76TH CONGRESS 3d Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 1658 PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL SUM FOR THE PAYMENT OF A CLAIM FOR THE VALUE OF PERSONAL EFFECTS DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF A FIRE AT THE MARINE BARRACKS, QUANTICO, VA., ON OCTOBER 27, 1938 MAY 23 (legislative day, APRIL 24), 1940.-Ordered to be printed Mr. GILLETTE, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 3594] The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 3594) to provide an additional sum for the payment of a claim under the act entitled "An act to provide for the reimbursement of certain personnel or former personnel of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps for the value of personal effects destroyed as a result of a fire at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, on October 27, 1938", approved June 19, 1939, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. The purpose of the bill is to authorize and direct the Secretary of the Treasury to pay, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sum not to exceed $31, as may be required by the Secretary of the Navy to reimburse Maj. Curtis W. LeGette, United States Marine Corps, for the value of personal property lost as a result of a fire at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va., on October 27, 1938. The bill was introduced at the request of the Navy Department. The loss suffered by Maj. Curtis W. LeGette, United States Marine Corps, occurred through no fault of his own, and the only way he may be reimbursed is by legislation. The committee considers this a fair and just claim against the Government and recommends the passage of the bill. A letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the Speaker of the House of Representatives dated March 13, 1940, is hereby made a part of this report. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 13, 1940. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed bill "To provide an additional sum for the payment of a claim under the act entitled 'An act to provide for the reimbursement of certain personnel or former personnel of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps for the value of personal effects destroyed as a result of a fire at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, on October 27, 1938,'" approved June 19, 1939. The purpose of this proposed legislation is to provide an appropriation of $31, or such part thereof as may be necessary, to pay the claim of Maj. Curtis W. LeGette, United States Marine Corps, not provided for by Private Act No. 56, Seventy-sixth Congress, approved June 19, 1939, for the value of personal effects destroyed as a result of a fire at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va., on October 27, 1938. Since the claim of Maj. Curtis W. LeGette, United States Marine Corps, does not come within the provisions of the above act there is no authority of law for its settlement. It is therefore necessary that special legislation be enacted by the Congress. The facts and circumstances are substantially as follows: At about 4:50 a. m October 27, 1938, a fire was discovered in Building No. 239, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va., and had gained considerable headway inside the building before it was observed. The fire completely destroyed buildings Nos. 239 and 243 and property contained therein, including all Government property, recreation property, post exchange property, records and files, and personal effects of Navy and Marine Corps personnel quartered therein. In many instances the personal property of those quartered in the buildings was destroyed while they were attempting to save the property of the United States or the lives of their associates. Before those members of the Marine Corps quartered in Building No. 239 could escape from the fire two of them were seriously injured with second-degree burns, which necessitated their being taken to the hospital immediately. The property which forms the basis of the claim of Maj. Curtis W. LeGette, United States Marine Corps, is made up of items of wearing apparel and other items used by him in connection with his official duties in the Marine Corps. The Navy Department is of the opinion that claimant should be reimbursed for the losses sustained. The act of October 6, 1917 (U. S. C., title 34, sec. 981), does not apply to claims of this character due to the fact that the circumstances resulting in the loss of the property for which claim is made do not constitute a marine disaster within the meaning of that act. The board of investigation convened at the United States Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va., by order of the commanding general, found that the fire originated in the northeast section of Building 239; that the cause of the fire is unknown, and that responsibility for the fire is undetermined. This claim was submitted to the Navy Department Claims Board, which found the total value of the articles lost by claimant to be $31, which amount is considered to be reasonable. The additional cost to the Government should this proposed legislation be enacted will not exceed $31. The Navy Department recommends the enactment of this proposed legislation. Sincerely yours, 76TH CONGRESS 3d Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 1659 AUTHORIZING AN EXCHANGE OF LANDS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO AND THE UNITED STATES MAY 23 (legislative day, APRIL 24), 1940.-Ordered to be printed Mr. Lucas, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 3608] The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 3608) to authorize an exchange of lands between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. The purpose of the bill is to authorize transfer to the people of Puerto Rico for use in the construction of a public highway a small strip of 2.75 acres of land lying within and on the eastern edge of the naval air station at San Juan, P. R., in exchange for a parcel of 5.70 acres adjacent to the station. The construction of the proposed highway will be of convenience and benefit to the naval air station, and the parcel to be conveyed to the United States in exchange is urgently needed as a depository for dredge material. The bill was introduced at the request of the Navy Department. A letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the Speaker of the House of Representatives dated March 14, 1940, is hereby made a part of this report: The SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of proposed bill "to authorize an exchange of lands between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States." The purpose of this proposed bill is to transfer to the people of Puerto Rico for use in the construction of a public highway a small strip of 2.75 acres of land lying within and on the eastern edge of the naval air station at San Juan, P. R., in exchange for a parcel of 5.70 acres adjacent to the station. The construction of the proposed highway will be of convenience and benefit to the naval air S. Repts., 76-3, vol. 8-3 station, and the parcel to be conveyed to the United States in exchange is urgently needed as a depository for dredge material now being taken from San Juan Harbor under an existing contract. The exchange of these lands as proposed by the bill will be highly advantageous to the Navy Department, and it is therefore recommended that the proposed legislation be enacted. The Navy Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection to the submission of the proposed legislation to the Congress. Sincerely, LEWIS COMPTON, Acting. 76TH CONGRESS 3d Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 1660 AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA A PORTION OF THE NAVAL RESERVATION KNOWN AS QUANTICO IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA. MAY 23 (legislative day, APRIL 24), 1940.-Ordered to be printed Mr. BYRD, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 4229] The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4229) authorizing the conveyance to the Commonwealth of Virginia a portion of the naval reservation known as Quantico in Prince William County, Va., having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Secretary of the Navy in the name and on behalf of the United States of America to convey to the Commonwealth of Virginia, upon such terms and conditions as he may prescribe, all right, title, and interest of the United States of America in and to that portion of the Marine Corps Reservation, Quantico, Va., comprising the right-of-way of the WashingtonFredericksburg-Richmond highway within the boundaries of the Marine Corps Reservation, permission for the use of said right-of-way across the Marine Corps Reservation having been given by the Secretary of the Navy in a revocable permit issued to the Commonwealth of Virginia under date of February 10, 1933. There exists in the State of Virginia a law which prohibits their State highway department from maintaining roads to which they do not have the title to the right-of-way, and this bill would transfer the title to the right-of-way of Highway No. 1, which passes through the Marine Corps Reservation, to the State of Virginia. There is no apparent need for this right-of-way by the Marine Corps and the committee feel that the bill should be enacted into law. The Navy Department favors the proposed legislation as indicated in the letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the chairman of the |