as part of the emoluments that go with the offices, such a long period of time that to change these we believe it would be necessary to have specific legislation rather than by indirection.

The Comptroller General in his letter states: "It is suggested for your consideration whether there are not now being furnished to certain of the personnel allowances which should be immediately discontinued, such as servants, automobiles, laundry service, personal telephone service, etc."

We tried to explain in our letter of September 14 that payment for telephone service in the superintendent's, physicians', and employees' quarters at the hospital was specifically authorized to be paid from the hospital appropriation in 40 Statutes 19, approved April 17, 1917. This is a direct authorization of Congress for the official use of phones; private phones have been rented by many of the physicians and pay booths have been installed for private use.

We tried to call attention to conditions existing in an institution of this sort where the superintendent must be considered from two standpoints, namely, that in his official position, as superintendent, as host for the Government, and that in his personal position as superintendent. We called attention to the fact that the quarters he occupies were built many years ago, that they are laid out in such a manner that they can not be divided, that they cover a much larger space than he would need for his own use, and that if the quarters were vacated it would require the service of a housekeeper to maintain the place in repair and prevent it from deteriorating.

We called attention to the annual appropriation act that for the fiscal year 1929, as approved March 7, 1928, pages 46 and 47 of H. R. 9136, containing the following language:

"St. Elizabeths Hospital for support, clothing, and treatment in St. Elizabeths Hospital, and so forth, for the purchase, exchange, maintenance, repair, and operation of motor-propelled passenger-carrying vehicles for the use of the superintendent, purchasing agent, and general hospital business," etc.

Similar language to this has been carried in appropriation acts for many years past. In the beginning it called for providing of horses and carriages. In later years this was changed to motor-propelled passenger-carrying vehicles, as expressly authorized by Congress.

Laundry is a necessary incident to the service. It is of small matter in itself but an advantage to the hospital that the employees who are living on the reservation should not have outside laundresses doing their work.

After reviewing the various points raised by the comptroller and given consideration as outlined in this letter, we believe that inasmuch as the comptroller states that he would be disposed to permit a postponement of final adjustment of the salaries of the officers and employees involved until Congress has had opportunity to give consideration to the matter for such allowances as may be generally classed as bed and board-that is, room and meals-that there should be included the other items be enumerates se Congress can have the whole question before them when they act on this problem.

Very respectfully,

M. SANGER, Assistant to the Superintendent.

service.

The following listed student nurses receive quarters, consisting of furnished room, heat and light, laundry and subsistence, and an annual salary of $288 per annum : Edith M. Bartholomew, Jessie L. Chinn, Kathryn F. Clewell, Genevieve M. Colvin, Ina P. Conrad, Rita B. Cornwell, Leah C. Connelly, Grace V. Daley, Mary E. Doherty, Louise C. Famiglietti, Alma R. Funk, Ruth J. Garger, Margaret M. Garvin, Juliet F. Goode, Miss Mildred C. Grundmeyer, Kathleen Haley, Frances D. Hardin, Beatrice L. Henry, Helmi H. Holm, Alice M. Haughwout, Grace E. Houser, Alma L. Jakoubek, Margaret A. Joinville, Katherine V. Jolliffe, Esther F. Jones, Ruth A. Jones, Marion King, Mary C. Law, Regina F. Landgraff, Jane B. Little, Jessie E. Locke, Ellen M. Mathers, Vera H. Nally, Newassa I. Ogden, Frances E. Potter, Irene Schooley, Mary M. Schwenk, Roberta A. Seward, Cynthia C. Sherry, Florence A. Steele, Ruth M. Stewart, Mrs. Ruth E. Stump, Goldie Thurston, Priscilla Williams, Alice R. Watson.

The CHAIRMAN (continuing). Dr. William A. White, the superintendent of St. Elizabeths Hospital, is here. We shall be glad to hear you now, Doctor.

STATEMENT OF DR. W. A. WHITE, SUPERINTENDENT OF ST. ELIZABETHS HOSPITAL

(Digest of testimony given on December 19, 1928, by Dr. W. A. White)

Doctor White states that due to the hazardous nature of the work at St. Elizabeths that the allowances in quarters and subsistence in kind for officers and employees required to be on the grounds 24 hours a day can not be given a monetary value.

He submits that this was recognized by the Personnel Classification Board when it failed to classify these officers and employees so that an amount equal to the value of allowances received could be deducted from their salaries as required by law.

Speaking not as an individul, but as superintendent, he points out that St. Elizabeths is conceded to be the leading hospital of its kind in the world and that under present circumstances this position is at stake.

He has no choice as to quarters. Those he now occupies were built for that purpose by the Government and he has followed the precedent established by previous heads of the institution. The eminent position of the hospital attracts noted medical lecturers, who with other official visitors must be entertained by the superintendent, resulting in increased household expenditures. Lectures aid staff in spirit of psychiatric research which results in best care of patients.

Doctor WHITE. What do you want me to do, exactly? Do you want to ask me questions?

The CHAIRMAN. My own thought was this, that you should make. your own statement, in your own way, with reference to this whole matter. As I stated at the beginning, the question here is whether or not the allowances which have been given you at St. Elizabeths Hospital are permissible under the law and whether or not, if permissible, proper deductions have been made from the basic salary. Those are the two main questions, I think, which are involved.

Doctor WHITE. Of course the main question has very many ramifications.

The CHAIRMAN. We already have in the record your two letters. Doctor WHITE. Yes, I understand; so I shall try not to repeat. The CHAIRMAN. That is, two letters from your assistant, Mr. Sanger.

Doctor WHITE. Yes; and I shall try not to repeat those letters. The question has a great many ramifications. Of course it is not difficult to present a technical, legal, logical statement supporting