be very much benefited, and that the establishment of the property yard would be detrimental to the entire section; in fact, the citizens who have been most active in working for the avenue and against the storage yard are those who own no property in that square whatever.

The commissioners also suggest that if the avenue is extended through said square, benefits should be assessed against the owners of property therein. It is a matter of surprise to the citizens that the commissioners should suggest assessing benefits against this particular property and not against the property along the avenue throughout its entire length. Consistency would prompt such a cause. If it is just and right to assess the property in this particular square, why not against all other property on the avenue? And if benefits should be assessed if the avenue is run through, why would it not be right and proper to pay damages if the property yard should be established there? We wonder that the commissioners were not prompted by a sense of justice and equity to make such a suggestion.

If your committee should desire any further information the committee of this association will hold itself in readiness to appear at such time as you may suggest or submit it in writing.

Yours, very truly,

Hon. SAMUEL W. SMITH,

EVAN H. TUCKER, President Northeast Washington Citizens' Association.

Chairman Committee on the District of Columbia,

House of Representatives.

O

62D CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPORT 3d Session. No. 1484.

EXCHANGE OF PROPERTIES BETWEEN PORTO RICO AND WAR DEPARTMENT.

FEBRUARY 8, 1913.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. JONES, from the Committee on Insular Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany S. 313.]

The Committee on Insular Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 313) relative to the exchange of certain properties between the insular Government of Porto Rico and the War Department, beg leave to report that they have had the same under consideration and recommend that the said bill do pass without amendment.

At the third session of the Sixty-first Congress a bill (S. 10759) identical in terms with this bill was passed by the Senate, and the House having failed to act thereon it was reintroduced in the Senate at the second session of this Congress and there passed on August 22,

1912.

In the opinions of the Secretary of War and the Governor of Porto Rico the exchange of properties provided for in this bill will be mutually advantageous to the United States and to the people of Porto Rico, and it appears also that the Legislative Assembly of Porto Rico has actually ratified the provisional agreement entered into between the commanding general of the Department of the East and the Governor of Porto Rico in respect to this exchange, the same to become effective when approved by Congress.

The Senate report which accompanies this bill sets forth very clearly the reasons which make desirable the exchange of properties contemplated and your committee adopts the same as its report. It is the following words and figures:

[Senate Report No. 1063, Sixty-second Congress, second session.]

The Committee on Military Affairs, which has had under consideration the bill (S. 313) relative to the exchange of certain properties between the insular Government of Porto Rico and the War Department, reports the same to the Senate favorably and recommends its passage without amendment.

The transfer of property in the bill reported was first recommended to Congress in the second session of the Sixty-first Congress by letter of the Secretary of War, dated December 3, 1909, and addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which letter, with its inclosures, was printed as House Document No. 256, Sixty-first Congress, and was intended to be considered in connection with the sundry civil bill but instead of being referred to the Committee on Appropriations, it was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs of the House of Representatives.

In the third session of the Sixty-first Congress a bill (S. 10759) identical in terms with the one hereby reported was reported favorably to the Senate (S. Rept. 1191, 61st Cong.), and was passed by the Senate; and an amendment to the sundry civil appropriation bill, identical in terms, was favorably reported from the Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate and referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and by the latter committee favorably reported as an amendment to the sundry civil bill and passed by the Senate; but this amendment was lost in conference.

In the interest of certain arrangements contemplated by the War Department relative to the maintenance of garrisons in Porto Rico, which can be completed only through the enactment of this legislation which has twice received the approval of the Senate, your committee gives this measure its earnest indorsement, believing it to be strictly in the line of economy and advantage to the Government.

Communication of the former Secretary of War, Hon. J. M. Dickinson, first calling the matter to the attention of your committee, letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and its inclosures as printed in the House document referred to, and letter from the Governor of Porto Rico to Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, United States Army, are made a part of this report, as follows:

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 1, 1911.

SIR: I have the honor to invite attention to the inclosed public document containing a recommendation of this office with reference to an exchange of buildings and grounds in Porto Rico.

It will be noted that the recommendation was to the effect that an item be introduced in the sundry civil bill authorizing the proposed transfer. The document, however, was referred to the House Committee on Military Affairs, and from the statement of the chairman of that committee it is understood the matter was overlooked.

A true copy of the letter from the Governor of Porto Rico, in answer to the letter of Gen. Wood printed in the inclosed document, is submitted herewith. Very respectfully,

J. M. DICKINSON,

Secretary of War.

United States Senate.

The CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS,

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 3, 1909.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter from the commanding general, Department of the East, to the Governor of Porto Rico, dated April 12, 1909, in regard to certain exchanges of property in Porto Rico with the insular Government, with a view to centering military interests and operations at San Juan and saving the heavy drain upon transportation required by the maintenance of garrisons at other points. It is proposed that the insular Government shall transfer to the United States the buildings and grounds of the insane asylum, otherwise known as the "Beneficencia Building," and the buildings and grounds known as the "San Juan Military Hospital," in San Juan, P. R., in exchange for other property described in said letter. The proposed exchange is regarded as advantageous to the Government and as in the line of the economical administration of military affairs in the island, and is favorably indorsed by the Surgeon General, the Quartermaster General, and the commanding general, Department of the East.

For the reasons stated, it is believed that the proposed exchanges should be made; and I inclose draft of item for the sundry civil or other appropriate bill for authorizing the proposed transfers, and recommend favorable action thereon.

Very respectfully.

J. M. DICKINSON, Secretary of War.

Washington, D. C.

