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Additions-Continued

CAPITOL POWER PLANT-continued

5 additional positions-Continued

1 electrician and 2 operating engineers are requested for 1968 to keep the refrigeration plant at the Capitol Power Plant on a 24-hour-a-day operating basis during the period each year, commencing in early April and ending in late November. For many years, it has been the practice to operate the refrigeration plant only during the 16-hour period, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily. As the period 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. each day is required to extract from the system the residual heat which the system absorbs daily during the shutdown period, the Capitol, Senate, and House Office Buildings, supplied by the Plant with chilled water for cooling, can be provided with comfortable working conditions only from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily. During the period, 11 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., working conditions in the buildings are most uncomfortable.

Complaints of discomfort are being received from Members of Congress and their staffs who commence work in their offices earlier than 8:30 a.m.

In addition, working conditions in these buildings are most uncomfortable during the shutdown period for the 300 charwomen and the night laborers and mechanics who have to perform their duties during this period. In the case of the House Office Buildings, prior to occupancy of the Rayburn Building in 1965, the House charwomen worked only 3 hours a day, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Since occupancy of the Rayburn Building, their workday has been extended to 6 hours, from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. In the Senate Office Buildings, the charwomen also work 6 hours daily.

During the shutdown period, there is virtually no circulation of air in the buildings after the air-supply fans are shut down, since the windows in the air-conditioned bulldings are permanently closed.

At present, a force of 6 mechanics is required and provided for operation of the refrigeration plant on a 16-hour-a-day basis. In order to keep the plant in operation on a 24-houra-day basis, it will be necessary to add 3 additional mechanics to the maintenance force, and funds, in the amount of $20,696, for such purpose are requested for the fiscal year 1968.

2 maintenance mechanics are requested for 1968 to augment the existing force of 7 mechanics who are required to handle all mechanical maintenance work in the steamplant, the refrigeration plant, the coal-handling installation, the ash-handling plant, the air-compressor facility, and the plumbing and heating systems. The present force consists of 1 foreman (WB-15), 1 assistant foreman (WB-13), 3 mechanics (WB-11), and 2 welders (WB-10 and WB-11).

This force is responsible for maintaining in good physical condition steam generating and refrigerating equipment having an estimated replacement value of over $12,000,000. About % of this equipment is over 10 years old, resulting in the need for continually increasing preventive maintenance in order to insure uninterrupted service and decelerated depreciation, if the normal useful life of 30 years or more is to be realized for this substantial capital investment.

In the latter part of 1965, new installations, authorized by Public Law 85-895, were completed and placed in operation. which increased the refrigeration capacity of the plant by 75 percent and the steam generating capacity by 65 percent. In addition, new fuel-handling and storage facilities have been installed for recently completed oil-fired boilers, which installation includes a 250,000-gallon storage tank, transfer pumps, oil heaters, piping systems and auxiliary items, representing an investment of $450,000.

Additions

Continued

Capitol Power Plant-Continued

5 additional positions

Continued

These substantial increases in the production and sup-
porting capabilities of the Capitol Power Plant impose
significant additional burdens on the maintenance force, ex-
ceeding the normal capability of a 7-man force.

Additional funds, in the amount of $14.020, are therefore
requested to augment this force by the addition of 2 me-
chanics for the fiscal year 1968.
Contribution to retirement fund increased from $41,800 to
$45,100

This increase results from increase in basic pay costs and
from the proposed addition of 5 new employees. The amount
requested is to cover the cost of Government contribution to
retirement fund required by Public Law 854, 84th Congress,
"Title IV-Civil Service Retirement Act Amendments of
1956."

Payment to employees' life insurance fund increased from $1,230
to $2,130.

This increase is necessary to request in order to cover the
current cost being incurred under this allotment. The cost,
for the fiscal year 1966, amounted to $2,100. The item
covers the cost of the Government's payment to the employees,
life insurance fund required by Public Law 598, 83d Con-
gress, "Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act of
1954."

Stoker rehabilitation___.

This item represents a request for funds for a 2d year allotment under a 3-year stoker rehabilitation program. Funds were allowed for 1967 to replace the spreader stoker in 1 of the 3 steam generators at the Capitol Power Plant. Each of these steam generators has a steam-generating capacity of 110,000 pounds per hour, is coal-fired, and was placed in operation in August 1954. During the past 12 years, each Stoker has burned about 140,000 tons of coal during a period of 70,000 hours of operation. The average useful life of stoker grates varies from 10 to 15 years, depending upon the annual rate of combustion. Prolonged operation of aging grates invites danger of complete breakdown, results in lower operating efficiency, and creates a greater tendency for air pollution.

Regular repairs have been made annually to the existing stokers during their 12 years of continuous operation. Despite this constant attention, the point has now been reached where the dependability of plant operation demands the replacement of the spreader stokers in all three of the steam generators. The work has to be done over a 3-year period in order not to jeopardize continuous operation of the steam generating plant which might readily result through attempting to replace all 3 stokers during a single nonheating

season.

