Last summer I found he had been replaced by a warrant officer. That, of course, means a higher rating on the pay scale, does it not? Commander ARRINGTON. No, sir; not necessarily.

Mr. COUDERT. I wonder if you had inaugurated the practice in the service of replacing noncommissioned officers of that character with warrant officers, whether in effect that meant a higher cost of operation.

Admiral O'NEILL. We have group organizations, where a number of stations, maybe three or four, or half a dozen, will be grouped together and referred to as a group.

In command of that group there might be a commissioned officer or a warrant officer, but in most of these stations the officer in charge is a chief petty officer.

Mr. COUDERT. That is what I wanted to get at.

Captain RICHMOND. I might amplify that by saying that the billet structure in the past called for a warrant officer in charge of practically all lifeboat stations, and I think the Fisher's Island station is not an exception.

Of course, over the years there were occasions when we did not have enough warrant officers to go around. In those cases we would have to pass down to chief petty officer in command where we did not have a warrant officer.

Probably the answer to your question is that a group commander with several units under his command is at a particular station.

In other words, he may have several lights also under his control, whereas previously that was not the case.

Mr. COUDERT. Thank you very much.

Captain RICHMOND. Incidentally, sir, I might mention that Mr. Canfield recalls one occasion when we were not able to give any assistance when he was on a plane. I do not know whether we could have gotten to him or not, but they had to turn back to the Azores.

Mr. CANFIELD. That was 800 miles off the coast, and five Members of Congress were on the plane. We lost one engine and were losing a second. We just barely made it back to the Azores.

I was wondering whether the Coast Guard was around.

Incidentally Mr. Coudert is not the only Sound sailor here. Senator Saltonstall also sails around the Sound, and twice during his lifetime the Coast Guard has rescued him at sea.

Captain RICHMOND. We also rescued Mr. Weichel.

Mr. CANFIELD. Do you mean the former chairman of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries? Captain RICHMOND. Yes.

Mr. GARY. It appears that last year you asked for $12,000,000 for this item, and Congress appropriated $10,000,000.

This year you are requesting $28,979,000.

We will insert the table appearing on page 283 of the justifications and the table on page 284 of the justifications, entitled "Comparative Appropriation by Activity."

Then I think it will be worth while to insert into the record the detailed explanation of the estimates found in the justifications, beginning on page 285, down through page 299.

(The material referred to is as follows:)

Analysis of appropriation base for fiscal year 1951

1 Does not include anticipated deficiency for 1950 to cover cost of authorized pay increases.

0

28,979,000

Comparison of estimate of appropriation for fiscal year 1951 with appropriation base

for 1951

No substantial changes in the appropriation language are being proposed for the fiscal year 1951.

ANALYSIS OF APPROPRIATION BASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1951

The regular appropriation act for 1950 provided funds in the amount of $10,000,000. Against this amount there is being requested in these estimates a total of $28.979,000, representing an increase of $18,979,000 over the funds provided in 1950.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF ESTIMATE

There follows a list of projects requested for 1951, arranged by activity and type of project:

1. SEARCH, RESCUE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

This part of the program provides $22,465,060 for replacement of 29 aircraft, for 22 additional aircraft, and for improvements or alterations at six lifeboat stations and six other supporting shore units. All of the modifications or improvements included are necessary to relieve deterioration or to permit consolidation of activities for more effective operation. The estimate does not include any replacements for the vessels which are used in patrol, law enforcement, and rescue operations.

A. Lifeboat stations

(1) Duluth Lifeboat Station, Minn.-Continue development of lifeboat station, $252,000.-Continue the development of Duluth Lifeboat Station into a

combined lifeboat station and buoy depot. Appropriations in 1947 and 1950, to a total of $225,000, provided for bulkheading, backfilling, and construction of launchway. Funds for 1951 are required for station building and boathouse. Additional funds will be requested later to complete this project and will provide for construction of warehouse, shop buildings, garages, etc. Total cost is estimated to be about $800,000.

(2) Oswego Lifeboat Station, N. Y.-Complete the development of station, $236,250.-This project is to complete the development of the lifeboat station on property donated by Oswego. Present station of CCC-type temporary construction, is on a site leased from Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad; the lease expires 2 years after termination of national emergency. Appropriations in 1947 and 1950 provide a total of $253,260 for a station building, bulkheading, dredging, and filling. The 1951 request for $236,250 covers new equipment building, boathouse, dredging, etc.

(3) Gay Head Lifeboat Station, Mass.-Relocate lifeboat station, $212,309.— Relocate this lifeboat station to site near boathouse and launchway at Menemsha Basin. Site of present lifeboat-station buildings is eroding rapidly and indications are that within the next 3 years it will have to be abandoned. Present lifeboat-station buildings are about 8 miles from launchway and boathouse. Project includes erection of lookout tower on Gay Head, electrification of light, and operation of light by lifeboat-station personnel.

