The CHAIRMAN. How much of an unexpended balance have you now or are there any contracts outstanding against this appropriation?

Maj. BROWN. We have obligated approximately $25,000 beyond the present appropriation.

The CHAIRMAN. So that you are really $25,000 behind now?

Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir. Of this $150,000 we would apply $25,000 on contracts which have already been let and $125,000 on contracts to be let.

The CHAIRMAN. And you feel quite safe in saying that if the appropriation is authorized, you would be able to complete the psychopathic section, and all the units of the power plant necessary, and the domestic section of the building between now and the 1st of July?

Maj. BROWN. We may need a little more than $125,000, but that will very safely carry us until the 1st of July.

Mr. SISSON. With this $125,000 you will have enough to put in operation the psychopathic group?

Maj. BROWN. It may take a bit more than that.

Mr. SISSON. I understand it may take a little more to complete it, but what I understood you to say first was that this would enable you to put into operation the psychopathic group and move the patients now in this old building into this very much needed building? Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir.

NUMBER OF BEDS IN NEW AND OLD HOSPITAL.

The CHAIRMAN. How many beds will you have when the work is completed that you contemplate completing?

Maj. BROWN. One hundred and ninety-six beds. The psychopathic group, I may say, is the most expensive part of the hospital. The CHAIRMAN. How many beds are now in the old hospital from which you expect to move the patients?

Maj. BROWN. I could not tell you that, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. What is it proposed to do with the old buildings? Maj. BROWN. They will ultimately be torn down. They need not be torn down at the present time, but the ultimate plan will occupy certain of the ground now occupied by the old buildings, which are largely frame structures. They can be utilized until the time when it is necessary to tear them down to make space for new buildings. Mr. KELLEY. How much is in the regular estimates for the hospital for next year for construction work?

Maj. BROWN. The amount asked for was $396,000.

The CHAIRMAN. $240,000 of that would be for construction and $156,000 for operation?

Maj. BROWN. If the appropriation is granted in the deficiency, we will be able to cut the amount asked for in the regular bill. The CHAIRMAN. You will cut this $150,000 off?

Maj. BROWN. No, sir; if we get the $150,000 in this deficiency, we will be able to cut the amount asked for in the regular bill.

The CHAIRMAN. By $150,000?

Maj. BROWN. There seems to be some little mistake about this, sir. The commissioners asked for $296,000 when they intended to ask for $396,000, so we would be able to cut only $50,000 from the regular

bill. The idea would be in the regular bill to give us the amount necessary up to the total limit of cost, $1,500,000.

Mr. SISSON. In other words, you want the balance of the authorized amount in the next bill?

Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Major, I wish you would be kind enough to give us a statement for insertion in the record as to the number of beds that will be available in the new hospital on the 1st of July if you are authorized to use this $150,000.

Maj. BROWN. I can tell you that now, sir; 196.

The CHAIRMAN. Yes; you did tell me that. How many beds would be vacated then in the old hospital and how many would be available after they were vacated in both the old and the new hospital?

Maj. BROWN. I may say, sir, that the occupation of this group will not necessitate the vacation of any beds in the old hospital, because we are taking down no part of the old hospital at this time. The CHAIRMAN. And you are going to utilize that?

Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir. The idea is to get the psychopathic group built, and then we can take patients from a part of the old hospital and move them into the psychopathic group, thereby vacating some of these buildings which are not suitable, and also which are in the way of the ultimate development of the site.

The CHAIRMAN. So that the buildings on that space would be torn down?

Maj. BROWN. Ultimately, but it will not be necessary to do that right away.

The CHAIRMAN. In the meantime, if you had to utilize this space from which you move the psychopathic patients, you could utilize it for other patients?

Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir. The immediate effect would be to provide an increased number of beds of 196.

The CHAIRMAN. And how many are there in the old buildings? Maj. BROWN. That I do not know, sir, but I will get that informa tion.

The CHAIRMAN. Give us that information, please.

