under date of January 24, 1931. This letter is set out in full for the information of the House and is made a part of this report. Hon. DoN B. COLTON, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. JANUARY 24, 1931. DEAR MR. COLTON: Reference is made to your letter of January 17, inclosing copy of H. R. 16156, a bill for the exchange of lands adjacent to national forests in Colorado, and asking for the views of this department thereon: The proposed legislation would extend the forest exchange act of March 20, 1922 (42 Stat. 465), to privately owned lands within 6 miles of the boundaries of the national forests in the State of Colorado; that is, it would make it possible to exchange national forest lands or timber in the State of Colorado for privately owned lands within the area described in the bill when such lands are valuable for forestry purposes and can be obtained on the basis of value not less than the value of the publicly owned lands or timber given in exchange therefor. Your committee, of course, appreciates that before the national forests were established a large area of publicly owned lands bearing forest cover passed into private ownership, and therefore when the national forests were created such lands were not included within their boundaries. In most instances the commercial timber has now been removed from these lands, but they contain a young growth of timber which would become increasingly valuable if it were protected and otherwise managed as a forest property. In the judgment of this department, it is very desirable that lands of this nature be given protection and it is felt that a law such as is proposed by this bill which would make it possible to acquire such lands by exchange would be in the public interest. Your committee, of course, if familiar with legislation of like character which has been hitherto enacted in several instances. A measure in almost identical terms was enacted in the last Congress for the State of Montana, and may be found in volume 45, United States Statutes at Large, page 1145. Sincerely yours, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. The lands affected by this legislation are not public lands, but are in private ownership. AMEND THE ACT FOR THE ACQUISITION, ESTABLISHMENT, AND MEMORIAL FEBRUARY 12, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. ELLIOTT, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 16218] The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to which was referred H. R. 16218, a bill to amend the George Washington Memorial Parkway bill, approved May 29, 1930, having duly considered the same, hereby make report of it to the House with the recommendation that the bill as amended do pass. On page 3, line 11, strike out the word "and" and insert a comma after the word "maintained". On page 3, line 11, after the word "administered" insert the following: "and controlled". On page 3, line 13, after the word "to" insert the following: "said highway and". On page 3, line 13, strike out the word "required" and insert in lieu thereof "transferred to him". On page 3, line 15, after the number "1925" strike out semicolon and insert in lieu thereof a comma and the following: "and those conferred upon the Secretary of Agriculture by the act approved May 23, 1928, as amended;". The following letter from Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant 3d, gives a brief synopsis of the purposes of the amendments proposed by H. R. 16218: NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION, Hon. RICHARD N. ELLIOTT, Chairman Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. ELLIOTT: In compliance with your request for a brief statement as to the purposes of the amendments proposed by H. R. 16218, I submit that this legislation is intended to accomplish the five following changes in the act approved May 29, 1930: (a) To clarify the transfer of custody and maintenance over the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway to the Director of Public Buildings and Public Parks (p. 3, lines 1 to 15). The act referred to provides for transfer of the Mount Vernon Memorial Parkway to the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks as a part of the regional park system of the National Capital. The Attorney General has pointed out that, while the existing law does provide for the inclusion of the memorial highway in the regional park system, it does not specifically transfer to the Director of Public Buildings and Public Parks the duties and authority connected therewith which were conferred upon the Secretary of Agriculture by the act authorizing construction of the highway, as amended. Since the introduction of H. R. 16218, the full study by the Department of Justice of this subject has been received and some additional language seems to be needed in the light of its opinion. I am inclosing a copy of the bill with the suggested changes interpolated. (b) This bill removes (p. 4, lines 13 to 21) the implied prohibition against_the construction of a road on the Maryland shore between Washington and Fort Washington, and would permit such road to be built by the United States if the land for the parkway, that is for the road and between it and the river, be donated free of cost to the United States. (c) It indicates (p. 4, lines 7 to 9) the park drive on the Virginia shore between the Highway Bridge and the Chain Bridge, which has always been regarded as a necessary and proper development. (d) It will permit (p. 5, lines 5 to 13) the use of $3,000,000 of Federal funds for the immediate purchase of "lands deemed by the commission absolutely essential and necessary to the project." It does not increase in any way the total amount the Federal Government is to pay for the project, but permits the purchase now with Federal funds of these key properties, the importance of which seems to justify their acquisition immediately. The provision made here and the language used is almost exactly similar to the provisions now