I realize, and so do the officers of the post, that it is too early to take any action in this matter, but it may not be too early to advise you of their desires so as to know when to act and with whom to communicate. Thanking you in advance for any suggestion you may have, I am, Yours very truly, FRED B. THOMAS. MIDDLEBURY, Vт., May 3, 1930. Hon, ERNEST W. GIBSON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Middlebury Post No. 27, American Legion, indorse the bill H. R. 11332, for the erection of a veterans' hospital in Vermont. FRANK L. Goss, Adjutant. DORSET, VT., May 2, 1930. Hon. ERNEST W. GIBSON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. JOHN J. MCBRIDE, Post No. 44, American Legion. DANVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hon. E. W. GIBSON, Washington, D. C. DEAR COLONEL GIBSON: Local interest in your bill before the House of Representatives for a hospital for disabled veterans in Vermont is very keen. The Chamber of Commerce of Danville, Vt., heartily indorse the measure and pledge our loyal support to you in your effort to locate such a worthy project in the Green Mountain State. Please call upon us for any service we may render you. With kindest personal regards. ERNEST T. HETHRINGTON, President. BURLINGTON, VT., May 3, 1930. Col. E. W. GIBSON, Washington, D. C. DEAR COLONEL: The matter of the above bill now pending before Congress to authorize the erection of a veterans' hospital in the State of Vermont has been brought to my attention and through me, as exalted ruler of the Elks, to the attention of the Burlington Lodge, B. P. O. E., No. 916. I have been authorized by the Elks to express to you their appreciation of your efforts in behalf of this bill and to assure you of their very hearty cooperation. The reasons why a veterans' hospital should be located in this State appeal to all thinking Vermonters who feel that if further expenditure is to be made in this section of the country in behalf of disabled veterans, that the ones located in this State should finally have opportunity for treatment at home. Our disabled veterans for more than 10 years have been forced to go many miles out of the State to receive the necessary attention and this at great expense to the United States Government. Many have refused necessary hospitalization by reason of the distance they have been forced to travel. I have personally known men to refuse to accept hospitalization at Boston because of the distance from here and the fact that they were being removed from their families. There seems to be every good reason why a new hospital, if now erected anywhere in New England, should be erected in Vermont. You are, of course, aware of the large medical center now existing at Burlington with three excellent hospitals and a very large number of eminent surgeons and physicians. All of these are necessarily a part of our State medical college and without them the medical college would probably not function. It seems to me personally, that if such a hospital is to be located in Vermont, it would be advisable to have it where the excellent medical facilities of that locality would be available as well as letting it serve a very useful purpose in connection with the training of new doctors. I trust you will keep this in mind in the event that you are successful in having this bill passed. You have my personal good wishes for success and any cooperation that you may need in this section we will be very glad to give you. I remain, Respectfully yours, Hon. E. W. GIBSON, J. A. MCNAMARA, MOUNT INDEPENDENCE POST, No. 85, AMERICAN LEGION, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: This post is back of you to a man in indorsing of H. R. 11332, authorizing the erection of the Veterans' Bureau hospital in the State of Vermont. Respectfully, Hon. ERNEST W. GIBSON, LAURANCE R. DUFFANY, Post Commander. RANDOLPH POST, No. 9, AMERICAN LEGION, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Respectfully, GORDON R. LA BOUNTY, Commander. BARRE POST, No. 10, THE AMERICAN LEGION, 1 Hon. ERNEST W. GIBSON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: At the regular nreeting of Barre Post, No. 10, American Legion, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That Barre Post, No. 10, American Legion, does hereby indorse the bill introduced before the House of Representatives to authorize the erection of a Veterans' Bureau hospital in the State of Vermont. Whereas the State of Massachusetts now has 4 veterans' hospitals, Connecticut 1, Rhode Island 1, and New Hampshire 1, we urge that the increasingly large number of disabled veterans now residing in Vermont, who are in need of hospitalization, should receive medical care and treatment in a hospital located in their own State. We appreciate your efforts in this regard. CHAS. L. BECK, Adjutant. · Hon. ERNEST W. GIBSON, UNITED STATES VETERANS' BUREAU, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR COLONEL GIESON: I am strongly in favor of the bill which you have introduced for the construction of a veterans' hospital in Vermont. I believe that this is a wonderful opportunity for the State to show that it means business. I wrote to Governor Weeks suggesting to him