AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A FREE HIGHWAY BRIDGE ACROSS THE MONONGAHELA RIVER IN THE COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, PA. MAY 31, 1944.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. MYERS, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 4207] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4207) to authorize the construction and operation of a bridge across the Monongahela River in the county of Allegheny, Pa., having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do The amendments are as follows: Page 1, line 7, after "operate a", insert "free highway". pass. A bill to authorize the construction and operation of a free highway bridge across the Monongahela River in the county of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. The bill has the approval of the War Department and the Federal Works Agency, as will appear by the letters attached. WAR DEPARTMENT March 22, 1944. Respectfully returned to the chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. So far as the interests committed to this Department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the accompanying bill, H. R. 4207, Seventy-eighth Congress, second session, "to authorize the construction and operation of a bridge across the Monongahela River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, from the borough of Rankin. Pennsylvania, to the borough of Whitaker, Pennsylvania" The bureau of the Budget advises that there is no objection to the submission of this report. HENRY L. STIMSON, Secretary of War. FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY, Hon. CLARENCE F. LEA, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. LEA: Careful consideration has been given to the bill, H. R. 4207, transmitted with your letter of February 28 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as this Agency might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize the county of Allegheny, Pa., to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Monongahela River between a point in the borough of Rankin and a point in the borough of Whitaker. Section 2 of the bill provides that construction of the bridge which it would authorize shall be commenced within 3 years and be completed within 5 years from the time the bill is approved by the President. Construction of said bridge was authorized by the act of Congress approved July 25, 1939 (53 Stat. 1078), but apparently such construction has not been commenced. In the event the Corps of Engineers of the War Department has previously held hearings and approved plans for said bridge, the Secretary of War is authorized by section 3 of the pending bill to issue a permit for the construction of said bridge according to the plans previously approved by the Corps of Engi neers. While the bill does not specify that the bridge which it would authorize shall be a highway bridge nor that it shall be free, such no doubt is the intent. In order to make sure of this it is suggested that there be inserted in line 7. page 1, of the bill before the word "bridge" the words "free highway." Subject to the above suggestion, the bill is without objection to this Agency. This report has been referred to the Bureau of the Budget and that Bureau has advised that there would be no objection to its submission to the committee. Sincerely yours, PHILIP B. FLEMING, CONFIRMING THE CLAIM OF ROBERT JOHNSON AND OTHER HEIRS OF MONROE JOHNSON TO CERTAIN LANDS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, COUNTY OF ADAMS MAY 31, 1944.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. PETERSON of Florida, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 4095] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4095) confirming the claim of Robert Johnson and other heirs of Monroe Johnson to certain lands in the State of Mississippi, county of Adams, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. EXPLANATION OF THE BILL One Monroe Johnson made homestead entry, Jackson No. 34838, for all of section 47, T. 7 N., R. 1 W., Washington meridian, Mississippi, containing 61.80 acres. He paid the fee and thereupon took possession of the land. He complied with the Homestead Act as to clearing, cultivation, construction, as to home and residence thereon. However, at the expiration of 5 years of residence he did not file his proof but he and his family continued to live on the land and cultivated same and he and his heirs have paid taxes on same for many years. The customary notice of the expiration of the statutory period and allowing 30 days within which to initiate final proof was sent to Johnson at Natchez, Miss., but the letter containing the notice was undelivered and returned with the post-office notation "unknown." Johnson lived about halfway between Natchez and Washington, Miss., and did not receive the above notice, however, having complied with the homestead law in all respects except making final proof, in good faith and thinking the property was legally his, he, through the years, paid the taxes upon the property, and certain of his heirs have continued to occupy the property since his death and do now occupy same. The Representative in Congress representing the district in which this land is situated appeared before the committee and stated that he knew of his own knowledge that Johnson and certain of his heirs had occupied the land, and testified substantially to the facts outlined above. The Secretary of the Interior had no objection to the reinstatement of the entry and issuing of patent provided it contained a reservation of the oil and gas, subject to the provisions of the act of July 17, 1914 (38 Stat. 509). The committee, however, went into this matter thoroughly and a representative of the Department of the Interior admitted that Johnson had done everything necessary to be done except the filing of final proof and that by reason of his original filing, clearing, cultivation, building of structures and residence, had acquired an equitable title many years prior to the passage of the act of July 17, 1914. The entryman was a negro unable to read and write and the committee was of the unanimous opinion that the legal title should pass to the heirs and that his heirs should not be deprived because of his failure to comply with the last technical requirement where there had been complete compliance otherwise. HELENE MURPHY MAY 31, 1944.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. McGEHEE, from the Committee on Claims, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 1102] The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1102) for the relief of Helene Murphy, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to appropriate the sum of $133.25 to Helene Murphy, of Sioux City, Iowa, in full settlement of all claims against the United States for compensation for carfare paid by her in traveling between stations in the course of her employment as an employee of the United States Post Office at Sioux City, Iowa, during the period between July 1, 1923 and June 30, 1930. The facts in this case will be found fully set forth in Senate Report No. 606, of the Seventy-eighth Congress, first session, which is appended hereto and made a part of this report. Your committee concur in the recommendation of the Senate. (8. Rept. No. 606, 78th Cong., 1st sess.j STATEMENT OF FACTS Helene M. Murphy was appointed post-office clerk in the Sioux City, Iowa, post office, on September 13, 1920. She asserts that she was assigned to the main office and also to the Leeds Station. The schedule shows that she would report at the main office at 8 a. m., and leave at 1:10 p. m. for her lunch period. She would report at Leeds Station after her lunch period at 3:10 p. m., and end at 6 p. m. This transpired from July 1, 1923, to March 15, 1932, and claimant seeks compensation for time consumed in traveling between the two stations. She also asks reimbursement of carfare paid by her in traveling between stations. The matter was investigated by a post-office inspector, whose report states that it was the conclusion of former Postmaster W. H. Jones (now deceased, but who was postmaster at Sioux City, Iowa, during the entire period of the claim) |