This project has been recommended in the past (1), to correct the architectural defect in the building which exists due to the skirt or base of the dome extending over the east portico in such a manner as to give the appearance of an apparent lack of support to the dome; (2) to provide additional accommodations for the Congress; (3) to provide a durable construction for the east central portion of the building.

Bills authorizing this project were last considered in 1935 and 1937. Hearings were held before the Senate and House Committees on Public Buildings and Grounds; the bills were passed by the Senate but not reported out by the House committee.

In 1949, an estimate of appropriation in the amount of $6 million was submitted to the House Appropriations Committee to carry out this project, but the estimate was not approved by the committee. The 1949 estimate, as in the case of the legislation requested in 1935 and 1937, provided for this project to be carried out by the Architect of the Capitol under the direction of a Commission of Congress, to be composed of the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the chairman and ranking minority member of the Senate Committee on Public Works, the chairman and ranking minority member of the House Committee on Public Works, the minority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House, and the Architect of the Capitol. The 1949 estimate contemplated extending the east central section of the Capitol approximately 40 feet, and providing in the extended section 2 large hearing rooms, 28 office rooms, efficiently arranged restaurant and cafeterial accommodations for the Senate and the House, and storage and file rooms; and, upon relocation of the restaurants, approximately 14 office rooms in the spaces to be vacated by the restaurants in the Senate and House wings. Under the 1949 estimate, preliminary plans for consideration by the Congress would not have been prepared prior to the appropriation for the building itself.

In view of the fact that this project has been pending for so many years and that space utilization has become a prime consideration, it is the recommendation of the Architect of the Capitol that an appropriation of $25,000 be provided for the fiscal year 1954 for the employment of architectural and engineering services to enable the Architect of the Capitol to prepare preliminary plans and estimates of cost for this project under the direction of the proposed Commission. This procedure has been followed with respect to other building projects under the Architect of the Capitol and would permit a restudy of the Capitol Building project in the light of the present-day requirements of the Congress, and the preparation of preliminary plans showing the physical arrangements recommended by the Commission and the estimate of cost for carrying the project into effect in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission.

Mr. HENLOCK. The explanation of this item is detailed on pages 35-37 of the justifications. We show that ever since the House and Senate wings were completed in the 1860's, there have been repeated efforts made to secure the necessary legislation and appropriation to carry out this project for extension and completion of the central east front of the Capitol.

There was an act passed in 1902 which requires that plans for architectural changes must be approved by the Congress. That act provides "no change in the architectural features of the Capitol Building or in the landscape features of the Capitol Grounds shall be made except on plans to be approved by the Congress."

The east front project has a threefold objective; first, to correct the architectural defect in the building which exists, due to the skirt or base of the dome extending over the east portico in such manner as to give the appearance of an apparent lack of support to the dome; second, to provide additional accommodations for the Congress; third, to provide a durable construction for the east central portion of the building.

As indicated a few minutes ago, in 1935 and again in 1937, bills authorizing this project were introduced; hearings were held by both the Senate and the House Public Buildings and Grounds Committees;

the bills were passed by the Senate, but in each instance were not reported out by the House committee.

You may recall that in 1949 we attempted to get an appropriation of $6 million for this project directly through the House Appropriations Committee, without going through the process of authorization, but did not succeed in doing so. That request provided for the project to be carried forward under the same Joint Commission designated in the 1935 and 1937 legislative bills.

That Commission was made up of the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Chairman and ranking minority members of the House and Senate committees on Public Works, the minority leaders of the Senate and the House, and the Architect of the Capitol. That Commission was to pass on the plans. We propose the same Commission under our 1954 estimate.

Mr. LYNN. Mr. Chairman, the skirt of the dome overhangs the portico some 15 feet 3 inches, and it looks like the dome rests on the portico roof. Actually, the skirt is cantilevered out over the portico, and the weight of the dome is supported on the heavy circular masonry walls of the rotunda.

The discussions about the completion and extension of the Capitol have been going on since Civil War days, but there has never been any appropriation of money provided to complete the cast front of the building.

Mr. HORAN. What is the status of the plans now?

Mr. HENLOCK. Our purpose in asking the $25,000 is to prepare preliminary plans and estimates.

Mr. HORAN. There have been no plans?

Mr. LYNN. We are asking the $25,000 to enable us to employ an architectural firm to make studies and prepare plans and estimates for this project.

Mr. HORAN. How much has previously been done on this?

Mr. HENLOCK. We have no appropriation from which to make any expenditures for this purpose, Mr. Horan. We made a report to your committee last year, on proposed public works, and at that time, stated that if preliminary plans, based on present-day needs, were desired, there would have to be put in the bill an appropriation of $25,000 together with necessary language, but no action was taken last year on our proposal.

