It has been the policy of the Bureau right from the beginning to cooperate in every way possible with any of the property owners within the refuges in order to satisfy just claim. Hoping that I may get an answer either one way or the other from you, I am Very truly yours, BURNIE MAUREK, District Refuge Administrator. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Lower Souris-Corum telephone line. CHIEF, BUREAU of Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. (Attention of A. C. Elmer.) DEAR MR. ELMER: Reference is made to your telegram of May 24, regarding the James Corum telephone-line controversy, and as Mr. Maurek is out of the office at the present time I am taking the liberty of answering this telegram. Enclosed are copies of letters which we have in this office and which I do not believe you have in your files. This completes the history of the case as we have it on our records. At the present time Mr. Henry has assigned a crew of Works Progress Administration men to salvage a part of this telephone line, under the supervision of Mr. James Corum. At the present date 3 miles of wire, running north and south across dam 320 and located in the marsh, have been removed from the poles and delivered to Mr. Corum. This has been done as the wire presented a hazard to wildlife, and it was to the interests of the Biological Survey to be removed. The telephone poles are still standing; however, they will be removed in the very near future by the Works Progress Administration crew. This portion of line is all that Mr. Corum wishes to salvage at the present time due to the fact that people are still living within the refuge and using the telephone on the remainder of the line on which he claims damage. I trust that this report will be sufficient for your needs. Very truly yours, BURNIE MAUREK, Acting Regional Director. By F. C. GILLETT, Assistant. O ETHEL RAY SOWDER OCTOBER 17, 1940.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. SASSCER, from the Committee on Claims, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6433] The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6433) for the relief of Ethel Ray Sowder, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendment is as follows: Line 5, strike out the amount "$300", and insert in lieu thereof, "$200". The purpose of the proposed legislation is to authorize the payment of the sum of $200 to Ethel Ray Sowder, of Baltimore, Md., in full settlement of all claims against the United States for reimbursement for the loss of personal effects in the explosion at Lake Denmark (Dover), N. J., on July 10, 1926. STATEMENT OF FACTS The record shows that on the above mentioned date, the claimant, Ethel Ray Sowder, then a private in the United States Marine Corps, was serving at the marine barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, Lake Denmark (Dover), N. J., when an explosion occurred which resulted in the death of 1 officer and 11 enlisted men of the United States Marine Corps, and injuries to other personnel of the corps. Personal effects were also lost as a result of this explosion. Although provision was made by Congress in several acts for the settlement of claims against the Government of the United States on account of property damage, death, and personal injuries due to this explosion, the claimant under this bill was not included in any of said acts. Mr. Sowder submits that he was never properly informed regarding the filing of his claim for loss of personal effects, and his affidavit is appended hereto. It appears that Mr. Sowder lost certain items of uniform clothing, for which loss he was reimbursed by the United States Marine Corps. However, he has not been reimbursed for his personal effects, which included suits of clothing, coats, shirts, ties, Hamilton watch, camera, album, trunk wardrobe, a diamond ring, etc. An affidavit setting forth these items is also appended hereto. If Mr. Sowder's claim had been presented properly, he undoubtedly would have been reimbursed under one of the acts of Congress before referred to. Your committee feel, therefore, that in equity to Mr. Sowder, he should be reimbursed to some extent for the loss which he sustained as a result of the explosion. It is a matter of record that Mr. Sowder was knocked unconscious at the first explosion, and the barracks went up in less than 3 minutes, making it impossible for him to save any of his effects. Appended hereto is the report of the Navy Department, together with other pertinent evidence. The CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS, NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 14, 1939. House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill H. R. 6433 for the relief of Ethel Ray Sowder was referred to the Navy Department by your committee with a request for report and recommendation relative thereto. The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to pay, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $300 to Ethel Ray Sowder, of Baltimore, Md. The payment of