The following additional letter was received on May 10, 1968:

MAY 9, 1968. Hon, E. L. BARTLETT, Chairman, Subcommittee on Legislative Appropriations, Committee on Appropri

ations, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. CHAIRMAN: I am enclosing, herewith, copy of letter of May 8, 18mm from Dr. Rufus J. Pearson, Jr., Attending Physician to the Congress, requesting that a new position of Nurse, Grade GS-7, be allowed in the Capitol Building.

I join Dr. Pearson in recommending the granting of this new position for the reasons stated in his letter.

The total cost of carrying this position for the coming fiscal year, including an allowance for overtime, is $9,297. Any additional funds granted for this purpose should be added to the appropriation “Capitol Buildings" under the Architect's section of the Legislative Branch Appropriation Bill. 1.969. With best wishes, I am Sincerely yours,

J. GEORGE STEWART, Architect of the Capitol.

THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN,

U.S. CAPITOL.

Washington, D.C., May 8, 1968 Hon. J. GEORGE STEWART, Architect of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. STEWART: As discussed previously with you and your staff. the Office of the Attending Physician has a pressing need for a nurse with physian therapy training. Such a person would be available to treat both male and female Members of Congress and would be assigned other duties in our medical facility here in the Capitol.

Realizing that finding a nurse with the desired background would be difficult. your staff and I agreed to delay requesting the new position in the budget until a suitable person could be found.

I have recently interviewed an applicant, a graduate nurse, with excellent qualifications and training for this position. Therefore, I ask that you regent the Appropriations Committees to provide the funds to create the new position in the nursing series, Grade GS-7. Sincerely yours,

R. J. Pearson, Jr., MD.

CAPITOL GROUNDS

Capitol Grounds is the next item and you are requesting $766,7m), a net increase of $26,400. Pages 42 through 47 of the justitications will be placed in the record at this point.

(The justifications follow :) 1968 appropriation in annual act..

$720. Wage-board pay supplemental--

Total appropriations-1968.

Deductions
Equipment: 2 nonrecurring items of equipment allowed for 1965

not required for 1969_$7,200 for replacement of a 3-ton dump truck.
and $6,000 for replacement of the bandstand used for concerts at the
east front of the Capitol...

Base for 1.969.-

Additions

13, 182

528

Wage-rate increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Cong---

Under the provisions of Public Law 763, 83d Cong., 75 gardeners, laborers, and mechanics on the Capitol 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 $8,000 is requested for 1969 to meet on a full-year basis the cost of increased wage rates established for these wageboard 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 Oct. 22, 1967, in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 85–872, 85th Cong. This increase is necessary in order that the Capitol Grounds wage-board employees may be compensated on a full-year basis in the fiscal year 1969 in accordance with present prevailing rates.

An increase of $5,182 is requested for 1969 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 salary advancements and other changes authorized by

the Classification Act of 1949, as amended-----Overtime and Holiday Pay allotment increased from $78,415 to $79,615

