posed use of the quarantine station. These protests came not only from well recognized livestock associations but also from many State livestock sanitary officials and Members of both Houses of Congress. In general, the protests were against the use of the quarantine station to bring cattle, sheep, swine, or goats into the United States from countries where foot-and-mouth discase or rinderpest exists.

As such use is specifically provided for by the act of July 24, 1946, these protests must be regarded as being directed against the enabling legislation rather than against the form of the regulations which were adapted to the law as passed by the Congress.

Other comment favored such drastic revisions in the proposed regulations as to make the intended use of the quarantine station impracticable. A few correspondents favored issuance of the regulations as drawn.

The following recommendation received February 17, 1949, from the Department's Industry Advisory Committee on Foot-and-Mouth Disease is representative of much of the comment about the quarantine station:

"On July 24, 1946, there was approved Public Law 522, Seventy-ninth Congress. It provided for the installation of an animal quarantine station on Swan Island. Since this enactment, the serious livestock malady known as foot-and-mouth disease has broken out in Mexico and it has been necessary for the United States to assist Mexico with large appropriations, equipment, and manpower. It is generally believed that the disease invaded Mexico through a quarantine island off the coast of Mexico. There is no evidence to indicate that the well-being of our economy would suffer if we did not import animals from affected countries and there is every indication to lead us to believe that great disaster can rock our economy if we do import such animals and thereby permit an invasion of foot-andmouth disease. The present Mexican situation should be sufficient warning of the ineffectiveness of a quarantine island. It is the recommendation of this committee that Public Law 522, Seventy-ninth Congress, be repealed. We also recommend that in the interest of economy the facilities on Swan Island be put into use by some agency of our Government needing such facilities."

The Department recommends clarification of the present situation through congressional action. Should Congress determine to repeal the joint resolution of July 24, 1946, which authorized the Swan Island quarantine station, disposition will need to be made of the temporary facilities erected there. They are on land leased at $200 per annum. The lease terminates June 30, 1949, unless renewed prior to May 31, 1949. It provides that the facilities erected thereon may be removed at any time prior to termination. If the lease is terminated June 30, 1949, the facilities would obviously revert to the owner of the land unless removed prior to that time. It seems that there would be no difficulty in renewing the lease under general appropriation authority of the Bureau of Animal Industry if it is not desired to abandon the facilities but to hold the lease until June 30, 1950, in order that there may be opportunity for any Federal agencies desiring these facilities to take title to them and to move them from the island. This would involve expenses for care and maintenance until disposal.

The Bureau of the Budget advises that, from the standpoint of the program of the President, there is no objection to the submission of this report.

Sincerely,

CHARLES F. BRANNAN, Secretary.

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 2a of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill are shown as follows: Existing law proposed to be repealed is enclosed in brackets.

ACT OF JULY 24, 1946 (60 STAT. 633; 21 USC 133)

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, [That the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, in his discretion, to establish and maintain on Swan Island, either independently or in cooperation with other American Republics and with breeders' organizations and similar organizations and individuals within the United States, an international animal quarantine station, including the acquisition of sites by lease or otherwise, and the construction of temporary building, improvements, and other

4

facilities on such sites, and notwithstanding the provisions of any other law but subject to regulations prescribed hereunder by the Secretary of Agriculture to prevent the introduction into the United States of communicable diseases of animals, animals may be brought into said quarantine station from any country, including but not limited to those countries in which the Secretary of Agriculture determines that rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease exist, and may be subsequently imported into other parts of the United States under said regulations.] Approved July 24, 1946.

O

PROVIDING A 1-YEAR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR THE DISPOSITION OF FARM-LABOR CAMPS TO PUBLIC OR SEMIPUBLIC AGENCIES OR NONPROFIT ASSOCIATIONS OF FARMERS

APRIL 26, 1949.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. COOLEY, from the Committee on Agriculture, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 2906]

The Committee on Agriculture, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 2906) to provide a 1-year extension of time for the disposition of farm-labor camps to public or semipublic agencies or nonprofit associations of farmers, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.

STATEMENT

The accompanying bill will extend the time (from June 30, 1949, to June 30, 1950) within which farm-labor camps and facilities may be disposed of to public or semipublic agencies or nonprofit associations of farmers pursuant to the act of July 31, 1947 (61 Stat. 694).

These farm-labor camps and facilities have been in operation for a number of years, some of them since 1935, when the Resettlement Administration first began the establishment and operation of permanent labor camps for migratory domestic farm labor. Government operation of these farm-labor camps ceased as of January 1, 1948, and the Secretary of Agriculture was authorized under the act of July 31, 1947, to dispose of the labor camps and facilities to any public or semipublic agency or nonprofit association of farmers which would agree to operate and maintain such facilities for the principal purpose of housing migratory agricultural laborers and to relieve the Federal Government of all responsibility in connection therewith. That act also authorized the facilities to be continued in operation under contractual arrangements with responsible public or semipublic agencies or nonprofit associations of farmers, in order to permit their being used until such time as arrangements could be effectuated for the purchase and sale of the properties.

Under existing provisions of law any of the farm-labor camps which have not been disposed of for continued use as agricultural labor camps by June 30, 1949, are required to be disposed of to the highest bidder for unrestricted use. One of the principal objectives of the act of July 31, 1947, was to provide adequate opportunity for farmers and local public and semipublic agencies to acquire these farm-labor camps in order that they would continue to be available for housing farm labor. This bill will give the additional time necessary to carry out that objective.