that he appoint a committee to appear in Washington in favor of this bill when it comes up for a hearing, and he has written me a very nice letter stating that he feels that Vermont should have a veterans' hospital and hopes that the bill will be passed. He believes my suggestion that a committee appear in Washington is a good one if you desire it. If you feel that the State should have a committee appear, I think it would be well for you to indicate this to the governor. I have also written the various organizations in Burlington, calling on them to support you in this matter. Sincerely yours, ALLEN FLETCHER, Regional Manager. SPRINGFIELD POST, No. 18, AMERICAN LEGION, RESOLUTIONS Whereas over 800 disabled veterans of the World War are reported to have been cared for in the regional office of the United States Veterans' Bureau; and Whereas Vermont is entirely without veterans' hospital facilities of any nature except those at distant points in other States, thus making it necessary to send disabled men from Vermont to hospitals in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York; and Whereas this method makes proper contact between the patient, his home, post, and family difficult, entails considerable expense, inconvenience, and often hardship not only to the patient but to his family as well; and Whereas the three southern New England States, to wit, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, already have six veterans' hospitals which should adequately serve their present needs when relieved of the load of northern New England patients; and Whereas the establishment of additional veterans' hospitals in southern New England to the exclusion of the northern New England States, and Vermont in particular, would be construed by this body to be discriminatory in its relation to the needs of the more than 12.000 Vermont men who went out to the World War, many of whom are now suffering from the results of their service: Therefore be it Resolved, That Springfield Post, American Legion, in regular meeting assembled does hereby indorse and heartily commend the request of Hon. Ernest W. Gibson, Congressman from Vermont, second district, for his efforts toward the establishment of a veterans' hospital within the State of Vermont, and respectfully requests the other members of the Vermont delegation to the United States Congress to lend their full and unqualified efforts toward the passage of H. R. 11332, introduced by Mr. Gibson; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to each of Vermont's Representatives in the House and Senate of the United States, a copy to the United States Veterans' Bureau at Washington, D. C., and a copy spread upon the records of this meeting. Hon. E. W. GIBSON, STATE OF VERMONT, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN GIBSON: Noting that you had introduced a bill, the number of which I do not know, asking for an appropriation for a veterans' hospital in the State of Vermont, I am naturally anxious, of course, to be of any service that I can be regarding the matter. It is supposed that you will have hearings before a committee on the bill. Mr. Conway, of Barre, called this morning and asked if, representing the State, I would be willing to be of service that is reasonable to expect, holding the position that I do. I am writing you for information regarding this matter. Learning that there has been a committee appointed by the American Legion to appear, I am wondering whether this will be of sufficient character so that it does not need further support. I am anxious to do what should be done. It is a matter outside of the government of our State and there is no money that could be used to pay expenses of trips to Washington. However, I desire your reaction and advice regarding the advisability of some one appearing other than the committee which has already been designated by the American Legion. Will you kindly write me regarding the matter? Very sincerely yours, 48695-31-8 JOHN E. WEEKS, Governor. BRATTLEBORO UNIT, NO. 5, AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, DEAR COLONEL GIBSON: I have been requested by our American Legion unit to write you and express for them their appreciation for the very splendid interest and support you have shown in veterans' hospital for Vermont. We wish to advise you that you have our entire support at this and all times. We trust you will continue to use your further efforts in behalf of the Legion in furthering the passage of the various bills. With kindest regards from all, beg to remain, sincerely yours, HELEN A. MINALT, Secretary. AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, RANDOLPH UNIT, No. 9, CONGRESSMAN GIBSON, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the splendid interest you have shown in veterans' hospital for Vermont and we urge you to use your utmost influence in the passage of these bills, the Johnson bill, Snell resolution, and the Hawley bill. Assuring you of our earnest support, respectfully, EDNA M. ELLIS, Secretary. ST ALBANS, VT., January 26, 1931. RESOLUTION Whereas there are many veterans of the World War in Vermont who are in need of hospital treatment and care as a result of disability