square feet of paving in the new area compares to a total of 814,000 square feet of paving in the old area. Of the total of 958,000 square feet of paving in the new area, it is proposed under the 1954 estimate to replace approximately 40,000 square feet of such paving in the area of the grounds above the underground legislative garage, at an estimated cost of $90,000. Most of the paving to be replaced is in the form of a large plaza surrounding the display fountain in the new area. This paving, installed in 1931, consists of reinforced concrete, 15 inches thick, with a granolithic exposed surface, laid in blocks 120 feet square, with one-half inch expansion joints around the edges of each block. The roof of the garage, which consists of reinforced concrete beams and slabs, covered with membrane waterproofing, is located directly beneath the plaza paving. Because of the size of the plaza, this large paved area is subjected to excessive expansion and contraction, due to the severe and sudden changes in temperature which frequently occur in Washington, particularly in the summer. Although the roof of the garage has remained structurally sound, the paved plaza above the garage has gradually deteriorated during the past 22 years until the point has now been reached where the present state of deterioriation constitutes a hazard to pedestrians using the plaza. With respect to the broad plaza walks leading to the central plaza from Constitution Avenue and from D Street NW., those walks, although of similar construction, have not deteriorated in similar manner and do not require replacement at this time, as they were installed directly on the ground, without a garage or similar structure beneath. Under the funds requested for 1954, it is proposed to remove the existing paving down to the top of the structural slab which forms the roof of the garage; clean off the structural slab; fill any voids that may have occurred during the past 22 years; provide adequate drainage; apply a 4-ply membrane waterproofing over the structural slab; then install new paving with improved expansion joints designed to help prevent undue movement during the hot summer months. ESTIMATED COSTS As previously indicated, the estimated cost of paving and drainage reconstruction work in the old grounds is $670,000, and of paving reconstruction work in the new grounds is $90,000-a total estimated cost of $760,000. The breakdown of cost, which follows, has been prepared in collaboration with the District of Columbia Highway and Sewer Departments. Breakdown of estimate, old and new grounds Mr. HENLOCK. What we propose under the $760,000 item is a complete reconstruction program-tear up the old roadways and other paving, construct new foundations and then install new paving; also to abandon the old terre-cotta sewers throughout the old grounds and to replace them with new sewers of modern construction. Mr. HORAN. Does this plan include coordination with the work that might be done on the east front? Mr. HENLOCK. Yes; it would be coordinated, if the item of $25,000 for the east front is included in our 1954 appropriations. Actually, most of the area where the extension would occur is not paved, but consists of the two large grass plots in front of the Capitol. Mr. HORAN. Where did you get the cost estimates? Mr. HENLOCK. They were prepared in collaboration with the District Highway and Sewer Departments. We would ask the district government to include our work in their bid requests for city street and sewer work, so as to get the benefit of lower costs obtainable by including this work as a part of the overall city work. This method was pursued successfully when we developed the enlarged area of the Capitol Grounds. Mr. HORAN. Would you still need the $5,600 for repairs and maintenance? Mr. HENLOCK. Yes, because this maintenance item would still be required for repairs in the area north of Constitution Avenue, such as areas where curbs have been pushed out of line by action of tree roots-particularly in view of the Federal Tort Claims Act. I might say that 4 or 5 claims have been filed under that act, either directly with this office or with the Court. However, if the proposed reconstruction work in the old and new areas is done, there could be a reduction made in the 1955 estimates. If there are no further questions, our next appropriation item is the legislative garage. Shall I proceed? Mr. HORAN. If you will, please. LEGISLATIVE GARAGE Mr. HENLOCK. This item begins on page 66 of the committee print, and page 64 of the justifications, which we request be made a part of the record. Painting entire ceiling structure of garage, which has not been painted since original completion and occupancy of the garage in 1932, together with other miscellaneous areas. The ceiling of the garage is constructed of concrete. It is not flat, but consists of a series of beams and recesses, and has 68 sections. The total surface to be painted, with two coats, is approximately 131,000 square feet. $34, 800 -600 34, 200 +15, 000 Total estimate for 1954_. 