General CHORPENING. Yes, sir. Senator ELLENDER. Will you make it a part of the record here? (The directive referred to follows:) Letter from the Bureau of the Budget dated April 17, 1953, from the Director of the Bureau of the Budget to the Secretary of the Army concerning the 1954 budget estimate for civil functions included the following directive: "We believe that consideration should be given to the enactment of legislation providing for the automatic deauthorization of any project, or separately authorized modification thereof, on which an appropriation to initiate construction has not been made within a reasonable period of years following the date of authorization. We would appreciate having you consider this suggestion together with any other means by which the deauthorization of such projects could be accomplished. Your recommendations together with appropriate draft legislation to meet this objective should be submitted to this office for clearance by May 15, 1953." Letter from the Committee on Public Works, House of Representatives, to the Chief of Engineers dated May 1, 1953, asked for data as follows: "A list of all the projects which your office now considers to be inactive and possibly appropriate for deauthorization. This list should indicate the projects by name and location, should likewise show the date of the authorization and, preferably, refer to the act which did the authorizing." Senator DwORSHAK. I notice for this fiscal year of 1954, the Corps of Engineers has a total of $3,076,000 for general investigations. That covers all categories: navigation, multipurpose, and flood-control projects? General CHORPENING. Yes, sir. That amount is for the corps' direct obligations. Senator DwORSHAK. Your estimate for the next year is $2,485,000, a decrease of $591,000. That is for general investigations? General CHORPENING. Yes, sir. That amount is for the corps' direct obligations. GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS Senator DwORSHAK. I brought that up merely to have the record show that in addition to specific requests for funds with which to make advance planning, you also had in this fiscal year about $3 million for general investigations. General CHORPENING. Yes, sir. General investigations which, of course, are funds to prosecute the survey program prior to authorization of project construction. Senator DwORSHAK. You are asking about $212 million this year for the same purpose? General CHORPENING. Yes, sir. Senator DwORSHAK. That gives you a lot of latitude in undertaking general investigations. You are not restricted by any specific instructions on that program? General CHORPENING. We do submit a list indicating in general the studies that will be made. However, almost one-half of the amount will have to be allotted to 2 special studies which have a deadline date for completion. They are the Arkansas-White-Red Basin survey and the New England-New York Resources survey. Senator DwORSHAK. The committee will recess until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. (Whereupon, at 12: 10 p. m., Monday, February 15, 1954, the committee recessed, to reconvene at 10 a. m., Tuesday, February 16, 1954.) CIVIL FUNCTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY APPROPRIATIONS, 1955 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1954 UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met in room F-39, United States Capitol, Senator Guy Cordon presiding. Present: Senators Cordon, Hayden, Russell, Ellender and Robertson. CIVIL FUNCTIONS ADAMS AND NORTH ADAMS, MASS. STATEMENT OF HON. LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, A UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS Senator CORDON. The committee will come to order. The committee has before it this morning Representatives in the Congress, in both Houses, from the State of Massachusetts, and others, interested in the project, under civil functions, at Adams and North Adams, Mass. The committee is pleased at this time to hear from Senator Saltonstall. Senator SALTONSTALL. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Thank you, very much. I understand that we have 20 minutes in which to present our case. I hope that we will be even briefer than that, because I feel that the acting chairman and the senior member on the minority, Mr. Hayden, know this case well. It is the case of Adams and North Adams, and present here to testify are my colleague, Senator Kennedy, and Congressman Heselton, who represents this district in the House. Also Mr. Andrew J. Dilk of the town council and Mr. Robert H. Harp, the city manager of North Adams; Mayor James M. Lilly, of North Adams, and Chairman Clayton L. Couture, board of selectmen, of Adams. They will not all testify, but if there are questions to be asked they will be glad to answer. Mr. Chairman, I have a prepared statement which I will give to the reporter, together with a letter from the county commissioners of Berkshire County and one from State Senator Silvio Conte. Senator CORDON. The statement and the several exhibits will be made a part of the record at this time, without objection. Senator SALTONSTALL. Thank you, sir. (The matter referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF SENATOR LEVERETT SALTONSTALL ON THE NORTH ADAMS, Mass., FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT I wish to speak briefly on two flood-control projects which are very vital to the residents of Berkshire County, Mass. One was included in the Bureau of the Budget's recommendations, $560,000 being recommended for the continuation of the project at Adams. However, no funds were recommended by the Bureau of the Budget for the flood-control project at North Adams. The intial appropriations for these projects took into account the contribution to national defense being made by the industries of the area. Additional appropriations have been made in succeeding years, bringing the total to date to $2,027,000. In 1953 the Senate voted an additional $1,200,000 but this appropriation was not agreed to by the House. The very lifeblood of the communities of Adams and North Adams is dependent upon the 13 major industries and 570 commercial