2d Session.

No. 2014.

DONATION OF CONDEMNED CANNON TO CITY OF
HENDERSON, KY.

FEBRUARY 2, 1909.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. HAY, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 27069.]

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 27069) to authorize the Secretary of War to donate two condemned brass or bronze cannon or fieldpieces and cannon balls to the city of Henderson, Ky., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass with the following amendment: After the word "Kentucky," in line 4, add the following: "to be placed in the public park of said city."

The War Department have a number of these condemned cannon on hand, and they are of no value except as old material.

60TH CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 60TH CONGRESS,

BRIDGES ACROSS ROCK RIVER, ILLINOIS.

FEBRUARY 2, 1909.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. MANN, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 26482.]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 26482) to authorize the construction of two bridges across Rock River, State of Illinois, 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 the letter attached and which is made a part of this report.

[Second indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, January 23, 1909.

Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War.

The accompanying bill (H. R. 26482, 60th Cong., 2d sess.), to authorize the construction of two bridges across Rock River, Illinois, is in the usual form, and makes ample provision for the protection of navigation interests. do not know any objection to the favorable consideration of the bill by Congress so far as those interests are concerned.

[Third indorsement.]

W. L. MARSHALL, Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army.

WAR DEPARTMENT, January, 23, 1909.

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, U. S. Army.

O

ROBERT SHAW OLIVER,
Assistant Secretary of War.

BRIDGE ACROSS MONONGAHELA RIVER AT

BROWNSVILLE, PA.

FEBRUARY 2, 1909.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. WANGER, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 26829.]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 26829) to amend an act entitled "An act to amend an act to authorize the Fayette Bridge Company to construct a bridge over the Monongahela River, Pennsylvania, from a point in the borough of Brownsville, Fayette County, to a point in the borough of West Brownsville, Washington County," approved March 7, 1908, having considered the same, report thereon with amendment, and as so amended recommend that it pass.

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

Amend the bill as follows:

On page 1, in lines 3 and 4, strike out the words "amend an act to," and on same page, in line 8, after the word "approved," insert the following: "April twenty-third, nineteen hundred and six, as amended by section one of the act approved."

Amend the title as follows: In line 1 strike out the words "to amend an act" and in line 6 strike out the words “March seventh” and insert in lieu thereof "April twenty-third," and in same line strike out the word "eight" and insert in lieu thereof the word "six."

[Second indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, January 28, 1909.

Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. The object of the accompanying bill (H. R. 26829, 60th Cong., 2d sess.) is to extend the time for commencing and completing a bridge authorized to be built across the Monongahela River by the Fayette Bridge Company, the building of the structure having been originally authorized by an act of Congress approved April 23, 1906.

The proposition embraced in the bill is, in my opinion, unobjectionable so far as the interests of navigation are concerned, but it is suggested that the bill be amended as indicated in red thereon.

W. L. MARSHALL, Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army.

[Third indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, January 28, 1909.

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, U. S. Army, and to the accompanying copy of amended bill referred to.

HARBOR LINES IN KANSAS RIVER AT KANSAS CITY, KANS.

FEBRUARY 2, 1909.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Escн, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany S. R. 115.]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. R. 115) authorizing the Secretary of War to establish harbor lines in the Kansas River at Kansas City, Kans., 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 the letter attached and which is made a part of this report.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,

Washington, January 16, 1909. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. The existing law authorizing the establishment of harbor lines is contained in section 11 of the river and harbor act of March 3, 1899. Under this law, before the power can be exercised, it must be made manifest that the establishment of harbor lines in any particular harbor is essential to its preservation and protection.

Strictly speaking, the conditions existing in the locality specified in the accompanying joint resolution (S. R. 115, 60th Cong., 2d sess.) are not such as to warrant action by the War Department under the aforesaid law. The establishment of properly located lines might, however, be beneficial to local interests and be of great assistance to them in formulating and executing projects designed to increase the flood discharge of the Kansas River and thus protect property from destructive overflow. The regulation and control of structures along this portion of the river might also incidentally benefit navigation and commerce, should any hereafter develop. The object of the joint resolution is believed, therefore, to be a commendable one and I do not know any objection to its favorable consideration by Congress so far as the interests in charge of the War Department are concerned.

W. L. MARSHALL, Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army.

WAR DEPARTMENT, January 18, 1909.

Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, inviting attention to the foregoing report of the Chief of Engineers, U. S.