Mr. LITTAUER, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 24541.]

The Committee on Appropriations, to whom was referred House Documents Nos. 252, 281, 284, 289, 290, 296, and 364, submitting estimates for appropriations to supply urgent deficiencies in certain appropriations, having considered the same, submit herewith a bill to supply certain of said deficiencies, namely:

For National Water Boundary Commission, United States and Mexico. $5,000
For rent of additional accommodations for the office of the Auditor for
the Navy Department

1, 150

For dredging for piers of the Jamestown Exposition in Hampton Roads 65, 000
For equipment of new vessels of the Navy-

250,000

For expenses of the public land service__

6,000

For fitting up police-court building in the District of Columbia.

2,500

CONGRESS

BRIDGE ACROSS POTOMAC RIVER, AT OR NEAR SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. VA.

JANUARY 18, 1907.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

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

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 24111.]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 24111) to authorize the Norfolk and Western Railway Company to construct a bridge across the Potomac River, at or near Shepherdstown, W. Va., 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 indorsements attached and which are made a part of this report.

Amend the bill as follows:

On page 1, in lines 10, 11, and 12, strike out the following:

As the said company may deem suitable for the passage of its road over the said river.

Strike out sections 2 and 4 and change section 3 to section 2.

[First indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, January 16, 1907.

Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. The accompanying bill, H. R. 24111, Fifty-ninth Congress, second session, to authorize the Norfolk and Western Railway Company to construct a bridge across the Potomac River, at or near Shepherdstown, W. Va., with slight amendments, indicated thereon, will, in my judgment, make ample provision for the protection of navigation interests, and I know of no objection to its passage by Congress so far as those interests are concerned.

A. MACKENZIE,

Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army.

[Second Indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, January 16, 1907.

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 United States Army.

VACANCY IN BOARD OF REGENTS, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

JANUARY 18, 1907.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. MCCALL, from the Committee on the Library, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. J. Res. No. 221.]

The Committee on the Library, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. J. Res. No. 221) to fill a vacancy in the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, submit the following report:

The purpose of the resolution is to reappoint George Gray, of Delaware, a member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, his term having expired January 14, 1907. It is desirable that the appointment be made before next Wednesday, the 23d instant.

The committee recommend that the resolution do pass.

2d Session.

No. 6439.

PHELPS COUNTY, MO.

JANUARY 18, 1907.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. PARKER, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 24104.]

The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 24104) transferring Phelps County to the eastern division of the eastern judicial district of Missouri, having considered the same report it back to the House with the recommendation that it do pass with amendment as follows:

Strike out sections 2 and 3.

Phelps County is conveniently connected by rail with St. Louis, where court is held in the division to which it is transferred, and much nearer by rail than to Jefferson City, where its people now have to go. There is little United States business in the county to embarrass any judge by the change.

The bill is recommended by the Attorney-General.

Section 2 enacting that Phelps County attorneys shall be by statute attorneys in the eastern district is a matter for the discretion of the judge of that district and the rules of his court.

Section 3, that the act take effect immediately is not necessary. We recommend passage of the bill as amended.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, January 17, 1907.

SIR: This Department is in receipt of your letter, dated the 16th instant, inclosing H. R. 24104, entitled "A bill transferring Phelps County to the eastern division of the eastern district of Missouri."

In reply thereto, you are advised that I know of no reason why said bill should not become law, although Phelps County is much nearer to Jefferson City, which is a place of holding court in the western district of Missouri, than to St. Louis, by private conveyance, because said county is much nearer to St. Louis than to Jefferson City by the usual routes of travel, namely, by railroad. The transfer will be of convenience to litigants and their attorneys residing in said county, and will probably result in the saving of expense to the United States.

Respectfully,

Hon. RICHARD W. PARKER,

CHARLES J. BONAPARTE,
Attorney-General.

Chairman Subcommittee No. 1, Committee on the Judiciary,