expense for injuries received as a result of said collision amounted to $75, to wit. $25 to Dr. Bradley, of Atlantic City, N. J., for X-rays, and $50 to Dr. Myrtile Frank, of Egg Harbor City, N. J., for medical attention.

KATHERINE Gehringer

Sworn and subscribed to before me this 8th day of March 1948. [SEAL]

NANCY M. LIPARI, Notary Public of New Jersey.

EGG HARBOR CITY, N. J., September 12, 1940.

Mrs. KATHERINE GEHRINGER.

To Myrtile Frank, M. D., to professional services, $50. Medical attention to Mrs. K. Gehringer, as result of accident occurring August 12, 1940.

XRAY LABORATORY,

Atlantic City. N. J., August 14, 1940.

TO ROBERT A. BRADLEY, M. D., DR.

Mr. RICHARD MISCHLICH,

Attorney, Egg Harbor City, N. J.:

For professional services, August 13, 1940, $25; re Mrs. John Gehringer. Referred by Dr. Myrtile Frank, for X-ray examination of the right shoulder and thorax and right elbow.

SALE OF LANDS IN FLORIDA TO ALBERT M. LEWIS, JR.

JUNE 27, 1949.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed

Mr. PETERSON, from the Committee on Public Lands submitted the following

REPORT

To accompany H. R. 24751

The Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 2475) to authorize and direct the Secretary of the Interior to sell to Albert M. Lewis, Jr., certain land in the State of Florida, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.

The amendments are as follows:

Page 1, line 6, after the comma following the word "Florida," insert the following: "that part of."

Page 1, line 8, after the word "Florida," strike the period, add a comma and the following: "not to exceed 221⁄2 acres, upon which is situated the house now held by the said Albert M. Lewis, Junior." Page 2, line 1, strike the words "shall be subject to valid existing." Page 2, line 2, strike the words "rights initiated under the publicland laws and".

Page 2, line 3, at the beginning of the line add "a"; strike the letter "s" from the word "reservations" and also strike the last three words. "all fissionable source".

Page 2, line 4, strike the entire line.

Page 2, line 5, strike the following: "the Act of August 1, 1946 (60 Stat. 755), and (2)".

Page 2, line 7, after the word "under", add the following: "applicable laws and."

EXPLANATION OF THE BILL

The purpose of this bill as amended is to permit the sale to Albert M. Lewis, Jr., of approximately 21⁄2 acres of land in Panama City, Fla., upon which is located a house owned by the Lewis family. No expenditure of Federal funds is required.

Approximately 15 years ago, A. M. Lewis, Sr., purchased a tract of land and built a house upon what he believed to be his property. Later surveys disclosed that the house had been erected on Federal land not included in the tract purchased by Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Lewis built in good faith on what he believed to be his own land and was on Government property only because of an inaccuracy in the original survey.

Despite Mr. Lewis' repeated attempts to buy the land on which his house stands, the Department of the Interior has not conveyed the land to him. At the close of World War II the land was declared reserved for veterans and a number of veterans, including A. M. Lewis, Jr., a combat veteran and Purple Heart holder, filed.

As originally introduced, H. R. 2475 would have conveyed to Mr. Lewis approximately 10 acres of land, but in view of the fact that the land is desired by veterans, Mr. A. M. Lewis, Jr., now asks only for the land immediately surrounding the house. The remaining 7% acres would be available for conveyance to other veterans. It is water-front property.

Mr. Lewis would, of course, purchase the land at a fair value to be determined by the Secretary of the Interior.

Although the Department of the Interior reported unfavorably on H. R. 2475 as originally introduced, Department representatives testified that there is no objection to the amended bill.

The Committee on Public Lands unanimously recommends the enactment of H. R. 2475 as amended.

