The bill would authorize and direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue a patent in fee, upon application in writing, to Virginia Pearson for the remaining homestead lands of her allotment No. 1328 on the Crow Reservation, comprising 382.12 acres. The act of June 4, 1920 (41 Stat. 751) provides that a Crow Indian allottee shall not sell more than one-half of his homestead, or 320 acres thereof. For this reason the enactment of legislation as proposed is necessary to authorize the allottee to sell the land described in the bill. Virginia Pearson is qualified to conduct her affairs without governmental supervision or protection. She is of one-fourth Indian blood and has made her living away from the Crow Reservation as a nurse for many years. The superintendent has reported that the land lies in an area leased entirely to white men and is blocked in by other lands owned by members of the same family who have requested fee patents. If the patents are issued the sale of this land would not interfere with the administration of other Indian lands in that area. The Bureau of the Budget has advised me that there is no objection to the submission of this report to your committee. Sincerely yours, OSCAR L. CHAPMAN, Under Secretary of the Interior. The Committee on Public Lands unanimously recommend the enactment of S. 1037. AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS ON THE ACTIVE LIST OF THE PHILIPPINE SCOUTS IN THE REGULAR ARMY MAY 18, 1949.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. BROOKS, from the Committee on Armed Services, submitted the following REPORT To accompany S. 11811 The Committee on Armed Services, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1181) to authorize the appointment of officers on the active list. of the Philippine Scouts in the Regular Army, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. The purpose of this bill is to authorize the appointment of officers on the active list of the Philippine Scouts in the Regular Army and for other purposes. The proposed legislation affects 11 officers who were commissioned in the Philippine Scouts between the years 1918 and 1933. Under the terms of the National Defense Act, the Philippine Scouts is a component of the Army of the United States and officers commissioned in the Philippine Scouts receive the same pay, promotion, and retirement benefits as other officers of like grade in service. They are listed in the official Army and Air Force Register in the same manner as officers of the Regular Army. Prior to June 1933 officers were appointed directly into the Philippine Scouts from among Filipinos graduating from the United States Military or Naval Academy or from those who were placed on an eligible list following the successful completion of the prescribed examination. This procedure was terminated in 1933 because of the eminence of Philippine independence. The 11 officers concerned with this bill have remained on continuous active duty. At the present time they are serving at Army installations in the United States or in the Far East. In view of the fact that the Philippine Scouts will cease to exist as a component of the Army of the United States, it is necessary that these officers be transferred to the Regular Army if they are to retain the status to which they are entitled and would otherwise occupy were it not for the independence of the Philippines. The officers were paid, promoted, and approved retirement rights, and are administered in all respects the same as Regular Army officers. They are professional officers to the same extent as Regular Army officers but are not, in fact, Regular Army officers. At the present time, all of these officers have retirement equities varying from 14 to 30 years. Many of them have several years of useful service ahead of them. The best interests of the service and of the individuals will be served by taking this action to integrate them into the Regular Army. Ten of the officers concerned are citizens of the United States either by birth or naturalization and the remaining officer is eligible for citizenship. If this officer fails to avail himself of the naturalization provisions of the Nationality Act of 1940, as amended, within the period of 1 year following the enactment of this act, he will be precluded from integration into the Regular Army of the United States. Inasmuch as the officers to be appointed under this proposed legislation will be within the authorized strength of the Army, and in view of the fact that they are now being paid by the Army, the fiscal effects of this legislation will be negligible. The Department of the Army, the National Military Establishment, and the Bureau of the Budget approve the proposed legislation. The views of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army are set forth in the following letters which are herewith made a part of this report. Hon. MILLARD E. TYDINGS, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, Chairman, Armed Services Committee, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR TYDINGS: Attached is a letter addressed to you by the Secretary of the Army recommending the enactment of a proposed draft of legislation, also attached, bearing the title "To authorize the appointment of officers on the active list of the Philippine Scouts in the Regular Army, and for other purposes.' This legislation has been approved by me for inclusion in the National Military Establishment legislative program for the Eighty-first Congress, first session, and responsibility for handling it on behalf of the Establishment has been placed in the Department of the Army. Sincerely yours, Hon. MILLARD E. TYDINGS, JAMES FORRESTAL. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, Chairman, Armed Services Committee, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR TYDINGS: There is enclosed herewith a draft of a bill to authorize the appointment of officers on the active list of the Philippine Scouts in the Regular Army, and for other purposes, which the Department of the Army recommends be enacted into law. The Secretary of Defense has assigned responsibility for the preparation and submission of this measure, on behalf of the National Military Establishment, to this Department. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to integrate certain officers of the Philippine Scouts into the Regular Army. This legislation becomes necessary due to planned action affecting the status of the Philippine Scouts. There are about 11 officers of the Philippine Scouts who are United States citizens, commissioned prior to World War II. These officers are paid, promoted, accrue retirement rights, and are administered in all respects the same as Regular Army officers. They are professional officers to the same extent as Regular Army officers; but they are not, in fact, Regular Army officers. At present, all of these officers have retirement equities varying from about 14 to 30 years. Many of them have several years of useful service ahead of them. The best interests of the service and of the individuals will be served by taking this action to integrate them into the Regular Army. Inasmuch as the officers to be appointed under this proposed legislation will be within the authorized strength of the Army, and in view of the fact that they are now being paid by the Army, the fiscal effects of this legislation will be negligible. This report has been coordinated among the Departments of the National Military Establishment in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. The Bureau of the Budget has been consulted and advises that there is no objection to the submission of this proposed legislation for the consideration of the Congress. Sincerely yours, H. Repts., 81-1, vol. 3-86 KENNETH C. ROYALL, |