So we are now coming in and asking for $25,000 to prepare preliminary plans and estimated costs for the project under the direction. of the proposed Commission. The justification states:

This procedure has been followed with respect to other building projects under the Architect of the Capitol and would permit a restudy of the Capitol Building project in the light of the present-day requirements of the Congress, and the preparation of preliminary plans showing the physical arrangements recommended by the Commission and the estimate of cost for carrying the project into effect in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission.

Mr. HORAN. This photograph indicates what would be added?

Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. Plans or schemes proposed by Thomas U. Walter in 1865 and by Carrere & Hastings in 1904 were concerned primarily with exterior proportions and alinements. It has always been recognized that the interior arrangements should be planned at the time of execution of the project in order to best serve the needs of the time.

Mr. HORAN. If we were to allow this language, would the proposed language be subject to a point of order?

Mr. HENLOCK. I suppose it would, Mr. Chairman, although I believe Hinds' Precedents contain instances, involving alteration of a building, in which the language was ruled in order in an appropriation bill. The 1902 law which we have previously cited, requires that Congress approve plans for proposed architectural changes in the Capitol, before any such changes may be made.

Mr. HORAN. Then we do have a statutory basis for such language. Mr. HENLOCK. It appears to me to be a borderline case. I do know in the case of the proposed new Senate Office Building, we did first secure an authorization, and then an appropriation, for the preliminary plans and estimates. I would not, however, want to say that no other legislative procedure was permissible.

Mr. HORAN. If there is nothing further, we will take up the next item.

RECONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, ALTERATION, AND IMPROVEMENT OF
TERRACES, CAPITOL BUILDING

Mr. HENLOCK. The next item, page 63 of the committee print, and page 38 of the justification. We request that pages 38 to 43 be inserted in the record.

(The statement referred to follows:)

Reconstruction, repair, alteration, and improvement of terrace, Capitol Building 1953 appropriation in annual act_

Estimate for 1954, new nonrecurring appropriation__.

None $837, 000

This is a permanent improvement, strongly recommended by the Architect of the Capitol in the interest of the preservation of the Capitol Building. The terraces are steadily deteriorating due to lack of reconstruction; also, due to their condition, the public have for about the past 15 years been denied the use of the terraces as a promenade affording a much-enjoyed vista of the city.

This is an item that has been considered by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on a number of occasions in the past. In 1941, the House Appropriations Committee, in reporting the 1941 legislative branch appropriation bill, strongly recommended that this project be proceeded with, without further delay, and included the necessary funds for the project in that bill. The item was approved by the House, but was deleted from the bill in conference, upon motion of the Senate that exclusive attention be given at that time to the sizable task of replacing the roofs over the House and Senate wings of the Capitol. Due to the war, the Roof and Chamber project could not be undertaken until the summer of 1949 and was completed in January 1951.

In view of the fact that the House has previously recognized the urgent need of this improvement and has previously approved funds for the project, and in view of the fact that the roof and chamber project, which was the sole reason for deferment of the terraces project, has been completed, it is urged that funds for the terraces project be included in the 1954 appropriation bill, so that the work may be proceeded with, without further delay.

The detailed explanation of the project follows:

The terraces consist of a 1-story structure extending along the entire west front of the Capitol, as well as the north and south ends. The structure is adjacent to the building and completes the west front architecturally. The construction of the north section of the terrace was started in 1874 and by 1892 this section, together with the west and south sections, was completed. The length of the structure is about 1,460 feet and the average width about 60 feet.

The side walls are of marble on the exterior faces and granite in the courtyards, with brick foundations and backing. The roof consists of a series of brick arches, supported by iron beams. These arches are covered with a layer of waterproofing, and above the waterproofing are monolithic concrete walkways formerly forming

34523-53--7

a promenade; also large granite plant cases and stairways, with marble balustrades extending around the outer edge of the entire terrace structure.

The space beneath the terrace is occupied by 11 offices used by Senators and their staffs, 1 office and 1 storeroom used by the Capitol Police, 1 office by the House restaurant, 3 offices by the Arthitect's staff, the electrical substation and transformer rooms, toilets, the air-conditioning systems for the Senate and House Chambers, the Architect's mechanical shops and storeroom, and miscellaneous storage rooms assigned to various Senate and House committees and the House document room.

