MAIN DINING ROOM PRICES Mr. GEARY. We made adjustments in January of 1966 to the main dining room menu and in the opinion of the management, and I believe also the subcommittee, the price structure in those restaurants is comparable to outside restaurants for the same sort of service and food. Senator KUCHEL. But that is not the case with respect to the cafeterias? Mr. GEARY. The adjustments that are being made in the cafeteria prices have been made on a basis of cost analysis and comparability with outside operations of the same sort. Senator KUCHEL. And on that basis you would find that they are lower than Mr. GEARY. That some of the prices should be increased and we have made recommendations that they be increased. ESTIMATED DECREASE IN DEFICIT Senator KUCHEL. Can you tell the committee just in round figures, if the Rules Committee were to approve what you have suggested, how that would be reflected with respect to the amount of the deficit hereafter? Mr. GEARY. It is quite difficult to make an estimate that you can really live with, but we do estimate that the decrease in the deficit will amount to between $15,000 to $20,000 for this coming year. Senator KUCHEL. For this current fiscal year. Mr. GEARY. No, sir; for the next fiscal year. Mr. GEARY. That's right. Senator KUCHEL. That is to say, the fiscal year which begins just a month from now? Mr. GEARY. Yes, sir. Senator KUCHEL. I guess that is all I have, Mr. Chairman. Senator BARTLETT. And the hamburger prices will not be increased in the restaurants over here? Mr. GEARY. No, sir. ORGANIZATIONAL CHART Senator BARTLETT. It has been requested that the organizational chart of the U.S. Senate restaurant be printed in the record at this point. Unless there is objection, it will be done. (The chart follows:) STOREROOM➖➖➖ 1- Storeroom Mgr. G-7 1- Ass't. Storeroom MET. G-S 2- Storeroom Ass'ts. EAKE SHOP--- WBF-04 PO 13 WBF-03 PO 14 2-Kitchen Workers Cenerals) WBF-01 POR 15 & 16 BUTCHER-SHOP 11- Butcher G-7 - Kitchen Worker (General) WBF-01 PO#2} COFFEE SHOP 1- Coffee-shop Chef G-7 WBF-04 PO#826 1- Relief Cashier Counter Girl 1- Salad Girl WBP-03 PO#29 6- Counter Girl WBF-02 PO 30-35 1- Kitchen Worker WBP-01 PO#37 3- Bus Girls 179 Total ADM. Positions - 23 Total WBF. Positions WBP-01 PO# 36,38,40 Senator BARTLETT. How do you pay the waiters? Mr. GEARY. We pay them on a wage board scale which we use for all such employees. This wage board scale is adjusted yearly for food service employees for the District of Columbia. We use this wage system in the payment of waiters and other food service employees. Senator BARTLETT. Is this an hourly rate? Mr. GEARY. Yes, sir. Senator BARTLETT. And do these people have the benefit of Government insurance and Government retirement? Mr. GEARY. Yes, sir. Senator BARTLETT. And when Congress adjourns, are they out of work until Congress resumes? Mr. GEARY. We make every effort we can to find jobs for those who want them, and need them, in other areas of the buildings. Fortunately at the same time we usually have some activities which require additional help, so that we are able to provide some jobs for most of those who really need them and want them. Senator BARTLETT. I am glad to hear that, because you have some very faithful, excellent employees. Mr. GEARY. We do make every effort to provide some employment for them to carry them through the adjournment period. BOTANIC GARDEN, SALARIES AND EXPENSES Senator BARTLETT. Now, "Salaries and Expenses, Botanic Garden," for which $614,500 was requested. I ask that pages 211 through 217 from the justifications be placed in the record at this point. (The justification follows:) 1967 appropriation in annual act_ Pay supplementals (Public Law 89-504, $1,600; wage-board, $7,100)__ Total appropriations, 1967 Deductions: "Pay above the stated annual rate" allotment eliminated for 1968 and funds for 1968 transferred to "Overtime pay" allotment--Purchase of additional nursery stock-nonrecurring item allowed for 1967, not required for 1968-. Base for 1968. Additions: Wage board increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Under the provisions of Public Law 763 83d Congress, 50 An increase of $8,346 is requested for 1968 to meet on a full-year basis the cost of increased wage rates established for these wage-board positions as a result of a general survey of government and industrial employees' wages in the Washington metropolitan area, conducted during the past year. The new rates went into effect December 4, 1966, in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 85-872, 85th Congress. This increase is necessary in order that the Botanic Garden wageboard employees may be compensated on a full-year basis in the fiscal year 1968 in accordance with present prevailing rates. An increase of $2,996 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 wageboard 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___ Increased pay costs due to Public Law 89-504, approved July 18, 1966, "Federal Salary and Fringe Benefits Act of 1966”---. The increases authorized by this act cost, on an annual basis, $5,200. Of this amount, $3,600 was absorbed through savings for the fiscal year 1967, necessitating a supplemental appropriation of $1,600 for that year. This leaves a balance of $3,600 necessary to cover a full-year cost in 1968. However, we propose to meet $2,000 of this balance through proposed lapse savings in 1968, thereby reducing the additional amount necessary to request for 1968 to $1,600. $504, 600 8,700 513, 300 1,000 2, 500 509, 800 11, 342 881 1,600 Overtime pay allotment increased from $52,000 to $55,400--. Of this amount $2,400 results from increase in basic pay rates and the proposed addition of one employee. The additional $1,000 results from transfer of such amount from the "Pay above the stated annual rate" allotment. 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 required 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 annual rate" allotment, covering one 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 $1,000 allowed under that allotment for 1967 has been deleted from that allotment for 1968 and transferred for 1968 to the "Overtime pay" allotment. 