granted the National Park Service under similar circumstances. (e) It authorizes (p. 5, lines 17 to 25) the purchase of land "upon receipt of adequate guaranty from other responsible sources to reimburse the United States," for the half of the cost advanced. In the present law the money can be advanced for the entire purchase price of the land only when reimbursement of half is assured by the State or a political subdivision thereof. There is a prohibition of law against State authorities giving such assurance in Virginia, while on the other hand several proposals have been made to the commission from private sources to guarantee payment of half the cost if they could be accepted. I think Mr. Cramton in his testimony covered pretty well the reasons why these changes seemed desirable. If any fuller explanation is desired by you, I will be very glad to give it to you. It seems only necessary to emphasize again the fact that the amendments proposed by this bill affect only the George Washington Memorial Parkway in the valley of the Potomac, and that they do not increase either the total amount for which the United States can be obligated nor affect the rate at which appropriations are to be made. For this reason the Bureau of the Budget has approved it. Very respectfully yours, U. S. GRANT 3D, Executive and Disbursing Officer. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW In compliance with paragraph 2a of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives the following is submitted: PARTS OF EXISTING LAW AFFECTED BY THE BILL Subsection (a) of section 1 of an act entitled "An act for the acquisition, establishment, and development of the George Washington Memorial Parkway along the Potomac from Mount Vernon and Fort Washington to the Great Falls, and to provide for the acquisition of lands in the District of Columbia and the States of Maryland and Virginia requisite to the comprehensive park, parkway, and playground system of the National Capital," approved May 29, 1930: "(a) For the George Washington Memorial Parkway, to include the shores of the Potomac, and adjacent lands, from Mount Vernon to a point above the Great Falls on the Virginia side, except within the city of Alexandria, and from Fort Washington to a similar point above the Great Falls on the Maryland side, except within the District of Columbia, and including the protection and preservation of the natural scenery of the Gorge and the Great Falls of the Potomac, the preservation of the historic Patowmack Canal, and the acquisition of that portion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal below Point of Rocks, $7,500,000: Provided, That the acquisition of any land in the Potomac River Valley for park purposes shall not debar or limit, or abridge its use for such works as Congress may in the future authorize for the improvement and the extension of navigation, including the connecting of the upper Potomac River with the Ohio River, or for flood control or irrigation or drainage, or for the development of hydroelectric power. The title to the lands acquired hereunder shall vest in the United States, and said lands, including the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway authorized by the Act approved May 23, 1928, upon its completion, shall be maintained and administered by the Director of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital, who shall exercise all the authority, power, and duties with respect to lands acquired under this section as are conferred upon him within the District of Columbia by the Act approved February 26, 1925; and said director is authorized to incur such expenses as may be necessary for the proper administration and maintenance of said lands within the limits of the appropriations from time to time granted therefor from the Treasury of the United States, which appropriations are hereby authorized. The National Capital Park and Planning Commission is authorized to occupy such lands belonging to the United States as may be necessary for the development and protection of said parkway and to accept the donation to the United States of any other lands by it deemed desirable for inclusion in said parkway. As to any lands in Maryland or Virginia along or adjacent to the shores of the Potomac within the proposed limits of the parkway that would involve great expense for their acquisition and are held by said commission not to be essential to the proper carrying out of the project, the acquisition of said lands shall not be required, upon a finding of the commission to that effect. Said parkway shall include a highway from Fort Washington to the Great Falls on the Maryland side of the Potomac and a free bridge across the Potomac at or near Great Falls and necessary approaches to said bridge: Provided, That no money shall be expended by the United States for lands for any unit of this project until the National Capital Park and Planning Commission shall have received definite commitments from the State of Maryland or Virginia, or political subdivisions thereof or from other responsible sources for one-half the cost of acquiring the lands in its judgment necessary for such unit of said project deemed by said commission sufficiently complete, other than lands now belonging to the United States or donated to the United States: Provided further, That no money shall be expended by the United States for the construction of said highway on the Maryland side of the Potomac, except as part of the Federal-aid highway program: Provided, That in the discretion of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, upon agreement duly entered into by the State of Maryland or Virginia or any political subdivision thereof to reimburse the United States as hereinafter provided, it may advance the full amount of the funds necessary for the acquisition of the lands and the construction of said roads in any such unit referred to in this paragraph, such agreement providing for reimbursement to the United States to