tions in the various communities could work the program out with private physicians. It also recognized the extreme scarcity of local physicians. I am personally opposed to communism in any form, including medical care. But at least for the duration of the war, some emergency medical care, outside of that normally provided by private physicians, certainly seems most necessary, for some isolated communities at least. This particular county has tried diligently for many years to secure an adequate staff of physicians to take care of its normal population. After the enormous increase in population due to the war activities of Eglin Field, this problem became increasingly critical. I could write 15 or 20 pages of rather gruesome experiences of persons who were unable to secure medical aid of any kind, but that would be too long for you to attempt to read and would not greatly further the cause here represented. I would sincerely urge that, if possible, some funds be left in the budget for the type medical care mentioned above, even though it be severely reduced. The reason for this, as you can readily see, is that the United States Public Health Service cannot well take care of these services nor can hardly permit them to be carried on under its auspices even at private expense (which in many cases is adequate to cover the needs) when Congress has served a mandate that it does not consider such practice essential. The Senator may be able to lend some help in this particular or the House Appropriations Committee may alter its policy slightly. I will greatly appreciate your influence in either case. sonal regards. Yours truly, With the writer's per JNO. F. CAMPBELL. NICEVILLE, FLA., November 14, 1943. HON. CLAUDE PEPPER, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. PEPPER: With the utmost concern we learn that through lack of proper appropriations there is imminent danger of the discontinuance of the medical center at Valpariso, serving this vicinity. We sincerely believe that any thinking person familiar with the situation here will wholeheartedly agree that the work being done here is desperately needed and should by all means be continued. There has been no resident physician in Niceville or Valpariso for years. Occasionally one can be found in Fort Walton, 12 miles away. Generally it is necessary to go to Crestview, 18 miles, where there is a small private hospital. In many instances, both through lack of transportation and lack of money, the poorer people simply cannot make the trip. They just die. In many thousands of the less populated and less favored communities of the Union, this same condition prevails. War conditions simply emphasizes what is an ever-present need. Protection of the public health is of paramount importance to our Nation at all times. The maintenance of these public health stations is one of the sanest and most humane measures advocated by the present administration. We earnestly urge you to use all facilities within your power to assure the continuance of this most vital service to the public. Respectfully, Mrs. CEBELLE MEIGS. SENATOR PEPPER. Tallahassee, Fla.: MISSION OF ST. ANDREW'S BY THE SEA, This seems like writing to home folks because I believe you are interested in the welfare of this community. We are much disturbed at the possibility of losing benefits of the bay area health unit on account of the congressional cut in appropriation for this center. When that is gone, we have no medical aid nearer than Crestview, 41 miles, or Pensacola, 52 miles. Often patients have gone to Crestview only to find their Committee for a program of emergency medical care to be administered by the Public Health Service. We are glad to know that the citizens of Fleetwood are favorable to the testimony of the Surgeon General. The report of the House Appropriations Committee was released on Novem. ber 4. I regret to state that the report did not allow any funds to the Public Health Service for this program. The House of Representatives passed the report as submitted. It therefore does not seem that the Public Health Service will be able to assist your community in securing the services of a physician. We are, however, calling your letter to the attention of Dr. Max Lapham, executive officer of the central board of the Procurement and Assignment Service. DEAR SIR: This community and seven other villages are now dependent for medical and dental services upon the bay area health clinic, located in Valpariso. This is the first efficient service of this kind in this section of northwest Florida and it is much appreciated by the community. I am told that these medical and dental services are likely to be removed at any time, due to the lack of appropriation. Will you do everything you can to retain this efficient form of health work for the people of northwest Florida? The continuation of this work will be much appreciated. Thanking you. MARY C. WHEELER VALPARISO, FLA., November 11, 1943. Senator CLAUDE PEPPER, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The bay area health center, which has been functioning here for a year, has filled a vital need in the health of the community and its rapidly increasing population due to the defense program. It has been successful due to the services of two Federal-paid doctors. It is greatly desired by the people in this area that sufficient funds be appropriated to retain the services of these doctors. Unless this is done, again this community will be left without a doctor. It would be greatly appreciated if you would do all in your power to keep this health center in operation. Yours truly, Mrs. J. C. PRUITT. HON. CLAUDE PEPPER, OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR PEPPER: I noticed by Sunday's paper that the House Appropriations Committee completely eliminated the fund set up by the United States Office of Public Health for emergency medical care fund. to give medical care to civilians in war areas. You are probably familiar with the needs arising under that head. It seems that the Appropriations Committee, in making its report, did not minimize the need for such facilities but suggested that the committees and associa tions in the various communities could work the program out with private physicians. It also recognized the extreme scarcity of local physicians. I am personally opposed to communism in any form, including medical care. But at least for the duration of the war, some emergency medical care, outside of that normally provided by private physicians, certainly seems most necessary, for some isolated communities at least. This particular county has tried diligently for many years to secure an adequate staff of physicians to take care of its normal population. After the enormous increase in population due to the war activities of Eglin Field, this problem became increasingly critical. I could write 15 or 20 pages of rather gruesome experiences of persons who were unable to secure medical aid of any kind, but that would be too long for you to attempt