of the landing field were sufficient to prepare an area only large enough for the March Field unit, and another section of the field must be cleared and graded for use of the Brooks Field unit. Likewise, additional lighting equip ment for night flying and storage facilities for gasoline and oil are necessary for the Brooks F.eld unit. The replacement of war-time temporary buildings at Selfridge Field is now in progress, and the above construction will complete the permanent Air Corps technical buildings at that station. The photographic building has been added to the list of technical buildings at Selfridge Field because of the recent change in the 5-year program allocating the fifth photo section to this station instead of to Chanute Field. The present gasoline and oil storage system is inadequate, and the funds included here are necessary to provide a system adequate for this station. Provision for the storage of paints, oils, and other inflammables apart from other stores is necessary as a safeguard against fire loss. The landing field at Selfridge Field is low and subject to flooding after heavy rains, and it is necessary that adequate drainage facilities be installed so the field may be kept in usable condition at all times. The estimated cost of this work is $50,000. (Thereupon, at 11.40 o'clock a. m., the subcommittee adjourned, subject to the call of the chairman.) TO AUTHORIZE MOTHERS AND UNMARRIED WIDOWS OF DECEASED WORLD WAR VETERANS BURIED IN EUROPE TO VISIT THE GRAVES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., Friday, January 27, 1928. The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m. in the committee room, 415, House Office Building. Present: Hon. John M. Morin, of Pennsylvania (chairman), presiding; Mr. Wainwright, of New York; Mr. Wurzbach, of Texas; Mr. Hughes, of West Virginia; Mr. Chapman, of Kentucky; Mr. McSwain, of South Carolina; Mr. Wright, of Georgia; Mr. Ransley, of Pennsylvania; Mr. Boylan, of New York; Mr. Frothingham, of Massachusetts; Mr. Hoffman, of New Jersey; Mr. Fisher, of Tennessee; Mr. Speaks, of Ohio; Mr. Hill, of Alabama. Present also: Hon. Thomas S. Butler, of Pennsylvania. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Butler, I think you are dean of the Pennsylvania delegation. I know how much you are interested in this bill, so I would like for you to take charge in calling witnesses and introducing them. Mr. BUTLER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I am grateful to the committee for this opportunity to present this measure which I introduced. I have no greater interest in it than any other Member of Congress. I do not propose to ask you to listen to any motive that I might have had for the introduction of the bill. The bill speaks for itself. The committee has once reported a bill, similar to it, with the same object. I may say, however, in passing, that in regard to this bill I want it to secure the attention of the House if the committee sees fit to report it favorably. I mean by that that the House may have the opportunity to pass upon it. I confess I want to vote for a measure with such an object as found in this. It is absolutely devoid of any sort of selfishness. Its object is one which it has been said appears upon its face alone and therefore nothing whatsoever can be gained by making any attempt to enlarge upon it or explain the purpose it seeks to reach. I ask you to look at the bill. Take it section by section. For the first time the Red Cross has herein placed upon it the burden of executing this measure in the event it should become a law, at the direction of the President of the United States. I talked with Judge Payne, who is the acting president of the Red Cross, who not only commends the movement, but gave me the assurance that his great institution would be pleased to undertake the work which is necessary to be undertaken in order to effectuate the bill. All sort of partisanship, all sort of political association of one kind or another, is entirely eliminated from this measure. I have asked by this bill to have the Red Cross undertake the great work of first |