*: to Employees' Life Insurance Fund—increased from $1,500
to $2,500
This item is required to cover the cost of the government's pay-
ment to employees’ life insurance fund required by Public Law
598, 83rd Congress. The increase of $1,000 is due to additional costs
resulting from enactment of Public Law 90–206, which provides
for additional amounts of insurance for all Federal employees and
establishes a new minimum insurance coverage of $10,000 for those
employees whose annual basic salary is $8,000 or less.
Payment to Health Benefits Fund—increased from $6,050 to $6,850---
This item is required to cover the cost of the government's pay-
ment to the Health Benefits Fund required by Public Law 86-382.
The amount of $6,850 is based on actual cost figures; the amount
#:$6,771 having been expended for this item for the fiscal year
1967.
Contribution to retirement fund—increased from $33,650 to $34,770---
This item is required to cover the cost of government contribu-
tion to retirement fund required by Public Law 854, 84th Congress.
The additional cost results from increase in basic pay rates.
General Annual Repairs—increased from $12,450 to $14,450--------
The regular annual amount of $12,450 under this allotment
provides for the annual pointing of retaining walls and steps;
repairs to catch basins, manhole frames and covers; repairs and
maintenance of drain lines and sewers; vault lights in the Grotto;
care and repair of fountains and pools, including necessary
rewiring; minor repairs and maintenance of the underground
sprinkler Systems; miscellaneous repairs in and around the
grounds; repairs and upkeep of motor and other mechanical
equipment.
The increase of $2,000 is requested to set up an annual allot-
ment to carry on a program of replacement of sprinkler heads in
the underground irrigation systems throughout the Capitol
Grounds. All of the Capitol Grounds between Independence Ave-
nue and the Union Station Plaza are equipped with underground
sprinkler systems. Many of these systems were installed over 35
years ago. Over the years, many of the sprinkler heads have
been replaced, when found faulty or damaged within the limits
possible under the regular annual repairs allotment. The point
has now been reached where an annual allotment of $2,000 should
be provided to permit the replacement of 500 sprinkler heads
annually. Within the Capitol Grounds area between Independence
Avenue and the Union Station Plaza, there are 5,275 full-circle
and 2,000 half-circle sprinkler heads. The allotment requested
would permit the replacement of slightly over 5 percent of
these heads annually, which would insure proper maintenance
of these systems.
Maintenance of Taft Memorial—increased from $400 to $2,600------
$400 is provided annually for care and maintenance of the Taft
Memorial, erected in the northwest section of the Capitol Grounds
under authority of S. Con. Res. 44, 84th Cong. the Memorial was
completed and accepted by Congress in 1959 and under the provi-
sions of the concurrent resolution, the Architect of the Capitol
is charged with maintenance of the Memorial.
For the first time since its erection, it is necessary to request
that the annual allotment be increased from $400 to $2,600 in
order to carry on work necessary for the proper preservation of
the structure. The increase of $2,200 is, however, a nonrecurring
one and, if granted, will be dropped for 1970.
The shaft of the Taft Memorial tower is 100 feet high and 32
feet wide. 27 bells are hung in the upper part of the tower. The
bells are among the finest in the world. The largest bell weighs
7 tons. Access to the tower is by means of an interior metal stair-
way. In addition, there are other metal structural members and
equipment items in the interior of the Memorial. In 1962, in order
to overcome some difficulty caused by excessive condensation
within the shaft of the Memorial, there were installed, without

12, 000

expense to the government, dehumidifiers which were connected
to the drain line.

Rusting and scaling of paint have occurred on sections of the
iron-work and the point has now been reached where the metal
stairs, railings, pipe control boxes, doors, and other metal sur-
faces should be scraped and cleaned of rust and loose scaling
paint and sandpapered, and then be given 2 coats of rust
preventive enamel paint. The cost of the work necessary to be
done is $2,200. This work should be done for the proper preserva-

tion of the structure. Repairs to Grotto—Nonrecurring item.

A nonrecurring increase of $12,000 is requested for 1969 to perform necessary repair and restoration work on the Grotto located on the north side of the West Front Capitol Grounds, near the Northwest Drive. This Grotto was constructed in 1880 as a retreat or shelter under the original Olmsted plan of 1874–92. The Capitol terraces were designed and constructed and the west section of the Capitol Grounds, adjacent to the Capitol, were landscaped and developed in accordance with this plan. The Grotto being a part of the landscape features of the Capitol Grounds, it is the duty of the Architect of the Capitol to provide for its maintenance. Like any other landscape feature of the Capitol Grounds, its elimination would require specific authorization of the Congress, as the act of Feb. 14, 1902, prohibits any changes to be made in the landscape features of the Capitol Grounds except upon plans approved by the Congress.

