gall bladder, rupture, appendix cases, and these people will have to be operated on, and we wish they could be operated on now, but because there are others ahead of them we have to postpone them. That is the type of cases and those together make 824 in hospital or awaiting hospitalization in Connecticut alone. Mrs. ROGERS. How many come from the service? In other words, how many have disabilities connected with the service? Mr. McCook. From the service, in Connecticut, our percentage runs higher, when I figured it up last, than in other States, service connected and not service connected by different types of cases, and I figured it out last night between 12 and 1 o'clock a minimum of 340 of those are service-connected cases out of 584. Out of the 800 I can not say because I have not any data to go on, but if you take the whole proportion it would be four to five hundred as service connected. The figures of the Veterans' Bureau may show that is absolutely all wrong, but I am simply taking that scale as best I can. Let us go one step further. If 824 is the number of Connecticut cases, and those I will vouch for on the authority of the Veterans' Bureau of Hartford, then Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts will add presumably 60 per cent. I have taken only 50 per cent, to be conservative. That would make 1,236 in this southern New England area at this very minute that you are sitting here that are in hospitals or in need of hospitalization, in southern New England, and our present bed capacity, with that to be opened in two or three months, 232, will be an outside of 1,004 beds now. I think that in itself shows the need. I do not think anything more is needed for our case to show the need. I feel the point of economy is really secondary because while dollars are important human lives are more important, and we are spending our dollars to save human lives. But I do get these figures from the Veterans' Bureau on the subject of economy. That hospital to date has cost, including the land, $1,153,000. If we add to that, as the chairman pointed out was important, the recreation building, at a minimum cost of $125,000, a duplex building, you have $1,278,000 for 232 beds. I asked the engineer at the Veterans' Bureau, assuming the overhead, the power plant has been built, the administration building, the land, and so forth, what it would cost to double it to put in 232 beds. He said it would be between $2,750 and $3,000 a bed. I have taken the maximum of 3,000 beds. That makes $696,000, which would mean doubling the hospital for 54 per cent of its original cost. That is what I mean by economy. We can double its capacity at 54 per cent of the cost. There is one other point on economy. That is, move the regional office from Hartford to the hospital. It occupies 7,181 square feet of hospital space, taking out beds. The hospital was built for 250 beds, which cuts it down to 232. There are 18 beds directly accounted for. I asked what rent would be saved. They are paying $10,000 for rental, which would be reduced, and perhaps $9,500 will be saved by moving over to Newington. Capitalizing $9,500 at 4 per cent, and the Government can get its money cheaper than that, you have practically a quarter of a million dollars saved by the fact that the Veterans' Bureau is put into one of our hospital buildings, taking out 7,000 feet of floor space. I suggest there is $225,000 that could be appropriately used for our purposes. Mrs. ROGERS. We are called upon the floor of the House. Mr. McCook. I can file a brief. You have been most generous to us all. Three years ago you were, and you are generous in the time accorded us now. On behalf of our committee I wish to thank you. Mrs. ROGERS. The committee is very much interested in the whole matter. You may file your brief. The committee has enjoyed your statements. It is always a pleasure to have you and your witnesses appear before this subcommittee. I well remember your able presentation of your claim for a hospital two years ago. I am very glad that the hospital is now completed. (The brief referred to is as follows:) JANUARY 29, 1931. PRELIMINARY BRIEF (SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND) Request is for increase to 500 beds of United States Veterans' Hospital for southern New England, at Newington. Southern New England includes Connecticut, Rhode Island, and southeast Massachusetts. Present capacity is 232 beds, of which 135 are at present allocated to general surgical and medical and 97 to neuropsychiatric. Estimated veteran population served, over 100,000; civilian population, over 2,000,000. We have never drawn State lines. The whole northeast of the United States is a unit. There is no reason why this hospital should not also serve all Massachusetts, Vermont, and eastern New York, e. g., the Twenty-sixth and Seventysixth Divisions. Present hospital will be opened about May 1. The Veterans' Bureau agrees it will be filled within two weeks, with a waiting list beyond. The peak of the load is 1,945 (Veterans' Bureau estimate, informal). It will take over a year to add these beds. Meanwhile the deficit will have increased. As of January 24, 1931, there were 504 Connecticut veterans in hospitals. As of January 24, 1931, there were 120 Connecticut veterans awaiting hospitalization (no facilities). As