the retirement division for miscellaneous information on the subject of retirement generally, and particularly when proposed legislation is pending in Congress. The work of effecting adjustments in accounts of fiscal agents of the Government because of overpayment of salaries to former employees, or because of claims made where the former employee is indebted to the Government, is a considerable item. Such claims include embezzlement by the employee, depredations on the mails, damage to Government-owned property, etc. Contested claims for refund of deductions also require considerable time and correspondence in effecting adjustment. The favorable condition of the work as a whole, however, seems to warrant a small reduction in the force, therefore compensation for only 33 employees is included in the estimate for 1926 instead of 35 for the current year.

The relatively small increase in the estimate for medical examinations and for travel expense is explained in large measure by the normal increase in the number of disability annuitants on the roll, most of whom require an annual examination. By referring to the annual reports of the Commissioner of Pensions it will be found that at the end of the first year there were 581 disability annuitants on the roll; at the end of the second year the number had increased to 909, and at the end of the third year the number was 1,340. On June 30, 1924, there were 1,653 disability annuitants on the roll, which shows a constant increase and it necessarily follows that there must be an increase in the aggregate cost of medical examinations.

The services of special examiners of the Bureau of Pensions are being utilized more and more each year in developing required evidence in retirement cases. The travel expenses of these examiners while engaged on retirement work are paid from this appropriation, threfore a small increase should be made available for this purpose.

Because of the limited appropriation for the current year it will be practically impossible to purchase any cabinets to provide for filing new claims. By 1926 it will again be necessary to expand the file, therefore a limited amount should be made available to care for the normal expansion in the files.

It is worthy of note that out of the available appropriation for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1924, amounting to $68,940, the sum of $2,943.54 was unexpended. This result was accomplished only through careful management inspired by a sincere desire to keep the cost of administering the retirement law down to the minimum. This same policy will be followed under the present administration of the law in the Bureau of Pensions.

Mr. CRAMTON. You are asking an increase from $77,000 to $80,000. The number of claims filed has become stabilized, has it not?

Mr. BEACH. We believe so, unless there are some radical changes in the service itself. For 1925 we estimate a less number than we actually had filed in 1924.

Mr. CRAMTON. But you think it has got down now to the current number. Of course, before you had an increased number because of the act recently going into effect.

Mr. BEACH. Yes, sir.

Mr. CRAMTON. Is this item self-supporting?

Mr. BEACH. All the salaries of the employees in the retirement division are paid out of this appropriation.

Mr. CRAMTON. There was a period when part of them were paid out of another item.

Mr. BEACH. The first three years.

Mr. CRAMTON. But now this item shows the true situation.
Mr. BEACH. Yes, sir.

CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY FUND

Mr. CRAMTON. The next item is the civil service retirement and disability fund.

Mr. HAYMAKER. I have a memorandum with reference to that.
Is is as follows:

Civil service retirement and disability fund.-No appropriation is required under this title. The scheduled increase of $915,000 for the fiscal year 1926 contemplates an expenditure on account of—

12,000 annuitants, full year, averaging $560_

2,000 annuitants enrolled during the year averaging $280. 45.000 refunds, averaging $84_.

Total

$6, 720, 000 560, 000 3,780,000

11, 060, 000

Mr. HAYMAKER. I have a memorandum which is a résumé of the different items in the bill. It is as follows:

INFORMATION SUPPORTING APPROPRIATION ESTIMATES, 1926

In connection with the estimates of Pension Office appropriations for the fiscal year 1926, the following general statement is submitted: Estimates, 1926, compared with appropriations, 1925

The functions of the Bureau of Pensions are the examination and adjudication of claims for pension based on service in the Army and Navy in the Mexican War, various Indian wars, Civil War, and War with Spain; claims based on disability, or death as a result of disability, suffered in the military and naval services prior to April 6. 1917, and after July 2, 1921; claims for accrued pensions of deceased claimants and for the reimbursement of expenses of last sickness and burial of deceased pensioners; for half pensions under act of March 3, 1899, and for pensions granted by special acts of Congress; and payment of pensions and amounts allowed as accrued pensions and reimbursements, and fees and expenses of examining surgeons. The bureau is also charged with the administration of

the laws making provision for the retirement of civil-service employees, the adjudication of claims thereunder for age and disability, annuities, accrued annuities, refunds, and accumulated deductions and service credits and the payments on account of annuities, refunds, and other settlements under the civil-service retirement law and amendments thereto.

The work of the bureau in all its phases is practically current. Of the 166,492 claims before the bureau for action in the past fiscal year, 115,089 were disposed of, leaving a balance on hand at the close of the year of 51,403 claims. Of the claims disposed of, 36,578 were based on Civil War service and 56,280 on Spanish war service. There were 61,096 pension certificates issued and 14,408 accrued pension and reimbursement orders.

