Speech #590010676

The first section provides for the organization of a naval reserve. The first section has been modified since the filing of the report of the minority of the Committee on Commerce on this measure. and I think the modification of that section has been to its benefit. It provides for a payment to be made to all men who will enlist or allow themselves to be enrolled in the naval reserve under such rules and regulations or requirements as the Secretary of the Navy may prescribe. and it limits the enrollment to men who are nativeborn citizens of the United States or who are naturalized citizens. The bill as it was reported to the Senate a few days ago permitted men to be enrolled in the naval reserve who have merely declared their intention to become citizens of the United States. The minority in their report inveighed against that quite vigorously. because. as they contended. it opened the door to the payment of money to men who were unworthy and who would declare their intention to become citizens of the United States merely for the purpose of getting the benefit of the pay as members of the naval reserve.