162 OCEANOGRAPHY 1961 — PHASE 3 



more than one ship and has to have more than one replacement in 

 the next 3 or 4 years because their fleet is fairly old. 



Mr. Bauer. Isn't it true that Woods Hole was slated to get an 

 AGOK that is now going to Lamont ? 



Mr. Wakeuen. I am not sure about that, Mr. Bauer. I can look 

 into it. 



(The material follows :) 



AGOR-3, which is being constructed now in Jacksonville, Fla., is scheduled 

 for Lamont. In the initial considerations by the Office of Naval Research for 

 the sponsorship of this oceanographic research vessel, probably back in 1955 or 

 thereabouts, the most urgent requirement for a ship of this type appeared to 

 exist at Woods Hole. I must emphasize that during these considerations no 

 commitments were made to any laboratory. In the intervening time between 

 these early considerations and the first stages of appropriations and program 

 deliberations, Woods Hole made requests to the National Science Foundation 

 for a grant of funds to provide for the design and construction of a research 

 vessel. As a result of this, and since approval of the grant seemed probable, 

 the Office of Naval Research determined that the next greatest need for a 

 research vessel was at Lamont. The shipbuilding program for fiscal year 1960 in- 

 cluded this ship for Lamont. 



Mr. Bauer. I understand Lamont is very imhappy because of the 

 compartmentation of the AGOR that was going to Woods Hole. It 

 was approved by Woods Hole through the ship's characteristic board, 

 is that correct? 



Mr. Wakelin". I am not aware of that, sir. 



Mr. Bauer. Do you feel the title of the ships financed by the Fed- 

 eral Government should be passed to the recipient, or retained by the 

 Federal Government? 



Mr. Wakelin. I believe title should be retained by the Federal 

 Government. 



Mr. Dingelil. I happen to be a member of the committee which 

 reported out the legislation under which title is given to Woods Hole. 

 I do not know how far you in the departments have gone in giving 

 title in this particular bill to this very fine organization. I can tell 

 you that the legislative history of the statute under which title is 

 being given to Woods Hole does not authorize the Federal Govern- 

 ment to give away ships. It authorizes the giving away of small 

 scientific apparatus, microscopes, and things of that sort. 



The reason it was enacted was to permit the Federal Government 

 to give these to institutions of higher learning which have been 

 utilizing them during programs they had been conducting under the 

 Federal Government, rather than holding a wipeout sale of surplus 

 commodities from which practically nothing could be returned to the 

 Government. That is the history. 



I intend to raise this question with every witness that comes before 

 the subcommittee. I want you to be aware of the history, and aware 

 of the very grave distortion of the legislative purposes of this par- 

 ticular statute by the National Science Foundation, and by other 

 departments that are considering this particular program. 



Mr. Wakelin. Then your bill, Mr. Dingell, did not include a com- 

 plete ship? 



Mr. Dingell. This is not a bill. This is a statute reported out 

 of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce by "a previous 

 Congress 2 or 3 years ago. I have previously taken the National 

 Science Foundation over the hooks on their program in this respect, 