Accordingly, an appropriation of $50,000 is requested for the fiscal year 1968 to permit the replacement of the stoker in the 2d steam generator before June 30, 1968, leaving a final appropriation to be requested for the fiscal year 1969 for replacement of the stoker in the 3d steam generator.

Total estimate for 1968_.

LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL CARE

$3,300

900

50,000

2,841, 600

Senator BARTLETT. Turning now to Library Buildings and Grounds, structural, and mechanical care, I will place in the record pages 149 to 159 from the justifications.

(The justification follows:)

1967 appropriation in annual act--

Pay supplemental (Public Law 89–504, $3,400; wage-board, $16,400) –

Total appropriations—1967-.

Deductions:

"Pay above the stated annual rate" allotment eliminated for 1968
and funds for 1968 transferred to "Overtime pay" allotment--
Annual care of grounds: Nonrecurring item for 1967 allowed for
purchase of new generator set to operate grass trimmers and
other electric tools, not required for 1968-..
Installation of floor tile, main building: Replacement of cork
floor tile on decks A, B, 37, and 38, main building, allowed for
1967, not required for 1968.
Repairs to marble floor tile, main building-11th year allotment
of repair program; this completes work that can be done until
a 3d Library building is available____

$1,392, 000 19, 800

1, 411, 800

1,400

500

30,000

Clean and refinish bronze doors, west entrance, first floor, main building: Nonrecurring item allowed for 1967, not required for 1968--

Clean and restore ceiling and wall decorations, main building:
4th year allotment of improvement program--.
Improved lighting, office areas, both buildings: 3d year allotment
to improve the lighting in various office and work spaces, both
buildings

9,500

10,000

50,000

Replacement of garage doors, east side, main building: Nonrecurring item allowed for 1967, not required for 1968_ Fireproofing pipe and duct openings, annex: Nonrecurring item allowed for 1967, not required for 1968_.

Air conditioning, deck 1, south, annex: Nonrecurring item allowed for 1967, not required for 1968...

2,500

10,000

3, 500

Roof repairs, main building: 1st year allotment of roof repair program..

Pointing exterior stonework, main building: Nonrecurring item
allowed for 1967 to point up the brickwork on the building wall
and arches in the passageway below ground encircling most
of the exterior of the main building, not required for 1968----
Replacement of book conveyors, annex: Nonrecurring item
allowed for 1967, not required for 1968--
Replacement of 3 passenger elevators in bookstacks, main build-
ing: Nonrecurring item allowed for 1967, not required for 1968
Construction changes, cellar areas, annex: Nonrecurring item
allowed for 1967, not required for 1968-
Installation of fire sprinkler systems, cellar areas, annex: Nonre-
curring item allowed for 1967, not required for 1968-----
Materials handling and cleaning equipment: Several items of
equipment allowed as replacements for obsolete equipment and
to supplement existing equipment, allowed for 1967, not re-
quired for 1968...

Repairs and replacements, sidewalks surrounding main building:
Nonrecurring item allowed for 1967, not required for 1968---

Total

Base for 1968_-_.

3, 500

5,000

10,000

200, 000

136, 000

115, 000

30,000

10,000

35,000

-661,900

749,900

Additions:
Wage board increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Cong--
Under the provisions of Public Law 763, 83d Cong., 62
laborers and mechanics on the Library buildings and
grounds roll are compensated on a wage board, prevailing
rate basis. Public Law 763 provides that the compensation
of such employees shall be fixed and adjusted from time to
time as nearly as is consistent with the public interest in
accordance with prevailing rates.

An increase of $8,203 is requested for 1968 to meet on a
full-year basis the cost of increased wage rates established
as a result of a general survey of government and industrial
employees in the Washington metropolitan area, conducted
during the past year. The new rates went into effect Dec. 4,
1966, in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 85-872,
85th Cong. This increase is necessary in order that the
Library buildings and grounds wage board employees may
be compensated on a full-year basis in the fiscal year 1968
in accordance with present prevailing rates.

