Mr. Horan. The Superintendent of the folding room should check Mr. KENNAMER. That is all, Mr. Chairman. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1953. PARKING PERMITS AND SPACES WITNESS WILLIAM F. RUSSELL, SERGEANT AT ARMS th Mr. Horan. The committee will come to order. Mr. Russell. No, Mr. Chairman, except the parking situation, I would like to go into in detail. There is no general statement. I might say at the outset, when we took over at the beginning of the Vr. Horan. How many available parking spaces are there? Mr. Horan. Yes, I would like to have that for the record. Do Mr. Horan. You have tried to correct this situation and to limit the parking permits to those who have a bona fide right to parking in space? Mr. Russell. Only people who are certified by a Member of Congress or the head of a department have a sticker today. There may be 1 or 2 exceptions. Mr. Horan. Does this list show the spaces reserved for the press? Mr. RUSSELL. It shows the press spaces. Mr. Horan. And it indicates some spaces available for public ni parking? Mr. RUSSELL. Seventy-two on the Plaza. Statistics covering parking permits issued House of Representatives Area Estimated space avail able Permits issued to date Congressional Drive. Total are not bere at same time, as a rule). 128 Requests for additional parking permits which have not been filled From Members for a 3d person in office.. 36 From committees. 42 From miscellaneous offices (clerk, doorkeeper, stationery room, library, custodian, liaison offices, etc.). 50 Total to date.. (NOTE.-Each day calls come in from new employees for a parking permit; these average about 3 a day.) Mr. Horan. It has been found necessary to issue a total number of permits in excess of 1,000. There are apparently some folks, including the Members, who live close enough to walk to their offices, I assume. Mr. RUSSELL. We have increased the Members' parking facilities by taking over Delaware Avenue, and the District of Columbia has marked those for Members of Congress only. Mr. Horan. That is a help. We have in excess of 1,000 bona fide permit holders, and about 711 spaces? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes, and requests for 130 additional. As to a general statement, when I found the situation was out of my hands, I sought the advice of the House Administration Committee, and they appointed a subcommittee composed of Mr. Schenck, of Ohio, Mr. Cole of Missouri, and Mr. Deane, of North Carolina. They made a survey, and if you would like to have that for the record, I have a copy of it. They set up the procedure and so forth. Mr. Horan. Without objection, it will be placed in the record. (The matter referred to follows:) Hon. KARL M. LECOMPTE, Chairman, Committee on House Administration. Dear Mr. CHAIRMAN: The subcommittee appointed to assist in seeking a practical solution to the critical parking situation on the House side of Capitol Hill, having devoted considerable time, effort, and thought to the problem, herewith submits its report and recommendations for consideration of the committee. The subcommittee has thoroughly canvassed the situation. The study has included a complete survey of parking facilities both within the area jurisdictionally under the Architect of the Capitol and surrounding privately owned areas. We have met on three occasions to discuss the problem among ourselves and with representatives of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms of the House, officials of the Capitol Police force and others. The subcommittee found a situation that may be described as harassing but Dot overwhelming, provided that the fullest and friendliest cooperation is manifest by each Member and employee who seeks to park his automobile in the areas designated for the use of the House. The subcommittee wishes to emphasize that its efforts were directed entirely toward serving the membership, the House employees, and the visiting public in an equitable, honest manner. The task of pleasing every individual is practically impossible under the circumstances. Nevertheless, we have sought a workable plan that will improve a chaotic situation to the maximum extent within the physical limitations that we face. We cannot emphasize too strongly the necessity for complete cooperation on the part of all Members and employees. Without full cooperation, any suggestions that we offer for the solution of the problem will be useless. Specific measures of cooperation are described subsequently in this report. Generally speaking, the situation should be improved significantly by the adoption of several procedures and regulations which are presented below. ADDITIONAL PARKING FACILITIES Congress. Through the excellent cooperation of the Metropolitan Police of Washington, 26 C St. alongside House parking lot (1 block) - 12 Delaware Ave. alongside House parking lot (1 block) 20 The Metropolitan Police have agreed to erect signs reserving the curbs on 1 side of the street of the above 4 blocks for the exclusive use of Members of District regulations require that such spaces can be used only by Members of Congress whose vehicles must carry the official congressional automobile tags. All vehicles not equipped with the congressional tags will be ticketed, summoning Ofners to traffic court, or towed awav. This, of course, prohibits the use of these areas by employees of the House. This is similar to the regulation that obtains in regard to parking along other curbs surrounding House Office Buildings already designated for Members of Congress only: In this connection it is important that Members cooperate by using these areas to the fullest extent. By using the newly designated areas, which are for Members only and not employees, pressure on other areas previously used by Members ill be relieved, thus providing additional parking space for the use of employees. PROPOSED NEW CONSTRUCTION The subcommittee considered several proposals for new construction to provide additional parking spaces. In each such consideration we were assisted by the Architect of the Capitol in appraising the advisability of such proposals. One minor construction project is recommended for immediate consideration. By extending the House parking lot to the edge of the South Capitol Street sidewalk-a distance of 7 feet, angular parking may be used, thus increasing the parking facility by 10 spaces. The Architect of the Capitol has agreed to accomplish this if so directed. The cost will be negligible because regular Capitol workmen can be employed on the project. Consideration was given to similarly extending the edge of the parking lot to the sidewalk of Delaware Avenue, providing for angular parking and an increase of 16 additional parking spaces. The Architect informed the committee that the project would cost