of January 24, 1931, there were 200 Connecticut veterans awaiting hospitalization but not formally on the waiting list. Total, 824 for Connecticut alone. Adding only 50 per cent for Rhode Island and Massachusetts, 412, total for southern New England, 1,236, conservatively (all major cases). In 1933 it will be larger; in 1945 enormous. Compare this 1,236 with our present 232, or requested 500. If some of the 1,236 would properly be hospitalized outside of Newington, an equal number from outside could properly be sent to Newington. From any angle the overload is shocking. ECONOMY. In human life and suffering it pays to have the hospital built ahead of the need rather than after death. In dollars the same; else why spend any dollars at all? The present land and buildings cost $1,153,000. Add recreation building and quarters (essential), $125,000 (minimum), or $1,278,000 for 232 (present). N. B.-Estimated cost of 232 additional, $695,000, or only 51 per cent more, to double present capacity. The Veterans' Bureau regional office will take 7,181 square feet of the main hospital building. Moving the bureau from Hartford to Newington will save $9.500 rent per year. Capitalized at 4 per cent, this equals $237,500, or over one-third of what we ask for new beds. We also ask $90,000 for the essential recreation building which has been omitted. All doctors say this is vital, both to the sick and to the convalescent. Respectfully submitted, ANSON T. McCook, Chairman. (Thereupon, at 12.15 o'clock p. m., the subcommittee adjourned to meet again at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Friday, January 30, 1931.) WORLD WAR VETERANS' LEGISLATION VERMONT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1931 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee this day met, Hon. Edith N. Rogers presiding. Mrs. ROGERS. The committee will come to order. The committee will be very glad to hear Colonel Gibson, of Vermont, a very distinguished member of this subcommittee and a veteran who has a very distinguished war record. It seems fitting that he should be given every possible consideration in his plea for a veterans' hospital. Colonel Gibson was responsible for the enlistment of many of the sons of Vermont and went overseas with these boys. He performed a great service to his State and to the Nation. Mr. GIBSON. As far as my State is concerned, the figures of the hospital load of veterans hospitalized from Vermont, I assume you have the figures from the Veterans' Bureau. I will supplement these figures with a report of the regional manager at Burlington. Without attempting to read them I will put in the record certain resolutions, some of them referring to a hospital for northern New England, and some for a hospital for Vermont. Mr. HALE. I have no objection whatever. Mr. GIBSON. A resolution adopted by the chambers of commerce at Springfield and Bennington, Vt., the American Legion Post at Bennington, the chamber of commerce at Rutland, the American Legion Post at Burlington, the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Vermont, the aldermen of the city of Burlington, the chamber of commerce of the city of Vergennes, the Chamber of Commerce of St. Johnsbury; a telegram from Brattleboro Post, No. 5, American Legion; a resolution from the Vermont State Council of the Knights of Columbus; a letter from certain individual members of Post 48 of Fairhaven; resolutions of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, the Winooski Council, Junior Order of American Mechanics, the Rotary Club of Randolph; a letter from the chairman of the Child Welfare Department of the Vermont American Legion; resolution of Montpelier Post, No. 3, Vergennes Post, No. 4, calling specifically for a hospital in northern New England; a letter from Social Lodge, No. 38, F. A. A. M., Masons at Wilmington, Newport Post, No. 21, of the American Legion; a letter from former Depart ment Commander Fred B. Thomas, of Randolph; a telegram from the Middlebury Post of the American Legion; one from John J. McBride, Post 44, American Legion at Dorset; Danville Chamber of Commerce; Burlington B. P. O. E., No. 916; the commander of the post at Shoreham, the commander of the American Legion Post of Randolph; American Legion Barre Post, No. 10, Barre; a telegram from the Barre City Council; a letter from the regional manager at Burlington; resolution from Springfield Post, No. 18, Springfield; letter from Hon. John E. Weeks, former Governor of Vermont; Brattleboro Unit, No. 5, Brattleboro; American Legion Auxiliary, the Auxiliary Unit of Robert T. Shepardson Post, No. 82, of South Londonderry; Randolph Unit, No. 9, American Legion Auxiliary of Randolph; St. Albans American Legion Post; a resolution adopted by the American Legion Department of Vermont at its last annual convention, Rotary Club of Burlington, and Montpelier Post, No. 3, of Montpelier; also a memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Vermont, and that I would like to read into the record because I wish to present it to Congress. Whereas the United States Government has established a policy of constructing hospitals for the care of the veterans of the various wars; and Whereas Vermont is one of the few States for which hospitals have not been built; and Whereas there now appears a real need for