Y 4. Ap 6/1: L52/950 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATION BILL FOR 1950 JUN 17 1949 SOCUME HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIRST CONGRESS COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS CLARENCE CANNON, Missouri, Chairman JOHN H. KERR, North Carolina ANTONIO M. FERNANDEZ, New Mexico E. H. HEDRICK, West Virginia PRINCE H. PRESTON, JR., Georgia OTTO E. PASSMAN, Louisiana LOUIS C. RABAUT, Michigan DANIEL J. FLOOD, Pennsylvania CHRISTOPHER C. MCGRATH, New York SIDNEY R. YATES, Illinois FOSTER FURCOLO, Massachusetts EDWARD H. KRUSE, JR., Indiana JOHN TABER, New York RICHARD B. WIGGLESWORTH, Massachusetts. CHARLES A. PLUMLEY, Vermont ALBERT J. ENGEL, Michigan KARL STEFAN, Nebraska FRANCIS CASE, South Dakota H. CARL ANDERSEN, Minnesota JOHN PHILLIPS, California ERRETT P. SCRIVNER, Kansas LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATION BILL, 1950 HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY THE SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN CHARGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATION BILL, 1950, ON THE DAYS FOLLOWING: FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1949. ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL STATEMENTS OF DAVID LYNN, ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL; CHARLES A. HENLOCK, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER; THOMAS F. CLANCY, ASSISTANT SUPERVISING ENGINEER, CAPITOL BUILDING; WILLIAM A. FREDERICK, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND HORTICULTURIST; A. EMMANUEL RIDGELL, SUPERINTEND ENT, HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS Mr. NORRELL. The committee will please come to order. We have met to consider the legislative branch appropriation bill for 1950. I want to say that I think this committee, with the exception of the man who is acting as chairman, is a very great committee, composed of able and courageous gentlemen on both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans. I know, with the cooperation that we are going to have of those who help us here on the Hill, we are going to be able to make a record that the American people will be proud of. After all, Congress lives in a glass house. The American people are watching us, and that is as it should be. I think we ought to take the leadership in practicing economy and doing the right thing, so that we may be an example to the executive departments. We have with us this morning the Architect of the Capitol, Mr. Lynn, and members of his staff. We are always glad to have Mr. Lynn present to testify. Mr. NORRELL. Mr. Lynn, have you a general statement you would like to submit? Mr. LYNN. We have prepared a general statement, which I should like to have Mr. Henlock present. Mr. NORRELL. You may proceed. GENERAL STATEMENT Mr. HENLOCK. For 1949, appropriations totaling $5,976,010 have been granted under the Architect of the Capitol, and supplemental appropriations, totaling $403,158, are pending, making the grand total appropriation requirements, actual and estimated, for 1949, $6,379,168. For 1950, appropriations totaling $15,863,800 are requested, a net increase of $9,484,632 over the 1949 requirements. The principal item of increase is $10,000,000 to enable the Architect of the Capitol to start construction of the new Senate Office Building this summer. Acquisition of the site is expected to be completed, all properties vacated, and the site cleared by July 1, 1949. The work of reconstructing the roof over the House wing of the Capitol and remodeling of the House Chamber is also expected to be commenced on July 1, 1949, under funds and authority provided in the First Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1949. The work of reconstructing the roof over the Senate wing of the Capitol and remodeling of the Senate Chamber is likewise expected to be commenced_on July 1, 1949, under funds and authority granted in the Second Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1948, together with the appropriation of $1,374,500 requested for 1950 to liquidate contract authorizations authorized by that act. Although no funds are shown in the 1950 justifications for either 1949 or 1950 for the long-deferred project the extension and completion of the east front of the Capitol, the committee's attention is called to House Document 54, Eighty-first Congress, containing an estimate of $6,000,000 for the fiscal year 1949 to provide the necessary funds to extend and complete the east front of the Capitol, transmitted through the Bureau of the Budget, February 3, 1949, for consideration by the House Deficiency Appropriations Committee. A program is also under consideration for major improvements for the Capitol power plant and it is hoped that the necessary authorization and funds for such improvements will be provided during the present fiscal year. Additional power-plant supply and distribution studies and planning, made necessary by authorization of the new Senate Office Building, were authorized by House Resolution 719, Eightieth Congress, December 31, 1948, and have delayed final conclusions and recommendations. No other public-works projects are presently contemplated for the fiscal years 1949 and 1950. Due to the war, improvements in and about the Capitol buildings and grounds have been deferred for more than 10 years, and a backlog of work to be done is accumulating. The 1950 estimates include nonrecurring items, totaling $449,165, covering those repairs and improvements which in the opinion of the Architect of the Capitol should not be deferred any longer; annual maintenance increases, totaling $128,113, most of which are simply to meet increased costs of labor and materials under allotments which are still being provided on the basis of prewar costs; and personal services increase of $44,598, of which $39,698 is for within-grade promotions authorized by law and $4,900 for one new position. The appropriations under the Architect of the Capitol are primarily for maintenance of buildings occupied by the Congress, and for heat, light, power, air conditioning, and general housekeeping services for the Congress. The appropriations requested for 1950 include only those items considered necessary to render proper service to the Congress and to properly maintain the buildings and equipment of the legislative establishment. The net increase of $9,484,632 in the 1950 estimates over the 1949 appropriation requirements results from increases totaling $11,996,376, offset by décreases totaling $2,511,744 due to the omission of nonrecurring items. SUMMARY OF INCREASES REQUESTED, ALL APPROPRIATIONS Then, Mr. Chairman, we detail, in accordance with the usual practice, a break-down of the increases, dividing them into four groups personal services increases, annual maintenance increases, nonrecurring maintenance increases, and nonrecurring construction items. Those are shown on pages 4 to 8, inclusive. Mr. NORRELL. Does that complete your statement? Mr. NORRELL. I think those justifications should be included in the record. (The matter referred to is as follows:) The gross increase of $11,996,376 is summarized as follows: Total increase in personal services. Total___. $4, 900 39, 698 44, 598 $128, 113 $219, 665 229, 500 449, 165 Total increase, annual maintenance and nonrecurring items. 11, 951, 778 Total increase requested for 1950--- 11, 996, 376 A break-down of the annual and nonrecurring maintenance and construction items of increase, exclusive of personal services, follows: |