired list of the Navy. Captain Belknap was appointed a naval cadet on September 5, 1887, and has served continuously in the Navy, on active duty since. that date. He advanced through the various grades, attaining that of captain on May 23, 1917. He was retired on June 30, 1926, under the provisions of the act of June 22, 1926 (44 Stat. 761), which directs the retirement of all officers in the grade of captain who become ineligible for promotion upon the completion of 35 years' service subsequent to graduation from the Naval Academy. Under the provisions of the act of August 29, 1916 (39 Stat. 579), Captain Belknap, if he had not been selected to the grade of rear admiral, would have been retired on June 26, 1927, but, because the temporary legislation of June 22, 1926 (supra), substituted service. in grade for age in grade ineligibility for promotion, he was retired on June 30, 1926. The records indicate that the selection boards of June, 1924, 1925, and 1926 did not recommend this officer to the grade of rear admiral, although they did recommend officers junior to him. Captain Belknap is an officer of exceptional ability. He has been assigned duties of great responsibility and his performance of them has been a credit to the naval service. During the World War, Captain Belknap, as commander of Mine Squadron 1 of the mine force, held a flag officer's command for a period of two years and two months. This duty involved the preliminary work of organizing and training the mine-laying squadron and the actual laying in the face of an active enemy of the North Sea mine barrage, which was characterized by the Navy Department as one of the outstanding achieve ments of the Navy; it had much to do with shortening the war and the consequent saving of many American lives. For the highly efficient performance of this duty Captain Belknap was recommended by his immediate superior, by the commander in chief, and by the Chief of Naval Operations for the distinguished service medal, and was awarded that medal in the following quoted citation: For especially meritorious service in command of Mine Squadron 1 of the mine force, during the operation of laying mines in the North Sea, and for the excellent work in connection with the equipping of these ships for mine laying duty. During the past several years Captain Belknap has repeatedly been recommended by his senior officers for advancement to the grade of rear admiral. In connection with Captain Belknap's retirement, attention is invited to section 30 of the act of Congress approved March 4, 1925 (43 Stat. 1279), which reads as follows: All officers of the Navy and Marine Corps who have been specially commended for their performance of duty in actual combat with the enemy during the World War, by the head of the Executive department under whose jurisdiction such duty was performed, when retired by reason of age ineligibility for promotion, shall be placed upon the retired list with the rank of the next higher grade and with three-fourths of the pay they would have received if not advanced in rank pursuant to this section. Had Captain Belknap been retired because of age ineligibility for promotion he probably would have been entitled to the benefits of this act. However, since he was retired because of service ineligibility for promotion, this provision of law could not be applied to his case and he was accordingly retired in the grade of captain. It is recommended that the word "in" be inserted after the word "increase," appearing in line 11 of the bill.. The enactment of this proposed legislation will involve no additional cost to the Government. In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends the enactment of the bill H. R. 16703. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, A BILL Authorizing the President to appoint Capt. Reginald Rowan Belknap United States Navy retired a rear admiral on the retired list of the Navy Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in recognition of the exceptionally meritoriour service of Captain Reginald Rowan Belknap, United States Navy, retired, in command of Mine Squadron 1 of the mine force during the operation of laying mines in the North Sea, and for his excellent work in connection with the equipping of these ships for mine-laying duty, the President is hereby authorized to appoint him, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a rear admiral on the retired list of the Navy: Provided, That no increase nor back pay or allowances of any kind shall accrue as a result of the passage of this act. |