(4) Port Isabel Lifeboat Station, Tex.-Dredging and replacement of bulkhead, $100,000.-Construct reinforced concrete bulkhead around boat basin to replace present bulkhead which has been practically destroyed by marine borers, etc. Project includes dredging of boat basin to a depth of 10 feet.

(5) Chatham Lifeboat and Light Station, Mass.-Rebuild dwelling, $47,260.— The present station dwelling is obsolete and inadequate for the needs of the consolidated lifeboat and light station. However, the dwelling can be economically renovated, modernized, and enlarged to accommodate all station personnel (24 persons). This project is for making such alterations and additions required to provide barracks for the station personnel, and also includes services such as sanitary facilities, water supply, etc.

(6) Assateague Beach Lifeboat Station, Va.-Install protective piling and bulkheading, $36,000.-Install protective piling and bulkheading to protect launchway from breaking seas in heavy weather.

B. Vessels

No projects.

C. Aviation

(1) Procurement of replacement aircraft, $12,629,000.-The item is to carry on an aircraft replacement program which is essential to continuance of Coast Guard air operations. According to standard aviation practices, aircraft on reaching the age of 7 to 8 years (depending on type) are over-age and unsafe for further use, and must be withdrawn from operations. Attrition due to operational casualties (crashes, taxi accidents, damage by weather, etc.) also takes an annual toll estimated to be from 5 to 8 percent, depending on the type of operations engaged in. For the most part, aircraft will be purchased on Navy or Air Force contracts, but without armor, armament, or special features applicable only to combat aircraft. This will permit Coast Guard aircraft to be procured more economically since the original engineering costs will not be involved and will also keep Coast Guard personnel familiar with the operation of military types of aircraft in the interest of national defense. The following replacements are planned in 1951:

(2) Procurement of additional aircraft, $7,976,000-This item covers purchase of 22 additional aircraft to augment search and rescue facilities. The continued growth of civil air transportation over water leaves no question concerning the basic needs for these facilities. The increased requirements have been recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization after careful study and have been approved by the Air Coordinating Committee. In these respects, the requirement constitutes a United States obligation to provide the service. The additional planes in the program are as follows:

(3) Elizabeth City Aircraft Repair and Supply Base, North Carolina-Construct paint and dope shop building, $205,000.-This project is for the construction of a paint and dope shop building, size 55 feet wide by 110 feet long and 25 feet high, enclosing two large shop rooms, modern reinforced-concrete construction and completely insulated, building to be set on flat reinforced-concrete footings, including approach road and 100-foot walk.

The project provides for a compressed-air system, ventilation system forced draft with automatic temperature controls, air-conditioning and dehumidification systems with temperature controls, modern paint spray booths complete with water systems and automatic sprinkling fire-protection system.

(4) Elizabeth City Air Station, North Carolina-Resurfacing of runway, $215,000. The runways at Elizabeth City Air Station are in poor condition because of natural deterioration. The amount requested will permit resurfacing of one runway, and funds for the remaining runway will be requested in the near future.

D. Support units

(1) Base, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.-Construct boat-repair shop, $321,000.-For 1951, $321,000 is requested to construct a repair shop as a part of the plan to consolidate Coast Guard activities in this area. Project was begun in 1947, when $84,800 was appropriated for extending the steel bulkhead along the south side of the property. The estimated cost to complete the project is $565,500, to be accomplished as follows: Boat-handling derrick, boat-storage facilities, and paving, 1952; general-purpose building to house base boiler plant, battery-charging shop, electronic and telephone shops, storage, and enlisted men's barracks, 1953; garage and paving, 1954.

(2) Base, Buffalo, N. Y.-Engineering survey in connection with consolidation of facilities, $30,000.-Repair base, Buffalo, N. Y., is an important operations unit and base. The present wooden structures, scattered over a large area, were built to meet the separate requirements of lifeboat station, boat repair base, lighthouse buoy depot, and light station. These buildings are all in poor condition. Buildings are inadequate in size and antiquated in lay-out and construction, and are all serious fire hazards.

The present warehouse facilities are grossly inadequate, and the present building cannot be economically rebuilt or altered to accommodate warehouse requirements. The lighthouse dwellings located in the northeast corner of the reservation are in poor condition. The barracks building in which the enlisted men are quartered is in poor condition and unsuitable for housing personnel. There is need for a marine railway.

The funds requested for fiscal year 1951 are only for administrative expenses in connection with an engineering study and the development of a program and the preparation of detailed plans and specifications for the development of this base.

(3) Academy, New London, Conn.-Enlarge dining facilities, $109.000.-This project provides for enlarging existing dining facilities to provide for 500 cadets. Present dining space was built to accommodate from 200 to 250 cadets.

(4) Coast Guard landlines system, New York, New Jersey, Washington, and Oregon-Construct fireproof telephone repeater buildings, $96,250.—This project 60561-50-pt. 1-18