Mr. STEFAN. Do you have enough on hand to paint the interior of the building? Mr. LYNN. Not for the entire building. Mr. STEFAN. You do not have any big supply on hand? Mr. LYNN. No, sir. Mr. STEFAN. I notice that prices are going up, and I suppose the cost of work will be much higher than it would be at the present time. When did you make this estimate? Mr. LYNN. The estimates were made in August. We have purchased several tons of white lead and the coloring material. Mr. STEFAN. You have materials to keep up the necessary repairs and painting? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir; for any work urgently needed. RECONSTRUCTION OF ROOFS OF SENATE AND HOUSE WINGS Mr. O'NEAL. On pages 71 and 72 of the bill there is some new language. Mr. LYNN. It is requested that the wording of the appropriation for the Capitol Building be amended to include the following new language for 1943: Provided, That the unexpended balance on June 30, 1942, of the appropriation for Capitol Building contained in the Second Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1940, approved June 27, 1940, is hereby continued available for the same purposes and shall remain available until expended. The Second Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1940, carried $585,000 for reconstruction of the roofs and skylights over the Senate and House wings of the United States Capitol, including repairs, alterations, and improvements in the sections of the building affected. To date, $80,191 has been expended for the installation of the temporary steel supports for the ceilings in the Senate and House Chambers, together with engineering and other incidental expenses. These supports now carry the weight of the cast-iron ceilings which were formerly hung to the wrought-iron and cast-iron roof trusses above. The ceiling in the Senate Chamber weighs 90 tons, and the ceiling in the House Chamber weighs 120 tons. The unexpended balance of the appropriation, as of February 10, 1942, is $504,809. It is necessary to request that this balance, or so much thereof as may remain unexpended on June 30, 1942, be continued available for the same purposes until expended, as, due to the continuous session of Congress and the continuous occupancy of both Chambers, it has been necessary to defer the permanent construction work thus far this fiscal year, and the project will, therefore, necessarily extend beyond June 30, 1942-the present date on which the appropriation will cease to be available for obligation. Mr. O'NEAL. How much of that has been used up to date? Mr. LYNN. About $80,000. Mr. O'NEAL. What was the total sum? Mr. LYNN. $585,000. Mr. O'NEAL. Do you expect to use any more of that money in the fiscal year 1942? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir; we might possibly use part of it for the Senate side. Mr. O'NEAL. If this is allowed, do you anticipate using all of it in 1943, or would that depend on whether Congress was in session? Mr. LYNN. It would depend on whether Congress was in recess. Mr. O'NEAL. If Congress was not in session for about 6 months, could you complete the work? Mr. LYNN. We would require 4 or 5 months in which to secure the necessary fabricated materials; and the Chambers would have to be vacated for a period of about 6 months, thereafter, in order to permit the installation. Mr. O'NEAL. Do you expect that you will be able to complete it in 1943, or what is your idea about it? Mr. LYNN. I have this idea about it: The Senate Public Buildings and Grounds Committee has appointed a subcommittee, which has held hearings and has made certain recommendations to the full committee. The full committee reported their findings to the Senate, which, if carried out, means that the Senate would vacate the Senate Chamber on the 1st of July, and hold their sessions for 6 months in the old Supreme Court room. Mr. O'NEAL. If that were done, would you be able to get priorities for the materials you would require? Mr. LYNN. I do not think we would have much trouble, because the steel and cast iron that would be taken out of the old structure and made available for war-production purposes would far offset the amount of new steel that we would require for the work. Mr. O'NEAL. You mean that the steel in the supports you have in there now would be equal to or greater than the amount you would need to procure? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. For instance, there are 90 tons of cast iron in the Senate ceiling alone. Mr. O'NEAL. From the standpoint of safety, the present situation is satisfactory, is it not? