Mr. ANDREWS. Now let us turn over to page 85, "Capitol Grounds." That is on page 37 of the justifications. For the Capitol Grounds, you ask for $790,000, a net increase of $125,000 over the current year. Mr. STEWART. That is right. Mr. ANDREWS. We will insert pages 37 through 42 in the record. (The pages follow:) 1966 appropriation in annual act. Capitol Grounds Wage board pay supplemental in H. Doc. 405. Supplemental for emergency snow removal expenses in H. Doc. 415. Total appropriations, 1966.. Deductions: Resurfacing East Capitol Street and 2 adjacent drives, extending from First Street east to Purchase of a new air compressor in replacement of a 1941 air compressor: Nonrecurring Snow removal: Annual allotment reduced from $22,000 to normal annual amount of $5,000, due to elimination of nonrecurring supplemental of $17,000 allowed for 1966.. $638,000 10,000 17,000 665,000 17,000 4,000 5,000 Total..... 17,000 (-)43,000 622,000 Base for 1967.. Additions: Wage rate increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Cong.. Under the provisions of Public Law 763, 83d Cong., 70 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 $5,553 is requested for 1967 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 Dec. 5, 1965, 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 1967 in accordance with present prevailing rates. An increase of $4,744 is requested for 1967 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. Overtime and holiday pay allotment increased from $61,000 to $71,000. This increase is requested to cover actual current payroll overtime and holiday pay costs and to provide overtime and holiday pay for 8 additional employees requested for 1967. 8 additional positions: 7 gardener positions, wage-board grade 6, at $5,429 per annum each. 1 tree culture worker helper, wage-board grade 5, at $5, 200 per annum.. The need for these additional employees is explained as follows: 3 gardeners are required for care and maintenance of the landscaped areas above the underground garages being constructed in squares 637 and 691 located immediately south of the House office buildings. The landscaping is expected to be completed during the 1st quarter of the fiscal year 1967. The landscaping will include, in each square, a large display fountain, walkways, terraces, retaining walls, grass plots, trees and shrubs, and drainage systems. These will all require daily care and maintenance; also, during the winter, snow removal. The work necessary to be done is such as to require the services of 3 employees for proper maintenance. 2 gardeners are required for proper care and maintenance of the lanscaped areas surrounding the Cannon and Longworth House Office Buildings; also, for work required in the courts of the Rayburn Building over and beyond work taken into consideration when the Capitol Grounds force was augmented in 1965. Since then, additional flower beds have been planted in the courts of the Rayburn Building; and whereas it was thought it would only be necessary to empty and clean the display fountains in these courts once a month, experience has proven that it is necessary to clean these fountains twice a month, requiring additional work. With respect to the Cannon and Longworth Buildings, the landscaped areas about these 2 buildings have been planted with flowering trees and shrubs during the past season, resulting in additional maintenance work to be done. 1 gardener is required for proper care and maintenance of the lanscaped areas surrounding the Old and New Senate Office Buildings and the court of the old building. During the past year, the landscaped areas surrounding the Old Senate Office Building have been extensively planted with flowering trees and shrubs, resulting in additional work. 1 gardener is required to augment the force maintaining the Capitol Grounds to assist in the care of additional areas planted with flower beds and other plant material during the past year in an effort to further beautify the Capitol Grounds. Large flower beds have been planted on the west front lawn area; and, if funds requested for 1967 are allowed for beautifying 2 additional areas in the Capitol Grounds, these areas will also require additional maintenance. 