1 additional position-electrician, wage-board grade 10___. At the present time, the Botanic Garden maintenance force is without an electrician on its regular roll to service, maintain and repair electrical equipment. All of the ventilators in the Main Conservatory and the new greenhouses are now operated by electric motors which, due to continuous use, require periodic replacement, operational maintenance, and repairs. The new boilers, installed at the Nursery to serve the 16 greenhouses located at that point, are maintained electrically. The majority of the pumps and valves are now electrically operated and require operational maintenance and repairs. All of these items add to the electrical maintenance work to be done. Emergency repairs have been made from time to time by the Capitol Power Plant maintenance crew, whose duties at the plant do not allow adequate time for such work, and the general electrical maintenance work has had to be done, insofar as possible, by the general maintenance foreman at the gardens whose prime duty is to supervise all carpentry work, painting work, plumbing, glazing, and miscellaneous mechanical work required at the Main Conservatory and nursery. His regular duties do not permit him adequate time for the proper care and maintenance of the electrical equipment. There are hundreds of motors, starters, contactors, and other electrical devices which progressively require more emergency repairs due to the aging of the installations and the lack of periodic maintenance during the recent past. The problems are particularly critical during severe weathereither hot or cold-when the entire plant life in a building may depend on the proper operation of automatic devices, such as ventilators, heaters, pumps, thermostats, and other electrical devices. Many of these devices are located from 20 to 90 feet above ground level and are accessible only by limited catwalks or elevated working platforms. The addition of this position is urged in the interest of safety, economy, and proper operation. Contribution to retirement fund-increased from $24,000 to $25,300 This increase results from increase in basic pay costs and the proposed addition of 1 new position. This item covers the cost of Government contribution to retirement fund required by Public Law 854, 84th Congress. $3,400 6, 677 1,300 Payment to employees' life insurance fund-increased from $600 to $1,100-- This increase is requested to meet current costs under this allotment. The cost is now running, annually, to $1,200. No increase has been provided under this allotment since 1958. The item covers the cost of the Government's payment to the employees' life insurance fund required by Public Law 598, 83d Congress, "Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act of 1954." Installation of greenhouse evaporative cooling system in 4 greenhouses at Poplar Point Nursery-nonrecurring item. For 1968, a nonrecurring amount of $4,000 is requested for installation of an evaporative cooling system in 4 greenhouses at the Nursery, now being used for the production of plants for the cut-flower crop. The cut flowers, while needing the full sun, suffer from the effects of being enclosed in greenhouses with outside temperatures ranging from 90° to 100° during prolonged periods in the summer, resulting in poor production of buds on the plants and a shorter plant life, thus reducing the number of cut flowers per crop. Under the amount requested, it is proposed to install an evaporative cooling system of the fan and aspen wood fiber type, which would pull outside air in through the watersoaked aspen wood fiber installed at the opposite end of the greenhouse. This system has proved highly successful in nurseries throughout the country in improving crop production through increased humidity and by providing better control of plant growth. Repairs, replacements, and improvements to electrical systems, Main Conservatory, office building, and Bartholdi display fountain-nonrecurring item____ The Main Conservatory of the Botanic Garden was completed and occupied in January 1933. Funds were allowed in 1959 to effect some improvements in the electrical systems of the Conservatory, but were limited at that time to the correction of hazardous conditions likely to cause short circuits and fires. Since then, further deterioration has taken place, particularly in the high bay wiring in the Conservatory, and electrical disturbances are increasing progressively. There is also now need for improved illumination in the Display Room of the Conservatory. In addition, some of the equipment associated with the operation of the ventilating sashes is causing difficulty for the maintenance personnel. Either complete replacement or some effective rehabilitation of this equipment is now in order. When electrical disturbances occur at the higher levels of the Conservatory, the repair work necessary is extremely dangerous since there are virtually no catwalks available above the 50-foot level. Should failures occur during extremely cold weather conditions, the malfunctioning of one or more ventilating sash motors could readily subject all plant life in the building to temperatures which cannot be sustained for the extended periods of time that might be required even for the accomplishment of temporary repairs. The present electrical equipment and wiring in the office building located in the outdoor garden square has been in use for over 30 years. It is now in deteriorated physical condition and somewhat overloaded. The equipment and wiring serving the Bartholdi display fountain in this square are in the same poor physical condition, overloaded, and badly in need of repairs and replacements. In order to make all necessary improvements required to put these electrical systems in good condition, an expenditure of $45,000 is required. More than half of this amount is required for the work to be performed at the higher elevations in the Conservatory. $500 4,000 45,000 |