NAVIGABLE WATERS

JOINT HEARINGS

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AND A

SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

SEVENTY-NINTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

H. J. Res. 118; H. J. Res. 119; H. J. Res. 122
H. J. Res. 123; H. J. Res. 124; H. J. Res. 125
H. J. Res. 128; H. J. Res. 129; H. J. Res. 130
H. J. Res. 134; H. J. Res. 137; H. J. Res. 138
H. J. Res. 146; H. J. Res. 148; H. J. Res. 153
H. J. Res. 172; H. J. Res. 193; H. J. Res. 217
TO QUIET THE TITLES OF THE RESPECTIVE STATES AND
OTHERS TO LANDS BENEATH TIDEWATERS AND LANDS
BENEATH NAVIGABLE WATERS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES
OF SUCH STATES, AND TO PREVENT THE FURTHER

CLOUDING OF SUCH TITLES

AND

H. J. Res. 67
TO DECLARE THE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
UNITED STATES IN REGARD TO TIDE AND SUBMERGED

LANDS
(H. J. Res. 225 was subsequently introduced and

reported favorably to the House)

JUNE 18, 19, AND 20, 1945

Serial No. 5

Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 1945

75296

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

HATTON W. SUMNERS, Texas, Chairman
EMANUEL CELLER, New York

CLARENCE E. HANCOCK, New York
ZEBULON WEAVER, North Carolina

EARL C. MICHENER, Michigan
FRANCIS E. WALTER, Pennsylvania

JOHN M. ROBSION, Kentucky
SAM HOBBS, Alabama

CHAUNCEY W. REED, Illinois
JOHN H. TOLAN, California

JOHN W. GWYNNE, Iowa
WILLIAM T. BYRNE, New York

LOUIS E. GRAHAM, Pennsylvania
ESTES KEFAUVER, Tennessee

RAYMOND S. SPRINGER, Indiana
JOSEPH R. BRYSON, South Carolina

JOSEPH E. TALBOT, Connecticut
FADJO CRAVENS, Arkansas

FRANK FELLOWS, Maine
SAM M. RUSSELL, Texas

EARL R, LEWIS, Ohio
THOMAS J, LANE, Massachusetts

JOHN JENNINGS, JR., Tennessee
MARTIN GORSKI, Illinois

ANGIER L. GOODWIN, Massachusetts
MICHAEL A. FEIGHAN, Ohio
FRANK L. CHELF, Kentucky

VELMA SMEDLEY, Clerk

SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

PAT MCCARRAN, Nevada, Chairman
JAMES 0. EASTLAND, Mississippi

KENNETH S. WHERRY, Nebraska
ALBERT B. CHANDLER, Kentucky

H. ALEXANDER SMITH, New Jersey
CALVIN M. CORY, Clerk

II

CONTENTS

Page

4

20
42

- York

JUNE 18, 1945

Statement of

Hon. Robert W. Kenny, attorney general for the State of California -

Leander I. Shelley, general counsel, Port of New York Authority, and

also representing American Association of Port Authorities.

Hon. Grover Sellers, attorney general for the State of Texas-

List of persons appearing for the legislation ---

Hon. Pat McCarran, chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary,

who submitted letters from the following:

Hon. Francis Biddle, Attorney General of the United States.

Hon. Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of the Interior-

Hon. Joseph I. Grew, Acting Secretary of State

Brief of attorneys general in support of joint resolutions quieting titles of

States to lands beneath tidewaters and navigable waters.

Memorandum of the American Association of Port Authorities, Inc.-

Hon. Hugh S. Jenkins, attorney general of the State of Ohio..

Hon. Richmond B. Keech, Corporation Counsel, District of Columbia,

appearing on behalf of National Institute of Municipal Law Officers.-

Hon. Hirsh Freed, assistant corporation counsel, Boston, Mass.-

Hon. Greek L. Rice, attorney general of the State of Mississippi.

Hon. John M. Daniel, attorney general of the State of South Carolina..

Hon. A. E. Mitchell, attorney general of the State of Kansas.

Hon. Ira J. Partlow, attorney general of the State of West Virginia -

Hon. Hughes J. Rhodes, assistant attorney general of the State of North

Carolina

Hon. Ralph W. Farris, attorney general of the State of Maine..

Hon. Gessner T. McCorvey, special assistant attorney. general of the

State of Alabama....

Miss M. Vashti Burr, deputy attorney general of the State of Pennsylvania -

Hon. John J. Cooney, assistant attorney general of the State of Rhode

Island.

