Administration will be able to negotiate a renewal at approximately the same rental-$1.72 per square foot-and with a provision for cancellation upon 90 days' notice.

We went into these very fully, Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the chair is authorized to write a letter to the departments advising them that the committee interposes no objection.

But I want to say this.

Mr. RIVERS. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, let there be quiet, because this is an important matter.

I want to exercise the authority under the resolution creating the investigation committee to employ some outstanding, qualified appraiser to work with Mr. Rivers and Mr. Cunningham's committee, so they can sent him out to make a personal inspection of the acquisition and disposals and all of these matters that we have to deal with in this committee.

I am asking you to have in mind any outstanding-they have to be outstanding, now-there can be no friendship aspect-but an outstanding, qualified man, and if you will give me his name we will look it over.

I must have somebody to help Mr. Rivers and Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Kelleher discharge this responsibility on their shoulders. They are doing a splendid job, but they need someone to help them.

Now, I do not know of anybody. If you know of anybody, you all give me the names, and we will investigate them.

Now, we will take a recess, subject to the call of the chair.

Thank you, members.

(Whereupon, at 11:50 a. m., the committee adjourned subject to the call of the chairman.)

O

[No. 78]

FULL COMMITTEE HEARING ON H. R. 7992

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE,

Washington, D. C., Wednesday, May 9, 1956.

The committee met at 10 a. m., the Honorable Carl Vinson, chairman of the committee, presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. Let the committee come to order.

I am sorry, members of the committee, that I am so hoarse this morning I cannot do much talking, but I will ask that Mr. Blandford and Mr. Smart present this bill.

This is H. R. 7992, what is known as the point-of-order bill. (H. R. 7992 follows:)

[H. R. 7992, 84th Cong., 2d sess.]

A BILL To enact certain provisions now included in the Department of Defense Appropriation Act and the Civil Functions Appropriation Act, and for other purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, (a) under regulations to be prescribed in the same manner as regulations prescribing the quantity and kind of clothing to be issued to enlisted members of the Armed Forces, prisoners released from military confinement facilities may, upon each termination of confinement by parole or completion of sentence, be furnished suitable civilian outer clothing and an amount of money not to exceed $25.

(b) Section 13 of the Act of February 16, 1909 (ch. 131, 35 Stat. 622), subsection (c) of section 2 of the Act of June 15, 1943 (ch. 125, 57 Stat. 153), and that part of the Act of March 3, 1909, under the heading "BUREAU OF NAVIGATION", which appears on page 756, volume 35, Statutes at Large, and which reads as follows: "Provided further, That the Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized to furnish naval prisoners upon discharge suitable civilian clothing in case, and only where, said discharged prisoners would otherwise be unprovided with suitable clothing to meet their immediate needs", are hereby repealed.

SEC. 2. Under regulations prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments, applicants for enlistment and registrants called for induction under the Universal Military Training and Service Act, whether or not accepted, persons in military custody not in a pay status, and, in emergencies, supernumeraries, may be furnished with subsistence, quarters, and supplies and services required for health and personal necessity, and a monetary allowance in lieu of subsistence may be paid to such applicants and registrants.

SEC. 3. (a) Section 303 (e) of the Career Compensation Act of 1949 (ch. 681, 63 Stat. 813), is amended by inserting therein after the phrase "discharged prisoners," the phrase "persons discharged for fraudulent enlistment, or for reason of minority,'

(b) The clause immediately preceding the proviso in subsection (a) of section 501 of the Career Compensation Act of 1949, which was added by section 244 of the Armed Forces Reserve Act of 1952 (ch. 608, 66 Stat. 494), is amended by striking out the word "enlisted", so that the clause will read as follows: "and additionally, in the discretion of the Secretary concerned, members of the above services shall be entitled to rations in kind, or a portion thereof, when the instruction or duty period or periods concerned total eight or more hours in any one calendar day;".

(c) The second sentence of section 1 of the Act of September 24, 1945 (ch. 385, 59 Stat. 536), and the Act of March 7, 1942 (ch. 159, 56 Stat. 140), are hereby (7199)

71066-56-No. 78- -1

repealed. Section 3 of the Act of September 24, 1945 (ch. 385, 59 Stat. 537), is amended by deleting the phrase ", subsistence, and transportation" wherever it

appears.

SEC. 4. The second proviso in the third paragraph of section 125 of the National Defense Act of June 3, 1916 (ch. 134, 39 Stat. 216; 10 U. S. C. 1393), as last amended by section 53 of the Act of October 31, 1951 (ch. 655, 65 Stat. 728), is amended to read as follows: "Provided further, That when an enlisted member is discharged for bad conduct, undesirability, unsuitability, inaptitude, or otherwise than honorably or is interned or discharged as an alien enemy, all uniform outer clothing in his possession shall be retained for military use, and suitable civilian outer clothing and, when necessary, an overcoat, may be issued to such enlisted member under regulations prescribed in the same manner as regulations prescribing the quantity and kind of clothing to be issued to enlisted members of the Armed Forces".

SEC. 5. (a) The Secretaries of the military departments are authorized to pay such amounts (not exceeding $25 in any one case) as they may by regulations prescribe, to civil officers or other persons, as rewards for apprehending and securing or delivering a member of the Armed Forces absent without authority, a deserter, a straggler, or any person who has escaped from military custody, arrest, or confinement, including those in violation of parole from military installations; and to any such civil officer or other person an additional sum in direct reimbursement of expenses and payment for services necessarily incurred in maintaining the health of or in apprehending, securing, or delivering such persons to military control.

(b) Section 22 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (60 Stat. 856), is amended by striking out the words "for the apprehension and delivery of deserters, stragglers, and prisoners and".

