Partial list of lots (covering squares numbered from 247 to 760, inclusive) in the District of Columbia sold by the United States-Continued. 1st Session. No. 48. ICERS OFFICERS OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TO ADMINISTER OATHS. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, TO ACCOMPANY SENATE BILL NO. 1632, TO AMEND "AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN OFFICERS OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TO ADMINISTER OATHS," APPROVED JANUARY 25, 1895. DECEMBER 14, 1899.-Referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs and ordered to be printed. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 13, 1899. SIR: It is provided by section 25 of the act approved March 3, 1899, entitled "An act to reorganize and increase the efficiency of the personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps of the United States," that the oath of allegiance provided for officers and men of the Army and Marine Corps shall be administered hereafter to the officers and men of the Navy, but no authority is granted for the administration of the oath other than that provided in the act of January 25, 1895. Under this act the commanding officer is the only officer on board a ship of the Navy empowered to administer an oath. In drafts of recruits enlisted at inland cities by recruiting officers of the Navy and transferred at Government expense to receiving ships at navy-yards, cases have arisen where some of the recruits, although having signed the shipping articles and been taken up on the records of the Navy Department as enlisted at inland cities, have refused, upon arrival on board the receiving ship, to take the oath of allegiance before the commanding officer. There has been no alternative but to discharge such men from their enlistments, as such enlistments are not legally complete until the oath of allegiance has been subscribed in accordance with law. Such a condition is found to be a source of annoyance, for in cases of apprentices who refuse to subscribe to the oath of allegiance it has been found necessary to hold them until money for transportation to their homes is furnished by their parents. I have the honor to transmit herewith the draft of a bill, marked "A," to amend the act approved January 25, 1895, so as to confer upon recruiting officers of the Navy authority to administer the oath of allegiance to any person of the Navy; and also authorizing the assistant adjutant and inspector of the Marine Corps to administer oaths, the duties devolving upon that officer being of such a character as to render this authority necessary. A second draft, marked "B," placing the proposed amendment in form suitable for insertion in the appropriation act, is also inclosed for the convenience of the committee, should that form be preferred. Very respectfully, Hon. EUGENE HALE, JOHN D. LONG, Secretary. Chairman Committee on Naval Affairs, United States Senate. ORGANIZATION AND JURISDICTION OF UNITED STATES COURTS. LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL, TRANSMITTING COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE COMMISSION TO REVISE AND CODIFY THE CRIMINAL LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THE REPORT MADE BY THE COMMISSION. DECEMBER 18, 1899.-Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and ordered to be printed. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D. C., December 18, 1899. SIR: I have the honor to transmit with this a copy of a letter from the Commission to Revise and Codify the Criminal Laws of the United States, and of the report made by the commission under the act "making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1899, which provides that: It shall be the duty of the commission appointed to revise and codify the criminal and penal laws of the United States to revise and codify the laws concerning the jurisdiction and practice of the courts of the United States, including the judiciary act and the acts in amendment thereof and supplementary thereto, and all acts providing for the removal, appeal, and transfer of causes. Very respectfully, The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. JOHN W. GRIGGS, Attorney-General. |