establishments in Adams and upon the 33 industrial establishments in North Adams. Some 34,000 people of Adams and North Adams are dependent upon these industries-large and small-for their livelihoods. Disastrous floods of recent years have done untold damage not only to businesses in these two cities but also to homes, churches, schools, and other buildings. In view of the money which has already been spent both by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and by the United States Government for land damages, construction, and the rebuilding of bridges and utilities, it is to my mind simple commonsense to take the next necessary steps toward completion of the floodcontrol projects at Adams and North Adams. If these steps are not taken, the result can only be increase in the eventual cost of completion. In the meantime, the flood hazards to property in the Hoosic Valley are prolonged. I urgently request that favorable action be taken on the Bureau of the Budget's recommendation of $560,000 for Adams and urge that sufficient funds also be approved for work at North Adams, since they have always been considered companion projects. I would like to have made part of the record two letters which I have received on these flood-control projects at Adams and North Adams. The first is from State Senator Silvio O. Conte of the Berkshire district, and the second is from the Berkshire County commissioners, both urging that the money which has been put into the budget this year for the Adams project be retained and that funds for North Adams also be included in appropriations for fiscal 1955. THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, Senator LEVERETT SALTON STALL, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR LEV: I am informed that there will be a hearing by a congressional committee on February 15 and 16 in regard to the flood-control project in North Adams and in Adams. There is no necessity for me to give you any background in regard to both of these projects, for I am sure that you are well aware of what has been done in North Adams and in Adams. I strongly urge that you do everything you can to retain the money which has been put into the budget this year for the Adams project and also endeavor to have money put into the budget for the North Adams project which was completely omitted. You know as well as I that if the Federal Government does not continue the project in North Adams, the work which has been done and the money has been spent will become a total waste of time and money. The city of North Adams is in a precarious position and if it is subjected to another flood, of major proportions, it is probable that the Sprague Electric Co., which is doing defense work, may be seriously damaged and the city as a whole will suffer greatly, from both the disastrous aftermath of the waters of the Hoosic River and the injury to its main production plant. I am sure that, in your wisdom, you will do everything to help both the city of North Adams and the town of Adams in this project. With my very best wishes, I am Sincerely, SILVIO O. CONTE. THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, Hon. LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE, Pittsfield, Mass., February 9, 1954. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. O. DEAR MR. SALTONSTALL: The Berkshire County commissioners are strongly in favor and wish to be recorded in favor of the continued flood-control project in Adams and North Adams pertaining to the Hoosic River in both communities. Hoping that you will support this worthwhile project, we are, Very truly yours, BERKSHIRE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE, Pittsfield, Mass., February 9, 1954. THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, Hon. JOHN W. HESELTON, M. C., House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. HESELTON: The Berkshire County commissioners are strongly in favor and wish to be recorded in favor of the continued flood-control project in Adams and North Adams pertaining to the Hoosic River in both communities. Hoping that you will support this worthwhile project, we are, Very truly yours, BERKSHIRE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, Hon. JOHN W. HESELTON, 237 House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR JOHN: I am informed that there will be a hearing by a congressional committee on February 15 and 16 in regard to the flood-control project in North Adams and in Adams. There is no necessity for me to give you any background in regard to both of these projects, for I am sure that you are well apprised of what has been done in North Adams and in Adams. I strongly urge that you do everything you can to retain the money which has been put into the budget this year for the Adams project and also endeavor to have money put into the budget for the North Adams project which was completely omitted. You know as well as I that if the Federal Government does not continue the project in North Adams, the work which has been done and the money which has been spent will become a total waste of time and money. The city of North Adams is in a precarious position and if it is subjected to another major flood it is probable that the Sprague Electric, which is doing defense work, may be seriously damaged and the city as a whole will suffer greatly, from both the disastrous aftermath of the waters of the Hoosic River and the injury to its main production plant. I am sure that, in your wisdom, you will do everything to help both the city of North Adams and the town of Adams in this project. With my very best wishes, I ain, Sincerely, SILVIO O. CONTE. BUDGET RECOMMENDATION Senator SALTONSTALL. Now, included in the Bureau of the Budget recommendations this year is $560,000 for the continuation of the project at Adams. However, no funds were recommended by the Bureau of the Budget for the flood-control project at North Adams. There has been a total for both projects appropriated and spent up to date of $2,027,000 and in 1953, Mr. Chairman, the Senate voted an additional $1,200,000, but in the conference between the House and the Senate this appropriation was not agreed to. |