Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

OFFICE OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Mr. BENJAMIN. Your next division.

Mr. MOLLOY. Yes, the Office of Photography, under Keith Jewell, operates as two separate functions, the majority and minority. The minority is not under my jurisdiction. That operates under the term the Republicans use similar to our Policy and Steering Conference. There is an on-line study right now to possibly combine the two of these as a service-type organization, and that speaks for itself, whatever conclusion is reached.

Mr. BENJAMIN. They were switched from Policy?

Mr. MOLLOY. They were taken from the Democratic Policy and Steering Committee and put under me.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Has there been any difficulty?

Mr. MOLLOY. None whatsoever, sir. They are an excellent operation.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Let me ask Mr. Jewell if there has been any difficulty.

Mr. MOLLOY. Keith Jewell, who is the chief, is here. There are possibly some administrative problems. Whenever you change something there are growing pains. That is being studied by House Administration, by our office, and by Mr. Rhodes' office, with a possible future change.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Any questions?

Mr. MICHEL. Do I understand then that as far as the Democratic photographers are concerned, they are funded out of your shop?

Mr. MOLLOY. Yes, sir.

Mr. MICHEL. And ours are funded out of the Conference?

Mr. MOLLOY. I am not sure of that. Yes, they are. At this point they are, yes, sir, but that is just in the last couple of months.

Mr. MICHEL. You know we have had all this flak around here about mixing politics with official government business, and whether or not the congressional committees should be even on Federal property.

Mr. MOLLOY. That is what is behind this, sir, this study.

Mr. MICHEL. And we have come under some criticism with our congressional committee, because we are currently still being housed in Federal property, although trying to get our building done so that we can move, but it is surprising to me. We have got to make up our minds on these photographers, whether or not it is going to be considered strictly official kind of business or whether there is politics involved in it. If it is politics, then it belongs in both the Republican and Democratic congressional committees. If it is strictly official and no politics involved, then I can see where it could be funded out of your shop.

Mr. BENJAMIN. It has been taken out of congressional committees, one placed in Steering and Policy and the other in the Republican counterpart, the Republican Conference. Apparently the mold of the Democrats is that they even more depoliticize it by moving it to the Doorkeeper. You have minority and majority service in your office. I guess the real question is whether you want it transferred.

Mr. MICHEL. I know we are drawing these real fine lines.
Mr. MOLLOY. The guidelines are very strict.

Mr. MICHEL. As a matter of fact the individual we once had at our congressional campaign committee who was doing artistic work by way of letterheads for the newsletters, but because the newsletters are now acceptable for frank, I have that individual from the congressional committee on the Whip payroll

Mr. MOLLOY. Yes, sir.

Mr. MICHEL [continuing]. To make absolutely sure he is not considered to be political in any nature.

Mr. MOLLOY. With the Federal Election Campaign Committee and the various lawsuits that have come out of the frank I think it is getting tied down a lot more tightly. I am not aware of any abuses in this thing at all. The photographers function pretty well, and there are guidelines that are imposed by both sides that take them out of the realm of politics.

Mr. CONTE. I want to say here for the record, Jim, that Keith Jewell and his staff have been very, very kind to me. You get into a position sometimes of a foreign dignitary coming in, and the Republican photographer is not around. They have always taken a picture and made sure we got it.

Mr. BENJAMIN. That is true with both Republicans and Democrats. They have helped out without regard to political nomenclature. They have done an excellent job.

[The digest pertaining to the Office of Photography follows:]

JAMES T. MOLLOY

DOORKEEPER

PHONE: 52840

57121

ORGANIZATION & OPERATION

Office of the Doorkeeper
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

OFFICE OF PHOTOGRAPHY

ауча

The Photographers are administered by the Office of the Doorkeeper. Their function is to ensure that their services are available to the Members of the House who must respond appropriately to constituent requests and official responsibilities.

SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES

KEITH JEWELL, MAJORITY DIRECTOR
SAL LA CAPRIA, MINORITY DIRECTOR

The office is staffed by six persons, all of whom perform photographic services. All files and records are maintained by the photographers and photographic technicians.

This office serves the House as a recorder of special and historical events, such as Joint Sessions of Congress. It supplies wire services, TV media, local news organizations and trade journals with photographic needs pertaining to the House. It researches and provides topical photographic materials for House Committees, Hearings and investigations. It operates darkrooms and laboratory facilities capable of developing film, preparing prints, mounting, finishing, restoring prints and other technical aspects of a self-contained processing facility.

Requests for services are arranged by the Director and the Deputy Director. Constant contact is maintained by use of a multi-phone system and a "beeper" paging system. Photographs are made on an individual basis by appointment.

35-533 O 79 24 (Pt. 2)

Photographs are

These are limited to the official business of the House. taken primarily within the Hill complex, except as time permits for functions that involve a group of Members. In addition, the staff participates in photographic coverage at White House bill-signing ceremonies, and as required, accompanies Members on trips in the United States and abroad so that necessary pictorial data and information may be collected. Other areas of activity include Inaugural events, major and routine Committee Hearings, investigations, visiting Heads of State, and any special event involving a Member of Congress in line of duty.

Black and white prints are provided to requesting Members, and color transparencies are made available for their use. These can also be made available to the media, publishers, and agencies preparing historical and educational presentations.

Members utilize this service for Photographs with individual constituents, constituent interest groups, local Distric newspapers and TV stations, and

newsletters.

Stocks of most frequently requested photos are maintained for immediate dissemination, e. g. the Capitol, House and Senate Office Buildings. Requests come from U. S. Senators, Congressional Quarterly, Capitol Historical Society, Smithsonian Institution, World Book Encyclopedia, Veterans' organizations, Project HELP, as well as all media.

Direction and advice can be provided Members on matte spray prints, retouch prints and negatives, crop negatives and prints, as well as

contact proof sheets

copy prints

duplicate slides

presentation mat mounts

dry mounts

reprints
prints from slides
copy negatives
tap mounts

All photographers must be able to recognize Members by face, name and state, and be aware of their personal preferences and requirements.

Mr. BENJAMIN. The next division.

Mr. MOLLOY. Gentlemen, that brings to an end the eight areas under my jurisdiction.

[Discussion off the record.]

Mr. BENJAMIN. Thank you.

OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER

Mr. BENJAMIN. Now, the Postmaster.

Mr. HENSHAW. Yes, Mr. Chairman.

The Office of the Postmaster.

For salaries, including employment of substitute messengers and extra services of regular employees for the Office of the Postmaster, $1,284,700.

Mr. Chairman, the House Postmaster, Honorable Robert V. Rota, is here to discuss the operation of the House Post Office.

[The information follows:]

APPROPRIATIONS, ACTUAL EXPENDITURES, UNEXPENDED BALANCES

[blocks in formation]

Mr. HENSHAW. It is my privilege to introduce the Postmaster, Mr. Rota.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Mr. Rota, we are going to accept your statement for the record and ask you to summarize it.

[The information follows:]

« PreviousContinue »