TO AUTHORIZE THE LEO N. LEVI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION TO MORTGAGE ITS PROPERTY IN HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK FEBRUARY 24, 1931.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. FULLER, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 17228] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred (H. R. 17228) to authorize the Leo N. Levi Memorial Hospital Association to mortgage its property in Hot Springs National Park, having considered the same, recommend that it do pass without amendment. The bill has the favorable recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior, as set forth in his letter addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys of the United States Senate. The letter, together with a memorandum fully explain the purpose of the measure. They are herein set out in full for the information of the House. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. GERALD P. NYE, Chairman Public Lands and Surveys, United States Senate. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In compliance with your request of February 12. for a report on S. 6106, which is a bill that would authorize the Leo N. Levi Memorial Hospital Association to mortgage its property in Hot Springs National Park, I transmit herewith a memorandum on the subject that has been submitted by Director Albright of the National Park Service. After a review of the proposed measure, I agree with Mr. Albright. Very truly yours, Memorandum for the Secretary. RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Reference is made to letter dated February 12, from the chairman Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, inclosing copy of S. 6106, "To authorize the Leo N. Levi Memorial Hospital Association to mortgage its property in Hot Springs National Park," with request for opinion as to its merits. By the acts of Congress of June 3, 1912, and May 8, 1922, the Leo N. Levi Memorial Hospital Association is granted the exclusive right to use, occupy, and enjoy the possession of the lots in Hot Springs National Park referred to in this bill, the title, however, remains in the United States. Under the authority of these laws the association has constructed, at considerable cost, and maintains on the premises a modern and satisfactory hospital building. It would appear proper to permit the association to mortgage its properties on the land here involved, and it is noted the authorization proposed to be granted by S. 6106 is similar to other legislation enacted with reference to similar situations in national parks. I have to recommend that S. 6106 receive favorable consideration and that the same be enacted into law. HORACE M. ALBRIGHT, Director. CONSTRUCTION OF A LAUNDRY BUILDING AT FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON, IND. FEBRUARY 24, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. MCSWAIN, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 17165] The Committee on Military Affairs to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 17165) to authorize the construction of a laundry building at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., introduced by Mr. Ludlow, having considered the same report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. This is a measure to permit the use of $25,000 out of funds already authorized and appropriated for construction at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., for the construction of a laundry building. The chairman of your committee during a recent inspection trip visited Fort Benjamin Harrison. It was found that facilities for a movingpicture theater had been provided thereby releasing for some other purpose the $25,000 authorized for that use by legislation. It was also found that this post has a serious problem in the matter of laundry service. This is explained in a statement by Mr. Ludlow urging adoption of the legislation and in a memorandum prepared for the chairman of your committee by the commanding officer of the fort, which are as follows: The officers and enlisted personnel at Fort Benjamin Harrison have long suffered serious disadvantages because of a lack of laundry facilities. No Indianapolis laundry could or would contract to do the laundry work for the post and for a considerable time an individual operating as the Laundry Service Co. represented the personnel of the post in distributing the laundry among various Indianapolis laundry establishments and by careful attention to the convenience of the laundries was able to secure rates somewhat below normal for such work. Even so, the cost to individuals was $4.15 per month on an average, an obviously very heavy charge on an enlisted man drawing only an enlisted man's pay. Since February 24, 1930, the laundry of the post has been sent by truck to be done at Camp Knox, Ky., in the laundry establishment operated there by the Army. This brought the cost down to about $1.75 per soldier per month, but the saving effected is more than offset by the fact that two weeks is required in having the work done and returned to the owners at Fort Benjamin Harrison. The time required to make a round trip between the two points is three days and a truck which takes a load of soiled clothing to Camp Knox one week brings back with it the clothing taken the previous week. This will readily be realized as a very clumsy arrangement for it requires a soldier to have twice as many articles of underclothes, bed linen, etc., as required under normal conditions of weekly service. Besides, there is the cost of operating the truck which is about $1,800 per year, exclusive of repairs. Several years ago the sum of $25,000 was authorized for a moving-picture theater at Fort Benjamin Harrison. This has not been used, as the moving-picture theater was provided for in another way by administrative action. The purpose of the bill I have introduced (H. R. 17165) is to make available the sum of $25,000 to establish a much-needed laundry. The measure is highly meritorious and I will be very much obliged if the committee can see its way clear to report it at once so that it may have a chance of passing before the end of the present Congress on March 4. HEADQUARTERS FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON, Ind., Memorandum for Mr. James. January 31, 1931. The following information with reference to the laundry situation at this post is submitted in compliance with your request: Satisfactory laundry service has been a serious problem for several years due to the fact that (1) no laundry was provided for the post and (2) no Indianapolis laundry could, or would, contract to handle the service for the post. During the past 12 or 13 years the work has been handled by an individual operating under the name of "The Laundry Service Co." who, acting as an agent or broker, distributed the work among a number of laundries in Indianapolis, and, by having the work done at times most convenient to the laundries, was able to secure prices somewhat below normal. Even with this arrangement, the cost to the individual soldier averaged about $4.15 per month, which is, of course, excessive. Since February 24, 1930, the laundry of organizations has been sent to the Camp Knox, Ky., quartermaster laundry. The cost of this service to the soldier is $1.75 per month. This is an appreciable saving but is offset by the fact that two weeks are required to have the work done and returned. Shipment is by truck which requires three days to make a round trip. The truck which takes a load of soiled clothing to Camp Knox one week returns with clothing taken to the laundry the previous week. This arrangement requires the soldier to have twice as many articles of underclothing, bed linen, etc., as would be needed under normal conditions with weekly service. Cost of operating trucks for this purpose costs at least $1,800 per year, exclusive of necessary repairs. It is estimated that the establishment of a new laundry of sufficient capacity to render complete laundry service to an average of 1,500 patrons at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., will cost $69,374.38, divided as follows: Laundry building.. Boiler house....... Boiler, motors, steam piping, and connections (with boiler only) and steam heating. Laundry machinery and equipment... Materials required for installation of laundry machinery and equipment.. $25, 150. 00 3,700.00 4, 675. 00 30, 822. 50 Labor required for installation of laundry machinery and equipment... 526. 88 4, 500. 00 Total.... 69, 374. 38 As stated in letter from this office of July 7, 1927, it is estimated that the annual operating costs of such a laundry would be $30,000. 3d Session ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK, MICH. No. 2880 FEBRUARY 24, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. HOOPER, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 17005] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 17005) to provide for the establishment of the Isle Royale National Park in the State of Michigan, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report it favorably to the House with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments: Page 1, line 3, strike out the words "such area of". Page 1, lines 4 and 5, after the word "Michigan", insert the words "and immediately surrounding islands". Page 2, line 3, strike out the word "land" and insert in lieu thereof the word "lands". Page 2, line 16, strike out the figures "26" and insert in lieu thereof the figures "25". The favorable reports of the Director of the National Park Service and the Secretary of the Interior, and the bill as amended, follow: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, D. C. Hon. DON B. COLTON, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In compliance with your request of February 11, for a report on H. R. 17005, which is a bill that would provide for the establishment of the Isle Royale National Park, in the State of Michigan, I transmit herewith a memorandum of the subject that has been submitted by Director Albright, of the National Park Service. After a review of the proposed measure, I agree with Mr. Albright. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary. |