to read and would not greatly further the cause here represented. I would sincerely urge that, if possible, some funds be left in the budget for the type medical care mentioned above, even though it be severely reduced. The reason for this, as you can readily see, is that the United States Public Health Service cannot well take care of these services nor can hardly permit them to be carried on under its auspices even at private expense (which in many cases is adequate to cover the needs) when Congress has served a mandate that it does not consider such practice essential. The Senator may be able to lend some help in this particular or the House Appropriations Committee may alter its policy slightly. I will greatly appreciate your influence in either case. sonal regards. With the writer's per Yours truly, JNO. F. CAMPBELL. NICEVILLE, FLA., November 14, 1943. HON. CLAUDE PEPPER, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. PEPPER: With the utmost concern we learn that through lack of proper appropriations there is imminent danger of the discontinuance of the medical center at Valpariso, serving this vicinity. We sincerely believe that any thinking person familiar with the situation here will wholeheartedly agree that the work being done here is desperately needed and should by all means be continued. There has been no resident physician in Niceville or Valpariso for years. Occasionally one can be found in Fort Walton, 12 miles away. Generally it is necessary to go to Crestview, 18 miles, where there is a small private hospital. In many instances, both through lack of transportation and lack of money, the poorer people simply cannot make the trip. They just die. In many thousands of the less populated and less favored communities of the Union, this same condition prevails. War conditions simply emphasizes what is an ever-present need. Protection of the public health is of paramount importance to our Nation at all times. The maintenance of these public health stations is one of the sanest and most humane measures advocated by the present administration. We earnestly urge you to use all facilities within your power to assure the continuance of this most vital service to the public. Respectfully, Mrs. CEBELLE MEIGS. MISSION OF ST. ANDREW'S BY THE SEA, SENATOR PEPPER, Tallahassee, Fla.: This seems like writing to home folks because I believe you are interested in the welfare of this community. We are much disturbed at the possibility of losing benefits of the bay area health unit on account of the congressional cut in appropriation for this center. When that is gone, we have no medical aid nearer than Crestview, 41 miles, or Pensacola, 52 miles. Often patients have gone to Crestview only to find their Some have even spent the best part of the night case cannot even be diagnosed. Now you see how tragic that is; so we are looking to you to try your best to see that we may continue to receive benefits of this unit. Yours respectfully, Mrs. C. E. TAYLOR, President, Woman's Auxiliary of above-named Church. DESTIN, FLA., November 13, 1943. Senator PEPPER, Washington, D. O. DEAR SIR: I wish to ask your help to keep the bay area health unit at Valpariso, Fla. The people here won't have any doctor or dentist closer than Crestview, and the one at Crestview has all he can do the population has increased so. The civilians who work at Eglin Field have to use the health unit also. If the unit was discontinued the people here at Destin would suffer as the tires and gas are rationed, and even if they could get to Crestview the one doctor that is there is too busy to see you when you get up to Crestview. Will you please do all you can to help keep this health unit here? Sincerely, MR. AND MRS. GARFIELD TAYLOR, Destin, Fla. DESTIN, FLA., November 13, 1943. Senator PEPPER, Washington, D. C.: The voters of Destin regret the cut in the public health appropriation which endangers the continuation of the bay area health unit, with headquarters at Valparaiso. I, personally, know the value of the services rendered by Dr. Furstenberg, the medical doctor, and Dr. Norcum, the dentist. Washington, apparently, does not realize what a 60-mile trip involves in emergency cases, and before they bay area health unit operated a 60-mile trip was necessary to secure efficient medical care. Following a 60-mile trip, the patient doesn't know if he was to be cared for or not. Couldn't we combine some of our plans for people and children in the warridden sections with some for the people and children in isolated rural sections of their own country? It would seem to me to be sounder planning to have one's own house clean before we start on a mass clean-up in foreign countries; at least it would prove that we practice what we preach-and listen in on the radio propaganda broadcasts. Please do all you can to continue the bay area health unit's services in this area. MRS. FREDERICK K. ZERBE. Senator PEPPER. Mr. Chairman, I would like for the record to show this: In view of the fact that these gentlemen presented the matter to the House committee and it has been turned down over there, they didn't feel disposed to come here and make a special request; that my committee, the Committee on Education and Labor, of which I am chairman of a special subcommittee having to do with this matter, requested these gentlemen to come here, and that is why they are here today. Senator MCKELLAR. We are very much obliged to you. The committee will meet at 10:30 tomorrow morning. (Whereupon, at 12:45 p. m., the subcommittee was adjourned to 10:30 the following morning, Wednesday, November 17, 1943.) FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL NATIONAL DEFENSE APPROPRIATION BILL, 1944 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1943 UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10:30 a. m., Hon. Kenneth McKellar presiding. Present: Senator McKellar, Hayden, Overton, and Nye. NATIONAL YOUTH ADMINISTRATION STATEMENTS OF CHESTER LUND, ADMINISTRATOR; LOWELL VALENTINE, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND STATISTICS; CHARLES STRAUB, ASSISTANT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR; AND GEORGE Y. HARVEY, BUDGET OFFICER, FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY PROGRESS OF LIQUIDATION Senator MCKELLAR. All right, gentlemen, who will be the first witness? Mr. HARVEY. Mr. Lund. Senator MCKELLAR. Mr. Lund; all right. Mr. LUND. Mr. Chairman, if it is agreeable to you and the members of the committee, I would like to make a very brief general statement that will present an overview of the status of N. Y. A. liquidation at the present time. Senator MCKELLAR. We would like for you to do it. Mr. LUND. The Federal Security Appropriation Act of 1944, ordering the liquidation of the National Youth Admiinstration was confirmed by the Senate at approximately 3:30 p. m., Saturday, July 3, 1943: by 6:30 p. m. on the same date an order had been signed and dispatched to each of our 11 regions directing liquidation to begin immediately. 33 93 |