In 1948, the condition of the terraces became so bad that the entire structure had become virtually saturated with dampness from leaks and would not dry out, and it was necessary at that time, as a temporary expedient, to cover the concrete walkways and all other paved surfaces with five-ply membrane waterproofing and slag coating. This waterproofing and coating, although serving to help keep the water from penetrating through the terraces, is only a temporary retardment, and also makes the surfaces of the terraces unusable, as to allow the public to walk on this surface would defeat the purpose for which the waterproofing and coating were installed, since there is no protective covering over it. In 1951, it again became necessary to make repairs to the sections of the terrace directly over the electrical substation and over part of the space occupied by Senators and their staffs.

The terraces must be reconstructed in order to correct existing defective conditions. The present estimated cost of such reconstruction is $837,000.

Under the amount of $837,000 requested for 1954, all of the old paving and waterproofing is to be removed down to the top of the brick arches, new drains installed, and the subsurface over the top of the arches graded with concrete, having a pitch toward the drains; reglets are to be cut in the steps, plant cases, walls, and balustrade to receive copper-cap flashing; five-ply membrane waterproofing with copper counter flashing is to be installed over the concrete fill-the counter flashing to extend above the finished surfaces of the terraces; the balustrade is to be taken down and reset where it is out of alinement, also the walls on the northwest corner of the west terrace, which are now overhanging the granite base course and vary from 1% inches to 4 inches out of alinement due to water seeping into the joints in the stonework and freezing; the entire surfaces of the terraces are to be covered with 3-inch precast stone, in blocks 4 feet square. set in mortar and having expansion joints every 20 feet; a cap flashing is to be installed all around the terraces, this flashing to be held in place with lead plugs 12-inch on centers and caulked with plastic seal; all stone joints are to be cut out to a depth of 1-inch in all of the walls and balustrade and repointed with a 1:3 portland cement mortar.

After the electrical systems of the Capitol Building have been converted from 25 cycle and direct current to 60-cycle alternating current and the electrical substations, which will then be no longer required, are eliminated, 9 offices for Members of the House can be provided, if desired, in the space vacated, at an estimated cost of $32,000. Funds for this purpose are not included in the $837,000 estimate, but would be requested at a subsequent date.

Mr. HENLOCK. The explanation of this item starts on page 39. This is a permanent improvement, strongly recommended by the Architect of the Capitol in the interest of the preservation of the Capitol Building. The terrraces are steadily deteriorating, due to lack of reconstruction; also, due to their condition, the public has for about the past 15 years been denied the use of the terraces as a promenade affording a much enjoyed vista of the city.

This item has been considered by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on a number of occasions in the past. In 1941 the House Appropriations Committee, in reporting the 1941 legislative appropriation bill, strongly recommended that this project be proceeded with, without further delay, and included the necessary funds for the project in the bill. The item was approved by the House, but was deleted from the bill in conference, upon motion of the Senate that exclusive attention be given at that time to the replacement of the roofs over the House and Senate wings of the Capitol.

And as you know, the war came along, and it was not until 1949-51 that the roof and chamber project work could be accomplished.

In view of the fact that the House has previously recognized the urgent need of this improvement and has previously approved funds; for it, we resubmit the item and urgently request its approval for next,

year.

The following pages of the justification contain a description of the terraces. The construction of the north section of the terrace was started in 1874 and by 1892 this section, together with the west and south sections, was completed. The length of the structure is about 1,460 feet, and the average width, about 60 feet

Do you wish me to go ahead and read the description?

EXTENT OF REPAIRS

Mr. HORAN. I do not think that is necessary.

I would like you

to explain for the record why, since it is already built, it costs so much

to repair.

Mr. HENLOCK. The cost is for reconstruction.

Mr. HORAN. You have to tear them down?

Mr. LYNN. We have to remove all existing construction down to the top of the supporting brick arches and iron beams which form the roof of the terraces.

Mr. HORAN. And completely reconstruct.

Mr. LYNN. Yes, from the brick arches up. The sidewalls will, however, remain intact.

Mr. HENLOCK. In 1948 the condition of the terraces became so bad that the entire structure had become virtually saturated with dampness from leaks and would not dry out, and it was necessary at that time, as a temporary expedient, to cover the concrete walkways, and all other paved surfaces, with five-ply membrane waterproofing and slag coating. That has helped to keep the dampnes sout, but is only a temporary deterioration retardment.

Mr. LYNN. Congress gave us money twice to temporarily waterproof the area, but it is only a temporary remedy.

Mr. HENLOCK. In 1951 it again became necessary to make emergency repairs to the sections of the terrace directly over the electrical substation and over part of the space occupied by Senators and their staffs.

Mr. HORAN. The details of this item are broken down on page 43 of the justification.

Mr. HENLOCK. I might say that the House report on the 1941 legislative bill contains a full-page description of the committee's views at that time, together with a detailed account of what has to be done, as well as the reasons why only general reconstruction can remedy existing defects.