Page images
PDF
EPUB

TOILET FACILITIES IN THE CAPITOL

Mr. REIFEL. Are there any plans in the making for additional toilet facilities, especially for women? Every once in a while I have guests, and the mother or the children want to get to a toilet, and it is like trying to find a needle in the haystack on the House side. Maybe I don't know where they are. Is that it, or are they so limited the reason you don't mark them is because there are just not that many around?

Mr. CLANCY. There was a public toilet provided for women, for tourists, and we were requested by the House side to make it a private toilet, sir. It is on the first floor. We have a public toilet in the center of the building on the first floor for women, and also on the Senate side for the women. Unfortunately, on the House side, some of the ladies I think found somebody undesirable in there one time and asked it be made a private toilet.

Mr. REIFEL. If you are a Member, you can get your guests in up here at the family room. We are opening the place up and encouraging our people to come and see the Capitol, and we should provide restroom facilities for them.

Mr. CLANCY. That is very true.

Mr. REIFEL. Is there something in the plans that would correct this? It is going to be with us as long as we have a Capitol Building and constituents coming to see it.

Mr. STEWART. In our studies of the west front, some of the layouts we suggested, if accepted, make provisions for additional restrooms on the west side. In our studies we have not neglected the demand for such accommodations in the Capitol.

Mr. REIFEL. As I understand, then, there is the one where the family room is.

Mr. CLANCY. On the gallery floor.

Mr. REIFEL. And it is only open part of the time when the House is in session?

Mr. CLANCY. That is right.

Mr. REIFEL. Where is there another one?

Mr. CLANCY. On the first floor across from the Doorkeeper's office. If you want to get in there, Fishbait Miller has the key.

Mr. REIFEL. If I were just an ordinary owner of this Capitol Building, as I told earlier, and I wanted to get members of my family to the toilet, where would I go? There is just no place, is there?

Mr. CLANCY. Back in 1960, we had provisions made to put a public toilet off Statuary Hall for the ladies, and Mr. Rayburn, the Speaker at that time approached Mr. Stewart and said, "Reserve that for the lady Members." That is what happened there.

Mr. CAMPIOLI. In the extension of the Capitol project, there were over 20 toilet rooms provided, and one by one they were gradually taken over by the House and Senate. Right now I believe there are only two left that the public can use.

Mr. REIFEL. On the House side?

Mr. CLANCY. Yes, sir.

Mr. REIFEL. I think it is outrageous.

Mr. ANDREWS. It is. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. REIFEL. Yes.

Mr. ANDREWS. I have always noticed that the Senate has a much better restroom over there for visitors than the House side. This thing needs attention.

Thank you, Mr. Reifel.

Mr. REIFEL. I am not being critical of you folks. You folks just work here. But it seems to me we ought to give some attention to

this thing.

As you say, if you fix up the west side there, again it will probably be appropriated by individuals, so you will wind up with none. There ought to be something set aside that is definitely sufficiently commodious to take care of the number of people coming here.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

Mr. ANDREWS. Let's turn to page 87, "House Office Buildings. Mr. STEWART. We are asking for an increase of $212,000. We had $3,807,000 for 1966, and we are asking for $4,019,000 for 1967. Mr. ANDREWS. We shall insert pages 81 through 84 at this point in the record.

(The pages referred to follow :)

1966 appropriation in annual act.. Additions:

Personnel compensation:

House Office Buildings

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

Under the provisions of Public Law 763, 83d Cong., 497 laborers and mechanics on the House Office Buildings roll are compensated on a wage board, prevailing rate basis. Public Law 763 provides that the compensation for such employees shall be adjusted from time to time as nearly as is consistent with the public interest in accordance with prevailing rates.

An increase of $95,000 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 House Office Buildings wage board employees may be compensated on a full-year basis in the fiscal year 1967 in accordance with present prevailing rates. It was possible to absorb the 7 months part-year cost in the fiscal year 1966 due to the progressive staffing of the Rayburn Building, but such absorption cannot be effected in the fiscal year 1967.

An increase of $28,680 is requested for 1967 to meet the cost of within-grade promo-
tions and other changes authorized by Public Law 763 under the wage board system,
for employees compensated under that act.

Within-grade promotions and other changes authorized by the Classification Act of 1949,
as amended, for employees compensated under that act...
Increased pay costs due to Public Law 89-301, approved Oct. 29, 1965, "Federal Em-
ployees Ŝalary Act of 1965," to cover increases which went into effect Oct. 1, 1965,
under authority of that act and must be met on a full-year basis in 1967. It was possible
to absorb the 9-month part-year cost in the fiscal year 1966 due to the progressive
staffing of the Rayburn Building, but such absorption cannot be effected in the fiscal
year 1967..

$3,807,000

123, 680

4,903

20,760

Additions-Continued

House Office Buildings—Continued

Personnel compensation-Continued

7 additional positions requested for 1967.

1 stonemason, wage board 9 at $6,157 per annum: At the present time, 1 stonemason is provided for the care and maintenance of the marble and other stonework in the Cannon and Longworth House Office Buildings. For 1967, it is requested that a stonemason be allowed for care and maintenance of the marble and other stonework in the Rayburn House Office Building. The Rayburn Building is a massive structure and contains an extensive amount of marble and granite. In the interest of protecting the Government's investment in this building, this position should be allowed.