49, 200 Mr. HENLOCK. In this instance we drop out one small equipment item of $600, to arrive at the base for 1954, of $34,200. An increase of $15,000 is requested for painting the entire ceiling structure of the garage, which has not been painted since original completion and occupancy of the garage in 1932, except for a few small areas. The ceiling of the garage is constructed of concrete. It is not a flat surface, but consists of a series of beams and recesses in 68 sections, and the total surface to be painted with two coats amounts in square-foot area to almost double the area it would be necessary to paint if the ceiling were a flat surface. Mr. HORAN. What is the need for painting? Mr. LYNN. The principal reason for this request is to lighten the garage ceiling, the surface of which has darkened, in order to get proper benefit from the ceiling lights. Mr. HORAN. Any further questions on that? SUBWAY TRANSPORTATION AND SENATE OFFICE BUILDING Mr. HENLOCK. Our next two appropriation items on pages 70 and 73 of the justification, are "Subway transportation, Capitol and Senate Office Building" and "Senate Office Building." These items are not included in the committee print as they are usually left for consideration by the Senate committee. We have included them in our book of justifications because we use these books also when we appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee. HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS Mr. HORAN. We are pleased to have with us the Superintendent of the House Office Buildings, Mr. Ridgell, who is present to answer any questions the Members may have, as we proceed. Mr. HENLOCK. Page 86 may be inserted in the record. (The statement referred to follows:) Pointing ledge, 7th floor balcony, new building. Structural and mechanical alterations to provide accommodations for television and recording activities, old building... Base for 1954__ __ Additions: Within-grade salary advancements... $961, 300 48, 750 1, 010, 050 $6,000 48, 750 -54, 750 955, 300 3, 900 11, 900 Replacement of jaw speed governors and car safety Installation of 5 revolving doors at the 3 entrances to the Total estimate for 1954_____ +56, 800 1,012, 100 Mr. HENLOCK. We show on our blue control sheet that we have dropped out 2 nonrecurring items for 1954-1 for pointing the ledge, seventh floor balcony of the new House Office Building, $6,000, and the other, $48,750, to provide accommodations for television and recording activities in the old House Office Building. That work is completed. Mr. Bow. May I ask what was the cost of the television studio? Mr. HENLOCK. $48,750 so far as the Government's part was concerned. Mr. Bow. That was construction, mainly alteration? Mr. HENLOCK. Yes, sir. Mr. Bow. That is completed? Mr. HENLOCK. Yes, sir. Mr. Bow. At a cost of $48,750? Mr. HENLOCK. Yes, sir. We offset these two decreases with increases totaling $56,800, which makes the net increase for 1954, $2,050. INCREASES REQUESTED The first item of increase is $3,900 for within-grade promotions under the Classification Act. Eleven thousand nine hundred dollars is for modernization and improvement of elevators in the new building. At the time the seven-passenger elevators were installed in the new building, the safety devices conformed to the engineering standards of the time, but with the improvements that have since been made in the field of elevator engineering, they no longer conform to standards recommended by the National Safety Code for elevators. We have had difficulty with these devices, and we now recommend an expenditure of $11,900 in the interest of safety, which is an average of $1,700 per elevator. One thousand dollars is asked to meet increased maintenance costs of the air-conditioning system. Eight hundred dollars of this increase is to provide replacement filters for air-purifying equipment, and $200 for increased cost of supplies and materials. Our final item of increase is a $40,000 item for continuation of the program of installation of new bronze, panic-proof, automatic collapsible revolving doors in the Capitol, Senate and House Office Buildings. This program has been in progress since 1941, and we have already installed 8 new revolving doors in the Capitol, 2 in the Old House Office Building, and 1 in the Senate Office Building. If the committee wishes to continue this program, we recommend the installation of a total of 5 revolving doors at the 3 entrances to the New House Office Building-3 at the Independence Avenue entrance and 1 at each of the other 2 entrances. These revolving doors cost about $8,000 each, which is approximately the same price paid in past years for similar doors. The rest of the justifications on the House Office Building, which extend through page 96, amplify what has been stated on the blue sheet. JOINT RECORDING FACILITIES Mr. HORAN. We had quite a discussion yesterday concerning the joint recording facilities and the question of the cost of alterations for the joint recording facilities was raised. Do you have the accumulated cost of those alterations since the facilities were started? Mr. LYNN. Mr. Ridgell, do you have the total cost since they started the television rooms? Mr. RIDGELL. Yes, sir. Everything we put in last year came out of this $48,750. Mr. HORAN. Up on the fifth floor, too? Mr. RIDGELL. No. The radio rooms were started 10 or 15 years ago. I think the first expenditure for the installation on the fifth floor, amounted to about $3,000. Then later we added additional rooms, which cost about $4,000. Mr. HORAN. It is a good facility. I just wondered what those accumulated costs were. We had quite a discussion about it yester dav. As far as I am concerned, I still think it is a good investment. It more or less pays its way. But in order to clear this matter up we |