Due to public abuse and deterioration, it is necessary to request an allotment of $12,000 for repair and restoration work, due to extensive deterioration that has occurred in the brick work, stone work and ornamental ironwork, and due to extensive removal of roof tile by acts of vandalism, since major repair and restoration work was last done in 1948. The 3 drinking fountains also need replacement.

In its present condition, the Grotto is not only unsightly, but also exposes visitors to safety hazards, due to the possibility of falling of loose bricks in copings over the entrances and loose roof tiles, and from exposed broken ends of ornamental iron grillework, and disrepair of one of the heavy iron entrance gates. The heavy iron entrance gates are kept closed and locked at night, but since they do not extend to the roof of the structure, they can be scaled and the structure is exposed to acts of vandalism because of its location and the fact that it cannot be constantly guarded. Visitors do, however, walk within the structure by day and avail themselves of the drinking fountains in the Grotto.

Under the amount of $12,000, it is proposed to replace broken and missing roof tiles and supports and install necessary copper flashing; replace damaged section of the ornamental iron grillwork and repair ornamental iron gates and replace missing parts; replace 3 drinking fountains; clean, repoint, and rebuild brickwork and stonework; install protective copper canopy over exposed top surfaces of the entrances; paint and repair perimeter fence; and perform all other necessary miscellaneous repairs.

+39, 600

Total estimate for 1969..

766, 700

GENERAL ANNUAL REPAIRS

Senator PROXMIRE. An increase of $2,000 is requested for general annual repairs, and you explain on page 45 the necessity for this.

TAFT MEMORIAL

However, the $2,200 increase you are requesting for the maintenance of the Taft Memorial results in a jump from $100 to $2,600, a huge percentage increase. As I understand from the justifications this is a tem

porary increase for the coming fiscal year only, is that right, sir!

Mr. HENLOCK. Yes, sir.

Senator ProxMIRE. I appreciate the fact that it may be desirable to perform these repairs, but is it absolutely necessary at this time!

Mr. HENLOCK. Yes, sir, for the preservation of the structure. C'ondensation conditions are difficult to overcome. In order to get to the top of the shaft where the bells are located, there is access by way of a metal stairway. Originally, there was excessive condensation in the shaft. The memorial, as you know, was constructed through private funds. They came back later and put in some dehumidifiers which helped to take care of the situation.

Senator ProxMIRE. When you say “they," you mean the private foundation did ?

Mr. HENLOCK. I believe that is correct, but that was 4 or 5 years ago. It may have been done by the architect, who designed the memorial, at his expense. Our records are not specific on this point.

Senator PROXMIRE. Is there any possibility the private foundation could take care of this?

Mr. HENLOCK. No, sir, I am sure not. That happened very shortly after the construction of the shaft.

Senator ProxMIRE. Has the private funds organization gone out of existence?

Mr. HENLOCK. To the best of my knowledge, yes.
Mr. STEWART. I don't think it is in existence, any longer.

Mr. HENLOCK. After the memorial was finally completed and accepted by Congress, you passed a resolution which provides that the Architect must maintain this memorial and bear the expenss of maintenance.

Senator PROXMIRE. But we have a precedent, you said they did provide some assistance.

Mr. HENLOCK. I believe they did that before maintenance funila were provided.

POSTPONEMENT OF REPAIRS Senator PROXMIRE. What is your answer to the question of whether it can be postponed for a year or two. We cut the Defense procurement bill by $650 million the other day by a 3 to 1 overwhelming vote in tipe Senate.

What chance is there this kind of repair could be postponed un'". 1970.

Mr. Pincus. I would say it is very essential that the repairs le made this year, sir.

Senator PROXMIRE. Is it likely to cost substantially more if its rose done this year?

Mr. PINCUS. Yes, sir.

Senator ProxMIRE. You say that on the basis of your profesjonal opinion?

Mr. Pincus. On the opinion of reliable painters we have callel in. sir.

REPAIRS TO GROTTO Senator PROXMIRE, Another $12,000 additional is requested for me pairs for the grotto.

Please identify the location of this grotto for the committee.