Your committee deem it worthy of note that the Treasury Department by written report is not opposed to the enactment of this bill for the reasons hereinabove set forth as well as the fact that Congress by joint resolution of June 24, 1936, provided for participation by the United States in the Antietam commemoration, which would be seriously impaired should the present bill fail of enactment.

The action of the committee in this particular instance should not de deemed or construed as indicative of any general policy with respect to bills providing for commemorative coinage.

The amendments are as follows:

Page 1, line 4, strike out the word "a" and insert in lieu thereof the word "one".

Page 1, line 4, after the word "mint", insert the word "only".

Page 2, line 10, after the word "Maryland", insert a comma and the words "subject to the approval of the Director of the Mint".

COINAGE OF 50-CENT PIECES IN COMMEMORATION OF

THE NORFOLK, VA., LAND GRANT AND THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK

MAY 26, 1937.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. PARSONS, from the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. 4]

The Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4) to authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the Norfolk, Va., land grant and the founding of the city of Norfolk, having considered the same, report favorably thereon and recommend the bill as amended do pass.

At the second session of the Seventy-fourth Congress there was introduced H. R. 12753, providing for the identical commemorative coinage as is provided for in this bill (S. 4). Said bill (H. R. 12753) was passed by the House and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency. The Senate companion bill (S. 4670) was amended and favorably reported and passed the Senate. It being during the closing rush of adjournment, in some manner unexplainable, the Senate bill was presented to the President for approval and thus enacted into law. It was only after adjournment of the Seventyfourth Congress that it was discovered that this error had been made. This bill (S. 4) which is now being reported is identical with the House bill in the last session except for the amendments that were added in keeping with the committee's policy adopted in this session. The committee wish to point out that the current session of the Senate passed this bill (S. 4) in keeping with the attempt to rectify the unfortunate error of the last session. Your committee feel that in making this favorable report it is merely helping to correct this oversight and that it is express ng the desire of the House.

The action of the committee in this particular instance should not be construed as indicative of the general policy of the committee with respect to commemorative coinage.

The amendments are as follows:

Page 1, line 6, strike out the word "a" and insert in lieu thereof the word "one".

Page 1, line 7, after the word "mint", insert the word "only".

Page 1, line 8, strike out the word "twenty" and insert in lieu thereof the word "twenty-five".

Page 2, line 2, after the word "appropriate", insert the word "single". Page 2, line 13, strike out the word "five" and insert in lieu thereof the word "twenty-five".

Page 2, line 17, after the word "association", insert a comma and the words "subject to the approval of the Director of the Mint".

O

WIND RIVER IRRIGATION PROJECT, WYOMING

MAY 27, 1937.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. ROGERS of Oklahoma, from the Committee on Indians Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 6914]

The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6914) to authorize the acquisition by the United States of certain tribally owned lands of the Indians of the Shoshone or Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyo., for the Wind River irrigation project, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass without amendment.

The following is a report from the Acting Secretary of the Interior favoring this legislation:

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, March 27, 1937.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of proposed legislation to provide for the acquisition by the United States on behalf of its Wind River or Shoshone Indian irrigation project, certain of the tribally owned lands of the Indians of the Shoshone Reservation, Wyo.

The proposed legislation, if enacted, will provide for the extinguishment of the Indians' title through payment of the appraised value of the lands in question. Construction of the Washakie Dam and reservoir under the program for Federal project 266 has been completed with the exception of the formal payment to the tribe of the value of its lands utilized therefor. The necessary funds to make payment are available and obligated in the balance of public-works allotment for the project. Although section 203 of the act of June 16, 1933 (48 Stat. 195), as amended by the act of April 8, 1935 (49 Stat. 115), provides for the acquisition of land in connection with the construction of any project thereunder, it does not specifically contain authorization for the sale of Indian tribal lands. Legislation specifically authorizing the sale of such tribally owned lands is a prerequisite to extinguishment of the Indians' title. Similar authority was contained in the act of June 21, 1934 (48 Stat. 1184), authorizing the acquisition by the United States, of land upon which the Seneca Indian School, Wyandotte, Okla., is located.

The appraised value of the land involved in this case was fixed by a group of appraisers, one of whom was a representative of the Indian Tribal Council. The tribe through its duly constituted tribal council of the Shoshone and Arapahoe

Indians of the Shoshone or Wind River Reservation has agreed to the purchase by the United States and the relinquishment of all its right, title, and interests in the lands in question.

The Acting Director of the Bureau of the Budget under date of February 17 advised that enactment of this legislation would not be in conflict with the program of the President. I recommend enactment of the proposed legislation.

Sincerely yours,