PROVIDING A DECREE OF COMPETENCY FOR UNITED STATES INDIANS IN CERTAIN CASES

JUNE 27. 1949.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. D'EWART, from the Committee on Public Lands. submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 2724)

The Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 2724) to provide a decree of competency for United States Indians in certain cases, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.

The amendments are as follows:

Page 1, line 6: Strike out the words "to any naturalization court for the area in which he resides for a 'decree or judgment of competency'." and insert in lieu thereof the words "in the manner provided in section 2, for a 'decree or judgment of competency'."

Page 1, between lines 7 and 8. insert the following language:

SEC. 2. (a) The applicant shall first make written application to the Secretary of the Interior The Secretary shall, within ninety days from the day on which such application is received, after considering significant factors bearing upon the applicant's moral and intellectual qualifications and his ability to manage his own affairs, either approve such application and issue a "decree or judgment of competency". or disapprove such application Any such "decree or judgment of competency" shall be similar in form to, and shall have the same effect as, the decrees and judgments issued by courts pursuant to section 3 of this Act.

(b) If the Secretary of the Interior disapproves an application within the ninety-day period prescribed in subsection (a) of this section, or if he fails either to approve or disapprove an application within such period, the applicant may then apply to any naturalization court for the area in which he resides for a "decree or judgment of competency"

Page 2, line 7, renumber "SEC. 2" to read "SEC. 3".

Page 2, line 11. after the period, insert the following new sentence: No court costs or filing fees shall be required of the applicant.

Page 2. line 17, delete the words "moral and".

Page 3, line 1, following the word "application" insert the words "pursuant to the terms of this Act".

Page 3, line 5, delete the period at the end of line and add the following: "and a certified copy thereof shall be furnished the Indian without cost.'

Page 3, line 9, renumber "SEC. 3" to read "SEC. 4". Strike out the words "When presented with a 'decree or judgment of competency', the Secretary of the Interior shall" and insert in lieu thereof the words "Whenever the Secretary of the Interior shall issue, or be presented with, a 'decree of judgment of competency', he shall". Page 4, line 3. following the first word "in" insert the word "allotted".

Page 4, line 8, renumber "SEC. 4" to read "SEC. 5".

Page 4, line 9, strike out the word "shall" and insert the word "may".

Page 4, line 17, strike out the period (.) and the words "In case". Strike out all of lines 18, 19, and the words "wherein the tribe is located" on line 20. Insert in lieu thereof a comma (,) and the words "by reason of a 'decree of competency' obtained under the provisions of this Act."

. Page 4, line 21, renumber "SEC. 5" to read "SEC. 6".

EXPLANATION OF BILL

H. R. 2724, as amended, offers to the Indians of the United States an opportunity to be declared competent and capable of managing their own affairs. No expenditure of Federal funds is required.

Briefly, the bill, as amended, provides that any adult Indian may make written application to the Secretary of the Interior to be declared competent and freed of the limitations applicable to Indians. The Secretary would. within 90 days from the date of the application consider the applicant's moral and intellectual qualifications and his ability to manage his personal affairs After due consideration, the Secretary would either approve the application and issue a judgment of competency, or disapprove the application

Should the Secretary disapprove the application, the applicant could appeal to the naturalization court in his area. The clerk of the court then would set a bearing date within the next 30 to 60 days, and under regulations adopted by the court notify the local county or parish government. the local welfare department of the State. the county and city governments, the superintendent of the applicant's reservation, the head of the tribal council or other governing body, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and any other person the court considers qualified to decide the degree of competency At such hearing, the court would examine the applicant and take testimony from interested persons If the court finds the applicant competent. a decree of competency would be issued

If the applicant is declared competent by either the Secretary of the Interior or the naturalization court, he would continue on the tribal rolls as a member of the tribe. He would in no manner be deprived of his tribal rights or treaty benefits: he merely would be given management of his property

Any Indian so declared competent would not lose the benefits and funds which might accrue to his tribe in the future. Upon his death. his share of tribal benefits would descend to his heir.