to $30 per month from and after August 13, 1935, under the terms of the act of May 1, 1926, as reenacted. The rate currently being paid, $30 per month, is the highest rate payable to a widow under the public-service pension laws based upon Spanish-American War service.

As you know, it was the practice of the Congress for some years to enact socalled omnibus pension bills providing pensions for persons who could not meet the requirements of public laws, and in some instances greater pensions than authorized under the public laws were provided for the widows of high ranking officers who rendered outstanding service. However, the tendency in recent years, commencing with the Seventy-second Congress, has been to discourage such special legislation. Under Public, No. 2, Seventy-third Congress, and the Veterans Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, pensions are not based on rank.

There is for consideration the fact that widows of officers who have not attained high or highest rank are often left with minor children to support and educate and this is true of widows of enlisted men-who because of the lowerpay income of their husbands have been unable to build a fund to provide adequately for their economic needs when death terminates the husband's income. The financial crisis with which such group of widows is confronted is ordinarily as great and probably greater than that which the widows of high-ranking officers must meet.

I am certain it is the desire of all persons concerned that the Government render every reasonable assistance to Mrs. Anderson and to other widows who have lost their husbands under similar conditions. Because there have arisen from time to time other cases the same or similar to that of Admiral Anderson, I would suggest that the committee might desire to consider a study and preparation of a plan of general legislation by which this type of case when it arises may be accorded uniform beneficial treatment.

For the foregoing reasons, the Veterans' Administration cannot recommend favorable consideration of the bill to your committee.

Very truly yours,

FRANK T. HINES, Administrator.

The report from the Secretary of the Navy relative to Admiral Anderson's exceptionally meritorious services from the time he became an officer to the time he retired from active duty, a period of 40 years, advances one of the very good reasons for allowing his widow a greater benefit in order to compensate her for his loss in the last few years of her life. The fact that the Congress has not enacted bills for increases to widows of high-ranking officers since the passage of Public Law No. 2, Seventy-third Congress, on March 20, 1933, as set forth in the letter from the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, is not considered by your committee as a satisfactory reason for not at this time granting additional relief to this widow. In fact it may be advanced as a reason for immediate enactment of such legislation in favor of Mrs. Anderson in order to give her the much-needed additional relief that is herein recommended.

The medical evidence filed in support of this bill indicates that Mrs. Anderson is suffering from hypertension and general arteriosclerosis, which disabilities are permanent; therefore, she is incapacitated for doing any work and at times is confined to her bed. It is also shown by the evidence submitted to your committee that Mrs. Anderson has only a very small income in addition to her pension of $360 per

annum.

In view of the facts set forth herein your committee unanimously recommend that Mrs. Anderson's pension be increased to $100 per month.

JOHN SPAEDY

June 29, 1939.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed

Mr. LESINSKI, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 5105]

The Committee on Invalid Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5105) entitled "A bill granting a pension to John Spaedy, having considered the same, report favorably to the House with the unanimous recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment. The applicant is aged 90 years and resides at 5252 Northland Avenue, St. Louis, Mo.

His military history is set forth in a report from the Acting Comptroller General of the United States, which is as follows:

Hon. JOHN LESINSKI,

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE,
Washington, April 3, 1939.

Chairman, Committee on Invalid Pensions,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: With further reference to your letter of March 24, 1939, requesting information concerning the service of John Spaedy as a member of the Enrolled Missouri Militia, during the Civil War, I have to advise that the roll of Captain Horace Shoemaker's Provisional Company, Enrolled Missouri Militia, from August 24, 1864, to March 12, 1865, shows that John Spada or Spady was enrolled as a private September 1, 1864; ordered into active service August 24, 1864; relieved from duty March 12, 1865; and had 193 days of actual service. He was paid on said roll for a service of 6 months and 10 days by the State of Missouri and said State has been reimbursed by the United States. Sincerely yours,

R. N. ELLIOTT, Acting Comptroller General of the United States.

The evidence presented indicates that the applicant is identical with the veteran of record named in the foregoing report. The service indicated does not give title to pension under existing laws for the reason the organization in which the service was rendered was or

ganized for State purposes only. It will be observed that the official report shows that the period of his service was for more than 80 days; that the service was honorable in every way, and that the veteran received an honorable discharge. Also that the organization to which he belonged became an integral part of and cooperated with the Federal forces and that the State was reimbursed for his services by the United States.