Hon. Harry L. Brooks, assistant attorney general of the State of Connecticut.--

Hon. John L. Madden, special assistant attorney general of the State of

Louisiana

Miss Lucille •May Grace, register of the State land office of the State of

Louisiana.-

Statement of the city solicitor of Philadelphia, Hon. Frank F. Truscott..
Letter from Hon. Simon E. Sobeloff, city solicitor, Baltimore, Md.
Brief of the State of Louisiana.

JUNE 19, 1945

Statement of

Hon. J. Tom Watson, attorney general for the State of Florida..

Hon. Orrin Judd, solicitor general, State of New York --

Hon. Bascom Giles, commissioner of general land office for the State

of Texas.

Hon. Hall Hammond, deputy attorney general, State of Maryland -

Arthur Eldridge, harbor commissioner, Los Angeles, Calif.

Claude A. Rankin, State land commissioner, State of Arkansas.

J. J. Underwood, representing the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the

port of Seattle, and the port of Tacoma...

Hon. Irving Smith, city attorney, Long Beach, Calif-

Harry C. Brockel, port manager, city of Milwaukee, Wis.

C. W. Babcock, city attorney, Milwaukee, Wis.--

Herbert Wade, director of port authority, State of Virginia

Carlyle F. Lynton, executive officer, State Lands, Commission of

California

Hon. W. W. Clary, special assistant to the attorney general of the

State of California -

Brief of the attorney general of the State of New York
Memorandum brief and argument submitted by Hon. Bascom Giles, com-

setts

CIARY

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85

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101

107

108

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110

113

115

117

117

117

Pags

113

119

121

12

123

127

128

129

135

138

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141

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142

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144

Resolution of the port commission of the port of Seattle...

Proposed amendments submitted by Hon. W. W. Clary, special assistant

to the attorney general of California ----

JUNE 20, 1945

Statement of Harlan Wood, attorney at law, Washington, D. C.---

Complaint, filed in the District Court of the United States, Southern Dis-

trict of California, United States of America v. Pacific Western Oil Corp-

Release, Department of Justice, dated May 29, 1945. -

Hon. George P. Miller, a Representative in Congress from the State of

California

Hon. James Domengeaux, a Representative in Congress from the State of

Louisiana...

Raymond M. Hudson, attorney at law, Washington, D. C..

Hon. Clyde Doyle, a Representative in Congress from the State of Cali-

fornia

Statement of -

Hon. A. Leonard Allen, a Representative in Congress from the State

of Louisiana.

Hon. Hugh De Lacy, a Representative in Congress from the State of

Washington.

Hon. Ned R. Healy, a Representative in Congress from the State of

California -

Hon. J. Leroy Johnson, a Representative in Congress from the State

of California --

Hon. Overton Brooks, a Representative in Congress from the State of

Louisiana

Hon. Franck R. Havenner, a Representative in Congress from the

State of California..

Hon. Richard J. Welch, a Representative in Congress from the State

of California

Hon. Ellis E. Patterson, a Representative in Congress from the State

of California

Hon. Homer D. Angell, a Representative in Congress from the State

of Oregon.

Letter from the Louisiana delegation submitted by Hon. A. Leonard Allen,

a Representative in Congress from the State of Louisiana -

Letter from Hon. Hal Holmes, a Representative in Congress from the State

of Washington.

Letter from Otto A. Case, commissioner, Department Public Lands, State

of Washington

Telegram from John H. Burgard, chairman of the Commission of Public

Docks of Portland, Oreg-

Telegram from T. H. Banfield, president, Pacific Coast Association of Port

Authorities.

Telegram from W. R. Martin, president, Long Beach Board of Harbor

Commissioners.

Telegram from Hon. John R. Dethmers, attorney general for the State of

Michigan

Telegram from Hon. Nels G. Johnson, attorney general for the State of

North Dakota.

Telegram from Hon. Alan Bible, attorney general for the State of Nevada.

Telegram from Hon. J. A. Burnquist, attorney general for the State of

Minnesota

Telegram from Irving T. Bush, president of Bush Terminal Co, New New, N.Y.

Telegram from president of Beard's Erie Basin, Inc., New York, N. Y.--

Telegram from American Dock & Pouch Terminals, New York, N. Y.

Letter from G. W. Osgood, manager, port of Tacoma, State of Washington.

Letter from Hon. S. O. Bland, a Representative in Congress from the State

of Virginia---

Letter from Hon. Harris Ellsworth, a Representative in Congress from the

State of Oregon.

Letter from Hon. Henry M. Jackson, a Representative in Congress from

the State of Washington.-

Letter from New York Dock Co., D. L. Tilly, president.

Letter from National Legal and Legislation Council, League of Nations,

North American Indians---

Letter from Hon. Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of the Interior.

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