INDIANAPOLIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
January 10, 1931.

Mrs. EDITH NOURSE ROGERS, M. C.,

Chairman Subcommittee on Hospitalizatiton,

World War Veterans' Legislation Committee.

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MRS. ROGERS: It has been the very great privilege of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce to cooperate with the United States Veterans' Bureau in procurement, without cost to the Government, of the site on which the new general hospital for veterans in Indiana is about to be constructed. You may have been informed that the site consists of 30 acres of the most choice ground in our beautiful 1,200-acre Riverside Park. We shall be pleased to continue our interest and aid whenever it may be desired by the Veterans' Bureau, both during the construction of the hospital and throughout the years to come in operation of this great institution.

While others more competently may state the urgent need from the standpoint of the number of veterans in this region for enlargement of the hospital to an institution of 500 beds, the information at our disposal seems to us to leave no question but that the enlargement is desirable from the standpoint of the Government. It would most certainly be more economical to have the enlargement provided for at this time to take advantage of savings that would not be possible if the expansion came after completion of the first units and also to take advantage of the very low building costs now prevailing. We therefore respectfully urge your favorable consideration of the legislation authorizing an appropriation for enlargement of the hospital to 500 beds.

We are most anxious for your committee to know of our interest in the hospital and our desire to be helpful to the Veterans' Bureau in accomplishing any of its purposes in connection with this institution.

Yours very sincerely,

LOUIS J. BORINSTEIN, President.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND., January 7, 1931.

To whom it may concern:

It is earnestly requested that the Veterans' Bureau committee favorably consider the granting of additional beds up to a total of 500 for the Indiana Veterans' Bureau hospital, now in presage of construction.

A. S. JAEGER,

President Seventh District Medical Society of Indiana.

Mrs. EDITH NOURSE ROGERS,

INDIANA STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
Indianapolis, Ind., January 10, 1931.

Chairman Subcommittee on Hospitalization of

World War Veterans' Legislation Committee,

National House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MRS ROGERS: The Indiana State Chamber of Commerce respectfully urges you and your committee to give favorable consideration to the proposal now before you for an additional authorization to make possible enlargement of the new general hospital for veterans of Indiana to 500 beds.

We feel sure the facts presented to your committee will clearly show the need of the additional capacity, and that you will recognize that it would be much more economical for the Government to provide for this need now, while the first units are just being started and while building costs are at a low ebb, than at any later time.

We have been happy to give our indorsement to the hospital project, because it is concrete evidence of the gratitude of our people toward those who offered themselves to the military service of the Nation.

Yours very truly,

W. H. ARNETT, Managing Director.

STATEMENT OF ARTHUR R. ROBINSON, UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM INDIANA

Madam Chairman and members of the committee, Congress by prior legislation has provided for the erection of a veterans' hospital in the State of Indiana, and $500,000 has been appropriated for that purpose.

The Veterans' Bureau, through its board of hospitalization, has decided that this hospital be located in the city of Indianapolis.

This is all well and good so far as it goes, but the provisions already made will take care of only 150 of our sick and wounded veterans. We now have between eight and nine hundred Indiana veterans hospitalized in other States, and in all fairness to them and to their relatives and friends arrangements should be made as speedily as possible to take care of them in their own State. I am informed that the regional Veterans' Bureau at Indianapolis has on file constantly a waiting list of nearly 200 veterans who have been recommended for hospitalization and that this list is growing year after year, so it may readily be seen that the 150 beds allotted us are engaged even before the contract has been let for the construction of the proposed hospital; and still we have no opportunity of bringing back those who are now far away from their friends and relatives.

The time to enlarge the hospital which has been provided for is while it is being constructed, and I sincerely hope some action will be taken at this session of Congress to that end.

Respectfully submitted.

ARTHUR R. ROBINSON.

UNITED STATES SENATE,

January 8, 1931.

Hon. WILLIAM FORTUNE,

Chamber of Commerce Building, Indianapolis, Ind.

DEAR WILL: I want to congratulate you upon your most generous gift of the site for the new United States veterans' hospital. This is but renewed evidence of the public spirit that has characterized your conduct for a long number of years.

I can not conceive of a finer life to live or of a more satisfactory way to make the journey than the one you have chosen and followed so religiously. You were richly endowed by nature for this work and you have added to those natural endowments an invaluable experience that has strengthened your fitness to carry on in this favored fashion.

