this legislation construction of hospitals and medical centers should be so ordered that they will be suitable and available for a national health program, should one be instituted. MONTANA TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION, Kohrs Block, Helena, Mont., February 19, 1946. HON. THOMAS D. WINTER, DEAR MR. WINTER: It is our understanding that your committee will commence hearings on S. 191, the Hill-Burton Hospital bill, beginning February 25. It will be impossible for our association to be represented. The Montana Taxpayers' Association is a federation of most of the taxpaying trade associations in Montana and includes the State Chamber of Commerce and chambers of commerce of the larger cities. On behalf of the association I want to register our objections to S. 191. These objections are: 1. States are much better able to furnish their own hospital facilities than is the Federal Government. 2. The Federal Government with its huge expansion in hospitals for veterans is adequately providing for the hospitalization of a large segment of our national population and has fulfilled its Federal obligation as far as hospitals are concerned. 3. Federal grants involve Federal control regardless of what the bill may say. The Surgeon General is the sole judge as to the adequacy of the State plan and has full authority to prescribe regulations relating to methods of State administration and maintenance of personnel standards. 4. No financial provision is made in the bill for administration. 5. The allocation of grants and matching requirement on the basis of financial status and relative need of States is unsound. In some States a large part of the corporation income tax is paid in other States. Some States have made little effort to build hospitals even though their financial status is good. 6. Many areas within most States have adequate hospital facilities that have been provided by private subscriptions from individuals, religious and other groups often at considerable sacrifice. Such areas will be ineligible for Federal grants and yet will have to pay their share of the cost of less progressive communities and areas. 7. The bill appropriates $5,000,000 for a survey and then assumes that the survey will reveal a need for $75,000,000 a year. Montana has just completed its survey without any Federal financing and when proposed hospitals financed from local sources have been constructed or improved there will be no need for additional public funds. 8. This bill is merely a segment of the Murray-Wagner bill and if passed will open a way for additional Federal grants for other purposes. 9. While only $75,000,000 is authorized for each year the demand for additional funds will be stimulated; for example, under this bill $238,000 a year will be available for Montana. One hospital alone in Butte, Mont., is proposed to cost $1,000,000 and financing plans are under way without any Federal aid, but once aid is opened competition between areas and communities will result in demands for much larger appropriations. We shall appreciate this letter being made part of the record of the hearings. Yours sincerely, FRED BENNION, Executive Secretary, Montana Taxpayers' Association. The Honorable CHAIRMAN, Subcommittee on Public Health of the ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL, MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, New York, N. Y., March 18, 1946. Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I write upon behalf of St. Luke's Hospital in the city of New York to urge your favorable action upon the Hospital Survey and Construction Act (S. 191) as passed by the Senate. We object to the proposed omendment to this bill as proposed in H. R. 5628. It is our hope that this piece of legislation, without the proposed amendment, will be favorably reported upon by the committee and that it will be promptly passed at the present session in the same form as passed by the Senate. Your active support and vote to this end is earnestly asked. Yours very sincerely, ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL, By C. W. MUNGER, M. D., Director. HON. CLARENCE LEA, WESTCHESTER COUNTY CHAPTER, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS, April 1, 1946. Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. LEA: The Westchester County Chapter of the American Association of Social Workers, at its meeting March 20, 1946, passed the following resolution: "Whereas the American Association of Social Workers on a national basis has approved and is lending support to certain Federal bills designed to implement the President's program for meeting major health needs and has asked chapters to assist in the support of these measures; and "Whereas the legislative committee of this chapter has studied these bills and believes that they merit chapter approval, be it "Resolved, That the Westchester Chapter of the A. A. S. W. go on record as approving the following bills: "1. The National Health Act of 1945, S. 1606. "2. The Maternal and Child Welfare Act of 1945, S. 1318. "3. The National Mental Health Act, H. R. 4512. "4. The Hospital Survey and Construction Act, S. 191. "Be it further resolved, That the Legislative Committee of this chapter be empowered to write letters to legislators on behalf of the chapter or to take any other appropriate action in support of these bills." We urge that your committee give favorable consideration to the Hospital Survey and Construction Act, also known as the hospital and construction bill, S. 191, which we understand is now before you, and that you recommend its passage by Congress. Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. LEA: I am writing you with the view of enlisting your aid in the matter of a community hospital for Lindsborg, Kans. I have noticed that the Senate bill 191 by Lister Hill, Alabama, provides for assistance to hospitals regardless of discrimination of any kind. The bill is to be acted on by your committee I am informed. Lindsborg, a city of 2,000 and the seat of Bethany College, has only a converted residence of the old type for hospital purposes. It is altogether too small and is in no way adapted for hospital service. Yet, we are giving the city and college students most of their hospital needs. This, however, is trying on the nurses and all employees due to the inconveniences that obtain. We have in mind the construction of a new hospital building that will be modern and adequate to take care of our immediate needs. It is sponsored by the Lindsborg Community Hospital Association, a nonprofit chartered association. The community has responded by subscribing some over $45,000 but this will take care of about one-half of the building cost. We shall need additional assistance and if you committee can aid us with the additional funds required to construct the proposed building our community shall thus be greatly assisted is securing: this long needed equipment for taking proper care of the health and welfare of our citizens in Lindsborg as well as in the immediate community. Your cooperation and recommendation for the needed assistance shall be greatly appreciated by this fine little community. I am inclosing herewith a little prospectus that we prepared for the 1944 campaign. Some slight alterations have been made for the final plans, but in the main the building will be similar to the plan herewith proposed. Very sincerely yours, EMIL O. DEERE, President Lindsborg Community Hospital Association. PROSPECTUS OF THE LINDSBORG COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, LINDSBORG, KANSAS, 1944 A nonprofit community institution, available to all patients needing hospital service, regardless of race, color, creed, or economic status, and open without restrictions to all physicians who hold unlimited licence to practice medicine. The building is planned in accordance with the latest recommended standards of the American College of Surgeons for a small general hospital; normal capacity of 23 beds, arranged for rooms with or without bath suiting patient's choice, and consisting of five single bed rooms, five 2-bed rooms, one 3-bed ward, and one 5-bed ward, in addition to nursery accommodations for up to 16 babies. Arranged all on one floor, eliminating stairs to climb or elevator to buy and operate. Ambulance and service entrances at rear. Modern facilities for surgical, obstetric, and miscellaneous cases; complete accommodations for doctors' and nurses' work, and supervision of same; X-ray, laboratory, and sterilizating equipment; modern facilities for food preparation and serving. Exterior walls and interior partitions of fireproof masonry, insulated against heat and sound transmission; interior finish materials, colors and durability conducive to cleanliness, ease of maintenance, and low up-keep and operating costs. Plumbing, heating, and electrical facilities, equipment in laundry and kitchen, and room furniture selected to give the utmost in care to the sick at lowest possible cost. Lindsborg and community is greatly in need of this first class hospital, and the proposition as set forth herewith affords the opportunity for this realization. Whether the undertaking shall succeed or fail will depend upon the interest and generosity of the public in the form of material contributions. The board has secured the services of a first class architect and the building operation can be entered upon as soon as the funds are available. An efficient and enthusiastic committee is organized for the campaign and we trust that the citizens of Lindsborg and community will encourage our committee in its work by responding with generous contributions. Now is the time to act, so as to provide our progressive community with a long hoped for institution! Mr. PRIEST. Without objection also, if there are other members of the House of Representatives and others who desire to file statements before the record is sent to the printer, they will be granted permission to do so. The committee will stand adjourned. (Whereupon, at 11:30 a. m., Wednesday, March 13, 1946, the committee adjourned.) |