The quality marbles used in the Rayburn Building were assembled from the finest quarries available and were cut and finished to exacting standards. If given proper care, the marble will stand indefinitely through the years, retaining its natural beauty and character. Marble must be given periodic care and cleaning to insure retention of its beauty. The work should be done by an experienced and competent stonemason. Joints must be grouted or repointed periodically due to constant movement of the superstructure; repairs to chips and broken corners, made by delivery trucks or other objects, must be made; stains from body oils must be removed by application of special poultices; oil stains from other sources must be removed immediately to prevent permanent discoloration; deep scratches, when they occur, must be rubbed out or they will gather dirt; marble disturbed by electricians and other trades in making repairs and changes should be removed and repaired by an experienced stonemason; mopping and cleanup crews should be advised as to what soaps, cleaners, and other materials can be safely applied to the floors. This work is considered essential to the proper care of the building.

1 labor foreman, wage board 5, at $5,200 per annum; 5 night laborers, wage board 3, at $4,160 per annum: There are 29 lobbies in the Rayburn Building, leading from the garages into the other parts of the building. The floors of these lobbies are asphalt-tiled floors and, due to heavy pedestrian traffic, must be mopped and scrubbed daily and waxed 2 to 3 times each week. This work must be done at night. At present, such work is being done by 5 laborers detailed from the garages, resulting in a shortage in the garage maintenance force and inadequate maintenance of the garages. In order to provide proper maintenance in both the lobbies and the garages, it is requested that these 6 positions be added to the labor maintenance force for 1967. Contribution to retirement fund-increased from $175,000 to $185,200.

This item covers the cost of Government contribution to retirement fund required by Public Law 854, 84th Cong., "title IV-Civil Service Retirement Act Amendments of 1956." The increase of $10,200 requested for 1967 results from base pay increases and the proposed addition of 7 positions.

Annual painting increased from $31,500 to $40,000...

The 1966 allotment was based on painting 130 suites in the Cannon and Longsworth
Buildings. Although the 1967 allotment, as in the case of the 1966 allotment, does
not provide for painting of corridors or committee rooms in any of the 3 buildings,
nevertheless, next year being an election year, it is recommended that the allotment
be increased to $40,000 to provide for painting a larger number of Members' suites due
to additional moves that normally occur in an election year.
Insect and pest control, increased from $4,000 to $4,800....

This allotment provides for the annual control of insects and other pests in the
3 House Office Buildings. In order to provide adequate control, on a current-cost
basis, it is requested that the allotment be increased by $800.
Replacement of fire hoses and nozzles, Cannon and Longworth House Office Buildings,
nonrecurring item...

$32, 157

10. 200

8,500

800

11,000

The existing firehoses in the Cannon and Longworth House Office Buildings have been in service for many years. They are single-jacket, unlined hoses which have become deteriorated for further dependable service. Under the funds requested for 1967, it is proposed to purchase 10,000 feet of single-jacket, latex-lined synthetic-fiber hose, with fittings, in replacement of the old hose. This modern hose is resistant to mildew, acids and abrasion and suffers no loss of flexibility when dried after use, in contrast to the old hose. In addition, it is proposed to purchase 94 fog nozzles in replacement of existing straight-stream nozzles, which can be used with better control and will extinguish a fire in a shorter period of time than the straight-stream nozzles. Similar replacements have been provided for in the past 2 years in the other buildings under the Architect, under funds allowed for such purpose by the Congress. +212,000 Total estimate for 1967.....

4,019, 000

WAGE BOARD INCREASES

Now, the first item of $123,680 is over half the increase, and it is for the more or less mandatory item of wage increases.

Mr. STEWART. That is right.

Mr. ANDREWS. Tell us something about the basis for that. When did it go into effect? Who decided it? What were some of the rates? Mr. HENLOCK. The wage board changes go into effect annually, based on surveys made by the Defense Department and the other large Government agencies-the Army, Air Force, Navy, General Services. And the results of that survey are used generally by Government agencies.

Under the law, once we have the notice of new wage rates, we are bound to put the changes into effect within 20 days. This year we were notified of the new rates on November 24, 1965, and the new rates were put into effect December 5, 1965. They are mandatory and something over which we have no control.

For instance, you asked about rates. A grade 5 helper went from a starting rate of $2.41 to $2.50 an hour.

A junior mechanic in grade 8 went from $2.76 an hour to $2.85 an hour. A grade 10 mechanic went from $2.98 an hour to $3.08 an hour. That is a sampling of some of the rate increases.

Mr. ANDREWS. These are matters over which you have no effective control?

Mr. HENLOCK. None whatsoever.

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

Mr. ANDREWS. What is the total number of employees on your payroll for work done in connection with the three House Office Buildings?

Mr. HENLOCK. 623.

Mr. ANDREWs. Give us a breakdown of those 623.

Mr. HENLOCK. We have shown this information on page 86 of the justification.

A force of 630 employees, an increase of 7 positions over the number allowed for 1966, is requested for 1967. This force, covering 3 shifts daily, consists of 79 mechanics and 19 helpers in the general shops; 33 engineers, 12 attendants and 10 helpers in the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning departments; 43 attendants and 5 laborers to operate the garages in the Cannon and Rayburn House Office Buildings; 68 operators and 1 starter for the elevators; 5 subway car operators; 141 general laborers and helpers, and 177 charwomen; 1 superintendent and 31 clerical and other assistants; 4 nurses and 1 athletic director.

Mr. ANDREWS. How many additional employees are you asking for?

Mr. HENLOCK. Seven. We have 623 now, but in giving the breakdown of the force on page 86 we have projected what we would have under the 630 total.

Mr. ANDREWS. I wish you would put in the record, if it is not in the justifications, the pay rate or salary rate for these employees by categories.

Mr. HENLOCK. You mean each one, the new employees, or all of them?

Mr. ANDREWs. All of them. You don't have to do it now. Put it in the record for us.

For instance, show what the rate is for mechanics, the top and low figure, and the same thing for helpers, in the general shops, engineers, high and low rates, and all the different categories of employees. (The information follows:)

« PreviousContinue »