1 tree culture worker helper should be added to the grounds maintenance force, which now consists of 1 foreman, 3 tree culture workers, and 2 helpers. 10, 297 10,000 43, 203 Additions--Continued Capitol Grounds—Continued 8 additional positions-Continued The care of the trees in the Capitol Grounds is an important and time-demanding operation and an adequate force should be provided. The duties of the helper requested for 1967 would include such tasks as digging and removing tree stumps; cutting felled trees with axes and crosscut saw to size for disposal; watering and fertilizing trees, and cleaning up work sites upon completion of tree maintenance work by the tree culture workers. Contribution to retirement fund-increased from $27,600 to $32,600... This item is required to cover the cost of Government contribution to retirement fund required by Public Law 854, 84th Cong. The additional cost results from increase in basic pay rates and from the proposed addition of 8 more employees. Additions to water supply system to Capitol: Nonrecurring item.. This item is urgently recommended, as it is in the interest of fire safety. As a result of findings disclosed in the surveys and studies made in renewing the plumbing system in the main Library of Congress building, careful study and measurement of the water pressures in the Capitol Building were made during the past year. These studies disclose that, as a result of frequent fluctuations in the water pressure in the pipes of the District water system, there are subnormal and unequal water pressures in the House Wing of the Capitol, resulting in an urgent need for additional connections to the street mains of the District's water supply system in order to insure adequate water supply in the Capitol in the event of fire in the upper parts of the building. The prevailing deficiency results primarily from the differences in the hydraulic characteristics of the existing sources of supply. To correct present unsatisfactory conditions, it is proposed to increase and balance the water supply pressure throughout the Capitol by installing an exterior bypass between the 12-inch service main in East Capitol Street and the 12-inch service main in Independence Avenue, extending the same through the Capitol Grounds. The work involves the installation of 700 linear feet of 12-inch water main, with necessary fittings and control stations; excavating, backfilling, and repaving of sidewalks and street surfaces; installation of an additional tieline between the south side sprinkler service and the fire pump in the east front extension; replacement of 2 12-inch valves in a manhole near the east entrance to the Capitol. The work can be accomplished within 12 months after availability of funds, at a cost of $35,000. Landscape improvements, northeast and southeast triangles at Capitol Plaza: Nonrecurring item. At present, there are 2 triangular areas in the Capitol Grounds, abutting the east plaza, which it is proposed under this estimate to develop into parklike resting areas, planted with flower beds, flowering trees and shrubs, which will add much to the beautification of the Capitol Grounds. These 2 triangles, located at the northeast and southeast ends of the plaza, are each similar in size, measuring approximately 11,300 square feet, or of an acre. At present, they are planted with grass and several large old shrubs. A drinking fountain was installed in each triangle in March 1965; and a wrought iron settee is located in the northeast triangle. There are wide sidewalks along the west sides of each of the triangles, which are in poor condition and should be replaced. There are very few areas in the Capitol Grounds where the many visitors to the Capitol can rest and relax for a time, wait for their friends or members of their families, or assemble comfortably in small groups. The proposed development of these 2 triangles would provide such accommodation. Under the amount of $64,500, it is proposed to develop these 2 triangles into parklike resting areas, planted with flower beds, flowering trees, and shrubs. 