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. The temporary trusses. have eliminated the element of danger. Mr. O'NEAL. You do not believe that it would be safe to reduce these amounts, or, in other words, instead of appropriating the full amount of the unexpended balances, suppose we appropriated a part of it? Do you think that would take care of the situation? You have not contracted for the materials. Mr. HENLOCK. No, sir; but the consulting engineers have been employed under contract and we would have to pay their fees for work performed to date. Mr. O'NEAL. If Congress should adjourn or recess, how long would it take to make the contracts and go actually into this construction work, when money would be needed out of this appropriation? Mr. LYNN. As I said before, it would require about 4 or 5 months to secure the necessary materials, and an additional 6 months for the work in the Chambers. The Senate has under consideration certain additional improvements to be made in their Chamber, which would require $103,500 in addition to the $585,000 already appropriated. If the additional appropriation is immediately provided, the work can proceed without delay, once it has been decided to make the Chambers available. Mr. O'NEAL. That would not be available until the fiscal year 1943. Mr. LYNN. It could be made immediately available, and then no time would be lost in the event the Senate should decide to vacate the Senate Chamber for 6 months, commencing July 1. Mr. O'NEAL. How long would it take to have the steel fabricated and delivered to the point where you would have to make payments on it? Mr. LYNN. If the necessary priorities can be secured, we would be ready to start to work on or about the first of July. Mr. O'NEAL. You said you would have it completed within the fiscal year 1942. Mr. LYNN. On the other hand, it will take about 6 months to prepare for it. Mr. O'NEAL. You would not advise reducing this amount asked to be reappropriated? Mr. LYNN. I would hesitate to make any reduction. Moreover, if the proposed additional changes are made in the Senate Chamber, it will cost for the Senate some $100,000 additional, and should the House desire similar changes, the cost for the House would be more than for the Senate, because it is larger. IMPROVING THE CAPITOL GROUNDS Mr. O'NEAL. Under "Improving the Capitol Grounds," you have a table on page 34. I would like you to insert that in the record. Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. Regular appropriation, 1942 act_ Supplemental appropriation, 1942 (within-grade promotions). Total appropriations, 1942___ Deduct nonrecurring and other items not required for 1943: Total of items not required for 1943. Base for 1943___ $112, 686 1, 650 114, 336 2,500 5, 000 7,500 106, 836 Increases submitted for 1943: Annual item: Personal services: Increase to provide within-grade promotions Public Law 200, 77th Cong., approved Aug. 1, 1941 (from $1,650 to $3,140) net increase_ Nonrecurring item: 1, 490 Repairs and alterations-repairs to sanitary sewers, west Mr. O'NEAL. Please make a statement about this item, Mr. Lynn. Mr. LYNN. The detailed justifications give a full explanation of the items making up this estimate. We had $114,336 for 1942. We dropped out two special items totaling $7,500 allowed for 1942, leaving $106,836 as the annual base, and to this base have added increases (including $33,240 supplemental estimate) totaling $40,730, making the total asked for 1943, $147,566, a net increase of $33,230. Mr. O'NEAL. Those increases are made up how? Mr. LYNN. Briefly, the increases of $40,730 are, under personal services, $1,490 to provide for within-grade promotions in accordance with the act of August 1, 1941, Public, 200, Seventy-seventh Congress; and under repairs and alterations, $39,240 for repairs to sanitary sewers, west grounds, of which $6,000 is included in the Budget estimates and $33,240 in the supplemental estimate. REPAIRS TO SANITARY SEWERS Mr. O'NEAL. Where is that supplemental estimate House Document 626? Mr. LYNN. Yes; for 1942, $5,000 was allowed to provide funds for making a survey of the sanitary sewer system in the west section of the Capitol Grounds, lying between Independence Avenue, Constitution Avenue, First Street West, and the west front of the Capitol. These sewers are of vital importance as they carry the entire discharge of the sanitary system from the Capitol Building; also carry the roof water from the building and storm water from the terraces and part of the west lawns. These sewers have been in existence for over 75 years. They consist of either brick arch construction or terra-cotta pipes. The sandlime mixture used as mortar in the