Maj. BROWN. Yes.

NOTE. Two hundred beds, counting those placed on porches, in basement and everywhere possible.

The CHAIRMAN. You think this is sufficiently important to justify the request that you make to expedite this move?

Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir. Without this we can not get the psychopathic group in shape for operation next July 1, and the plans of the hospital authorities, the Board of Charities, and their request for appropriations are based on putting it into operation on July 1. The CHAIRMAN. You ask in the regular estimates for $296,000, which you say should have been $396,000?

Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. And if this $150,000 is allowed on the assumption that you will get the $396,000, that would leave you $246,000 ? Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. $246,000 would be necessary to complete the building as originally contemplated, would it?

Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir; with the number of beds that are provided for under the original estimate of cost.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the $6,000 for?

Maj. BROWN. The odd figures in that appropriation come about through the fact that in the original appropriation the limit of cost was fixed at the exact amount for the cost of the building, which the auditor says was $703,910. I do not see how that accounts for the $6,000, but the actual appropriation was made in odd figures, and Congress authorized the appropriation of those odd figures.

The CHAIRMAN. In addition to that you have a proposal in the regular estimate, I suppose, for the personnel. With the limit of cost of $1,500,000 and the amount already appropriated, leaving $396,410, this $150,000 off would leave $246,410?

Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir; the original estimate was $603,590, and that is the way those odd figures got in there.

Mr. SISSON. I want to state, so that the record will show it, that the plan of this hospital is such that when you build the power plant, the administration building, and the psychopathic ward and also the other construction to get the beds originally contemplated within this appropriation, you can add the units just as the need arises? Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir. I have a plot plan here showing those units.

Mr. SISSON. I know all about it, but I wanted the full committee to understand that the plan was one which is perhaps as modern and up to date as any hospital, so that they can have air and light, and have the wards segregated and connected by passageways so you can build these units ad infinitum in the future as the needs of the city may require.

The CHAIRMAN. That, of course, would increase the limit of cost which was contemplated?

Mr. SISSON. Yes; but you can spend the entire amount and complete a unit, and then if you need additional space you do not have to change any of the structure. You just simply add on another unit. and connect it up.

Maj. BROWN. Yes.

Mr. SISSON. In other words, the committee in adopting that plan did it because within the limit of cost you could get a completed unit and then you can add units onto that.

The CHAIRMAN. Was the limit of cost as originally fixed intended to include the heating and power plant, and all that sort of thing? Mr. SISSON. Yes; that was included.

Maj. BROWN. I think so, on the basis of providing for 300 patients for $1,500,000.

Mr. BYRNS. I would like to ask what will be the total capacity of the hospital when completed under the limit of cost?

Maj. BROWN. Under the limit of cost, 300, and we will be able to have accommodations for about 400 more if necessary; that is, by adding different units at a time.

The CHAIRMAN. In fixing the limit of cost, was the cost of furnishing and all that sort of thing included?

Maj. BROWN. No, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. That is extra?

Maj. BROWN. This is the building cost. The items for equipment are in the 1923 estimates.

The CHAIRMAN. You are coming before us for $150,000 to complete the psychopathic system and the power plant and the domestic building. Is there any part of this fund that you are asking, or that which is now available, to be used to furnish and put the building in readiness to take care of the patients who are supposed to be put in there?

Maj. BROWN. Not for furniture; no, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Where do you expect to get the money to get the building ready by the 1st of July if you have made no provision for it?

Mr. RUDOLPH. That is in the estimate for 1923.

The CHAIRMAN. In the ordinary estimates?

Mr. DONOVAN. And it is asked that they be made immediately available, I believe.

Mr. BYRNS. You want this appropriation in order to provide for 196 beds by July 1. How are you going to occupy them if you are not going to have any money to furnish them?

Mr. SISSON. If the appropriation is made immediately available

Col. KELLER. It will be asked that the appropriation be made immediately available.

