tion located in Louisville, Ky., and has been receiving contributions from the Federal Government since 1879. The Federal appropriation is used for the furnishing of books and apparatus to public institutions for the education of the blind, distribution being effected on the basis of student enrollment. A few months ago Mr. A. C. Ellis, the superintendent of the printing house, requested the Federal Security Administration to sponsor an increase of $15,000 in the appropriation for the fiscal year 1944, to meet the increased cost of labor and materials. I told him that since the full amount of the statutory authorization was included in the regular Budget, any increase requested would be out of order. I promised, however, to present to this committee any written justification he might submit dealing with the need for additional funds during the emergency period. I did this in order to avoid the expense of his coming to Washington, although if the committee wishes to examine him in person we will have him come. Mr. Ellis furnished a short statement under date of February 24, 1943. Mr. HARE. Do you have his statement with you? Mr. COLLINS. Yes, sir. I wish to offer that statement for the record, or if the chairman prefers, I will be glad to read it at this time. Mr. HARE. Suppose you read it. Mr. COLLINS. It is in the form of a letter addressed to me, under date of February 24, 1943, in which Mr. Ellis says: We are facing a rather serious personnel problem at the printing house. Twelve of our highly skilled employees have entered the armed services and several others are about to be inducted. We have also lost quite a number of employees to local plants engaged in war work. We shall face the next fiscal year with a reduction in our staff of probably 25 percent as compared with the number employed at the beginning of this fiscal year. The production of Braille books and talking book records requires the services of men and women especially trained at this institution for there is no other place, even in normal times, where the type of worker which we need can be trained and developed. About the only solution to our problem would be to increase our workweek from 40 to 44 or even 48 hours. This would simply mean that, for the duration, we would work fewer employees for longer periods of time depending upon our production requirements. This institution operates on a very stable budget of approximately $325,000 per year, $125,000 of which is an annual appropriation from Congress. It we should increase the working hours of our exployees it would be necessary for us to pay for the overtime at the rate of time-and-a-half. The 50-percent increase for overtime on a 48-hour basis for a whole year for the employees who work on the books supplied out of the appropriation would cost about $9,500. Raw materials which we use in the manufacture of our books, records, and appliances for the schools for the blind cost us about $5,500 more than we had to pay 2 or 3 years ago when our present catalog prices were established. I therefore feel that it will take at least $15,000 additional appropriation to enable us to perform approximately the same services that we have been performing on the present appropriation of $125.000. It would be a great blessing to the schools for the blind if the Appropriations Committee would approve of such a grant to enable us to meet this emergency. It is understood, of course, that the money would be spent with the approval of the Federal Security Agency for the purpose of offsetting the increased costs of labor and materials. The appropriation of $125,000 is barely enough to meet the essential needs for the schools for the blind in normal years. The additional grant of $15,000 mentioned above is the smallest amount which would enable us to maintain our services to the schools on anything like the basis of former years. If you feel that any further information is needed to justify our request to the Appropriations Committee for an additional grant of $15,000 please so advise me. Mr. HARE. Am I correct in the understanding that this bill carries an estimate of $115,000, in addition to which there is $10,000 provided for by statute? Mr. COLLINS. That is correct. Mr. HARE. Making a total of $125,000 per annum? Mr. COLLINS. That is right. Mr. HARE. Under the law it would be necessary for this item to be submitted to and recommended by the Bureau of the Budget before action could be taken by the committee? Mr. COLLINS. That would be the normal procedure. Mr. HARE. This has not been done? Mr. COLLINS. It has not been cleared with the Budget. Mr. HARE. It would be quite out of the ordinary if the committee should undertake to comply with the request of the Superintendent? Mr. COLLINS. That is right, Mr. Chairman. Mr. HARE. And give him the $15,000 increase he has referred to? MONDAY, MAY 3, 1943. COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF STATEMENT OF DR. PERCIVAL HALL, PRESIDENT SALARIES AND EXPENSES Mr. HARE. The next item we have for consideration this morning is the estimate for the Columbia Institution for the Deaf. The regular Appropriation Act for 1943 carried an appropriation of $166,000, and there was a supplemental appropriation of $4,500, making the total for 1943 $170,500. Dr. HALL. That is correct. Mr. HARE. The estimate for 1944 is $155,200. Dr. HALL. That is correct. GENERAL STATEMENT ON HISTORY AND WORK OF INSTITUTION Mr. HARE. Have you a general statement you would like to make to the committee in reference to the institution, its organization and activities? Dr. HALL. Yes, sir. Mr. HARE. You may proceed. Dr. HALL. The Columbia Institution for the Deaf was incorporated by act of Congress February 16, 1857 (11 Stat. 161-162). The institution is obliged by law to expend its moneys and use its property of all kinds only for the education of the deaf. On April 8, 1864, the board of directors of the institution was authorized by act of Congress (13 Stat. 45) to grant and confer collegiate degrees. By various acts of Congress, deaf students from the States and Territories are admitted to the collegiate department of the institution at the expense of the United States on scholarships, which now total 145 and include room, board, tuition, laundry, ordinary medical attention, and books. The management of the institution is in the hands of the board of directors, numbering 11, 3 of whom are Members of Congress of the United States, one Senator and two Representatives. The real property of the institution is, by act of June 10, 1872 - (17 Stat. 360), held in trust by the United States. By act of July 1. 