original construction has been washed out; many bricks have become loosened and have fallen out, obstructing the flow of sewage and endangering the safety of the arch. Dirt and roots have entered the pipes through openings in the joints; have obstructed and broken the pipe sections, rendering sections of the sewers useless, and causing minor failures from time to time, necessitating emergency repairs. Mr. O'NEAL. This repair work is the result of the expenditure of $5,000 which was made by you by authority of this Congress to investigate the situation with reference to these sewers; is that correct? Mr. LYNN. That is correct, Mr. Chairman. Mr. O'NEAL. These amounts that are being asked for here will they be immediately needed for that purpose, and what did the report disclose as to possible future expenditures? Mr. LYNN. A report has been received from the District Engineer Department. Mr. O'NEAL. Is that a written report, and is it very lengthy? Mr. O'NEAL. Does that attempt to cover the entire sewer system of the Capitol Grounds? Mr. LYNN. Only the sanitary sewers. Mr. O'NEAL. Suppose you incorporate that in the record. Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. (The letter above referred to is as follows:) GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ENGINEER Department, DEPARTMENT OF SANITARY ENGINEERING, Mr. DAVID LYNN, Architect of the Capitol, Washington, D. C. January 31, 1942. DEAR SIR: In accordance with arrangements covered by your letter of September 22, 1941, and the engineer Commissioners' reply of October 2, 1941, mainte nanee forces of the Sewer Division, acting under general directions of Mr. Robinson of your office, made inspections of certain sewers in the grounds of the Capitol. Certain of the sewers examined were found to be defective and should be replaced immediately. For your information, there is attached a copy of the report submitted by the Sewer Division engineer who made the inspection. While the locations of the defective lines are not given, it is understood that Mr. Robinson is aware of the particular lines referred to inasmuch as he was present during the spections and was furnished with oral information at that time. The Sewer Division reports that a voucher in the sum of $55.96 and dated November 19, 1941, covering cost of the inspection, has not yet been honored by your office. Very truly yours, E. D. 226955. To the Engineer of Sewers: J. B. GORDON, Director of Sanitary Engineering. JANUARY 27, 1942. In deference to instructions issued to me as of September 29, 1941, I have made an interior examination of such sewers and manholes in the Capitol Grounds as were indicated to me by Mr. Robinson of the Capitol force. Without reference to any engineering aspect, except that of making the sewers structurally safe, as well as more sanitary, with the attendant exclusion of rats, r is my opinion that the following work should be done immediately: 1. Replacement of 270 linear feet 24-inch diameter sewer, average depth of 10 feet. 2. Relining of 1,700 linear feet of 3- to 5-foot brick and concrete sewer with 2 inches of Gunite reinforced with steel mesh. 3. The construction of approximately 10 manholes, average depth of 10 feet. 270 feet 24-inch T. C. sewer laid, at $12 per foot -1.700 feet relining, 3- by 5-foot sewer, at $20 per foot_ 10 manholes, at $200 each.. Total $3, 240 34, 000 2, 000 39, 240 E. S. WALKER, Associate Maintenance Engineer. Mr. LEAVY. How much of the $5,000 did you have to expend for that investigation? Mr. LYNN. We have spent $3,532, to date. Mr. LEAVY. Was that paid to the district engineer staff? Mr. LYNN. No, sir; the most of it was spent in building manholes that had to be built so that the engineers could make an examination of the sewers. It also covered Government pay rolls under the Architect of the Capitol, for labor for digging and constructing manholes, cleaning sewers before and after inspection, and building approximately seven manholes, $3,149 Mr. LEAVY. I did not particularly care for the details; what I am trying to get is how much of the money that you spent did you spend in the way of payment of fees of the engineer force of the District of Columbia. Mr. LYNN. I think about $50 or $60. Mr. HENLOCK. We only paid for the per diem men; the statutory employees were furnished without charge. Mr. O'NEAL. The balance of that, then, will be returned? Mr. LYNN. No, sir; we are still making some immediate, incidental and necessary repairs. It is essential to have these access manholes in order to get into the sewers. Mr. O'NEAL. Do you feel that the entire amount will be used up for the investigation? |