were in the front seat-the former was driving. I sat in the back seat between Mr. Zakarian and Mr. Finkelstein. I judge that the Government car was proceeding about 35 miles per hour; weather, clear; road somewhat wet from the rain of the 26th.

A privately owned car, Rhode Island registry No. C-1163 was proceeding in front of us. At the junction of Sockanosset and Oaklawn Avenues, this driver proceeded, slowly, to make a left turn into Sockanosset Avenue as we signaled to pass on his left. Hearing our horn, he swung to the right just as we did in an effort to clear his car and pass on his extreme right. We struck his car directly in the rear center with our left fender, headlight, and bumper. The luggage compartment, bumper, and a cross brace were the only damages on the privately owned car, which I noticed at the time. I checked his stop light after the accident and found it to be in working order.

BERNARD E. TREML.

WEST GREENWICH, R. I., February 27, 1939.

STATEMENT REGARDING AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT

On the morning of February 27, 1939, we were proceeding in a southerly direc tion on Oaklawn Avenue in a United States Government owned automobile Civilian Conservation Corps No. 95186 to Nooseneck Hill camp, West Greenwich, R. I.

I was sitting in the rear seat of the car and I saw another car directly in front of us. Our driver sounded the horn to pass him and just then we approached an intersection, namely Sockanosset Avenue. The driver of the other car gave no definite signal of his intention and he started to make a left turn; then our driver realizing this danger made a right turn to escape a collision. But instead of the other car continuing to make his left turn, he too made a right turn and came directly in front of our path.

Again our driver tried to avoid an accident but could not escape it and we hit the car in the rear smashing his trunk compartment.

ELLIOT ZAKARIAN.

WEST GREENWICH, R. I., February 27, 1939.

STATEMENT REGARDING AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT

We were proceeding along Oaklawn Avenue in a southerly direction this morning about 7:45, en route to Nooseneck Civilian Conservation Corps camp. As we approached Sockanosset Avenue it appeared as if a car ahead of us (also traveling southerly) was preparing to make the left turn into Sockanosset Avenue. Although the driver of this other car gave no definite signal of his intention to make this left turn, the manner in which he slowed down and edged leftward clearly indicated to me that he would certainly turn into Sockanosset Avenue. Our driver pulled our car to the extreme right-hand side of the road intending to pass the other car on the shoulders of the road. At exactly the same time, the driver of the other car (perhaps fearing we would smash into his hood if he made the turn) pulled quickly back to the right. This of course brought him directly into the path of our left front fender, and we smashed directly into the rear of the other My head bumped into the windshield and my knees scraped along the dash.

car.

о

THOMAS HENNESSEY.

78TH CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session

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JOHN SALFI

REPORT No. 1341

APRIL 12, 1944.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed

Mr. KEOGH, from the Committee on Claims, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 2387]

The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 2387) for the relief of John Salfi, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.

The amendment is as follows:

Page 1, line 6, strike out the figures "$6,000" insert in lieu thereof the figures "$3,046.55".

The purpose of the proposed legislation is to appropriate the sum of $3,046.55 to John Salfi, of New York, N. Y., in full settlement of all claims against the United States for personal injuries, hospital, and medical expenses incurred as a result of the collision between the automobile in which he was a passenger and a National Youth Administration truck on October 10, 1940, in Westerly, R. I.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

It appears that John Salfi was a passenger in the automobile of Arthur A. Guarino, of Westerly, R. I., when that vehicle was in a collision with a National Youth Administration truck, on October 10, 1940. The evidence submitted in connection with the claim of Mr. Guarino for damages to his privately owned automobile indicated that the collision occurred when the two vehicles met, proceeding in opposite directions, in a noncongested residential area. Apparently, the driver of the National Youth Administration truck was following another car which slowed down and changed its direction somewhat, causing the National Youth Administration driver to pull the truck to the left and onto the wrong side of the highway where he met in a head-on collision with the passenger car in which the claimant was riding. Although not traveling at an excessive speed, it was decided that the collision was the result of negligence of the National Youth

Administration driver, and Mr. Guarino's claim was approved for payment.

Mr. Salfi submitted to an examination by a United States Public Health Service doctor and further information has also been obtained with respect to the medical expenses, loss of earnings, and other expenditures incurred by the claimant because of the accident. The doctor bills amount to $395; the hospital bill $201.55. The National Youth Administration liquidation officer for Region I, in his report of December 29, 1943, reports that the following additional medical expenses were incurred and have been paid by the claimant because of the accident: a bill for $100 to Dr. Anthony Geresolo who treated Mr. Salfi from November 1940 until a pus condition and scar were cleared up; a bill for $350 to Dr. Sidney Riesner who treated him from December 10, 1940, to December 1942. The medical expenses reported aggregate $1,046.55.

Therefore, it is the opinion of your committee that the bill should be amended to appropriate the sum of $3,046.55 to Mr. Salfi. The committee recommends favorable consideration to the proposed bill, as amended. Appended hereto is the report of the Federal Security Agency, together with other pertinent evidence.