approximately $5,000 because a retaining wall would have to be constructed to restrain vehicles from dropping onto the sidewalk of Delaware Avenue, some 2 to 3 feet below the parking lot level. The Architect presented plans, considered for several years by the House Office Building Commission, for constructing a parking lot in the court of the old House Office Building. Estimated cost is approximately $15,000, providing an estimated 154 parking spaces. The subcommittee has no specific recommendations in the matter and offers this proposal for the consideration of the full committee. The Sergeant-at-Arms has been negotiating with officials of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway in an effort to lease a lot behind the Congressional Hotel capable of accommodating approximately 70 automobiles. Tentatively, the Sergeant-atArms was informed that the lease might be granted for $1 a year, provided the House assumed the tax responsibility of approximately $800 a vear. The subcommittee recommends that the Architect of the Capitol be urged to paint parking spaces on all areas designated for the use of Members and House employees, as well as erect signs designating the reserved use of these facilities. Only by requiring that all vehicles be parked within the painted limits of these individual spaces will it be possible to utilize all of the parking facilities designated for the House. OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL AUTOMOBILE TAGS The law provides that each Member of Congress, the elective officers (Clerk of the House, Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper, Postmaster, and Chaplain), the disbursing clerk and the Parliamentarian shall be issued official congressional automobile tags, not to be assigned to or used by others. A list of holders of these official congressional automobile tags is on file in the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms and is available for review by members of the committee. It is recommended by the subcommittee that in order to be parked in areas designated for the exclusive use of Members, automobiles driven by Members must carry official congressional automobile tags issued for their personal, exclusive use on their own vehicles. It is recommended that Members be cautioned that the transfer of official congressional automobile tags to an unauthorized user not included in the provision of the act of February 27, 1931, S. 4123, sec. 6 (c), approved December 19, 1932, is a violation of the subject act. Furthermore, it is recommended that Members be advised that the act provides for only a single congressional automobile tag per Member. It is recommended that Members who use their personal automobiles in Washington and desire parking space in one of the areas designated for Members only be advised to obtain their congressional automobile tags immediately and attach said tags to their vehicles. Police have been alerted not to honor the congressional automobile tags issued in the 82d or prior Congresses and further, to confiscate all such unlawful congressional tags in evidence. The committee's attention is invited to the fact that some States issue special congressional license plates to Members of Congress, e. g., Indiana and Louisiana, The subcommittee recommends that these special State issuances not be honored for parking in areas designated for Members unless accompanied by the official congressional automobile tags of the 83d Congress. It is recommended that police officers be fully instructed to prohibit the parking of a vehicle in any area designated for Members unless said vehicle carries the official congressional automobile tag; further, that all Members be so informed of the duty of police officers to refuse admission into these areas to vehicles not equipped with the official congressional automobile tag. I. PARKING FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS The following areas are designated for the exclusive use of Members only whose vehicles carry the official congressional license plates issued by the House of Representatives in accordance with the act of February 27, 1931, S. 4123, sec. 6 (c), approved December 19, 1932. Parking lot on east side of New House Office Building 134 New Jersey Ave, between Old and New House Office Buildings. 63 First St, alongside Old House Office Building 23 South Capitol St. between New House Office Building and parking lot. 33 6 C St. alongside House Office Buildings 26 C St. alongside House parking lot - 12 Delaware Ave. alongside House parking lot. Legislative garage (spaces now in use by Members of House) 14 13 20 77 Total.. 421 10 Capitol Plaza ramp- 80 II. FOR CLERICAL STAFF IN MEMBERS' OFFICES , including clerical staff employees in Members' offices, whose vehicles 274 Capitol Plaza (curb between House steps and rotunda steps). Capitol Plaza (southeast curb facing park and Library)-- 42 Capitol Plaza (driveway between House steps and rotunda steps) 20 Capitol Plaza (beside fountain at end of Congressional Dr.). 3 10 Congressional Dr. 54 Southeast Dr. 33 Southeast Triangle (northeast angle, reserved). 13 Southeast Triangle (northwest angle across from House steps) 7 New Jersey Ave. between Independence Ave. and Southeast Dr. 7 Southwest Dr. 100 Court in Old House Office BldgTotal.. 653 It is recommended that each Members' office, except the offices of Speaker, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader, be limited temporarily to two parking space authorizations, exclusive of the Members' own, for the use of Members secretaries and clerical staff. (Among requests received to date by the Sergeant at Arms, 160 Members' offices have requested 1 space each, ž86 Members' offices have requested 2 spaces each, 50 Members' offices have requested 3 spaces each, 10 Members' offices have requested 4 spaces each, and 1 Member's office has requested 5 spaces. This is a total of 930 spaces requested. Limiting spaces to 2 per Member's office, the total becomes 857.) It is suggested that Members upon whom the limitation imposes a definite bardship may appeal to the Capitol Police Board for additional parking space for staff employees, setting forth particulars, i. e., local residence of applicant and distance from office, frequency of applicant's use of space, schedule of appliCant's work hours, etc. II. FOR COMMITTEE STAFF PERSONNEL AND SUNDRY HOUSE FUNCTIONARIES This group includes all House officers and employees except the secretarial Saffs employed in Members' offices, which are discussed in section II above. Parking areas for this group are listed in section II above. Requests received by the Sergeant at Arms for parking spaces to accommodate this group number approximately 400. The listing of these requests is available for the committee's review. |