Cost of hospitals and time required for construction-Continued 2 Construction supervised by Veterans' Bureau. Work 48 per cent completed on July 1, 1924, 10 per cent ahead of schedule. 4 Contract awarded June 7, 1924. Bids opened June 24, 1924. Plans and specifications prepared by War Department. 7 Plans and specifications prepared by Navy Department. * Work 47 per cent completed on July 1, 1924, 21 per cent ahead of schedule. Tuskegee. Complete institution on bare site. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Water supply, $60,000; recreation building and warehouse, $60,000; interior painting, $20,000. Palo Alto.-Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts for permanent construction, to replace war-time buildings temporarily used: Male and female personnel quarters, $125,000; recreation and occupational therapy building, $85,000; laundry building, $35,000; and the following estimated items: Interior painting, $20,000; floor covering, $13,000; refrigerating plant, $15,000; fence, $5,000. Jefferson Barracks.-Complete institution on bare site. Municipal water supply available. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Attendants quarters, $50,000; quarters for medical officers, $36,000; and the following items already completed: Interior painting, $15,172; floor covering (linoleum), $11,716. Chelsea. Complete institution on bare site. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Interior painting, $20,000. Oteen. Infirmary building only. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Interior painting, $14,000; floor covering, $9,000. Northampton. Complete institution on bare site. Municipal water supply available. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Inclosed passage way, $50,000; recreation building, $85,000; and the following items already under contract: Laundry building, $29,903; window grilles, $9,540; fence, $13,406. Knoxville. Additional construction on existing site includes subsistence building, recreation building, and quarters for medical officer in charge and personnel. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Window grilles, $6,000; septic tank, $12,000. Camp Custer.-Complete institution on bare site. Water supply available. Additional cost includes estimated amount of $12,000 for additional window grilles. American Lake.-Complete institution on bare site. Additional cost includes the following items under contract: Laundry building, $16,527; road construction, $15,086; window grilles, $10,800; fence, $11,967. Chillicothe.-Complete institution. Water supply, sewer system, and some road construction available. Additional cost includes water-softening plant under contract, $34,096, and window grilles estimated at $15,500. North Little Rock.-Additional facilities at existing plant. Construction includes recreational building and addition to mess hall. Additional cost includes the following items under contract: Window grilles, $14,485; fly screens, $15,300, and an estimated amount of $10,000 for fence. Tupper Lake.-Complete institution on bare site. Municipal water supply available. Additional cost includes the following items under construction: Laundry building, $35,000; roads, $8,500; placing kitchen and sterilizing equipment, $8,000; relocation of house of medical officer in charge, $4,625, and the following estimated amounts: Covered walks, $43,900; interior painting, $25,000; floor covering, $13,000. St. Cloud. Complete institution on bare site. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Window grilles, $10,000; laundry building, $35,000; additional quarters, $60,000; interior painting, $20,000. Excelsior Springs.—Additional construction includes subsistence facilities for whole institution and some personnel quarters. Additional cost includes the following items under construction: Garage and storehouse, $12,000; roads and walks, $10,000; remodeling four cottages for quarters, $4,000; and an estimated amount of $7,000 for interior painting. Gulfport.-Practically new construction on existing site. Water supply and sewer systems available. Recreation building and some minor facilities available. Additional cost includes the following items under construction: Additions to mess hall, $48,450; roads and walks, $21,500; and the following estimated amounts: Additional window grilles, $7,500; warehouse, $15,000. Augusta. Addition to existing plant requiring increased heating facilities and provision of personnel quarters for entire staff. Additional cost includes $12,804 for fence already under contract, and an estimated amount of $20,000 for interior painting. Livermore. Complete institution on bare site. No utilities available. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Floor covering, $13,000; interior painting, $20,000. Aspinwall.-Complete institution on bare site. No utilities available. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Recreation building, $72,500; additional water supply, $6,000; floor covering, $13,500; interior painting, $20,500. Rutland. Additional construction to existing plant. Includes quarters for nurses and subsistence building, thus making available patient capacity shown. Perry Point.-Additional construction, including administration and recreation facilities for entire plant. Additional cost includes the following estimated amounts: Floor covering, $13,500; interior painting, $20,000. Remarks TABLE NO. 137.-Hospital construction under second Langley Act, status as of June 30, 1924. (Funds provided for from Public Act 216, 67th Cong.) Completed May 15, 1924. Veterans' Bureau handling. Opened for patients Aug. 14, 1922. Completed May 31, 1924. 99.59 Completion expected July 19, 1924. Bids opened Mar. 11, 1924. Bids rejected. War Department handling; com- Purchased and reopened Sept. Alterations completed Jan. 9, 1924. NOTE.-Present allotment retained at completed projects to permit of certain minor improvements and approach work, and for contingencies. 1 Cost per bed is figured on present allotments, plus cost of sites (when purchased out of second Langley Act), excluding cost of technical services and equipment. ? Includes contracts for foundations $156,089 (completed); laundry building, $29,640; screens and other minor items. 3 For additional land, etc. Several contracts for various phases of the work. Additional allotment necessary to be made from another appropriation. • Includes complete equipment. 7 For treatment of trachoma. Allotment. $50,000 for preliminary work, roads, etc., being done by Purchase and Hire. Amount expended or obligated to June 30, including purchase of sites, technical services, contracts, equipment, and contingencies, approximate $16,081,356.22. Disbursements to June 30, $12,712,590.58. PERSONNEL DIVISION The activities of the personnel division during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1924, were directed largely toward the development of efficient service and effective organization. During the year some 75,000 inactive personnel files were culled from the active file and stores, thereby releasing personnel, equipment, and valuable floor space for other purposes, and facilitating the search and filing on active cases. The special monthly report to the Civil Service Commission of personnel transactions was abolished, the Civil Service Commission having agreed to accept copies of the daily journal of personnel transactions, which made possible the release of six clerks previously preparing this special report. A system was established whereby newly appointed stenographers were given a practical test to determine their efficiency, and a follow-up is maintained in the cases of those failing to make a satisfactory showing, in order that those stenographers failing in a second test may be dispensed with, to the end that only properly qualified personnel may be on duty. The personnel manual was compiled during the year, which was a consolidation of all orders and instructions pertaining to every phase of the personnel problem. This manual included a statement of the settled policy of the bureau respecting these matters, and included suggestions to field personnel officers. The issuance of this manual assisted materially in simplifying the handling of personnel papers and has resulted in a better understanding between the field and central office. On September 1, 1923, the salaries of all administrative assistants in the service were placed on a straight salary basis with no allowThis step involved a very careful study of this class of personnel in order that just allocations might be made to the several salary grades. The movement was effected with but little protest from the field and placed this class of personnel on a sound salary schedule, eliminating inequalities between stations. A tour of duty of two years for nurses, aides, and dietitians at certain hospitals designated as isolated stations and a definite policy with respect to paying transportation of these classes of personnel was approved by the director and made effective in the field. The benefits to be derived from this policy are apparent and should go far in reducing the turnover of this class of personnel at remote stations. In a further effort to make attractive certain positions in the bureau, there has been under consideration toward the end of the year the question of paying for the transportation of the personal property and household effects, within prescribed limits, of medical and dental officers, and technical employees, upon transfer of station, similar to procedure now in effect in other Government departments. During the year the personnel division cooperated with the Civil Service Commission and the Appointment Clerks' Association in the development of standard personnel history statements and general forms, which have been adopted for use in all Government |