ALTERATION AND REPAIR OF EASTERN DISPENSARY AND CASUALTY HOSPITAL FEBRUARY 19, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. ZIHLMAN, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 14586] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 14586) providing for an appropriation toward the alteration and repair of the buildings of Eastern Dispensary and Casualty Hospital, having considered the same, report back to the House with the recommendation that the legislation do pass with the following amendments: Page 1, line 6, strike out the word "toward" and insert in lieu thereof the word "for": Page 1, line 8, after the word "Hospital", insert a comma and the following: "in the District of Columbia,"; Page 1, line 8, after the word "and" and before the word "retiring", insert the word "for": Page 1, line 9, strike out the rest of the language on line 9 after the comma, following the word "buildings"; and Strike out line 10 on page 1, and insert the following proviso: Provided, Not more than $20,000 of this appropriation may be used for the alterations and repairs under the supervision of the Municipal Architect. This bill authorizes to be appropriated, out of the revenues of the District of Columbia and the Federal Government, in like manner as other appropriations of the District of Columbia, the sum of $50,000 toward the alteration and repair of the buildings referred to and the existing indebtedness on them. On April 14, 1888, the Eastern Dispensary of the District of Columbia was incorporated by a few public spirited citizens of the eastern section of the city for a period of 10 years, and April 1, 1898, changed the name to Eastern Dispensary and Casualty Hospital and reincor porated in perpetuity. These incorporations were made by and under the laws of the District of Columbia. Some time later the institution came under the jurisdiction and control of Emergency Hospital, but in December, 1925, Emergency Hospital having suffered a loss of approximately $18,000 per year in cost of operation of Casualty Hospital, transferred the institution to the present board of directors upon the payment of $50,000 to Emergency Hospital to cover all indebtedness and outstanding obligations. The institution was then housed in a badly run down 3-story brick building, originally a private residence. The furniture was scarce and in poor condition and the equipment obsolete and most meager, including an ambulance beyond repair. Since December 1925, a modern 4-story stone and brick hospital has been built at a cost of $125,000 and $50,000 has been spent in furniture and equipment. This was made possible by public contributions of $60,000 in 1927, $15,000 in 1930, $30,000 from legacies, economies in operation, donation by the superintendent of his salary and the supply of bedding and linen by the board of lady managers who are very prominent citizens of the District of Columbia. All public contributions were used in the erection of the new building. The total indebtedness of Casualty Hospital at present, the committee is advised, is $105,000-so that starting with a deficit of $50,000 the management has increased the assets of the hospital by $225,000 but has increased the indebtedness by only $55,000. Casualty Hospital is operated without profit for the benefit of the citizens of the District of Columbia, and is purely an eleemosynary institution. It takes care of all emergency cases east of Seventh Street northwest and is frequently called to other sections of the city to provide ambulance service in emergency cases. This hospital, like the Emergency Hospital, has a contract with the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to take care of indigent cases at the contract price of $2 per day, and $1 for ambulance service for each run made on a charity call. The records of both Emergency and Casualty Hospital, however, clearly show that the contract price mentioned, per day, per charity patient, including both medical and surgical care, is hardly equal to one-half the actual expense in caring for these patients. This bill provides for the same sort of appropriation that Congress has twice given to Emergency Hospital-$50,000 being appropriated by an act of Congress on June 26, 1912, and again on March 3, 1915. As early as 1900 Congress appropriated "for Eastern Dispensary, maintenance, $1,500"-and on March 3, 1905, appropriated $2,000 for emergency care and treatment of, and free dispensary service to indigent patients, under a contract of agreement to be made with the Eastern Dispensary-now known as Casualty Hospital. Thus for 30 years, Congress has recognized the importance of the service rendered by Casualty Hospital to the citizens of the District. There is no distinction in law, equity, or morals between Emergency and Casualty Hospitals in their relationship to the District, and the committee feels that the relief sought by Casualty Hospital, whose work is increasing daily, as will be noted by the press, should be granted by the passage of this measure. ADDITIONAL LAND, SCHENECTADY MILITARY RESERVATION FEBRUARY 19, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. WAINWRIGHT, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 4201] The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4201) to authorize the acquisition of the outstanding interests in land in the military reservation of Schenectady general depot, New York, introduced by Mr. James at the request of the War Department, having considered the same report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. This is a measure to authorize the acquisition of the outstanding interests in land in the military reservation of Schenectady general depot, N. Y. At a stage when completion of purchase had been affected for most of the tracts restrictions were imposed against further acquisitions of real estate and this continued until relieved by Congress by acts of March 8 and July 1, 1922 (42 Stats. 