June 30 by Alaska surplus property service cost Federal Government approximately $820,000 to acquire." Dollar value spread between this 6 months figure and $1,200,000 above mentioned shows extent of program's possibilities if legislation enacted to enlarge. Likewise shows how little now being obtained. Small municipalities particularly benefited by former eligibility for surplus Situation property and enabled to obtain goods otherwise beyond their means. unique in Alaska account cost of return shipment of Federal surplus property to other States oftentimes exceeding value, or money return to Government, while depriving localities wherein property found surplus of use of such goods. By same token Alaska cannot participate realistically in sales held elsewhere. WILLIAM A. EGAN, Governor. Hon. ERNEST Gruening, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, June 18, 1959. The board of directors of the Spenard Public Utilities District has seen your recent telegram to Tony Schwamm regarding amendment to existing surplus property disposal laws. The board of directors urgently requests that any amendment include provision to make surplus Federal property available to municipal agencies within the State of Alaska to assist in solving the great problems which hold up road and street building in Alaska. Help in constructing needed rights-of-way will contribute greatly to the growth of the area in aiding health agencies, educational institutions, civil defense, the patronage of libraries, and agencies engaged in agricultural extension work, welfare agencies, recreation agencies and in the lifesaving and property saving efforts of local volunteer fire departments. JOHN DUNSTAN, Manager, Spenard Public Utility District. ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, June 9, 1959. Hon. ERNEST GRUENING, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.: Careful investigation shows Alaska communities progressed most during the period that these areas were able to obtain surplus Federal property and many such communities had only begun to acquire surplus property when the act was abolished much to the distress of towns and villages that were unable to obtain such property due to transportation difficulties. In the field of aviation here the State will be operating nineteen more airports basically used by the military and the State must provide adequate equipment to maintain these airports as well as those already constructed under Federal air program in a good safe usable manner which is a tremendous task. Airport access roads must also be maintained as well as isolated village streets and roads to provide primary cleanliness for health problems. I cannot urge too strongly the need for expanding the scope of the surplus disposal act to allow the new State and its communities to help themselves by acquiring surplus Federal property as without this means hand labor will still be in order and progress geared to that speed. The Commissioner of Public Works joins me in requesting additional agencies be allowed to obtain surplus property as a means of rapid growth for our fast growing State. It would be absolutely impossible for communities to obtain the various types of construction and maintenance machinery without this assistance from the Federal Government. Most communities could not even pay the high cost of the freight from the States on such machinery as $5,000 is the normal dockside freight charges. I strongly urge the Surplus Property Act be expanded to cities, towns, villages, and State government as quickly as possible. TONY SCHWAMM, Aviation Consultant, State of Alaska. Senator GRUENING. I have a statement from Senator Barry Goldwater on S. 2244, and also a statement from Senator Hubert Humphrey on his bill S. 1210. Both statements will be incorporated into the record at this point. STATEMENT OF HON. BARRY GOLDWATER, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA, ON S. 2244 Senator GOLDWATER. This bill would, as its title states, promote the welfare of the American Indian tribes by making available to them surplus personal property. All of us know that population on Indian reservations is increasing. On some reservations, the available resources won't support this expanding population. On others there is a need to supplement farm equipment in cases where Indians are unable to obtain it by other means. There is hardship on the reservations in wintertime, especially on the reservations in the Northern States. In the blizzard areas, winter needs of the Indians constitute a staggering problem. As we are all aware, various agencies of the Federal Government from time to time declare items surplus to their needs and permit them to be disposed of to other organizations that need them. School districts, Boy Scout troops, military reservist armories, local and State park groups and civic organizations benefit from the program. I suggest that Indian tribes, bands and groups might well benefit from the same source. Certainly there are many instances when, if surplus farm tools, clothing and bedding were available, the Indians could have their inconvenience lessened. I think it is a good idea to put surplus items to work on reservations. This is not simply a humanitarian gesture. There is a practical side to it. If we can find a method to make available to Indians farm machinery and earthmoving equipment and the like, we will be helping them to help themselves and consequently we will remove some of the burden of assistance from Federal, State and local offices. It is recognized that this bill might require other legislation to implement it, so that the best possible way-and that would mean the simplest way could be found to handle the administrative details of transferring the surplus property into Indian hands. Already we are moving surplus food items into reservations, and it is customary for the tribal organization, not the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to arrange for the distribution of the food to the families that need it. Perhaps a similar system could be set up to distribute these other items. We may have to call on the General Services Administration to suggest ways of making our goal a reality, since GSA has had so much experience in this particular field. No matter what we must do at a later date, I submit that this bill gives a starting point and would open the door so we could get on with the job of helping Indians in a new way. I am sure of this: It does not make good sense to let surplus equipment gather dust in a warehouse when it could be used to help the Americans on Indian reservations find their rightful place in society. STATEMENT OF HON. HUBERT H. HUMPHREY, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA Senator HUMPHREY. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to testify before this subcommittee on behalf of my bill, S. 1210, to permit donations of surplus Federal property to volunteer firefighting organizations. This bill would amend the Federal Property and Administration Services Act of 1949. This act presently provides that personal be property which becomes surplus to all Federal requirements may donated without cost (except for costs of care and handling) for use in any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories and possessions of the United States for use for purposes of education, public health, or civil defense, or for research for any such purpose when the property is determined by proper authority to be useful and necessary for such purposes. My bill would amend the present act so as to include volunteer firefighting organizations. There are thousands of volunteer firefighting organizations throughout the land that are inadequately equipped for their responsibilities in protecting life and property. Tens of thousands of civicminded individuals give unstintingly of their time, effort, and resources to maintain these units. Modern fire engines may cost from $25,000 to $30,000 or even more. Other types of needed equipment are also costly. Except for such engines volunteer firefighting organizations' equipment needs are relatively small, consisting of such items as water tanks, pumps, firehose, tank truck, rope, axes, tarps, picks, shovels, lanterns, hooks, and, when a kitchen is maintained, items such as chinaware, knives, forks, spoons, and cooking utensils and sometimes stoves, etc. Witnesses have testified that much of the equipment is in Federal Government warehouses, unused and unwanted and sometimes it is sold as scrap. Also, that sales of this property are usually in larger lots than the volunteer firefighting organizations can afford to acquire and hence they must purchase at higher retail prices. Testimony has also revealed that many items of surplus firefighting equipment are not utilized by the Federal agencies nor by the education, health, and civil defense agencies and hence are sold at small return to the Government and then offered for sale to firefighting organizations. It is my opinion that this property bought with public funds, if useful and needed, should be donated to such a high public purpose as protecting life and property by volunteer firefighting organizations. This proposal, I might add, Mr. Chairman, passed the House of Representatives on August 12, 1958 (H.R. 13673). A similar bill has been offered in the House of Representatives by Mr. Fogarty (H.R. 3722) again this year, and it has been favorably reported by the Subcommittee on Donable Property to the full House Committee on Government Operations. Mr. Chairman, it is my hope that this measure will be promptly considered and enacted into law. Senator GRUENING. There are a number of other statements which will be included in the record. The record will be kept open for the receipt of other statements and for further hearing. Is there anyone here who has not been heard who would like to be heard? Is there anyone who has been heard who would like to be heard further? If not, we will recess the hearings until the call of the chair. (Communications received by Senator Keating on S. 1365, previously referred to, follow :) Hon. KENNETH B. KEATING, ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 31, 1959. Will you please convey to the Subcommittee of the Senate Government Operations Committee considering S. 1365 our strong beliefs that no better use can be made of Federal surpius property than to make it available to accredited voluntary welfare and recreation agencies? Inflationary prices are making it utterly impossible for many charitable organizations to afford replacement of their equipment as it becomes obsolete and inefficient. Availability of Federal surplus property to our agencies would help immeasurably to relieve this situation. We earnestly hope that the subcommittee working on this bill will give this matter serious and favorable consideration. RICHARD P. MILLER, Manager, Community Chest of Rochester and Monroe Counties. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., August 3, 1959. Hon. KENNETH KEATING, Please act favorably on Senate bill 1365 authorizing use of Federal surplus property by welfare and recreation agencies. As chairman of the Salvation Army New York Advisory Board, strongly urge passage of bill S. 1365 making Salvation Army and other agencies eligible for Federal surplus property. WILLIAM COLLINS. DES MOINES, Iowa, August 3, 1959. Hon. KENNETH KEATING, Washington, D.C.: We sincerely urge your support of Senate bill 1365. MARGUERITE COTHORN, Secretary, Recreation Division, Council of Social Agencies. Hon. KENNETH B. KEATING, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.: DENVER, COLO., August 4, 1959. The Denver Urban League urges the passage of Senate bill No. 1365. SEBASTIAN OWENS, Executive Director. Senator KENNETH B. KEATING, DENVER, COLO., August 4, 1959. Would appreciate your favorable consideration of S. 1365 making recreational and welfare agencies eligible to purchase surplus Government property. Msgr. ELMER J. KOLKA, Director, Catholic Charities. Senator KENNETH B. KEATING, DES MOINES, Iowa, August 4, 1959. We urge your support of Senate bill 1365 to authorize disposal of Federal surplus property to welfare and recreation centers. BOARD AND STAFF OF WILKIE HOUSE, INC. DENVER, COLO., August 4, 1959. Hon. KENNETH B. KEATING, We urge your support of bill No. 1365 pertaining to surplus commodities. The surplus commodities are of great value to charitable institutions such as DENVER ORPHANS HOME ASSOCIATION. ours. BUFFALO, N.Y., August 4, 1959. Hon. KENNETH B. KEATING, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.: All salvationists and others here approve your bill S. 1365. Good luck. Lt. Col. ARTHUR S. WOODRUFF, Senator KENNETH KEATING, Divisional Commander. KANSAS CITY, Mo., August 4, 1959. Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.: The board of directors and the staff of Minutes Circle Friendly House urges you to vote favorably for Senate bill 1365. Our welfare agency could put to good use Government surplus kitchen utensils, maintenance, and workshop tools. The welfare dollar is stretched beyond its availability now, and the bill would be an asset. Mrs. ARTHUR NOWELL, Executive Director, Minutes Circle Friendly House. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., August 5, 1959. Senator KENNETH KEATING, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.: We commend you for your efforts on behalf of the welfare and recreation agencies and wish to inform you that the Westchester County Recreation Commission is in total agreement with you and request your further efforts to authorize disposal of Federal surplus property to recreation agencies. SAL J. PREZIOSO, Superintendent, Westchester County Recreation Commission. Hon. KENNETH B. KEATING, DENVER, COLO., August 5, 1959. Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.: The board of directors of the YWCA sincerely request that every effort possible be made to insure Senate bill 1365 be brought before the Senate in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, August 6. H. S. THOMAS A. GARDNER, |