The frontiersman., 1954-08-19
Transfer of Indian Hospitals

erationi of hospital and health fac ilities for Indians in the States and Alaska will be transferred from the Department of the In terior to the Public Health Ser vice.
 The plan was signed into law by the President on August 5 de- spite the earlier announced op- position of the Bureau of the Budget and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare which has jurisdiction over the Public Health Service. The In terior Department had originally opposed the legislation but later withdrew it's opposition.
 The population of Indians and Alaska natives is estimated to be between 100000 and 425,000; testimony of officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs estimate qualify as beneficiaries for that approximately 300,000 would medical services.
 In addition to the departmental transfer, the law authorizes the Public Health Service through the Secretary of Health, Educa- tion and Welfare to contract, in turn, for transfer of such respon- sibility to any state, territory, po- litical subdivision of any state or territory or any private non- profit corporation, agency or in- stitution whenever the health of the Indians can be better met thereby"
 It is understood the Interior Department plans to operate 43 hospitals during the 1855 fiscal year, 35 in the States and 8 in Alaska.
 Watershed Protection and
 Flood Prevention Act
 The Senate approved a bill this week to extend the benefits of the recently enacted Watershed and Flood Prevention Act to AL aska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
 The law enacted earlier this year setting up the program un- der the Soil Conservation Ser vice is designed to provide the basis for cooperation between the federal government, states, local governmental and quasi-govern- mental organizations, groups of citizens and individuals in carry ing out flood prevention and wat er-control programs in small up stream watersheds. To be eligible for consideration under the law the size of the watershed cannot exceed 250,000 acres, and it must be an actual watershed of specific stream or water course However, where the local spon- sorirg agencies so desire, several watersheds, when they are parts of large watershed, may be planned together.
 The Senate-passed bill to in- cude the territories and the Vir- gin Islands within the provisions of the law is sponsored by Sen ator Aiken.
 The Supplemental Appropria- ton Act of 1855 now in conferen- ce contains S2,425,O00 approved by the Senate to initiate the program throughout the country The bas- ic law had not been enacted at the time the House acted on the supplemental money bill and so the item is one for discussion in conference. It is understood that 1 the program for which regula- ;, tions are now being written in the Department of Agriculture will call for a federal grant of 50 | percent with the local sponsor putting up the other 50 percent. l
 Alaska Road Commission
 Overtime
 The Supplemental Appropria- tion Act for the 1855 fiscal year now in conference contains S299- 252.07 for the payment to 311 | persons of Alaska Road Commis- sion overtime claims.
 The claims arose under an Act l of Congress passed in 1884 es- tablishing a 400-hour week for wage board employees of the fed eral government and overtime at | the rate of time and one-half for hours worked in excess of 40 | hours. In 1850 the General Ac- counting Office sent to Congress a request for payment of claims for years prior to 1945 which had |