not distant, improvement of the Ohio River to make it navigable at all seasons of the year, and the connection of that river with Lake Erie by canal, will greatly enhance the importance of all the above ports and increase the admiralty business of our courts.

The matter of population is also worthy of consideration, as it reflects on the facts above stated. That of the southern judicial district is 2,168,900. All figures as to population herein are based on the census of 1900.

As to the number of suits disposed of by Judge A. C. Thompson per year in the southern district of Ohio it will be found on comparison that the showing is quite favorable to him and betrays diligence and expedition on his part.

Referring to the annual report of the Attorney-General of the United States for the year 1904, entitled "House Documents, volume 32, No. 9, Report of the Attorney-General, 1905, Fifty-eighth Congress, third session," page 190, containing a statement showing the number of civil suits to which the United States was not a party, pending in the district and circuit courts of the United States July 1, 1903, with the number commenced and terminated during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904, and the number pending July 1, 1904, I find the following:

There were pending in the southern district of Ohio July 1, 1903, 346 suits. Within the year 211 were commenced and 222, including admiralty cases, disposed of. In other words, including admiralty cases (4), Judge Thompson disposed of 222 cases.

The suits to which the United States was a party (Attorney-General's report, supra, p. 172), shows that in this district there were terminated and appealed seven cases.

Bankruptcy matters are usually terminated by referees, and yet in the course of the year quite a number of bankruptcy cases came before the district judge for final determination. The Attorney-General's report, supra, page 160, shows that for the year ending September 30, 1904, the voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy cases in the southern district of Ohio was 315.

In

Cincinnati is in the extreme southwestern part of the district. Its business being more than one judge can promptly dispatch, the court is compelled to sit there almost all of the year, reaching Columbus only during the two months above named, and perhaps one day each month to dispose of bankruptcy cases and preliminary matters. a great majority of cases, when a party desires to take an order, or has an emergency case, he is compelled to go to Cincinnati. Those living in the eastern and southeastern district, on account of the change of trains, or distance, and usually both, are forced to go to Cincinnati on the day preceding the hearing, and consequently are required to spend from a day and a half to two days on the trip. This adds greatly to the expense of litigation and acts as a deterrent.

ACCEPTANCE OF SAILBOAT FOR USE OF MIDSHIPMEN AT NAVAL ACADEMY.

JANUARY 11, 1907.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Foss, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany S. 7372.]

The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 7372) to authorize the acceptance by the Secretary of the Navy, as a gift, of a sailboat for use of the midshipmen at the Naval Academy, having considered the same report thereon with a recommendation that it pass.

The bill has the approval of the Navy Department, as will appear by the following communication:

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 17, 1906.

SIR: Miss Jessie Claire McDonald has proffered to the Department, as a gift, a sailboat, to be "about 17 feet on the water line, of the Boston 'knockabout' type," for the use of the midshipmen at the Naval Academy. The gift is tendered in memory of the late Asst. Naval Constructor Joseph E. McDonald, U. S. Navy, a brother of Miss Jessie Claire McDonald. It is the donor's wish that the boat be named for her deceased brother, and that, as he was senior officer of the cadet battalion, it be placed in charge of the senior officer of the midshipmen at the Naval Academy, to be regarded as a reward for attainment of that rank.

As this offer is prompted by motives for which the Department entertains the highest respect, and as there appears to be no reasonable objection to the acceptance of the gift, such action would be taken immediately but for the fact that doubt is entertained respecting the propriety of so doing without the expressed sanction of Congress.

I have the honor, therefore, to transmit herewith a draft of a proposed bill conferring the desired authority, and to ask that, if the committee concurs with the Department in the matter, passage of such a measure be urged.

Very respecfully,

Hon. EUGENE HALE,

TRUMAN H. NEWBERRY,
Acting Secretary.

Chairman Committee on Naval Affairs, United States Senate.

2d Session.

No. 6207.

DIGEST OF REPORTS OF THE SUPREME COURT.

JANUARY 11, 1907.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. BIRDSALL, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 19965.]

The Committee on the Judiciary, having had under consideration the bill (H. R. 19965) to provide for the purchase and distribution of a digest of reports of the Supreme Court, report the same back to the House with recommendation that the same do pass without amendment.

The bill provides for the purchase and distribution to the courts and departments now designated by law of the Index Digest of Opinions Delivered and Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States, and reported in Volumes 187 to 202, inclusive, United States Reports, with a Table of Cases. By Charles Henry Butler, clerk of the Supreme Court. The committee believe the work a practical necessity, and it is offered at a moderate price, and that the book should be in the hands of the judges of courts and other designated offices of the Government.

NEW DIVISION OF SOUTHERN JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF IOWA, ETC.

JANUARY 11, 1907.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. BIRDSALL, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 20990.]

The Committee on the Judiciary, having had under consideration the bill (H. R. 20990) creating a new division of the southern judicial district of Iowa, and to provide for terms of court at Ottumwa, in said district, report the same back to the House with the recommendation that the same do pass without amendment.

BRIDGE ACROSS THE TUG FORK OF BIG SANDY RIVER, WEST VIRGINIA.

JANUARY 11, 1907.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. GAINES, of West Virginia, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 23218.]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 23218) to authorize the Kentucky and West Virginia Bridge Company to construct a bridge across the Tug Fork of Big Sandy River at or near Williamson, in Mingo County, W. Va., to a point on the east side of said river in Pike County, Ky., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass.

The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by indorsements attached and made a part of this report.

[Second indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, January 9, 1907.

Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. The accompanying bill, H. R. 23218, Fifty-ninth Congress, second session, to authorize the Kentucky and West Virginia Bridge Company to construct a bridge across the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River at or near Williamson, W. Va., makes ample provision for the protection of navigation interests, and I know of no objection to its favorable consideration by Congress so far as those interests are concerned.

A. MACKENZIE,

Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. [Third indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, January 9, 1907.

Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, inviting attention to the foregoing report of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army.