BARRACKS AND QUARTERS Senator HAYDEN. I would like to make an inquiry in reference to barracks, quarters, and buildings, pages 25 to 27. The amount appropriated for the current fiscal year was $11,628,000. The reappropriation of previous appropriations, amounting to $1,203,000, was added to that, making available for that purpose $12,832,000 last year, for the purpose of construction. General DRUM. $12,628,787 was the appropriation last year. The authorization for expenditure was $9,033,092. Senator HAYDEN. In the bill last year there were itemized a number of projects to be undertaken, such as Camp Devens, Mass., Fitzsimons General Hospital, Fort Huachuca, Ariz. General DRUM. Is that construction? Senator HAYDEN. Yes. General DRUM. That is under a different item. Senator HAYDEN. No; it is under barracks and quarters. Apparently that money then appropriated was not used, but some of the money was obtained from the Public Works Administration for construction. What I would like to find out is whether the amount obtained from the Public Works Administration is greater than the three and a half million dollars that was deducted here. General DRUM. Yes, sir. The amount for construction came very close to $50,000,000 for the whole Army. Senator HAYDEN. When will that expenditure be completed? General DRUM. I talked to the Quartermaster General a few days ago, and his impression is that 80 percent is under work now. Is that about right, General Williams? General WILLIAMS. Yes, sir. Senator HAYDEN. So that what you lost by the failure to actually expend the appropriation authorized was more than made up by the Public Works Administration advance? General DRUM. Yes, sir. You should understand that the money from the Public Works Administration was not the same project. Necessarily, those projects that are in there were not covered by the Plblic Works Administration. Maybe some will be and maybe some will not. Senator HAYDEN. The program varies? General DRUM. Yes, sir. Senator HAYDEN. In reference to the military post at Fort Huachuca, located in my State, the money was allocated for that purpose? General DRUM. Yes, sir. Senator HAYDEN. Yet the essential construction there has not been undertaken. Have we any assurance that additional funds for construction at military posts will be made available in any future public-works program? Has the Department prepared a program for that? General DRUM. Yes, sir; the Department prepared a program that covered $135,000,000. It was submitted to the Public Works Administration and still is in their hands. Of that program the Department received about $50,000,000. That covered the whole of what the Department got in the housing program of the Army. Whether or not more money will be forthcoming the Department does not know. Senator HAYDEN. Is the Department prepared, upon indication that funds of such nature will be available, to again recommend construction of that character? General DRUM. Yes, sir. Senator HAYDEN. Will there be any advantage in that, except in the matter of increasing the amount set forth in this bill for the construction of barracks and quarters? Senator COPELAND. Are you familiar with the table on page 747 of the House hearings? Senator HAYDEN. Yes. General DRUM. The construction side has been taken over by the Public Works Administration, and the construction for the Army is to come from that fund. The maintenance part of our buildings and plants is covered by barracks and quarters. The money is covered in this appropriation bill. That amount has been reduced, and the Department has already made a request for an increase in certain items, which is given on page 27, line 4, Senator, to make up the difference between what the Budget authorized and what the House reduced it to. Senator HAYDEN. This bill carries money only for operation and maintenance? General DRUM. That is all. Senator HAYDEN. There are no items in it for construction of any kind? General DRUM. No, sir. AUTOMOBILE FOR SECRETARY OF WAR Senator COPELAND. I want to ask about this automobile for the Secretary. Did anybody make an appeal to have that increased? General DRUM. No, sir; the Secretary has made no appeal to have it increased. 7 Senator HAYDEN. Personally, I think it should be done. Senator COPELAND. Should be increased? Senator HAYDEN. Yes. Senator COPELAND. I think so. Senator HAYDEN. From my observation, the Secretary is riding around in about the shabbiest old Packard anybody has in town. CEMETERIES IN EUROPE Senator COPELAND. Let me ask about the cemeteries in Europe. General DRUM. Yes, sir. Senator COPELAND. Has anything been done about the care of those cemeteries? General DRUM. I shall have to ask General Williams to answer that, but there has been an Executive order that turned them over to the Battle Monument Commission. Senator COPELAND. The P.W.A. and the C.W.A. have done some work for them. General WILLIAMS. No, sir, not for the cemeteries in Europe. Senator COPELAND. Please make a note of it and let us know. 45958-345 Senator COPELAND. Have you anything further? General DRUM. I want to make one other little point. Senator COPELAND What is that? General DRUM. On page 66, after line 7, strike out the following words inserted on the floor of the House: Of which sum $25,000 shall be available for conducting a survey of Governors Island, N.Y., to determine its usefulness and adaptability as an airport and the cost of accomplishing all work incidental to effecting the change. A survey of this character has been made by the engineers. Their report is available. And so it would be a useless expenditure to repeat it. General DRUM. Page 66, line 7, strike out "$23,702,645" and insert "$23,966,645" and at line 25, strike out "$318,114" and insert "$341,291". Senator COPELAND. I am not quite clear on that. General DRUM. In this item for transportation, which is purely military, the House group included those sums of Rivers and Harbors funds in one item. We want to put that back in Rivers and Harbors where it can be handled more efficiently. Senator COPELAND. I understand. What about line 25? General DRUM. That is the same question. We want to put back in rivers and harbors the money required for travel. Senator COPELAND. The Governors Island survey has already been made? General DRUM. Yes, sir. It was made by the engineers and we have their report here. RIVERS AND HARBORS, STATEMENT OF MAJ. GEN. EDWARD