1578 JOINT RESOLUTIONS.

nue, by the cessation of ordnance operations at the said Proving
Ground and transferring them to Dalghren, Virginia, after the
former plant had proved its adequate capacity for supplying
all demands upon it during the World War; and

WHEREAS, The site at Dalghren was commandeered as an
emergency measure during the said war to be used exclusively
for long-range gun testing, but was not so used, nor at all, until
the war had ceased, and the said transference of Naval ord-
nance work, originally established at the cost of some millions
of dollars derived through taxation, has been shown to be unnec-
essary from the view point of governmental necessity; and

WHEREAS, The completion of said transference would impose
further taxation upon the people of the entire country; and

WHEREAS, The dismantling of and removal of the machinery
and equipment from the Indian Head Proving Ground was be-
gun and hastened forward without apparent emergency need,
and without the knowledge or sanction of Congress; and

WHEREAS, Some hundreds of citizens, and their families, of
the State of Maryland and elsewhere, but principally of Charles
County, formerly the Indian Head Proving Ground employees,
have suffered heavy financial loss, in cases to the extent of their
total earnings, as the result of the abandonment of the same,
after having been prevailed upon by the Naval Authorities to
forsake their accustomed occupations and procure homes by pur-
chase generally, in order, as they were induced to believe on
such usually competent authority, that they might become more
permanent and valuable to the Government as its employees;
and

WHEREAS, The unsettled conditions prevailing in all parts of
the country and the heavy taxation borne by the people as a
result of the war impose upon the Government the imperative
duty of refraining from unnecessary expenditure of public
money; therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the
Senators and Representatives of Maryland, in the Congress of
the United States be and they are hereby, requested to support
and use all means in their power, deemed by them expedient
and proper, to have the Indian Head Naval Proving Ground re-
established and continued upon the basis of its former status at
Indian Head, Maryland, and which it possessed prior to the
time any portion of its ordnance machinery and equipment was
. transferred as above mentioned; and be it further