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_ Calendar No. 2237 741H CONGRESS 1 IV orl} Io “SENATE 2 REporr : 2d Session [AL f XENON Sil No. 2127 SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO FURNISH TRANSPORTA- TION TO PERSONS IN SERVICE OF UNITED STATES IN VIRGIN ISLANDS May 12 (calendar day, May 29), 1936.—Ordered to be printed Mr. T'ypings, from the Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 7025] The Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs, having had under consideration H. R. 7025, a bill to furnish transportation to persons in the service of the United States in the Virgin Islands, and for other purposes, report the bill back to the Senate with the recom- mendation that the bill do pass. The House report thereon is included in, and becomes a part, of this report. [H. Rept. No. 826, 74th Cong., 1st sess.] The Committee on Insular Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 7025) authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to furnish transportation to persons in the service of the United States in the Virgin Islands, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendment: At the end of the bill add: “The Secretary of the Interior is further authorized to provide free transportation of the bodies of deceased persons formerly appointed from the continental United States for employment in the service of the United States in the Virgin Islands, from the post of duty previously held in the Virgin Islands to such destination in the continental United States as may be requested by the deceased person’s nearest relatives and/or friends.” Appended hereto is a letter from the Department of the Interior stating the facts. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, January 28, 1936. CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON INSULAR AFFAIRS, : House of Representatives. My Dear MR. CaarrMaN: Enclosed is a draft of a proposed bill to authorize payment of traveling expenses of employees to and from the Virgin Islands on authorized leave of absence, or after their separation from the service without prejudice. 2 TRANSPORTATION TO PERSONS IN SERVICE IN VIRGIN ISLANDS When the administration of the Government of the Virgin Islands was placed under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior by Executive order of Febru- ary 27, 1931, the President authorized the Secretary of the Interior to employ and fix salaries on the administrative force and to furnish to new appointees where necessary free transportation from port of departure in the United States. No return transportation, however, was authorized. Under the administration in the Navy Department it was possible to return employees on termination of service or for vacation purposes on their own ships. This means, of course, is not avail able to the Department of the Interior, and I feel that some liberalization of the present authority is advisable to restore to these employees privileges previously enjoyed and to place them on a more equitable basis with employees of other Government departments serving outside the continental limits. In order to accomplish this purpose, it is requested that the proposed bill be placed before the House of Representatives for appropriate action. Sincerely yours, HaroLp L. IckEs, Secretary of the Interior. O