hospital facilities for Vermont, and this will become increasingly great within the next few years; and Whereas it is undeniably true that the scenic advantages of Vermont are unsurpassed and that Vermont is renowned for the purity of its air and water and the health of its climate, making it an ideal location for a veterans' hospital: Therefore be it Resolved, That the General Assembly of the State of Vermont memorialize the Congress of the United States in favor of the passage of such legislation as will enable the Veterans' Bureau to build a veterans' hospital in the State of Vermont for the care of sick and disabled veterans and for the housing of veterans' activities of the Federal Government; be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to each member of the Vermont delegation in the Congress. Approved January 28, 1931. EDWARD H. DEAVITT, Speaker of the House of Representatives. President of the Senate. STANLEY C. WILSON, Governor. STATE OF VERMONT, I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of joint resolution relating to disabled veterans' hospital in Vermont approved January 28, 1931. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal, at Montpelier, this 30th day of January, A. D. 1931. (The letters and resolutions referred to above are as follows:) RESOLUTION Whereas there is no United States veterans' hospital located in the State of Vermont; and Whereas there is an urgent need for a veterans' hospital for the diagnosis, care, and treatment of general, medical, and surgical disabilities, not only for the Vermont veterans but also for veterans residing in other northern New England States; and Whereas such a hospital would be of tremendous benefit to World War veterans and veterans of all other wars for the treatment of general, medical, and surgical disabilities, a right which has been given them by law, providing hospital facilities are available; and Whereas Hon. Ernest W. Gibson, representing the second district of Vermont in the National House of Representatives, realizing the need for such a hospital, has introduced a bill known as H. R. 11332 to authorize the erection of a United States Veterans' Bureau hospital in Vermont and to authorize the necessary appropriation: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Chamber of Commerce of Springfield, Vt., That we heartily favor the proposed measure for a veterans' hospital to be located in the State of Vermont and pledge our assistance to accomplish its enactment; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Congressman Ernest W. Gibson and other members of the Vermont delegation in Congress. To Hon. Ernest W. Gibson, of Vermont, and to the honorable Members of Congress who are on the Committee for World War Veterans' Legislation this resolution is respectfully submitted. Whereas we, the members of Bennington Post, No. 13, of the American Legion. feel that there is a very urgent need of more adequate hospitalization facilities for World War veterans in this part of New England; and Whereas we feel that there can be found no location more desirable or more suitable for the purpose for which it is intended: Therefore be it Resolved, That we commit ourselves as being 100 per cent in favor of the passage of H. R. 11332, a bill presented to the Congress by Hon. E. W. Gibson, of Vermont, and providing for the erection of a World War veterans' hospital in Vermont; and be it further Resolved, That we notify Hon. E. W. Gibson and the congressional committee in charge of the bill of our sentiments and that we urge other representative organizations of our community to send resolutions to Washington favoring the passage of H. R. 11332. Signed for the post: Hon. ERNEST W. GIBSON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. A. L. MURPHY, Commander. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN: At the regular meeting of the board of governors of the Rutland Chamber of Commerce held Wednesday, June 4, 1930, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: "Resolved, That since Hon. Ernest W. Gibson, Vermont Representative from the second district, had already introduced a bill, known as H. R. 11332, to authorize the erection of a United States veterans' hospital in Vermont; and "Whereas the Rutland Chamber of Commerce feel that there is a need for such a hospital in the State of Vermont in order to take care of disabled war veterans for general treatment and disabilities, a right which each one of them are entitled to; and "Whereas it is now necessary for Vermont boys to go to other States to receive medical attention; and 66 Whereas such an institution erected in Vermont would also be of value to New Hampshire and Maine: Therefore be it "Resolved by the Rutland Chamber of Commerce, That we heartily indorse the proposed measure submitted by Hon. Ernest W. Gibson and pledge our assistance to accomplish its enactment; and be it further "Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Congressman Ernest W. Gibson and other members of the Vermont delegation in Congress." Very truly yours, L. M. TYE, Manager. RESOLUTION Whereas it has come to the attention of Burlington Post No. 2, The American Legion, Burlington, Vt., that Hon. Ernest W. Gibson, representing the second district of Vermont in the National House of Representatives, has introduced |