the extent of one-half of the cost thereof without interest within not more than eight years from the date of any such expenditure. The appropriation of the amount necessary for such advance, in addition to the contribution by the United States, is hereby authorized from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. PARTS OF BILL AFFECTING EXISTING LAW (a) For the George Washington Memorial Parkway, to include the shores of the Potomac, and adjacent lands, from Mount Vernon to a point above the Great Falls on the Virginia side, except within the city of Alexandria, and from Fort Washington to a similar point above the Great Falls on the Maryland side, except within the District of Columbia, and including the protection and preservation of the natural scenery of the gorge and the Great Falls of the Potomac, the preservation of the historic Patowmack Canal, and the acquisition of that portion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal below Point of Rocks, $7,500,000: Provided, That the acquisition of any land in the Potomac River Valley for park purposes shall not debar or limit or abridge its use for such works as Congress may in the future authorize for the improvement and the extension of navigation, including the connecting of the upper Potomac River with the Ohio River, or for flood control or irrigation or drainage, or for the development of hydroelectric power. The title to the lands acquired hereunder shall vest in the United States. The Mount Vernon Memorial Highway authorized by the act approved May 23, 1928, as amended, and as acquired and constructed by the United States under said act, shall as completed constitute a part of said parkway. The said memorial highway as completed and said lands as acquired by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission for parkway purposes shall be transferred to the Director of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital by the Department of Agriculture or by the said commission, as the case may be, and shall be maintained, administered, and controlled by said director, who shall exercise all the authority, power, and duties with respect to said highway and lands transferred to him under this section conferred upon him within the District of Columbia by the act approved February 26, 1925, and those conferred upon the Secretary of Agriculture by the act approved May 23, 1928, as amended; and said director is authorized to incur such expenses as may be necessary for the proper administration and maintenance of said lands within the limits of the appropriations from time to time granted therefor from the Treasury of the United States, which appropriations are hereby authorized. The National Capital Park and Planning Commission is authorized to occupy such lands belonging to the United States as may be necessary for the development and protection of said parkway and to accept the donation to the United States of any other lands by it deemed desirable for inclusion in said parkway. As to any lands in Maryland or Virginia along or adjacent to the shores of the Potomac within the proposed limits of the parkway that would involve great expense for their acquisition and are held by said commission not to be essential to the proper carrying out of the project, the acquisition of said lands shall not be required, upon a finding of the commission to that effect. Said parkway shall include a park drive from the Arlington Memorial Bridge to the Chain Bridge on the Virginia side and a highway from Fort Washington to the Great Falls on the Maryland side of the Potomac and a free bridge across the Potomac at or near Great Falls and necessary approaches to said bridge. If within any park unit on the Maryland side of the Potomac between the District line and Fort Washington the lands constituting such unit are donated to the United States, the highway to be constructed through such lands shall be constructed at the sole expense of the United States, but if said lands are not so donated no money shall be expended by the United States for the construction of said highway in said unit except as part of the Federal-aid highway program: Provided, That except as herein expressly provided, no money shall be expended by the United States for lands for any unit of this project until the National Capital Park and Planning Commission shall have received definite commitments from the State of Maryland or Virginia, or political subdivisions thereof, or from other responsible sources for one-half the cost of acquiring the lands in its judgment necessary for such unit of said project deemed by said commission sufficiently complete, other than lands now belonging to the United States; not to exceed $3,000,000 may, however, be expended by the United States for the payment in full of the purchase price of lands deemed by the commission absolutely essential and necessary to the project, said amount to be matched by subsequent donations, the total expenditure of the Federal Government for acquisition of lands in said parkway not to exceed 50 per centum of the total cost of lands acquired hereafter in such parkway: Provided further, That in the discretion of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, upon agreement duly entered into by the State of Maryland or Virginia, or any political subdivision thereof, or upon receipt of adequate guaranty from other responsible sources to reimburse the United States as hereinafter provided, it may advance the full amount of the funds necessary for the acquisition of the lands in any such unit referred to in this paragraph, such agreement or guaranty providing for reimbursement to the United States to the extent of one-half of the cost thereof without interest within not more than eight years from the date of any such expenditure. The appropriation of the amount necessary for such advance, in addition to the contribution by the United States, is hereby authorized from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. |