Hon. DAN R. MCGEHEE,

FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY,
Washington, February 23, 1944.

Chairman, Committee on Claims, House of Representatives,

Washington, D. C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN MCGEHEE: Reference is made to your request for a report of the facts in the case which is the subject of H. R. 2387, a bill for the relief of John Salfi, together with an opinion on the merits of the bill.

This bill would authorize and direct the Secretary of the Treasury to pay the sum of $6,000 to John Salfi of New York, N. Y., in full settlement of all claims against the United States for expenses incurred and personal injuries sustained on October 10, 1940, as a result of a collision of an automobile in which he was driving with a National Youth Administration truck.

The claimant was a passenger in the automobile of Arthur Albert Guarino, 22 Rocket Street, Westerly, R. I., when that vehicle was in collision with a National Youth Administration truck, on October 10, 1940. The evidence submitted in connection with the claim of Mr. Guarino for damages to his privately owned automobile indicated that the collision occurred when the two vehicles met, proceeding in opposite directions, in a noncongested residential area. Apparently, the driver of the National Youth Administration truck was following another car which slowed down and changed its direction somewhat, causing the National Youth Administration driver to pull the truck to the left and onto the wrong side of the highway where he met in a head-on collision with the passenger car in which the claimant was riding. Although not traveling at an excessive speed, it was decided that the collision was the result of negligence of the National Youth Administration driver, and Mr. Guarino's claim was approved for payment. Subsequently, a bill for the relief of Alex Lawson, another passenger in the Guarino automobile who was injured as a result of this collision, was introduced in Congress. Pursuant to a request of the House Committee on Claims, I reported that the situation presented appeared to justify enactment of that bill (H. R. 6366), and I am informed that the bill was enacted as Private Law No. 588, Seventy-seventh Congress, second session, and approved December 17, 1942. John Salfi, whom H. R. 2387 would compensate, appears to have been severely injured. On the day of the accident Mr. Salfi was taken to the Westerly Hospital, Westerly, R. I., and placed in the care of Dr. John E. Ruisi, 41 Grove Avenue, Westerly, R. I., who treated him from the time of injury, October 10, 1940, to the time of discharge at the hospital, which was November 10, 1940. Dr. Ruisi reported that the patient had received the following injuries: Fracture of the right

jaw, fracture of the skull, profound shock and head hemorrhage, contusions, and abrasions. Dr. Ruisi treated the patient for such injuries and also was assisted by Dr. Harold D. Kenyon, who administered the anesthesia, and Dr. Harold F. Doyle, D. D. S., who did some dental work in regard to the fractured jaw.

In May 1943 the project finance officer for Region I, National Youth Administration, contacted Dr. Ruisi, at the request of the national office, and was informed that the claimant had also had extensive dental work done by a New York City dentist after his discharge from the Westerly Hospital. Dr. Ruisi also reported that he last saw Mr. Salfi on March 31, 1943, when he came from New York to Westerly, and that he then told Dr. Ruisi that he was still suffering from headaches, dizziness, and spots before his eyes. Dr. Ruisi referred Mr. Salfi to a neurologist for an examination. Dr. Ruisi further stated that Mr. Salfi's personality and vision were changing due to this accident.

On the basis of the foregoing information, which was submitted to me in August 1943, I concluded that the enactment of a bill for the relief of Mr. Salfi in a reasonable amount is justified. I was, however, unable to make any recommendation with respect to the amount of the award that should be made to Mr. Salfi because the records of the National Youth Administration did not contain complete information with respect to the actual expenses incurred by the claimant and with respect to the extent and seriousness of the claimant's permanent disability, if any. A copy of my proposed report was submitted to the Bureau of the Budget, in accordance with established procedure, on October 12, 1943. The Bureau of the Budget requested that arrangements be made for a physical examination of Mr. Salfi by a Government doctor and that additional information be obtained with respect to medical expenses incurred by the claimant, loss of earnings, and other expenditures incurred because of the accident in question.

Mr. Salfi has since then submitted to an examination by a United States Public Health Service doctor and further information has also been obtained with respect to the medical expenses, loss of earnings, and other expenditures incurred by the claimant because of the accident in question. The bills of Drs. Ruisi, Kenyon, and Doyle, copies of which are attached, aggregate $395. It is reported that a bill from the Westerly Hospital, Westerly, R. I., in the amount of $201.55 has been paid by the claimant. The National Youth Administration liquidation officer for Region I, in his report of December 29, 1943, copies of which are attached, reports that the following additional medical expenses were incurred and have been paid by the claimant because of the accident in question: a bill for $100 to Dr. Anthony Geresolo who treated Mr. Salfi from November 1940 until a pus condition and scar were cleared up; a bill for $350 to Dr. Sidney Reisner who treated the claimant from December 10, 1940, until December 1942. The medical expenses reported aggregate $1,046.55.