M. MARKHAM, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY Senator COPELAND. Senator Overton, have you some questions about rivers and harbors? Senator OVERTON. Yes; in reference to flood control on the lower Mississippi. General DRUM. General Markham is here, the Chief of Engineers, and I am sure he can answer any of those questions. Senator COPELAND. I am sure he can. Senator OVERTON. Shall I ask General Markham? Senator COPELAND. Yes. Senator OVERTON. General Markham, this bill carries no appropriation for flood control on the Mississippi River or its tributaries. I think this is the first year since the act of 1928 when that was not included. Will you state why there is no appropriation for that purpose? General MARKHAM. Under the limitation of withdrawals the amount of money we have to spend by the first of July is $9,746,880, which will make available to us for the fiscal year 1935 the sum of $13,768,628. That money sets up against the balance, unexpended and unobligated, as of June 30, 1934, amounting to $18,095,000. Accordingly, without additional appropriations, we have authorized for expenditure during the fiscal year 1935 the sum of $13,768,000. In other words, we have the money, and because of withdrawals it has not been expended. Senator HAYDEN. Was that money obtained by appropriations in former acts or from the P.W.A.? General MARKHAM. By appropriations from former acts, amounting in the last appropriation to $19,000,000. Senator HAYDEN. Did you also receive money from the Public Works Administration for that same purpose? General MARKHAM. Yes, sir; additional to what appears in here. Senator HAYDEN. Amounting to what? General MARKHAM. Last year, $44,000,000. Senator HAYDEN. And that money will be available how long? General MARKHAM. I am told the total that has been appropriated of Public Works money will have to be expended by July 1, except about $3,000,000. The total available to us next year under the Budget and limitation of withdrawals is $13,768,000. Senator OVERTON. Then for the fiscal year 1935 you have $13,000,000? General MARKHAM. Yes, sir. Senator OVERTON. It amounts to something over $30,000,000 a year? General MARKHAM. I might say that our report to the Public Works Administration, having to do with what could be expended and which is recommended for allotment out of further Public Works money, is $50,000. Senator OVERTON. You can use $50,000,000 during 1935? General MARKHAM. Yes, sir. Senator OVERTON. And you have only $13,000,000? General MARKHAM. Yes, sir. Senator OVERTON. This bill carries no appropriation of any amount for that work? General MARKHAM. No, sir. Senator OVERTON. Then you have to depend upon the Public Works Administration for that fund? General MARKHAM. Exactly. Senator OVERTON. Has any allotment been made by the Public Works Administration? General MARKHAM. Not yet. Under our limitation, the $13,000,000 cannot be expended in the extension of projects, but only in their maintenance. Therefore, any further extension on lower Mississippi River projects must come from the Public Works Administration. We have indicated our ability to spend $50,000,000 or any portion of it. Senator HAYDEN. That covers the entire country, does it not? Senator OVERTON. If you depend upon the Public Works Administration, as I understand it, whatever amount may be given to you for that purpose by the Public Works Administration will not be given at one time. It has not been in the past. It will be contributed from time to time, will it not? General MARKHAM. It is my understanding that it will be given in a total of one allotment. The $44,000,000 was given in two allotments. The first one was $7,000,000, and later we got one for $37,000,000. The $44,000,000 was given in two lots. I understand the $50,000,000 will be given in one lot. Senator OVERTON. Can you effectively plan this work in advance of knowing what you are going to get for it? General MARKHAM. We have in our engineering department what we call a 10-year plan, under which we can quite rapidly and intelligently plan some projects, but we could plan much more easily and more intelligently if we knew where we were going. Senator ÖVERTON. If under this bill for 1935 the sum of $50,000,000 were appropriated, you could go ahead and make your plans accordingly and know exactly what you were doing? General MARKHAM. Yes, sir. We would have no substantial difficulty in intelligently expending that amount of money. If we had $300,000,000 to be allotted at the rate of $30,000,000 each year for 10 years, we could much more intelligently handle that than if we had $30,000,000 one year and $70,000,000 the next. Senator SHEPPARD. The House report on this bill states that the funds made available to the War Department as a relief appropriation for rivers and harbors is $170,000,000, and for flood control $69,000,000. General MARKHAM. That is correct. Senator OVERTON. That is all over the United States. I am now interested in the lower Mississippi. General MARKHAM. The $44,000,000 was for the Mississippi River proper. Senator SHEPPARD. Is that the correct amount for rivers and harbors? General MARKHAM. I presume it is. Senator OVERTON. If you were prosecuting work on flood control in accordance with the provisions of the Flood Control Act of May 15, 1928, your Department would require how much for 1935? General MARKHAM. We have suggested to the Public Works Administration that we can expend on that project about $50,000,000. Senator OVERTON. Do you suggest an appropriation of $50,000,000, in round figures? General MARKHAM. Yes, sir. Senator OVERTON. If that is not done and this appropriation is not carried, you will be dependent entirely for the prosecution of that work on whatever funds the Public Works Administration may give the War Department? General MARKHAM. Wholly. Senator OVERTON. That leaves it in a state of uncertainty. General MARKHAM. Yes, sir. Senator OVERTON. Is it necessary to go on with that work? General MARKHAM. Vitally. Senator OVERTON. There is a good deal of work yet to be done? General MARKHAM. Yes, sir. Senator OVERTON. Nothing has been done in a number of places? General MARKHAM. Nothing, except to maintain the fuse beds, resistance to injunctions, and matters of that kind. Senator OVERTON. The work has not yet been completed on the main stem of the Mississippi? General MARKHAM. It is about 76 percent completed. Senator HAYDEN. What proportion of the flood flow is proposed to be diverted? |