An increase of $4,204 is requested for 1968 to meet the cost
of within grade promotions and other changes falling due in
that year, authorized by Public Law 763 under the wage
board system, for employees compensated under that act.
Within grade promotions authorized by the Classification Act of
1949, as amended, for employees compensated under that act__
Overtime pay allotment increased from $105,900 to $111,680___

Of this increase, $4,380 results from increase in basic pay
rates. The additional $1,400 results from transfer of such
amount from the "Pay above the stated annual rate" allot-
ment. Next year being leap year, there would normally be 2
excess basic workdays to be compensated. However, in the
fiscal year 1968, the 2 excess days fall on a Saturday and
Sunday. Most of the employees under the Architect are re-
quired to work 4 hours on Saturdays at time and one-half
pay, and a skeleton maintenance force is required to work on
Sundays, also at time and one-half pay. It is estimated that
the amount normally provided under the "Pay above the
stated rate" allotment, covering 1 full 8-hour day for all
employees, will equal and offset the cost of work required on
the excess Saturday and Sunday in 1968. Accordingly, the
amount of $1,400 allowed under that allotment for 1967 has
been deleted from that allotment for 1968 and transferred
for 1968 to the "Overtime pay" allotment.
General annual repairs-increased from $20,000 to $25,000‒‒‒‒‒‒

This increase is requested for the following reasons: (1)
the last increase was allowed in fiscal 1965 and since then
costs of labor and materials have risen; (2) as the 2 build-
ings continue to advance in age, the need for maintennace
and repairs increases; (3) new tube and conveyor systems
now installed cost more to maintain because they are more
complicated mechanically and electrically than the old equip-
ment; (4) there has been some increase in the cost of pro-
tection services due to an expansion of areas containing
classified records in the collections.

Maintenance and repair, air conditioning and refrigeration sys-
tems-increased from $15,600 to $31,100..

Of the total amount requested ($31,100), $15,600 is for the
routine annual maintenance and repair of the various air
conditioning and refrigeration systems in both buildings and
is the same as allowed for 1967. The remainder ($15,500)
covers 2 nonrecurring items, as follows: (1) Cleaning of air-
handling systems, rare book stacks, main buildings ($9,500).
These systems have not been cleaned for nearly 20 years,
with the result that dirt is now getting into the rare book
collections with adverse effects on these very valuable ma-
terials. A thorough cleaning of the air-handling systems, in-

79-512-67-14

$12, 407

213 5,780

5,000

15, 500

Additions-Continued

Maintenance and repair-Continued

cluding ducts, grills, fans, filter frames and heat transfer
coils, is required to remedy this condition, and it can only be
done by a qualified contractor, with special equipment; (2)
Installation of new preheat coils, annex ($6,000). The ab-
sence of preheat coils in the annex requires the curtailment
of the fresh air supply during periods of low outside tem-
peratures in order to prevent freezing of water coils. During
such periods, there is an excessive use of vitiated recirculated
air and a lack of an adequate fresh air supply, circum-
stances that create discomfort and unhealthful conditions
for the building occupants. The installation of preheat coils
in spaces provided for the future installation when needed,
when the annex systems were redesigned in 1957, will permit
the introduction of an adequate supply of fresh air, regardless
of outside temperatures, and correct the unsatisfactory condi-
tions mentioned. Installation of these coils is now necessary
as there is no longer a transfer of air between the main and
annex buildings by way of the interconnecting pedestrian
tunnel, since installation of a complete air-conditioning
system in the main building in 1965.

Snow removal____

This is a new item for the Library and is required on an annual basis. After a heavy snowstorm, it is generally necessary to employ the Architect of the Capitol's Capitol Grounds snow removal contractor to remove snow from some sections of the grounds (for example, the driveway at the west front of the main building) because the Library's equipment cannot handle the job. Charges for this work are made against the appropriation established under the Architect of the Capitol for care of the Library buildings and grounds. During fiscal 1966, this charge amounted to $2,000, and so far in 1967 the cost has been nearly $900. However, since no funds were appropriated for this purpose, the costs had to be taken out of funds made available for other purposes. An allowance of $2,000 is requested, therefore, starting in fiscal 1968, to take care of this contingency; should there be no occasion to use the funds, they would be returned to the Treasury. Equipment for bookstacks, main building_---

The following items of equipment are requested: (1) 400 free-standing bookshelving sections are needed to provide additional shelf capacity in the bookstacks to compensate for losses of shelf space caused by the installation of air-conditioning equipment and fire-retardation facilities ($10,000); (2) 36 5-drawer plan file cases are requested to house the valuable collection of American and foreign posters now piled on tables and exposed to dust and deterioration ($4,000). 200 special metal shelving units to fit on existing stack shelving are needed for the storage of phonodisc sound recordings to insure proper support and guard against warping and distortion of the playing surface ($3,500). Clean and restore ceiling decorations, main building---

This item is requested to permit continuation of work completed in the last few years in decorated areas located primarily in the west side of the main building. Funds provided for 1967 are being used to start the restoration of decorations on the walls and ceilings of the ground floor, but there is still much to be done in this area.

Improved lighting, office areas, both buildings.......

The amount requested is the same as allowed for 1967 and is needed to assure continuance of an office lighting improvement program started in fiscal 1964. Since that time, the inadequate lighting in the perimeter office areas on the entire 1st floor of the annex has been replaced, improvements have been made in several smaller, but nonetheless critical, sections in both buildings, and the unsatisfactory lighting in

$2,000

17,500

10,000

50,000

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