1890 (30 Stat. 624), the board of directors has control of the expenditures of all funds appropriated by the United States for the benefit of the institution. Congress has appropriated each year since the incorporation of the institution funds for its support, including salaries, incidental expenses, and general support. Improvements to grounds and erection of buildings have been almost entirely provided for by congressional appropriations. The total number of students received in the institution since its foundation has passed the 3,000 mark. The maximum number of students in attendance in the institution a year ago was 232. Largely because of the call to work in war industries, the number present at the opening of the present school year was 212. A still further decrease has been caused by others entering war work or having to return to their homes to meet altered conditions due to the war, bringing the present total attendance down to 197, representing 41 States and the District of Columbia, with 10 definitely on leave. This decrease has been scattered through all departments and classes. The number of candidates seeking admission for next year is ap proximately equal to the number requesting admission a year ago, namely 100. When the new ones are admitted and part, at least, of those on leave return, we expect to begin the school year of 1943-44 without further shrinkage in numbers. We have not cut down on the number of courses or the number of classes, but have kept up the full work at the same level this year as in previous years. The advanced department of the institution furnishes the only collegiate education offered for deaf students in the world. Over a thousand degrees have been granted in course, and graduates and former students are, almost without exception, engaged in gainful occupations, including agriculture, art, banking, chemistry, dentistry. designing, engraving, bacteriology, civil service, landscaping, gardening, civil engineering, library science, architecture, accounting, mechanical drawing, printing, publishing, ministry to the deaf, and teaching the deaf. Of last year's graduating class of 28, 12 are now engaged in teaching in schools for the deaf, one is continuing his studies in chemistry, several are engaged in clerical work for the Government, two as chemists in Government service, two as chemists and metallurgists for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and the Firestone Rubber Co., and one as a linotpye operator, and nearly all of the rest in war industries. From the class to graduate at the end of this May, we expect, from the calls already received from war industries and from Government agencies, to supply a number of clerical assistants for the Government and skilled workers in war plants, including several chemists. Some of the class have already accepted offers of work in schools for the deaf, which have been drained to some extent in their teaching forces by the emergency of war. Our graduates are now able to obtain immediately on finishing their course with us positions paying from $1,200 to $2,400 per year. Their success, we believe, is very largely due to the training received in this institution and in the schools from which they came to us. I am glad to have you to know what the results of our training have been. You would be surprised to know how many deaf girls are going into various types of work in war-production plants in responsible positions, and also in the Government service in Washington. CONTRIBUTIONS BY GRADUATES Mr. HARE. Do you have a policy of any kind by which a refund to the Government will be made by any of your graduates? Dr. HALL. No, sir; we never have had that. Mr. HARE. What would be your reaction to such a policy? Dr. HALL. We have not had such a policy, but we have had gifts from these friends of ours, most of them former students, which have amounted to about $75,000 and which will be used toward a new building. So we have gotten some return from them in that way. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRESENT STUDENT POPULATION Mr. HARE. Do you have the facilities to accommodate all eligible students? Dr. HALL. All eligible students, Mr. Chairman, as far as sleeping and eating are concerned. But we are very short today on the matter of buildings. Mr. HARE. Do you have a statement showing the States from which the students in your present enrollment come? Dr. HALL. Yes, sir. Mr. HARE. With the number from each State? Dr. HALL. Yes, sir. Mr. HARE. Will you put that statement in the record? Dr. HALL. Yes, sir. (The statement referred to is as follows:) Columbia Institution for the Deaf pupilage GALLAUDET COLLEGE District of Columbia: Baker, Beavers, Bowers, Bowling, Bowling, Brown, Burgee, Burton, Carman, Chedster, Clements, Cohen, Colbert, Collins, Crouch, Crumpler, Darley, Davis, Dizon, Ebbert, Fewel, Fletcher, Folsom, Gerrard, Gilbert, Hatch, Herron, Heurick, Hoberman, Holtzclaw, Holtzman, Hunter, Insley, Jenkins, Juenamann, Kocher, Kramer, Lowe, Lundmark, Lundmark, Lusby, McGivern, Manookian, Melvin, Miller, Moore, Moriconi, Mull, O'Hagan, Padow, Rose, Rose, Scanlon, Scott, Scott, Shaffer, Sisson, Sheriff, St. Clair, Talley, Thomas, Thomas, Tsoulias, Upchurch, Watson, Winstead, Wood, Zimmerman. Maryland: Barnette, Conger.. Virginia: Baker__ Canada: Beck... Total 69 2 1 1 12 |