[No. 32] TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PAY FOR ENLISTED MEN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY ASSIGNED TO DUTY ON SUBMARINE VESSELS OF THE NAVY (H. R. 14251) MM/L16-4/A18 (260830)L. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 6, 1926. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: There is inclosed herewith a copy of a letter, together with a copy of a proposed bill "To provide additional pay for enlisted men of the United States Navy assigned to duty on submarine vessels of the Navy," this day forwarded to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, Secretary of the Navy. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 6, 1926. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I have the honor to transmit herewith a proposed draft of a bill "To provide additional pay for enlisted men of the United States Navy assigned to duty on submarine vessels of the Navy.' At present an enlisted man attached to a submarine receives in addition to the pay and allowances of his rating and service the sum of $5 per month. If "qualified" in submarine work that is, a capable submarine man with knowledge of the intricate machinery of submarines-he receives a further addition of $1 for each day during any part of which the submarine is submerged, but not exceeding $15 during any calendar month. The maximum additional pay that an enlisted man in the submarine service may receive is therefore $20 a month. Under the proposed law, in lieu of the additional pay now authorized enlisted men attached to submarines will receive additional pay at a rate of not exceeding $30 per month, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Navy may prescribe. The sum total of all additional pay that may be expended during any fiscal year is limited by the proviso in the bill to the amount required to pay the number of enlisted men, allowed by the authorized complements of all the submarines in commission during any such year, at an average rate of $15 per month each. Legislation such as recommended herein would permit the Navy Department to differentiate between submarines cruising with the fleet and those assigned to shore-based tenders, to authorize a different scale as between petty officers and nonrated men, and to make a distinction between those newly assigned to submarines and those fully qualified for this work. The history of this additional pay for men attached to submarines dates back some twenty-odd years when submarines were in their infancy. Submarines then remained alongside of docks for considerable periods and their crews lived a great deal of the time in barracks on shore. It was felt that an inducement to submerge was necessary for the development of the science of submarine warfare and the machinery for this type of craft. Accordingly, by Executive orders of January 1, 1901, and November 8, 1905, the extra pay now existing and as set forth in paragraph 2 above was authorized. These Executive orders were issued under authority of section 1569, Revised Statutes. The naval appropriation act of May 13, 1908 (35 Stat. 127, 128), fixed the pay of enlisted men in the service, and provided that all pay therein authorized should remain in effect until changed by act of Congress, and that nothing therein should be construed to reduce the pay and allowances then authorized by law for any enlisted man on the active or retired list of the Navy. This act in effect incorporated into the statute law of the United States the Executive orders providing extra pay for enlisted men on submarines as hereinbefore set forth. It also in effect canceled the authority of the President to change this extra pay which had theretofore been fixed by Executive orders. The joint service pay act of June 10, 1922, section 21 (42 Stat. 625), continued in force the extra pay of men engaged in submarine diving and in service on submarines. In the last few years, and particularly since the World War, submarines have been greatly developed. They now cruise with the fleet as well as operate independently. An average of 20,000 miles cruised per year by a submarine division is no longer unusual. This means long periods of time in cramped and confined space. Fleet maneuvers now employ submarines in many phases with increased risks to personnel engaged, submarines frequently opposing other submarines on patrol while submerged in the same area. It is believed that in lieu of the present additional pay a flat rate of extra pay should accrue to enlisted men on submarines to compensate for (a) Attendant risks. (b) Attendant hardships and discomforts as compared with surface vessels. (c) Additional expense due to wear and tear on clothing. A flat rate of extra compensation will assist in obtaining a larger number of volunteers from which to select men and will induce more continuity of service in submarines with greater permanency of crews. This will increase the efficiency and morale of the submarine service. This proposed legislation was submitted to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget without the proviso now appearing therein, and with the statement to the effect that the enactment of such legislation would increase the amount of extra pay accruing to submarine personnel by approximately $250,000 per annum. In the reply received from the Director of the Bureau of the Budget dated April 28, 1926, it was stated, in part, as follows: I have presented this matter to the President, who has instructed me to advise you that the additional expenditure which would be involved under the legislation which you propose would be in conflict with his financial program. The President desires me to state, however, that if this proposed legislation be amplified by a further provision to the effect that the additional pay shall not exceed for any fiscal year the amount required to pay the total average number of enlisted men who would be entitled to said pay during any such year at an average rate of $15 per month each, it would not be in conflict with his financial program. The proviso appearing in the inclosed draft of bill has been added to meet the President's wishes. Accordingly, as now worded this proposed legislation is not in conflict with the financial program of the President. The Navy Department recommends that the attached draft of bill be enacted into law at an early date. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, To provide additional pay for enlisted men of the United States Navy assigned to duty on submarine vessels of the Navy Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter, in lieu of the additional pay now authorized by law, an enlisted man of the United States Navy assigned to duty aboard a submarine vessel of the Navy shall receive pay, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, at the rate of not exceeding $30 per month in addition to the pay and allowances of his rating and service: Provided, That the total additional pay herein authorized shall not exceed for any fiscal year the amount required to pay the number of enlisted men allowed by the authorized complements of all submarines in commission during any such year at an average rate of $15 per month each. [No. 33] TO AMEND THE PROVISION CONTAINED IN THE ACT APPROVED MARCH 3, 1915, PROVIDING THAT THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPER, ATIONS, DURING THE TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF THE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, SHALL BE NEXT IN SUCCESSION TO ACT AS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (H. R. 14248) NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 7, 1926. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: There is inclosed herewith a copy of a letter, together with a copy of a proposed bill "To amend the provision contained in the act approved March 3, 1915, providing that the Chief of Naval Operations, during the temporary absence of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Navy, shall be next in succession to act as Secretary of the Navy," this day forwarded to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 7, 1926.. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I have the honor to transmit herewith a proposed draft of a bill "To amend the provision contained in the act approved March 3, 1915, providing that the Chief of Naval Operations, during the temporary absence of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Navy, shall be next, in succession to act as Secretary of the Navy." Section 4 of the act approved June 24, 1926 (44 Stat. 767), provides for the appointment of an additional Assistant Secretary of the Navy, who "shall, under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, be charged with the supervision of naval aeronautics and the coordination of its activities with other governmental agencies and, in addition, such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Secretary of the Navy." However, no provision is made by the act of June 24, 1926, or by any other act, for the "additional Assistant Secretary of the Navy" to succeed to the duties of Secretary of the Navy during the "temporary absence of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Navy.' The following sections of the United States Revised Statutes provide generally for performance of the duties of the heads of departments during their temporary absence: SEC. 177. In case of the death, resignation, absence, or sickness of the head of any department, the first or sole assistant thereof shall, unless otherwise directed |