9 granite benches would be placed around each area, and each triangle would contain a small granite pool, complete with appurtenances. The existing defective sidewalks would be removed and replaced with new exposed aggregate sidewalks, and additional walks of exposed aggregate paving would be constructed, leading into the pool areas. The breakdown of the estimate is detailed on the white sheets in the body of the hearings. It shows that $24,300 would be expended for sidewalk construction; $3,600 for 18 granite benches; $26,600 for 2 pools, with appurtenances; $10,000 for plant material, flowers, flowering trees, and shrubs.. Total estimate for 1967. Mr. ANDREWS. Will you take up the nonmandatory-type items? ADDITIONAL POSITIONS REQUESTED Mr. STEWART. There are eight additional positions requested for 1967-seven gardeners at wage board rate of grade 6, and one tree culture worker helper, wage board 5. Mr. ANDREWS. That is for a total of $43,203. Mr. STEWART. Yes, sir. Mr. ANDREWS. How many were added to the ground force in recent years? Mr. STEWART. Fourteen. Mr. ANDREWS. How many do you have total? Mr. HENLOCK. Seventy-three. Mr. ANDREWS. If you get these 8, what will be your total, 81? Mr. HENLOCK. Yes, sir. Mr. ANDREWS. If these are granted what else will you foresee or do you think this will take care of keeping the grounds in good shape? Mr. STEWART. May I ask Mr. Pincus to comment on that? Mr. PINCUS. Presently those additional men will suffice to take care of all the proposed planting and the plantings that have been planted the past year. I would like to present these drawings. Each red dot signifies a tree that was planted from March 1965 through April 1966. This drawing shows the complete property under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol. This drawing shows the trees that were added to the old Capitol Grounds and each green dot represents a tree that was added this past year. For the year, since last March 1965, we added to the grounds 428 trees, 2,506 shrubs, 15,450 annuals, 25,000 bulbs, and 15,706 pieces of ground cover. The additional men that we are requesting will help to maintain what we have planted and what we will plant in the future on the grounds. Mr. ANDREWS. You will have a total of 81 engaged in this work. Mr. HENLOCK. Seventy-three at present, and are asking for a total of 81 for 1967. Mr. ANDREWS. Do they work 8 hours a day? Mr. PINCUS. Yes, sir. Mr. STEWART. Forty-four hours a week. CARE OF TREES Mr. ANDREWS. What about the tree work? Are you making any real progress in cleaning out old diseased trees, keeping them trimmed, and so on? Mr. PINCUS. Yes, sir. We have had fewer trees die this year since we started our major tree program. ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF CAPITOL GROUND FORCES I would like to submit, for the record, the work accomplished by the Capitol Ground forces. Mr. ANDREWS. Without objection, we will insert it in the record at this point. (The information follows:) REPORT ON THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FORCES DURING THE PERIOD MARCH 1, 1965, THROUGH MARCH 25, 1966 NEW PLANTINGS March 11, 1965: Planted 3-foot boxwood at Taft Memorial. March 15-16, 1965: Planted 2 Crataegus phaenopyrum, House Office Building; 1 Crataegus phaenopyrum, Senate Office Building; 5 Prunus Mount Fuji, 2 Prunus sub. pendula, and 3 Malus dolgo, Old Capitol Grounds. March 17, 1965: Planted memorial tree, Magnolia soulangeana, Southwest section of Capitol Grounds, by the Campfire Girls. March 22, 1965: Planted 6 Taxus cus. densiformis, 6 Ilex cornuta, 6 Azalea pink pearl, 3 cornus florida, and 10 Ilex cren. convexa at the Senate Office Building, along Constitution Avenue. March 24, 1965: Planted 2 Taxus cus. densiformis, 6 Azalea hinodegiri, and 10 Ilex cren. convexa around the base of the Taft Memorial. March 30, 1965: Planted 9 Cornus florida, 7 Lagerstroemia indica, 6 Malus hopa, and 10 Cercis canadensis