The report of the Department of Agriculture on S. 1000, a bill identical with H. R. 2906, shows that, at present, 39 out of the 53 permanent labor camps remain unsold. These camps contain approximately 10,000 family units and provide housing accommodations for about 40,000 persons. They have been fully occupied most of the year, their annual occupancy being approximately 70 percent. At present all of these camps and facilities are being operated by either nonprofit associations of farmers or local public housing agencies under revocable use permits. They have a total appraised value of $12,162,161.

The only costs which the enactment of this bill would entail would be the administrative expenses for the fiscal year 1950, which funds would be available under section 3 of the act of July 31, 1947. The report which the Department submitted with respect to S. 1000, which is identical to H. R. 2906, is as follows

Hon. ELMER THOMAS,

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
Washington, March 4, 1949.

Chairman, Committee on Agriculture and Forestry,

United States Senate.

DEAR SENATOR THOMAS: This is in response to your request for a report on S. 1000, a bill entitled "to provide a one year's extension of time for the disposition of farm-labor camps to public or semipublic agencies or nonprofit associations of farmers." The purpose of the bill is to extend from June 30, 1949, until June 30, 1950, the time within which farmlabor camps may be disposed of to public or semipublic agencies or nonprofit associations of farmers pursuant to the act of July 31, 1947 (61 Stat. 694).

At present 39 permanent camps remain to be disposed of for continued use as housing for agricultural workers. These camps which have approximately 10,000 family units are located in the States of Arizona (3), California (21), Colorado (1), Florida (8), Idaho (1), Oregon (1), Texas (1), and Washington (3), and provide housing accommodations for about 40,000 persons. They are fully occupied most of the year, their annual average occupancy being 70 percent. Although the physical facilities at many are being inadequately maintained they are all now being operated by either nonprofit associations of farmers or local public housing agencies under revocable use permits. They have a total appraised value of $12,162,161.

Under existing legislation should any of the camps be unsold or not disposed of for continued use as agricultural labor camps by June 30, 1949, they will immediately be placed on sale to the highest bidder for unrestricted use.

On July 31, 1947, the time of the enactment of the foregoing law, there were 53 permanent labor camps located in 9 States, 115 temporary camps located in 21 States, 1 hospital and a substantial amount of warehoused equipment and supplies subject to the provisions of said act. Contracts of sale have been entered into or sales completed for 12 permanent farm-labor camps. Two former Forest Service camps in California, which were no longer needed for housing agricultural workers, have been sold on the open market at the highest price obtainable under the authority of section 2 (d) and 43 (f) of the Farmers Home Administration Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 1062). All of the temporary camps and all of the warehoused equipment and supplies have been sold, primarily to nonprofit associations of farmers. The hospital has been disposed of to a public agency.

The disposition of the camps and camp equipment between July 1, 1947, and December 31, 1948, has resulted in realization by the United States of cash and obligations of purchasers totaling $1,050,139.59.

Sales heretofore negotiated have been on the basis that the cost of a camp should be shared by the Government, the residents of the camp, and by the community which is receiving tangible benefits from the camp. The Government's contribution is in the form of sale of the camp at a discount of from 80 to 90 percent from its original cost; that of the residents through the payment of sufficient rental to cover most or all of the current costs of maintenance and operation; and, that of the community, the payment of all or most of the sales price.

We are unable to state with assurance that the remaining camps could be disposed of by June 30, 1949, in accordance with the provisions of the act of July 31, 1947, for continued use as farm-labor camps. There has been considerable discussion between this Department and prospective purchasers concerning the soundness of this Department's price policy in the disposition of the labor camps. The operators of some camps have indicated a desire to continue operating them but are reluctant to purchase them even at the small fraction of their original cost for which other camps have been sold.

It has been suggested that the remaining farm-labor camps should be dealt with as a part of the low-rent housing provision of the Nation-wide housing program. There is also pending in the Congress H. R. 2811, to provide homes for city and farm families of average income as well as H. R. 794 and H. R. 1575, proposals for a farm-labor program.

Since the enactment of S. 1000 would give ample time for the Congress to review this Department's camp-disposal policy as well as reconsider its previous legislative action concerning the camps this Department recommends its enactment. The only costs which the enactment of S. 1000 would entail would be the administrative expenses for the fiscal year 1950, for which funds would be available under section 3 of the act of July 31, 1947.

In view of the time element involved, this report has not had prior clearance with the Bureau of the Budget for advice as to the relationship of the proposal to the program of the President.

Sincerely yours,

CHARLES F. BRANNAN, Secretary.

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 2 (a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, as introduced, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman):

ACT OF JULY 31, 1947 (61 STAT. 694)

SEC. 2. In order that such public or semipublic agencies or nonprofit associations of farmers may have adequate time to make necessary arrangement for authorizations and funds to acquire such facilities, the authority to dispose of such facilities to such agencies is to continue until [June 30, 1949] June 30, 1950. After January 30, 1948, and pending sale thereof, no facility shall be continued in operation except under contractual arrangements with responsible public or semipublic agencies or nonprofit associations of farmers who will agree to operate such facilities for the principal purpose of housing persons engaged in agricultural work and to relieve the Federal Government of all financial responsibility in connection with the operation of such facilities. Any facility with respect to which no such contractual arrangement has been made by January 30, 1948, shall be liquidated as expeditiously as possible under the provisions of this Act or section 43 (d) of the Farmers Home Administration Act of 1946, and in any event not later than [June 30, 1949] June 30, 1950. Any facility which is continued in operation after January 30, 1948, pursuant to a contractual arrangement with a public or semipublic agency or nonprofit association of farmers and which remains unsold on [June 30, 1949] June 30, 1950, shall be disposed of as expeditiously as possible under the provisions of section 43 (d) of the Farmers Home Administration Act of 1946.