this sum is for the settlement of all claims against the United States for reimbursement for the loss of personal effects in the explosion at Lake Denmark (Dover), N. J., on July 10, 1926. On the above date Ethel Ray Sowder, then a private, United States Marine Corps, was serving at the marine barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, Lake Denmark (Dover), N. J., when an explosion occurred which resulted in the death of 1 officer and 11 enlisted men of the United States Marine Corps, and injury to other personnel of this corps. Personal effects were also lost as a result of this explosion. Provision was made by the Congress in the acts of March 2, 1927 (44 Stat. 1800), February 2, 1929 (45 Stat. 2047), and May 7, 1934 (48 Stat. 1341), for the settlement of claims against the Government of the United States on account of property damage, death, and personal injury due to the explosion which occurred at Lake Denmark (Dover), N. J., on July 10, 1926. The claimant, Private Ethel Ray Sowder, United States Marine Corps, lost certain items of uniform clothing as a result of this explosion, for which loss he was reimbursed by gratuitous issues in kind by the United States Marine Corps. In 1929 Private Sowder requested and was furnished information regarding the manner of filing a claim for reimbursement for private property lost in the Lake Denmark explosion, above referred to. It appears from the records of the Navy Department, however, that he failed to make such claim either at that time or immediately subsequent thereto. On August 5, 1930, the General Accounting Office referred to the Major General Commandant, United States Marine Corps, a letter from Private Sowder, making claim for reimbursement for personal effects lost in the explosion which occurred at Lake Denmark (Dover), N. J., on July 10, 1926. On August 11, 1930, Private Sowder's letter, above referred to, was referred to the brigade commander, First Brigade, Port au Prince, Haiti, where the claimant was then serving, requesting that Private Sowder submit a list in duplicate, under oath, of the articles of personal effects for which he claimed reimbursement, such list to state the original price of each article, approximate date of purchase, from whom purchased, condition at time of loss, value at time of loss, and present price of new article, as was required of other claimants filing claims under the provisions of the acts above cited. No reply to this request was received in the Navy Department. The General Accounting Office, on November 4, 1930, referred to the letter of August 11, 1930, which had been forwarded to Private Sowder at Port au Prince, Haiti, and requested the Major General Commandant to furnish it with information as to the status of Private Sowder's claim. On November 8, 1930, the Major General Commandant, United States Marine Corps, informed the General Accounting Office that no claim had been submitted by Private Sowder pursuant to this request. The records of the United States Marine Corps do not show that Private Sowder ever complied with the Major General Commandant's request for the submission of a proper claim for reimbursement for his alleged loss of personal effects in the explosion at Lake Denmark (Dover), N. J., on July 10, 1926. Due to the lack of information as to the reasonableness of the amount claimed by Ethel Ray Sowder, the Navy Department does not desire to make any recommendation either for or against the enactment of bill H. R. 6433. Sincerely yours, To Whom It May Concern: CHARLES EDISON, At the time of the fire and explosion at Lake Denmark, N. J., July 10, 1926, I was a member of the guard of the day and on duty at the time of the explosion. The only possessions with which I escaped were my shoes, socks, pants, shirt, underwear, hat, pistol, belt, and ammunition. Everything else was lost and the records of the United States Navy contain this information. My mental and physical record will also show that I was knocked unconscious at the first explosion and the barracks went up in less than 3 minutes. At that time I was at least three-quarters of a mile away. In regard to my excuse for not filing my claim before, the attached correspondence will show that I first filed a claim at the Brooklyn Navy Yard a few days after the explosion and later at the Charleston Navy Yard. On or about July 15, 1926, I submitted another claim to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for all personal effects and uniform equipment, and also submitted an official statement of the aforementioned facts to Navy Intelligence during the official investigation of the explosion. I was given part of my uniform clothing and equipment and was told no provisions were to be made for personal effects. A few days later at the Charleston Navy Yard, I was given full reimbursement of uniform clothing. No allowance was made for personal effects. Although full statements of personal effects lost were given at both navy yards, no information was received concerning my claims. Later I was