and illness incurred by service in such war; and Whereas the need for adequate hospital facilities for such veterans is constantly increasing; and Whereas there is no veterans' hospital in the State of Vermont or elsewhere in northern New England; and Whereas on account of distances to and the already crowded condition of the veterans' hospitals now available considerable difficulty is experienced in securing prompt hospitalization for ill and disabled veterans from this section: Therefore be it Resolved, That Green Mountain Post, No. 1, American Legion, at St. Albans, Vt., urge the Congress of the United States to provide a hospital in the State of Vermont for treatment and care of veterans in this State and other parts of northern New England needing hospitalization. RICHARD H. POLLARD, Commander. THE AMERICAN LEGION, RESOLUTION NO. 4 Whereas the department commander and various individual posts of the Department of Vermont have previously passed resolutions in support of the attempt of Congressman Ernest W. Gibson to obtain a veterans' hospital for Vermont; and Whereas there does now appear a real need for further hospital facilities for northern New England veterans and that the needs will become increasingly great with the next few years; and Whereas northern New England veterans, especially those of Vermont, have not at the present time adequate hospital facilities to meet the present-day demands for disabled comrades: Therefore be it Resolved, That the Department of Vermont in convention assembled do hereby reaffirm its support of the action of Congressman Gibson and urge an early and complete survey of the situation by the United States Congress. Chairman LYNDES. I move the adoption of that resolution. Motion seconded, and carried. Resolution adopted. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, Col. ERNEST W. GIBSON, MY DEAR COLONEL GIBSON: At a meeting of the Rotary Club in Burlington, Vt., held at the Van Ness Hotel, May 5, 1930, the board of directors considered the question of a United States veterans' hospital to be located in the State of Vermont, as provided for in a bill introduced in the House by you of recent date, and was called to the attention of our rotary club by a letter written by Allen Fletcher, of the United States Veterans' Bureau. The board of directors instructed me to write you a letter advising you that the members of Burlington Rotary Club are heartily in favor of this proposed legislation introduced in Congress by you to provide a veterans' hospital to be located in the State of Vermont for the care and comfort of disabled veterans of the World War, and that we pledge our earnest cooperation to accomplish the enactment of this proposed legislation now pending in Congress. If there is any other action that our rotary club can properly take to assist in this matter, I hope you will feel free to call upon us. With assurance of my personal esteem, I am, Sincerely yours, R. W. McCUM. MONTPELIER POST, No. 3, AMERICAN LEGION, Montpelier, Vt. Whereas the members of Montpelier Post, No. 3, American Legion, have for a protracted period been keenly cognizant of the existing lack of hospitalization facilities for their disabled comrades in the State of Vermont and its immediate environs in northern New England; and Whereas the erection of a Veterans' Bureau hospital within the borders of the State of Vermont would by its location be admirably suited for the care and comfort of those to whom such an institution would prove a blessing; and Whereas we deem that these advantages will necessarily follow the erection of such a hospital in Vermont; first, the quiet and healthful atmosphere that would abound due to the fact that Vermont is primarily a rural State; second, such a hospital would be within easy access of the relatives and friends of our disabled comrades and would permit them to bring both cheer and comfort without the inconvenience which at present exists; third, we believe that a disabled veteran receiving hospitalization within easy access of his home would result in a reassuring mental attitude that would be conducive to expediting his recovery, or, if incurable, make greater personal comfort and peace of mind: Therefore, be it Resolved, That Montpelier Post, No. 3, of the American Legion, indorse H. R. 11332, authorizing the erection of a Veterans' Bureau hospital in Vermont, and that a copy hereof be sent to the Senators and Representatives in Congress from the State of Vermont. In witness whereof Montpelier Post, No. 3, American Legion, causes its name to be subscribed by its duly elected and qualified commander and attested by its adjutant at Montpelier, Vt., this 7th day of May, A. D. 1930. Attest: MONTPELIER POST, No. 3, AMERICAN LEGION, HERBERT W. GALLUP, Adjutant. Mr. GIBSON. There are more at my office, and I will reserve the opportunity of presenting some conclusions by the department commander of the American Legion of the Department of Vermont and the regional manager of the United States Veterans' Bureau of Vermont. I thought I would do it this way rather than to have people come here and testify. We know all the facts. Mrs. ROGERS. I think you enlisted a great many who went overseas. |