on the Old Capitol Grounds. April 1, 1965: Planted 52 scarlet oak in the New Capitol Grounds areas; 3 scarlet oak along Independence Avenue at the Old House Office Building; 14 Tilia cordata along South Capitol Street. April 2, 1965: Planted 14 American elm in vicinity of Congressional Hotel, New Jersey Avenue NW., First Street NW., and Constitution Avenue. April 5, 1965: Planted memorial tree, Quercus borealis, in northeast section of 'Capitol Grounds, by Senator Case, New Jersey. April 21-22, 1965: Planted 3 Crataegus phaenopyrum, 5 Prunus Kwanzan, 5 Abelia grandiflora, 15 Forsythia_intermedia spec., 18 Spirea vanhoute, 4 Vitex, 7 Buddleia, 10 Weigela Bristol Ruby, 12 Hibiscus, 10 Clerodendron, 18 Azalea hinodegiri, 20 Azalea double Here, 12 Azalea Coral Bell, 15 Azalea indica alba, 10 Azalea atlanta, 9 Azalea varigated, 30 Azaleas, mixed varieties, in the Old Botanic Garden greenhouse block. April 26, 1965: Plantea 40 Azalea hinodegiri and 50 Azalea Hexe on west front lawn of Capitol Grounds in back of wall along First Street. May 3, 1965: Started planting of Baltic ivy around the Rayburn House Office Building; planted memorial tree, black walnut, west front, Senate side of Capitol Grounds, in vicinity of Senate air shaft, Senator Jack Miller, Iowa. May 10, 1965: Planted 3 osmanthus, corner of Constitution Avenue and First Street NE., Old Senate Office Building; planted 6 Taxus densiformis at Old House Office Building, New Jersey Avenue side. May 19, 1965: Planted carpet bed, Star, in courtyard, west front of Capitol. May 20, 1965: Planted memorial tree, redbud, memorial to the late Senator Robert S. Kerr, by the Oklahoma State Society, West Front, Senate side of Capitol Grounds. May 20-27, 1965: Planted approximately 10,000 annuals in the beds of the Terrace of the Capitol and in the boxes on East Capitol Street. These included cannas, dusty miller, vinca, petunias, salvia, lantana, etc.; approximately 200 petunias were planted in the courtyard of the Old Senate Office Building; planted approximately 5,000 annuals in the new west front flowerbed of the Capitol Grounds. May 26, 1965: Planted memorial tree, red oak, New Jersey State tree, planted by Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr., in Old Senate Office Building courtyard. June 4-9, 1965: Planted annuals at Rayburn House Office Building. August 2-4, 1965: Planted 250 chrysanthemums around Capitol Building. September 9, 1965: Resumed planting at Rayburn House Office Building. October 27, 1965: Planted 3 Taxus media hatfield, 6 Ilex buffordi, 10 rhododendron hybrids, 40 azaleas, 1 white dogweod, 1 Ilex pedunculosa, 250 tulips, and 50 hyacinths at the northeast corner of the Capitol. October 28, 1965: Planted bed at Southeast corner of the Capitol, House side, with 3 Taxus media hatfield, 2 Taxus densiformis, 5 Ilex cornuta, 8 Osmanthus aquifolia, 43 azaleas, 3 rhododendron hybrids, 250 tulips, and 50 hyacinths. October 29, 1965: Planted Magnolia grandiflora at the Old House Office Building and Magnolia grandiflora at the Old Senate Office Building; planted 3 Stewartia, east front of the Capitol, and 3 Gladrastis lutea, southwest section of Capitol Grounds. November 2, 1965: Planted 4 Magnolia grandiflora at Botanic Garden Conervatory Building, 59 azaleas on the west front lawn of Capitol Grounds, and 10 azaleas at the Taft Memorial. November 3, 1965: Planted 2 large birch clumps in the northwest section of Capitol Grounds, 2 large birch clumps in the southwest section of the Capitol Grounds, 2 Ilex cren. convexa at the Taft Memorial, and 5 azaleas, 17 holly, and 6 taxus at the Old House Office Building, Independence Avenue side. November 4, 1965: Planted 26 Taxus densiformis, 10 Ilex cren. convexa, 2 osmanthus, 2 linden, and 1 birch clump at Botanic Garden Conservatory Building; 14 Ilex crenata at the New House Office Building, South Capitol Street side. November 5, 1965: Planted 5 large ilex below terrace wall, southwest section of Capitol Grounds. November 8, 1965: Planted 10 pink dogwood, southeast section of Capitol Grounds. November 9, 1965: Planted 