The SPEAKER of the House OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SAN JUAN, P. R., April 12, 1909.

DEAR GOVERNOR: Referring to our recent conversation relative to the transfer of certain property of the insular Government of Porto Rico to the War Department, in consideration of the transfer by the War Department of certain of its property to the insular government.

As I understand it, we are of the opinion that the proposed transfer will be to the advantage of both the War Department and the insular Government, and will bring to an end the rather unsatisfactory condition which now exists, under which the military authorities of the United States are occupying a considerable amount of insular property, and the insular Government is in possession of a considerable amount of War Department property. Much of this property requires rather extensive repairs, and neither the insular Government nor the military authorities care to make any until it has acquired ownership of the property. The transfer, as proposed, will result in the consolidation, and therefore more economical administration of the military establishment in the island, and will at the same time place in the permanent possession of the insular Government various buildings and lands much needed by it.

I understand the basis of transfer to be substantially as follows, subject to the approval of the United States and insular authorities:

1. The military authorities are to retain possession of the fortresses of the Morro and San Cristobal, and the remaining fortifications, including the walls at San Juan, which are now in their possession. These fortifications to be under the full control of the military authorities.

2. In order to concentrate the military establishment in San Juan, and to provide suitable quarters, it is most important that the insane asylum, or beneficencia, bordering upon the military reservation, be definitely transferred to the military authorities; also the hospital building at present occupied by the military authorities. The buildings have been valued by the insular assessor as follows:

Insane asylum.............

Hospital building..

Total......

$260, 670

178, 320

438, 990

3. In exchange for these (insane asylum and hospital building in the city of San Juan) it is proposed to transfer to the insular Government the following buildings and land on the military reservations in Porto Rico:

Valuation.

San Domingo Barracks, quartermaster's corral, buildings and lands........ $185, 490 The present quartermaster's corral and the land on which it is situated to continue to be occupied by the military authorities until the land is required by the insular Government for its purpose, and in any case the military authorities shall be given sufficient time to erect proper stables and corrals elsewhere.

Henry Barracks and land, Cayey, P. R........

The military authorities to retain possession of the present hospital building, the commanding officer's quarters, and the surgeon's quarters, which are all under one roof; also the guardhouse and administration building, the stables and storehouses (quartermaster's and commissary's) immediately adjacent, and the following land:

The land upon which these buildings are located and that portion of the present reservation lying between the hill and the neighboring town, approximately 15 acres, including the military road leading from the public road to the hospital building in question. The military authorities to be guaranteed the right to the use of the water and water system at present installed, without charge; they, the military authorities, to maintain in repair that portion of the water system which supplies the buildings above referred to; the remaining portion of the system to be maintained by the insular government in such condition as to furnish the amount of water necessary for the service of the buildings above referred to.

For reasons of economy it is desirable to bring the companies now at Cayey to San Juan with as little delay as practicable; and if the insular Government desires to obtain this reservation, which is understood to be the case, on the terms above set forth, the military authorities stand ready to vacate it with as little delay as practicable.

75,000

If you agree to the transfer on the lines above indicated, please inform me as soon as convenient, in order that I may present the matter to the War Department with a view to the question of transfer being taken up through the regular channels.

Very truly, yours,

His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF PORTO RICO,

LEONARD WOOD.

San Juan, P. R.

DRAFT FOR SUNDRY CIVIL BILL.

To give effect to a provisional agreement between the Governor of Porto Rico and the commanding general, Department of the East, the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and directed, upon the release to the United States by the Government of Porto Rico of all its rights and title to the buildings and grounds of the insane asylum, otherwise known as the Beneficencia Building, and the buildings and grounds known as the San Juan Military Hospital, in San Juan, Porto Rico, to convey to the said Government of Porto Rico all the right and title of the United States in and to the following property: The building and grounds of Santo Domingo Barracks and Mayaguez Hospital, at Mayaguez; the military land and buildings near Aibonito; and the "quartermaster's corral" at San Juan; Fort Mayaguez, Mayaguez Barracks, Aguadilla Fort, at Aguadilla; and all of Henry Barracks, at Cayey, except "Hospital Hill," on which are located the hospital, commissary quarters, administration buildings, guardhouse, stables, etc., with metes and bounds as shown on map of survey by First Lieut. William H. Armstrong, September 12, 1909, and except so much of the water system of Henry Barracks as the Secretary of War shall determine is necessary to be retained in connection therewith.

Maj. Gen. LEONARD WOOD,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
Porto Rico, April 12, 1909.

Commanding District of the East, San Juan, Porto Rico.

MY DEAR GEN. WOOD: I have received your letter of April 12, which refers to our verbal conferences in regard to the exchange of various properties between the insular Government and the War Department. I believe that the transfer discussed by us and set forth in your letter would be very greatly to the advantage of the insular Government. Although the values of the properties transferred are practically equal, the indirect advantage to the insular Government makes the transaction in our favor. The acquisition of the Cayey property would permit us to transfer the insane asylum from its present confined quarters to open-air life. The Santo Domingo Barracks, the Aguadilla Barracks, and the Mayaguez Hospital and Barracks are already occupied by the insular Government, by permission of the War Department, and we could not erect buildings suitable for the purposes for which they are being used without expending more money than the island can at present afford.

Should the War Department approve the exchange, I am sure that there will be no difficulty in obtaining the ratification of the insular Government of the proposed plan.

Very sincerely, yours,

A true copy:

LEONARD WOOD,

R. H. POST, Governor of Porto Rico.

Major General, Chief of Staff.