If we had more people willing to sacrifice for the benefit of the public and for the betterment of their fellow citizens and the improvement of living conditions generally our country would be all the better off, our private lives all the more beautifully lived, and our public affairs more harmoniously and happily conducted.

I count it a privilege to know you and to number you among my friends.
With all good wishes for your future prosperity and happiness,
Sincerely yours,

JAMES E. WATSON.

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,

Hon. EDITH N. ROGERS,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., January 21, 1931.

Chairman Subcommittee on Hospitalization,

World War Veterans' Legislation, House of Representatives.

DEAR MRS. ROGERS: The veterans' hospital is now being considered for Indiana, and it is contemplated providing for but 300 beds for invalid soldiers who participated in the World War. As there are many more than 300 in the hospitals from Indiana, and inasmuch as the operation of small units which have overhead expenses very much greater than a hospital containing a larger number of beds, I see no reason why the hospital which is to be built at Indianapolis should not contain 600 or more beds, as contended for by Dr. George W. Bowman, chairman of the hospitalization committee of Indiana Department of the American Legion.

A hospital with 600 beds can have the advantage of superior medical direction,. of greater surgical and medical equipment, for a much less cost per unit.

I sincerely trust that your committee will give attention to the acts as set forth in Doctor Bowman's appeal and grant his request both in the interest of better service to the veteran and less cost per unit to the Federal Government.. With kind regards, I remain, very truly yours,

JAMES W. DUNBAR, Member of Congress.

STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN NOBLE J. JOHNSON, OF INDIANA, IN THE MATTER OF INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE VETERANS' HOSPITAL BEING BUILT IN INDIANA

Madam Chairman and members of the committee, I wish to add my indorsement to the proposed legislation to enlarge the Indiana veterans' hospital from 150 beds to 500 beds.

There are over 146,000 World War veterans and over 7,000 Spanish-American War veterans in Indiana. There is vital need for this proposed increase in hospital facilities. It is not reasonable to believe that a hospital with 150 beds will be sufficient to serve over 153,000 veterans. The Government should pro-. vide ample hospital facilities for our ex-soldiers. A hospital of 150-bed capacity will not be sufficient to give hospitalization to those entitled to be hospitalized in the State of Indiana. When our veterans need hospitalization they should be hospitalized at that time and not be put on a waiting list and compelled to wait several months before receiving the treatment they need, and the Government should provide whatever hospital facilities are necessary so the veterans may be hospitalized and given proper treatment at once.

I doubt very much if a 500-bed hospital will be sufficient to properly care for Indiana's veterans, but feel certain we should not provide for one smaller than 500 beds. Facts have been presented showing the need of this legislation, and I urge you to favorably report the bill at an early date.

Mr. LUDLOW. I believe that concludes our hearing, and we thank you very much for your patient consideration.

Mrs. ROGERS. We are very much interested in your whole problem. I know your great interest and that of Senator Robinson and other Members from Indiana in the hospital program for the veterans. We have a difficult work ahead of us.

Mr. LUDLOW. Is it your thought that you will be able to report a bill soon?

Mrs. ROGERS. The committee hope very much that it can report a bill, but whether or not it can be passed at this session of Congress is problematical. My personal belief is that we may be able to get some additional facilities this year. I hope so.

Mr. Hall of Indiana and Mr. Elliott have introduced bills, as follows:

[H. R. 10255, Seventy-first Congress, second session]

A BILL To authorize the erection of a Veterans' Bureau hospital at Marion, Indiana, and to authorize the appropriation therefor

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order that the United States may in part fulfill its sacred obligations to its World War veterans, the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau, subject to the approval of the President, is authorized and directed to contract for the erection of a three hundred bed patient capacity hospital plant, with diagnostic facilities, for the diagnosis, care, and treatment of neuropsychiatric disabilities, and to provide Government care for the increasing load of mentally afflicted veterans, regardless of whether said disability developed prior to January 1, 1925, at a cost.

not to exceed $1,000,000; such construction to provide additional hospital and out-patient dispensary facilities for persons entitled to hospitalization under the World War veterans' act, 1924, as amended. Such hospital and out-patient dispensary facilities shall include the necessary buildings and auxiliary constructions, mechanical equipment, approach work, roads, and trackage facilities leading thereto; vehicles, livestock, furniture, equipment, and accessories; and shall also provide accommodations for officers, nurses, and attending personnel; and shall also provide proper and suitable recreational centers; and the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau is authorized to accept gifts or donations for any purposes herein named.