SEC. 6. Under such regulations as they may prescribe, the Secretaries of the military departments are authorized to provide, from any applicable appropriations available to the department concerned, for the care, maintenance, subsistence, pay, allowances, clothing, housing, and transportation of prisoners of war, other persons in custody whose status is determined by the Secretary concerned to be similar to prisoners of war, and persons detained in custody pursuant to Presidential proclamation or Executive order.

SEC. 7. The duties of the Librarian at the United States Military Academy may be performed by a retired officer ordered to active duty for such purposes. SEC. 8. Such military personnel as may be detailed for duty with departments or agencies not a part of the Department of Defense on a reimbursement basis may be employed in addition to the numbers otherwise authorized and appropriated for.

SEC. 9. Section 212 of the Act of June 30, 1932 (47 Stat. 406), as amended by section 3 of the Act of July 15, 1940 (54 Stat. 761), shall not apply to military personnel on the retired lists of the Army and the Air Force on duty at the United States Soldiers' Home.

SEC. 10. (a) The Secretaries of the military departments are authorized to expend out of appropriations available to such departments for military funetions for construction or maintenance such amounts as may be required for minor construction (except family quarters), conversion of and extensions to existing structures, and improvements, at facilities of the department concerned; but the cost of any project authorized under this section which is not otherwise authorized shall not exceed an amount specified in the appropriation Act concerned.

(b) Section 26 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (60 Stat. 856) is hereby repealed. SEC. 11. Appropriations for military functions for construction authorized by law for the Department of Defense may be expended without the making of sketch plans and detailed cost estimates by the Administrator of General Services required by section 3734, Revised Statutes, as amended (40 U. S. C. 267), and land and interests therein for such authorized construction may be acquired and construction prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title by the Attorney General as required y sections 355 and 1136, Revised Statutes, as amended (40 U. S. C. 255; 10 U. S. C. 1339).

SEC. 12. The Secretaries of the military departments, under such regulations as they may prescribe, are authorized to provide for the furnishing, without reimbursement, of utility services for buildings on military reservations used by nationally recognized private welfare organizations.

SEC. 13. The Secretaries of the military departments are authorized, under such regulations as they may prescribe, to provide ammunition for military salutes at institutions and Government establishments to which the issue of arms for salutes is authorized.

SEC. 14. (a) Section 3 of the Act of May 28, 1928 (45 Stat. 786), is amended to read as follows: "For the incidental expenses of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice, including books, pamphlets, badges, trophies, prizes, and medals, to be expended for such purposes, such sums as may be necessary are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually.".

(b) Subparagraph (e) of the paragraph headed "c ORDNANCE EQUIPMENT FOR RIFLE RANGES FOR CIVILIAN INSTRUCTION", of the Act entitled "An act making appropriations for the military and nonmilitary activities of the War Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925 and for other purposes", approved June 7, 1924 (43 Stat. 510), is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(e) Maintenance of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice, including provisions for the necessary expenses thereof and of its members: Provided, That travel expenses of members of the Board shall be paid in accordance with the Standardized Government Travel Regulations, as amended."

SEC. 15. (a) The Secretaries of the military departments are authorized, out of any appropriation available therefor, to provide for expenses for travel and sunsistence of officers and students of the other American countries and other expenses deemed necessary for inter-American cooperation.

(b) The second clause of section 38 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (60 Stat. 857), is hereby repealed.

SEC. 16. (a) Under such regulations as they may prescribe, the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force are authorized to consider, adjust, determine, and pay in an amount not more than $1,000, where accepted by the claimant in full satisfaction and final settlement, any claim for damage to, or loss of, real or personal property, arising from authorized field training of units of the National Guard or Air National Guard, either caused by a member or employee of the National Guard or Air National Guard, acting within the scope of his employment, or otherwise incident to such authorized field training, notwithstanding the fact that such units are not on active Federal duty during such training.

(b) A claim may be settled under subsection (a) only if—

(1) it is present d in writing within two years after the incident out of which it arises;

(2) it is substantiated as prescribed in regulations of the appropriate Secretary; and

(3) the damage to, or loss of, property was not caused in whole or in part by a negligent or wrongful act of the claimant, his agent, or his employee. (c) The provisions of subsection (a) shall not be construed to create a right of action against the United States Government for any claimant.

SEC. 17. (a) The third paragraph of section 90 of the National Defense Act of June 3, 1916 (39 Stat. 205), as amended (32 U. S. C. 42), is further amended by striking out the words ", not to exceed fifteen for any one pool," and adding the following at the end of the paragraph: "Personnel of the National Guard may be employed as such caretakers in a civilian capacity without regard to their military rank.".

(b) The fourth paragraph of section 90 of the National Defense Act of June 3, 1916 (39 Stat. 205), as amended (32 U. S. C. 42), is hereby repealed.

SEC. 18. Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Air Force, respectively, travel expenses at the same rates as authorized by law for military personnel on active duty may be paid to appropriate National Guard or Air National Guard commanders while inspecting units in compliance with National Guard regulations, when specifically authorized by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

SEC. 19. (a) Within the limits of amounts specifically provided in appropriations made therefor, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments are authorized to provide for all emergency and extraordinary expenses arising in the department concerned or any of their subordinate bureaus or offices in the District of Columbia or in the Defense Establishment at large but impossible to anticipate or classify, and when so specified in an appropriation such funds may be expended on the approval or authority of the Secretary concerned and for such purposes as he may deem proper, and his determination thereon shall be final and conclusive upon the accounting officers of the Government and he may make a certificate of the amount of such expenditures as he may think it advisable not to specify and every such certificate shall be deemed a sufficient voucher for the sum therein expressed to have been expended.

(b) Section 6 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (60 Stat. 853), is hereby repealed. SEC. 20. The Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments are authorized to provide for the payment, out of appropriations available