transferred to Haiti, Port au Prince. En route I was informed by the late B. B. Burdick, who was my first sergeant at Dover, N. J., that a bill had passed by Congress to reimburse all military men for personal property lost, and he asked if I had received my notification. He said that he had filed his claim and had been paid. I then wrote to the United States Navy again and was told it was too late to file. Since then I have filed almost every year, with the same results, although I was not notified at any time that such a bill had been passed. Due to being in the service, I was forced to use official channels in asking for the proper forms, but they were never furnished. In this matter I wish to refer to John J. O'Brien, claim and pension attorney, file number of case 6491-E. The lapse in the aforementioned date until 1935, was due to the fact that I was notified by legal talent that I had no rights while I was still in the service. Upon being discharged in 1935, I went to Mr. Palmisano, who was Congressman at that time, and for 4 years he had my claim under consideration, but no action was taken. Respectfully submitted. ETHEL RAY SOWDER. Subscribed and sworn to before me, a notary public in the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland, this 1st day of June 1940. [SEAL] HARRY H. FREIMAN. To whom it may concern: BALTIMORE, MD., November 30, 1938. This is a true statement of the effects of a personal nature belonging to Private Ethel Ray Souder, United States Marine Corps, lost in a fire the result of an explosion at Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Depot, Dover, N. J., on July 10, H. Repts., 76-3, vol. 6-56 1926 (Saturday p. m. about 5:18 p. m.), above-named marine having answered fire call (fire alarm) and escaped with only clothes worn at time. Below are the personal effects lost: 1 blue serge suit, tailor-made, worn twice, cost $58 new, value at time lost, not less than $48; 1 all-wool heavy winter suit, open sale, $38 new, never worn, value at time lost, $38; 1 overcoat, never worn, cost $45, value when lost, $45; 1 topcoat,, cost $25, value when lost at least $15; 8 tailor-made dress shirts, cost $2 each, some not worn, value when lost, $10; about $3 worth of neckties when lost; 1 Hamilton pocket watch, 17-jewel, cost $65 new, less than 1 year old; 1 Simmons chain and it cost $10 same time watch was bought, value at time lost, $60; 1 triple-lens camera, cost $45, value at time lost, $25; 1 trunk wardrobe type, cost $18, value at time lost, $15; album containing over 1,000 photos, cost to replace, at least $500, ask $80; 1 diamond, cost $58, value when lost, same; 1 Marine Corps ring, cost $45, value when lost, $30; 2 pairs dress shoes, cost $6 a pair, value when lost, $6.50. DECEMBER 7, 1939. [SEAL] ETHEL RAY SOWDER. MAMIE L. WALTER, Notary Public. HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, Hon. THOMAS D'ALESANDRO, Jr., House of Representatives. Washington, March 13, 1940. MY DEAR MR. D'ALESANDRO: In the temporary absence of the Major General Commandant I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of March 8, forwarded to this office by the commanding general, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va., requesting information regarding Ethel R. Sowder, former member of the Marine Corps. Ethel Ray Sowder, born January 20, 1903, at Harrison County, Ky., enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on July 10, 1923, at Parris Island, S. C., and was honorably discharged upon expiration of enlistment on July 30, 1927, at Charleston, S. C., a private, with character "excellent." Reenlisted August 10, 1927, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was honorably discharged by special order of the Major General Commandant for his own convenience on July 11, 1931, at Quantico, Va., a private, with character "excellent." Reenlisted August 7, 1931, at New Orleans, La., and was honorably discharged by special order of the Major General Commandant for his own convenience on May 2, 1934, at Mare Island, Calif., a private, first-class, with character "excellent." Enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on May 3, 1934, and was honorably discharged in order to reenlist in the regular Marine Corps on May 11, 1934. Reenlisted in the Marine Corps on May 11, 1934, at Chicago, Ill., and was honorably discharged by special order of the Major General Commandant for his own convenience on February 8, 1935, at Quantico, Va., a private, with character "excellent." Enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on February 9, 1935, and was honorably discharged upon expiration of enlistment on February 8, 1939. Both enlistments in the Marine Corps Reserve were in an inactive status. The records show that he performed duty as a carpenter from February 3 to March 20, 1925; from March 26 to April 5, 1925; from April 19 to October 2, 1925; and from September 1 to November 16, 1927. Sincerely yours, A. A. VANDEGRIFT, Colonel, United States Marine Corps, Assistant to the Major General Commandant. |