Your committee has heretofore given favorable consideration to bills of this character in which the service rendered was in the identical organization named in the report of the Acting Comptroller General of the United States, and in the instant case does not hesitate to recommend that Mr. Spaedy be given a pensionable status.

The following is a report from the Honorable Frank T. Hines, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, relative to the facts in this case: VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION, Washington, May 26, 1939.

Hon. JOHN LESINSKI,

Chairman, House Committee on Invalid Pensions,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. LESINSKI: This is with reference to the claim of Mr. John B. Spaedy, 5252 Northland Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., C-998,574.

This veteran filed a claim for pension on June 8, 1936, stating that he enlisted at Boonville, Mo., on September 1, 1864, in Shoemaker and Sombart's Cooper County Regiment, Provisional Missouri Enrolled Militia, and was relieved from duty March 12, 1865.

The report from the adjutant general of the State of Missouri shows that John Spaedy enlisted on September 1, 1864 at Boonville, Mo., and served as a private under Captain Sombart in Shoemaker and Sombart's Cooper County Company, Provisional Enrolled Militia, General Order No. 107. He was relieved from duty March 12, 1865; number of days of actual service was 93.

The report from the War Department shows that the name John B. Spaedy (or Spady) has not been found on the rolls on file in this office of any Missouri volunteer organization that was mustered into the military service of the United States during the period of the Civil War. Capt. H. Shoemaker identified as of Provisional Company (Cooper County) Enrolled Missouri Militia, a State organization not mustered into Federal service. Captain Sombert (or Sombart) not identified. It does not appear from the records on file in this office that the Eleventh Regiment Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia was mustered into the Federal service of the United States during the period of the Civil War.

He was not entitled under his claim, as the report from the War Department shows that the organization of which Mr. Spaedy was a member, was a State organization and was not mustered into Federal service.

The entire record has received careful consideration, including a review by the appellate agency of this Administration, and as it is shown that the claimant was not a member of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States during the Civil War, he is not entitled to pension by reason thereof.

Very truly yours,

FRANK T. HINES, Administrator.

The medical evidence presented in support of this bill indicates that applicant is incapacitated for self-support and requires the regular aid and attendance of another person by reason of affliction from chronic bronchitis, chronic pleurisy, nearly total blindness, partial deafness, and difficulty in walking.

The evidence also shows that he has no means or property and no income from any source except $12 per month, State old-age pension. He is otherwise dependent upon persons not legally bound to his support for sustenance and shelter.

It is recommended that his name be placed on the pension roll at the rate of $50 per month.

APPROPRIATIONS FOR WORK RELIEF, RELIEF, AND FOR LOANS AND GRANTS FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, FISCAL YEAR 1940

JUNE 29, 1939.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. TAYLOR of Colorado, from the committee of conference, submitted the following

CONFERENCE REPORT

[To accompany H. J. Res. 326]

CONFERENCE REPORT

The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on amendments of the Senate to the joint resolution (H. J. Res. 326) making appropriations for the work relief, relief, and to increase employment by providing loans and grants for public works projects, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1940, having met, after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows:

That the Senate recede from its amendments numbered 5, 17, 25, and 28.

That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendments of the Senate numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 129, 130, and 131, and agree to the same. Amendment numbered 6:

That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the Senate numbered 6, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows:

In lieu of the matter inserted by said amendment insert the following: recreational, production, and service projects, including training for domestic service; and the Senate agree to the same.