With respect to loss of earnings by the claimant, the report of the National Youth Administration liquidation officer referred to above establishes that Mr. Salfi was totally unemployed from October 10, 1940, the date of the accident in question, to January 2, 1941. It further appears that Mr. Salfi has lost a total of approximately 4 months' work since the accident, which he estimates as being worth $600. The sole remaining expenditure incurred because of the accident in question and reported by the National Youth Administration liquidation officer is an estimated total of $150 for transportation from Westerly, R. I., to New York, and for medicines. It is reported that Mr. Salfi made weekly visits from Westerly, R. I. to New York to consult Dr. Riesner and Dr. Geresolo for medical treatment from January 2, 1941, until he moved to New York in November 1941. It is also reported that he lost 2 days' pay on December 8 and 9, 1943, due to his going to the United States Marine Hospital for the examination which was requested in connection with this report. The value of the 2 days' pay does not appear in the record.

With respect to the present physical condition of Mr. Salfi and the extent and permanency of his injuries, the following information has been obtained:

The specific injuries sustained as a result of the accident were a fracture of the right ramus of the jaw and compound comminuted fracture of the mandible. An extract from the hospital record, copy of which is attached, indicates that Mr. Salfi did not regain consciousness until the third day after the accident. It is also reported that it was necessary to extract one tooth and that it was necessary to wire the jaw and teeth in order to repair the fracture, and to perform plastic surgery with respect to a wound on the under surface of the chin. A copy of a report received from Dr. Riesner on December 8, 1943, and addressed to the National Youth Administration at Boston, Mass., indicates that there are some permanent disabilities left as a result of the injury sustained. However,

the report of Dr. Zoole of the United States Public Health Service dated December 23, 1943, a copy of which is attached, states that "Examination showed excellent position of fragments which is shown by normal occlusion of remaining teeth and no limitation of movement. Dental diagnosis apparently normal." This report further states that examination by a neurologist on December 9, 1943, resulted in the following impression: "Symptons functional. Does not appear to be any organic basis.

On the basis of the foregoing, the actual medical expenses, paid and unpaid, and the estimated loss of earnings and incidental expenditures for transportation and medicine aggregate $1,796.55. Due to the conflicting evidence with respect thereto, and to the nature of the disabilities claimed to exist, I am unable to make any recommendation with respect to the merits of making an award to Mr. Salfi to compensate for permanent disability, or the amount of such an award, if deemed

proper.

In accordance with your request I am enclosing herewith copies of documents contained in the National Youth Administration file which are material to the facts and a decision on the bill.

Pursuant to established procedure this letter has been submitted to the Bureau of the Budget, and I am advised by that Bureau that while the enactment of H. R. 2387 in its present form would not be in accord with the program of the President there would be no objection to the enactment of legislation granting Mr. Salfi an award of $1,796.55 plus a reasonable amount for pain and suffering.

Sincerely,

Re: H. R. 2387, Seventy-eighth Congress, first session.

STATE OF NEW YORK,

County of New York, ss:

John Salfi, being duly sworn, deposes and says:

I am John Salfi, the claimant referred to in the above entitled bill. I reside at 719 East Two Hundred and Thirty-third Street, borough of Bronx, city and State of New York.

On October 10, 1940, I was employed by the Orsenigo Co., Inc., 60 Industrial Drive, Westerly, R. I., manufacturers of furniture. I was riding in an automobile owned by one Arthur Guarino, of 61 East Avenue, Westerly, R. I., on our way home from work. We were on a road near Westerly when a truck of the National Youth Administration, negligently being driven on the wrong side of the street, crashed into our car at great speed. I understand that the driver of this car, Louis Gradilone, of Tower Street, Westerly, R. I., was unlicensed to drive a motor vehicle. The driver of that National Youth Administration truck pleaded guilty to negligent and reckless driving. (An extract of the Westerly Police Department report showing that the driver pleaded guilty, was sent on August 11, 1942, to Hon. John E. Fogarty, a Member of Congress, in connection with the claim of the said Mr. Guarino. At the same time my attorney sent Representative Fogarty four photographs of the accident, four newspaper clippings of the accident, and a diagram outlining the manner in which the accident occurred. I respectfully ask that the cooperation of Congressman Fogarty be requested so that these exhibits may be referred to in connection with this affidavit.)

I was taken to the Westerly Hospital suffering from a "fracture of the ramus of the mandible, complete oblique compound fracture of the mandible between canine and first molar on the right side, severe hemorrhage, profound shock."

I was confined in the Westerly Hospital from October 10 to November 7, 1940. The hospital record was sent to Hon. James M. Fitzpatrick, a Member of this House, on June 5, 1942. It will be noted that in that report Dr. Ruisi made the following notation: "Patient has all but died. Respiration shallow. Pulse imperceptible. Lips and finger nails black. Stimulation resorted to and oxygen administered. There is some bleeding from the mouth, but not too profuse. Patient has been unconscious." And that report further shows that it was not until the 13th that I regained consciousness.

After leaving the hospital I was treated by Dr. Sidney E. Riesner, of 136 East Thirty-sixth Street, New York City, who certified he was treating me for a "frac ture of the mandible in the right mental region, and the right condyle head and neck."