[No. 139] FOR THE RETIREMENT AS ENSIGN OF GEORGE E. TARBOX, JR. (H. R. 15597) 00-Tarbox, Geo. E/P19-2(261222) L NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., February 10, 1927. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of December 22, 1926, transmitting the bill (H. R. 15597) for the retirement as ensign of George E. Tarbox, jr., and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to advise you as follows: The proposed legislation, if enacted, will authorize the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint George E. Tarbox, jr., an ensign in the United States Navy on the retired list. The records of the Navy Department show that George Edward Tarbox, jr., while a midshipman of the first class at the Naval Academy, was, on May 13, 1925, approximately three weeks before the date of his presumptive graduation and commissioning as ensign, found to be suffering from tuberculosis. He was thereafter transferred to the Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colo., for treatment and subsequently, on the request of the Navy Department, resigned as midshipman on June 7, 1926. The enactment of the proposed legislation will result in an additional annual cost to the Government of approximately $1,125. The bill H. R. 15597 was referred to the Bureau of the Budget with the above information as to cost and a statement to the effect that although it appeared to the Navy Department that the case of Mr. Tarbox was an especially meritorious one, the general law does not authorize the retirement of midshipmen for physical disability and that the Navy Department contemplated making an unfavorable recommendation with respect to the enactment of this bill for the reason that it is individual in character and not for the general good of the naval service. Under date of February 2, 1927, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advised the Navy Department this report would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President. In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends that this bill be not enacted. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, A BILL For the retirement as ensign of George E. Tarbox, junior Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint George E. Tarbox, junior, an ensign in the United States Navy on the retired list. (779) [No. 140] GRANTING PERMISSION TO THOMAS P. MAGRUDER, REAR ADMIRAL, UNITED STATES NAVY, TO ACCEPT THE DECORATION OF THE COMMENDA MAURIZIANA CONFERRED UPON HIM BY THE KING OF ITALY (H. J. RES. 340) 00-Magruder, Thomas P./P15(10) (270127)L. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 12, 1927. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN. Replying further to the committee's letter of January 27, 1927, transmitting a copy of House Joint Resolution 340, granting permission to Thomas P. Magruder, rear admiral, United States Navy, to accept the decoration of the Commenda Mauriziana conferred upon him by the King of Italy, in recognition of his successful efforts in organizing and conducting a search for and rescuing the Italian aviator, the Hon. Antonio Locatelli, and his companions, and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to advise you that the Navy Department has no objection to the enactment of this proposed legislation. Sincerely yours, CURTIS D. WILBUR, JOINT RESOLUTION Granting permission to Thomas P. Magruder, rear admiral, United States Navy to accept the decoration of the Commenda Mauriziana conferred upon him by the King of Italy Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Thomas P. Magruder, rear admiral, United States Navy, be authorized to accept the decoration of the Commenda Mauriziana conferred upon him by the King of Italy in recognition of his successful efforts in organizing and conducting a search for and rescuing the Italian aviator, the Honorable Antonoio Locatelli, and his companions. [No. 141] TO CORRECT THE NAVAL RECORD OF SIMON A. RICHARDSON (H. R. 14772) MM-Richardson, Simon A./P20-2(261210), L. NAVY DEPARTMENT, -Washington, February 12, 1927. The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Replying further to the committee's letter of December 10, 1926, inclosing bill (H. R. 14772) to correct the naval record of Simon A. Richardson and requesting the views and recommendations of the Navy Department thereon, I have the honor to inform you as follows: The bill provides that the Secretary of the Navy be authorized and directed to correct the naval record of Simon A. Richardson so that it will appear that he enlisted on May 26, 1898. The records of the Navy Department show that Simon A. Richardson enlisted in the Navy on July 26, 1898, at Port Royal, S. C., and served until September 2, 1898, when he was discharged because of the expiration of the war with Spain. The approval of the bill as drawn will require an alteration of historical records that should be kept inviolate, so that they purport to show that Simon A. Richardson enlisted on May 26, 1898, when as a matter of fact he enlisted on July 26, 1898. It is easily possible without any alteration of historical records to confer upon Simon A. Richardson any right or benefit to which he would have been entitled if it were a fact that he actually enlisted in the Navy on May 26, 1898. If, as is presumably the case, it is desired to give him a pensionable status, of which he is now deprived by reason of the fact that he did not enlist until July 26, 1898, that object can be accomplished with certainty, without requiring any alteration of records, by enacting a law providing as follows: That, in the administration of the pension laws, Simon A. Richardson, who enlisted in the Navy July 26, 1898, shall hereafter be held and considered to have enlisted on the 26th day of May, 1898. The bill H. R. 14772 was referred to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget with the information that the proposed legislation would not involve any charge against appropriations under the cognizance of the Navy Department, but in view of the fact that the proposed legislation is not for the general good of the naval service and would encourage others to seek similar legislation, the Navy Department contemplates recommending that this bill be not enacted. Under date of February 4, 1927, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget |