81ST CONGRESS 1st Session

SENATE

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REPORT No. 214

CHANGING THE NAME OF CULBERTSON DAM ON THE REPUBLICAN RIVER IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA TO TRENTON DAM, AND TO NAME THE BODY OF WATER ARISING BEHIND SUCH DAM SWANSON LAKE

AFRIL 5 (legislative day. MARCH 18), 1949.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. BUTLER, from the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

(To accompany S. 270]

The Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 270) to change the name of Culbertson Dam on the Republican River in the State of Nebraska to Trenton Dam, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the following amendments and with the recommendation that the bill as amended do pass.

At the end of the bill add the following sentence:

The body of water arising behind such dam shall hereafter be designated and referred to as Swanson Lake in commemoration of Carl H. Swanson. Amend the title so as to read:

A bill to change the name of Culbertson Dam on the Republican River in the State of Nebraska to Trenton Dam and to name the body of water arising behind such dam Swanson Lake.

It was originally proposed to locate the dam in question at a point on the Republican River near the town of Culbertson, Nebr. Subsequent investigations, however, revealed that a better location for the dam would be near the town of Trenton, Nebr

The committee agreed to name the body of water behind the dam Swanson Lake in commemoration of Carl H. Swanson in recognition of his work in the development of the Republican River Valley.

The favorable report of the Interior Department is herein below set forth in full and made a part of this report.

S. Repts., 81-1, vol. 1—121

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

Hon. JOSEPH C. O'MAHONEY,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington 25, D. C., March 15, 1949.

Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs,

United States Senate.

MY DEAR SENATOR O'MAHONEY: We are glad to comply with the request of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs for a report on S. 270, a bill to change the name of Culbertson Dam on the Republican River in the State of Nebraska to Trenton Dam.

This Department will interpose no objection to the enactment of the bill.

It had been proposed originally to locate the dam in question at a point on the Republican River near the town of Culbertson, Nebr. However, further investigations revealed that a better site for the dam would be near the town of Trenton, Nebr.

Certain local interests have expressed to this Department a desire to have the dam named after the late Carl Helga Swanson, in recognition of his work in the development of the Republican River Valley.

We have been informed by the Bureau of the Budget that there is no objection to the submission of this report to your committee.

Sincerely yours,

OSCAR L. CHAPMAN, Under Secretary of the Interior.

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81ST CONGRESS 1st Session

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SENATE

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REPORT No. 215

EXTENDING THE TIME FOR USE OF CONSTRUCTION RESERVE FUNDS ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 511 OF THE MERCHANT MARINE ACT, 1936, AS AMENDED

APRIL 6 (legislative day, March 18), 1949.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. MAGNUSON, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. J. Res. 186]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. J. Res. 186) to extend the time for use of construction reserve funds established under section 511 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the joint resolution do pass.

This resolution was introduced by the chairman of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. It was reported favorably from that committee by unanimous vote, after public hearings, and passed the House without objection. The joint resolution has the approval of the United States Maritime Commission and the Treasury Department.

The purpose of this resolution is to amend section 5 of Public Law 384, Eightieth Congress, approved August 8, 1947, relating to the merchant marine construction reserve funds established under section 511 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended, by striking out "March 31, 1948" and inserting in lieu thereof "March 31, 1951".

This would have the effect of extending until September 30, 1951, the time within which certain deposits in the construction reserve funds, established under section 511 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, may be committed for the acquisition of new vessels without losing the tax deferment benefits prescribed for such funds by section 511.

Section 511 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, authorizes the establishment of construction reserve funds. Section 511 provides for the commitment of deposits in such funds within 2 years from the date of deposit for use in the construction or acquisition

of new vessels, with authority vested in the Commission to grant extensions of such 2-year periods for additional periods not aggregating in excess of 2 years. A proviso in subsection (h) permitted the Commission during the war to grant further extensions ending not later than 6 months after the termination of the war. Public Law 384, Eightieth Congress, approved August 8, 1947, fixed the termination of the war for the purposes of the aforesaid proviso at March 31, 1948, thereby permitting extensions of 4-year uncommitted deposits for 6 months thereafter, or until September 30, 1948. The joint resolution would amend Public Law 384 by changing the date of March 31, 1948, to March 31, 1951, thereby reinstating the wartime extension authority effective from the date of enactment of the joint resolution until September 30, 1951.

The reinstated authority would be permissive rather than mandatory, and would not be retroactive as to funds withdrawn, or not committed for new vessels within the present statutory requirements, between September 30, 1948, and the date of enactment of the proposed measure. At the time such funds are withdrawn for purposes other than new ship construction or acquisition the depositors are compelled to pay the required taxes on such deposits. It appears that in the case of the funds established by some companies, unless provision is made for further extension of time within which to obligate deposits for new construction, within a few weeks deposits will lose the tax benefit under section 511 unless in the meantime such deposits are committed for construction or acquisition of new vessels. The extension of this authority is particularly important in the interests of domestic shipping which was most seriously affected by World War II and no adequate solution to the problems of the coastwise and intercoastal steamship services has yet been found. In other words, circumstances have been such that the recovery of this important segment of our American merchant marine is still in the process of development. Accordingly, the extension of time to commit reserve funds, as provided for in this resolution, seems entirely reasonable and proper, particularly since the authority is permissive rather than mandatory.

If this resolution becomes law, your committee earnestly hopes, and expects, that the United States Maritime Commission will hold open hearings on each application for an extension in which the applicant line will be required to explain fully the need for extension and the steps being taken to undertake construction or acquisition of new vessels within the extended time.

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APRIL 6 (legislative day, MARCH 18), 1949.-Ordered to be printed

Mr. TYDINGS, from the Committee on Armed Services, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 1741]

The Committee on Armed Services, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 1741) to authorize the establishment of a joint long-range proving ground for guided missiles, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments, and recommend that the bill, as amended, do pass.

AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL

Amend the bill as follows:

(1) On page 2, line 6, after the word "amended" insert a period and strike out the remainder of line 6 and all of line 7, and insert the following sentence

Prior to the acquisition under the authority of this section of any lands or rights or other interests pertaining thereto, the Secretary of the Air Force shall come into agreement with the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives with respect to the acquisition of such lands, rights, or other interests.

(2) On pages 2 and 3 strike out all of section 4 and section 5 and insert the following:

SEC. 4. The Secretary of Defense is authorized, in his discretion, to transfer to the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Navy, and to retransfer from either of such Secretaries to the other or to the Secretary of the Air Force, all, or any part of, the authority granted by sections 1 and 2 of this Act; and in connection with any such transfer or retransfer, to transfer all or any part of the funds available for the establishment and support of the joint long-range proving ground for guided missiles and other weapons. The Secretary of Defense is further authorized to permit, to the extent that he may deem appropriate, the Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force to contribute, with or without reimbursement, to the establishment and support of the joint long-range proving ground for guided missiles by the loan, assignment, or transfer of personnel. supplies, equipment, and services.