418 and 777), by which there was released for further application to completing purchases for this site the sum of $3,000. So far as practicable attention was given thereto, up to June 30, 1928, when the small balance lapsed. The tracts still to be acquired have been occupied by the Government in the same manner as the other tracts since the establishment of the reservation. Contacts have been made with the parties interested and it is regarded that the completion of the acquisition will be in the interest of the Government and will permit fair treatment to be accorded to the private interests involved. The letter of the Secretary of War recommending the enactment of this measure is as follows: Hon. W. FRANK JAMES, Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives. AUGUST 16, 1929. DEAR MR. JAMES: It is requested that the following draft of bill be introduced and enacted into law: "A BILL To authorize the acquisition of the outstanding interests in land in the military reservation of Schenectady general depot, New York "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to acquire by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, for military purposes, all outstanding interests in and to such lots, parcels or tracts of land within the present general boundaries of the military reservation of Schenectady General Depot (formerly known as Army Reserve Depot), Schenectady, New York, as have not heretofore been obtained, and there is authorized to be appropriated for this purpose not to exceed $1,000." The depot was established in the World War period. The sum of $250,000 was allotted for the purchase of the land out of the fund of $100,000,000 placed at the disposal of the President by the urgent deficiency act of April 17, 1917. There had been extensive sales of residence lots in a newly platted subdivision on a part of the site selected for the depot and accordingly there were a large number of owners of land to be dealt with. Changes of residence by many and want of appropriate authority in the administration of estates added to the difficulties and delays in securing titles for record purposes. At a stage when completion had been effected for most of the tracts, restrictions were imposed against further acquisitions of real estate and this continued until relieved by Congress by acts of March 8, and July 1, 1922 (42 Stats., 418 and 777), by which there was released for further application for this site the sum of $3,000. Attention was given thereto, so far as practicable, up to June 30, 1928, when the small balance of this appropriation lapsed. A few lots still remain on which title is to be completed and payment made. They have been occupied by the Government, in the same manner as have the other tracts, from the establishment of the reservation. It is not practicable to exclude these lots from such general occupancy. One party in interest is an individual, with whom contact was not obtained to secure a deed, but whose address is now known. Two other interests are those of estates, for which permission for sale and conveyance has not heretofore been secured. It is regarded that completion of the acquisition will be in the interest of the Government and will permit fair treatment to be accorded to the private interests involved. If any additional information from the War Department is desired, I shall be pleased to furnish it. If the Committee on Military Affairs wishes to have hearings on the proposed legislation a suitable witness will be designated to appear before your committee. This proposed legislation has been submitted to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, who advises that the same is not in conflict with the financial program of the President. Sincerely yours, JAMES W. GOOD, Secretary of War. COLLECTION OF ANNUAL STATISTICS RELATING TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS FEBRUARY 19, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. RANKIN, from the Committee on the Census, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 1812] The Committee on the Census, to whom was referred the bill. (S. 1812) to authorize the collection of annual statistics relating to certain public institutions, have considered the same and report thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The bill has the approval of the Department of Commerce, as will appear from the annexed communications which are made a part of this report, and which read as follows: Hon. W. L. JONES, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, United States Senate. Chairman Committee on Commerce, MY DEAR SENATOR: I have your letter of the 21st ultimo, requesting a report from this department on S. 1812, entitled "To authorize the collection of annual statistics relating to certain public institutions. For the information of your committee I am inclosing herewith a memorandum dated November 26, 1929, from the Director of the Bureau of the Census regarding this bill; also a letter from the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, dated December 6, 1929. Very truly yours, E. F. MORGAN, Acting Secretary of Commerce. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Memorandum for the Secretary regarding a bill authorizing the collection annually of statistics concerning public institutions (S. 1812). The act approved March 6, 1902, authorized the collection decennially of statistics relating "to the defective, dependent, and delinquent classes; to crime, including judicial statistics pertaining thereto." Following the decennial census HR-71-3-VOL 241 |