Hon. W. FRANK JAMES, House of Representatives. MAY 6, 1930. DEAR MR. JAMES: Careful consideration has been given to H. R. 11277, to authorize "the erection, maintenance, and use of a banking house upon the United States Military Reservation at Fort Lewis, Wash.," which you transmitted to the War Department under date of April 4, 1930, for report. The proposed building would be erected and maintained by the Army National Bank of Fort Lewis, Wash., a duly authorized national bank, under such regulations as the Secretary of War may prescribe, the plans and location being subject to approval by the Secretary of War. After completion it will be used and occupied for conducting therein a general banking business pursuant to its charter and the laws regulating national banks. The Army National Bank has in the past occupied quarters in a portion of the reservation that is being closed and is a recognized United States depository, being used as such by the finance officer of the post. The continued conduct of the banking business on the reservation will be a great convenience and benefit to the garrison, as outside national banking facilities are located in Tacoma, Wash., a distance of 17 miles. The War Department has no objection to the erection of a bank, but in the absence of legislation for the purpose the Secretary of War is without authority to give approval thereto. The proposed legislation will not require any appropriation of public funds nor involve expense to the United States, and the passage of the legislation is favored. Sincerely yours, WIDENING OF WISCONSIN AVENUE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JUNE 11, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. STALKER, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 3895] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (S. 3895) to authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to widen Wisconsin Avenue abutting squares 1299, 1300, and 1935, having considered the same, reports back to the House with the recommendation that the legislation do pass. The purpose of this measure is to enable the Commissioners of the District to condemn land in order to make certain street improvements, including sidewalk construction, on Wisconsin Avenue NW., the approximate value of the land to be taken being $5,000. The commissioners have received petitions to construct sidewalks along this frontage. The sidewalks, are, however, privately owned, and attempts to obtain dedication of the land needed have failed. Under existing law the commissioners have no power to condemn the land because it is in the limits of the old city of Georgetown. This measure is identical to H. R. 10777 referred to this committee, but since the Senate bill has passed, the committee has acted upon the Senate bill in reporting the legislation to the House. Letters from the Commissioners of the District and the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, approving the bill, are appended hereto and made a part of this report. Hon. ARTHUR Capper. COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Chairman Committee on the District of Columbia, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. SIR: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have the honor to inclose herewith a draft of a bill to authorize the widening of Wisconsin Avenue abutting squares 1299, 1300, and 1935, which they request be introduced during the present session of Congress. The object of the proposed bill is to condemn the land required to enable the District of Columbia to make certain street improvements including the construction of a sidewalk on the east side of Wisconsin Avenue abutting squares 1299 and 1935, and on the west side of Wisconsin Avenue, abutting lot 39, square 1300, as shown in yellow on the blue print inclosed herewith. The area proposed to be taken has a valuation of about $5,000. The commissioners have been petitioned to construct sidewalks along this frontage, but are prevented from doing so because of the fact that the sidewalk space is privately owned. Attempts to secure dedication of this space have met with failure. The commissioners have no authority to condemn this land under existing law for the reason that the location is within the limits of the old city of Georgetown. The commissioners submitted a copy of the proposed bill to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget for information as to whether or not such a bill would be in accord with the financial program of the President, and in reply, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget stated that the expenditure contemplated by the proposed legislation would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President. A copy of the letter of the Director of the Bureau of the Budget is inclosed herewith. Very respectfully, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Hon. PROCTOR L. DOUGHERTY, President Board of Commissioners District of Columbia, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. DOUGHERTY: I have your letter of March 4, 1930, transmitting a draft of bill to authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to widen Wisconsin Avenue abutting squares 1299, 1300, and 1935. The object of the proposed legislation, you state, is to condemn the land required, the area necessary having an estimated value of $5,000. You are advised that the expenditure contemplated by the proposed legislation would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President. Very truly yours, J. CLAWSON ROOP, Director. O DECLARING JULY 5, 1930, A LEGAL HOLIDAY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JUNE 11, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. MCLEOD, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. J. Res. 184) The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred Senate Joint Resolution 184, to declare July 5, 1930, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia, having considered the same, report back to the House with the recommendation that the legislation do pass. The purpose of this joint resolution is stated in the title. Independence Day falls on Friday this year, and on the following day, Saturday, July 5, it is the understanding of this committee that the Government departments and most of the commercial and mercantile establishments of the city will be closed. There is some doubt, however, that banking houses and similar institutions will be protected against all eventualities should they close on that date without sanction of law. A precedent was established by Congress for such legislation as this on December 22, 1925, when a joint resolution was passed declaring December 26 of that year a legal holiday in the District. That resolution was designed to care for just such a condition as has arisen in the instance of the resolution now under consideration-Christmas Day in 1925 falling on Friday. The committee knows of no opposition to this resolution and believes it to be fair, desirable, and necessary. A letter from the Commissioners of the District to the Senate District Committee, favoring the resolution, is appended hereto and made a part of this report. Hon. ARTHUR CAPPER, COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Chairman Committee on the District of Columbia, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. SIR: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have the honor to submit the following on S. J. Resolution 184, Seventy-first Congress, second session, entitled "Joint resolution to declare July 5, 1930, a legal holiday for all banks and trust companies, the officials and employees thereof, in the District of Columbia," which you referred to them for report as to the merits of the bill and the propriety of its passage. The commissioners know of no objections to the passage of the resolution. Very truly yours, L. H. REICHELDERFER, |