Maj. BROWN. There is one item about this psychopathic group I would like to speak about in reference to furnishing. We put in a great deal of special plumbing, shower baths, and all that sort of thing, which have been very expensive, but they come out of the building appropriation, all fixtures of that sort, but not furniture.

The CHAIRMAN. Notwithstanding the increased cost of building, you have been able to keep the cost of the building, substantially in the form in which it was contemplated, within the limit of cost, have you?

Maj. BROWN. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Were the plans changed at any time?

Maj. BROWN. The plans were originally made for a different site, and then they were changed; but the idea of the $1,500,000 limitation was to provide 300 beds, and we are going to be able to do that.

PAYMENT OF JUDGMENTS.

The CHAIRMAN. Let us pass to the next item, on page 10:

For the payment of judgments, including costs rendered against the District of Columbia, as set forth in House Document No. 117 of the Sixty-seventh Congress $2,353.20, together with a further sum to pay the interest at not exceeding 4 per centum per annum on such judgments, as provided by law, from the date the same became due until date of payment.

It appears there are three judgments, one in favor of George R. Washington for $1,200 and $48.45 costs; Florence D. Brew, $1,000 with $65.25 costs; and Alice L. Wood, $39.50 costs, making $2,353.20 altogether. Is there anything to be said about this?

Mr. DONOVAN. They are all final judgments, Mr. Chairman. In the case of George R. Washington it appears that the action was brought for damages to his property. The evidence at the trial disclosed that a large water main on Adams Street, one block from the plaintiff's property, had sprung a leak, the leak flowing into an abandoned water main, which conveyed the water into the cellar of his

property, resulting in certain damages to his property. This judgment was rendered on trial before the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, and the judgment is final.

The CHAIRMAN. There was no appeal taken?

The ques

Mr. DONOVAN. There was no appeal taken in this case. tion of whether there shall be an appeal or not is one, in every instance, where the corporation counsel expresses his opinion to the commissioners in writing as to whether it is advisable to take an appeal. In this case he held it was not advisable.

The CHAIRMAN. What about the next case?

Mr. DONOVAN. The next case is one of personal injuries due to a defect in the sidewalk. I have not the details of that particular case here, but that was also a case where no appeal was taken.

Mr. KELLEY. What was the name of the party?

Mr. DONOVAN. Florence D. Brew.

The CHAIRMAN. What about the other case? What were these costs for? Was that the case of a school-teacher?

Mr. DONOVAN. That was the case of a school-teacher. It was a case instituted in court to require the reinstatement of a teacher in the public schools with salary during period of suspension. The action was against the board of education and these are the costs involved in that case.

The CHAIRMAN. Why do the costs stand against the Government; because she was reinstated by the court?

Mr. DONOVAN. Because she was reinstated by the court. Of course, the board acted in its official capacity, and in similar cases we always come to Congress and asked for appropriations to pay the costs instead of requiring the members of the board, who serve without compensation, to pay them.

The CHAIRMAN. Surely. What was the ground upon which she was reinstated by the court?

Mr. DONOVAN. The teacher was suspended by the board of education without pay and she subsequently filed an action in court for reinstatement and salary. The decision was rendered in favor of the teacher on the ground that she had been illegally suspended by the board of education.

RENT COMMISSION.

STATEMENT OF MR. D. C. ROPER, JR., SECRETARY OF THE RENT COMMISSION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR SALARIES AND EXPENSES.

The CHAIRMAN (reading):

For an additional amount for salaries and expenses authorized by section 103, Title II, of the food control and the District of Columbia rents act, approved October 22, 1919, and the act of Congress approved August 24, 1921, extending the Rent Commission until May 22, 1922, $25,000, to continue available during the life of the commission.

Will you be good enough to explain why you need this money? Mr. ROPER. Yes, sir; shall I read this short statement?

The CHAIRMAN. We would be very glad to have you do that. Mr. ROPER. The expenditures for the Rent Commission as of October 1, 1921, were $54,428.19.

Mr. KELLEY. For how long a time?