10 azaleas at Taft Memorial. November 15-18, 1965: Planted 16,000 tulips, 5,000 daffodils, and 400 hyacinths in raised beds on Capitol terrace and other legislative buildings. November 23, 1965: Transplated redwood tree from Botanic Garden Conservatory courtyard to northwest section of Capitol Grounds. December 16, 1965: Finished planting at Rayburn House Office Building for season; planted 1,328 Ilex cren. convexa, 113 Ilex crenata, 228 santolina, 15,706 Baltic ivy, and 3,000 bulbs. December 20, 1965: Planted 79 Ilex crenata hedge at Botanic Garden Conservatory Building around parking areas. March 15, 1966: Planted 41 azaleas, 1 Ilex cren. convexa around Botanic Garden Conservatory Building. March 21-23, 1966: Planted following material in Old Capitol Grounds: 6 Prunus persica rubra, 6 Halesia tetraptera, 3 Cedrus deodara, Magnolia grandiflora, 5 Liquidamber styraciflua, 16 Prunus yedoensis, 6 Alnus cordata, 2 Prunus akebono, 2 Prunus pendula, and 4 Prunus Mount Fuji. LAWN WORK, seeding, sodding, top DRESSING April 12, 1965: Applied fertilizer to lawns; fertilized new plant material, and seeded lawns; spread topsoil supplied by contractor over southwest subway construction area. May 13, 1965: Fertilized and seeded lawn at Botanic Garden Conservatory. May 24, 1965: Laid 450 square yards of bluegrass sod in 2 lawn panels, east front of the Capitol. September 14, 1965: Laid 240 square yards of bluegrass sod around Capitol. September 21, 1965: Fertilized and seeded lawns around New Senate Office Building and Old Senate Office Building. September 23, 1965: Graded and seeded lawn in front of Capitol on east front; graded and seeded lawn of Old Senate Office Building, Constitution Avenue side. September 27-October 1, 1965: Spread topsoil east front of Capitol and along C Street NE., and fertilized and seeded these areas. October 4-15, 1965: Spread topsoil in southwest section, East Capitol Street; applied crabgrass killer to lawns, spread topsoil and graded area over southwest subway, and fertilized and seeded these areas. October 20, 1965: Laid 200 yards of bluegrass sod in Old Capitol Grounds; laid 200 yards of bluegrass sod in New Capitol Grounds. During this period, 20 tons of fertilizer were applied to lawn areas; 30 gallons concentrate weed killer and 12 gallons concentrate crabgrass killer were diluted with water and sprayed on lawn areas; 3 tons mixed lawn seed were sown on the Capitol Grounds. REPAIRS TO SIDEWALKS, ROADS, AND PARKING LOTS June 22-July 3, 1965: Graded and set forms for new parking areas at the rear of Botanic Garden Conservatory Building, Independence Avenue; poured and finished 84 cubic yards of concrete. December 6-7, 1965: Cut out old concrete paving at entrance to New Senate Office Building, Constitution Avenue. Poured and finished 7 cubic yards of concrete. December 8-9, 1965: Cut out old concrete paving at House steps, east front of Capitol; poured and finished 8 cubic yards of concrete. December 13-14, 1965: Cut out old concrete paving at Constitution Avenue entrance of New Senate Office Building; poured and finished 6 cubic yards of concrete. December 15-21, 1965: Cut out old paving at entrance to Old Senate Office Building, Delaware Avenue and C Street NE.; poured and finished 12 cubic yards of concrete. December 22, 1965-January 6, 1966: Cut out old paving in driveway of Old Senate Office Building, First and C Streets NE.; poured and finished 21 cubic yards of concrete. March 2-4, 1966: Placed 38 tons of asphalt on streets and parking lots in legislative grouping. GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND MISCELLANEOUS The daily routine maintenance on the Capitol Grounds included daily sweeping of the Capitol steps and walks; removal of trash and debris from the Capitol Grounds; pick up trash and general hauling for the buildings in the legislative group; sweeping roads and drives twice a week with the mechanical sweeper; mowing lawns during the last part of April through September; washing down Capitol steps twice a week; watering lawns at night, six nights a week during the summer. |