SEC. 2. The construction shall be done in such manner as the President may determine; and he is authorized to require the architectural, engineering, constructing, or other forces of any of the departments of the Government to aid or assist such work, and to employ individuals and agencies not now connected with the Government, if in his opinion desirable, at such compensation as he may consider reasonable.

SEC. 3. For carrying into effect the foregoing provisions relating to additional hospital and out-patient dispensary facilities there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $1,000,000 to be immediately available and to remain available until expended; and not to exceed 3 per centum of this sum shall be available for the employment, in the District of Columbia and in the field, of necessary technical and clerical assistants at the customary rates of compensation, exclusively to aid in the preparation of the plans and specifications for the projects authorized herein and for the supervision of the execution thereof, and for traveling expenses, field equipment, and supplies in connection therewith.

[H. R. 6580, Seventy-first Congress, second session]

A BILL To authorize the erection of a Veterans' Bureau hospital in the State of Indiana Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau is hereby authorized and directed to contract for and cause to be erected in the State of Indiana a modern, sanitary, fireproof hospital plant of not less than five hundred bed-patient capacity, for the diagnosis, care, and treatment of general, medical, surgical, and neuropsychiatric disabilities, such hospital to provide additional hospital and out-patient dispensary facilities for persons entitled to hospitalization under the World War veterans' act, 1924, as amended.

SEC. 2. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the United States Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to carry out the provisions of this act, the sum of $2,000,000, to be immediately available and remain available until expended.

STATEMENT OF JOHN A. HARTMAN, CHICAGO, ILL.

Mr. TAYLOR. On the Illinois situation Mr. Hartman will make a statement.

Mr. HARTMAN. Mrs. Rogers and members of this committee, the Legion in Illinois is interested in three measures now under consideration by Congress-the additions requested for the hospital at Dwight, the Edward Hines Hospital at Hines, Ill., and the Hospital for Psychotics at North Chicago, Ill.

Each of these measures have been acted upon by the State convention at Aurora, Ill., and were subsequently satified by the national convention at Boston. With the permission of the committee, I will take them in order.

UNITED STATES VETERANS' HOSPITAL, DWIGHT, ILL.

This is a general hospital, located 77 miles from Chicago. It was the old Keeley Institute purchased by the bureau about 1924. The buildings are about 25 years old. It has a capacity of 225 beds, with an average load of 210 to 215 patients. It is a general hospital treating for the most part men from central and southern Illinois. Chronic heart and stomach cases form the greater part of the load. Approximately 30 per cent of the cases are service connected. There are no facilities at this hospital for T. B. or N. P. patients. It is impossible to enlarge the present reservation, as Dwight is a small town and the hospital is located in the center of it.

The Legion after careful study, make the following recommendations for adoption by Congress:

1. The construction of a suitable home for the M. O. C.
2. The construction of quarters for male personnel.

3. The construction of a 6 or 8 apartment building for doctors. 3a. The construction of an electric elevator to carry patients from the first to the third floor.

The committee appreciates the fact that a great many heart cases are hospitalized in this hospital and it is necessary for them to walk up and down from the third floor to go to their meals.

4. The conversion of the present nurses' home in a recreation building, with suitable auditorium for talking pictures, card rooms, library, and so forth.

5. The construction of a suitable nurses' home.

It is impossible for doctors to rent homes in this town or any town within 23 miles from the station, as this is a mining community and new buildings are not being erected, nor has there been any for a number of years. It is also the opinion of the Legion in Illinois that this hospital will be needed for an indefinite period. The improvements recommended are considered absolutely necessary for the efficient operation of the hospital and will tend to increase its capacity by about 30 beds by removing the present so-called recreation room and library to other space. They are now located in an unsatisfactory space, as gatherings of any group of patients disturb the bed patients located adjacent to the recreation rooms.

This hospital, unlike the other institutions of the Veterans' Bureau, can not have talking pictures installed because the recreation room is located practically in the center of the hospital on the second floor with patients' rooms to the right and left of it. Mrs. ROGERS. You have how many patients there?

Mr. HARTMAN. There are 212 patients there now and these figures are as of last Friday.

Mrs. ROGERS. The figures I have are in November. Of course, your load will increase.

Mr. HARTMAN. And the fact that this hospital lists 12 vacant beds is simply a paper proposition, the same condition we have to contend with in other institutions because of the classification and necessary transfers from one ward to the other.

Mr. FENN. Does this enumeration in House Joint Resolution 422 cover what you have just told us?

Mr. HARTMAN. I do not know.