At the beginning of the past fiscal year there were 539,756 pensioners on the roll and at its close 525,539, a net loss of 14,217. Of those on the roll, 146,815 were Civil War veterans, 253,136 Civil War widows, 85,038 Spanish war veterans, 16,104 Spanish war widows. By classes the pension roll showed at close of the fiscal year 248,049 soldiers, 270,194 widows, 2,263 minor children, 939 helpless children, and 67 Army nurses.

The expenditures for pensions, fiscal year 1924, were $229,994,777. as against $263,012,500 for 1923. The amount appropriated for 1924 was $253,000,000, as against $268,000,000 for 1923. Pensions are now paid monthly and the extent of operations of the disbursing division of the bureau may be gleaned from the statement that 6,577,171 checks were issued during the past fiscal year in payment of pensions. annuities, refunds, and fees of examining surgeons, carrying amounts aggregating $239,004,814.43.

The wisdom of the survey of the bureau made between May 24 and September 17, 1923, has been demonstrated by the results attained in the past year by a lessened force of employees. Elimination of duplications, lost motion and slack time, and of unnecessary reviewing of work has resulted in improved service to the public, more expeditious settlement of claims, and payment of pensions when granted, and more direct methods of operation.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1924.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

STATEMENT OF MR. GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR

GENERAL STATEMENT

Mr. CRAMTON. Doctor Smith, we will take up the hearings for the Geological Survey. We shall be very glad to have your general statement with reference to it.

Mr. SMITH. The continuing work of the Geological Survey all relates to an inventory of natural resources. The mineral wealth. the water resources, and the land of the public domain make up the subject matter to which this investigative service has devoted its activities for 45 years, and the task is far from completed. The

first step in determining and describing the material resources available for use is the making of a base map and conducting the topographic surveys and engraving and printing the resulting maps together make up a considerable part of the task of the Geological Survey. The principal lines of investigation, and, indeed, every field project, contribute directly to the development of the country and are planned to promote the best use of these resources with which our country is more richly endowed than any other.

To this Federal bureau the general public looks for authoritative information and upon its inventory of resources the Government itself depends in its planning for the future. National parks, national forests, irrigation works, drainage projects, power development, fuel reserves, mining development, and highway systems have all resulted from these basic topographic, geologic, and hydrographic surveys, and in varying degree the success or failure of these projects of internal development has depended upon the extent and quality of the preliminary work by the Geological Survey. The more intensive and more varied industrial development of our day entails a greater need of accurate investigation than could have been even foreseen when this scientific service was created by Congress.

The detailed classification of expenditures for the fiscal year 1924 is given in full in the administrative report, but the general classification may be expressed in percentages of the principal items as follows: Personal services, 75 per cent; travel expenses, including $2,591.63 for expenses of attendance at professional meetings, 12 per cent; equipment and supplies, including $9,927.88 for purchase of passenger-carrying vehicles, 8 per cent; transportation of things, 2 per cent.

Secretary's appointees at the end of the fiscal year 1924 numbered 928, or 13 more than at the beginning. On November 1, 1924, the number was 921. In the last calendar year the annual leave and sick leave granted were 72 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively, of the amounts that could legally have been granted. During the same period leave without pay and furlough amounting to more than 14 man years was granted. On September 30, 1924, 843 members of the survey personnel were on a pay basis, the others being part-time employees or absent on temporary leave without pay or on furlough.

SALARIES

Mr. CRAMTON. The next item is as follows:

For the Director of the Geological Survey and other personal services in the District of Columbia in accordance with the classification act of 1923, $54,760. Mr. SMITH. This salary roll at present provides for 22 employees, including the chief of the bureau. Last year 24 employees were paid from this roll, an unexpended balance resulting from part-time vacancies of several positions. These 22 employees constitute a part only of the technical force and of the administrative staff, the item being an inheritance from the past, and representing two items, amounting to $120,640, that 40 years ago provided for practically the whole personnel of the Survey.

Mr. CRAMTON. The amount for the current year was $54,760 and you are asking for the same amount again?

Mr. SMITH. Yes.

GENERAL. EXPENSES

Mr. CRAMTON. The next item is as follows:

For every expenditure requisite for and incident to the authorized work of the Geological Survey, including personal services in the District of Columbia and in the field, and including not to exceed $10,000 for the purchase and exchange, and not to exceed $30,000 for the hire, maintenance, repair and operation of motor-propelled and horse-drawn passenger-carrying vehicles for field use only by geologists, topographers, engineers, and land classifiers, and the Geological Survey is authorized to exchange unserviceable and worn out passenger-carrying and freight-carrying vehicles as part payment for new freight-carrying vehicles, and whenever, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1926, the Director of the Geological Survey shall find that the expense of travel can be reduced thereby he may authorize the payment of not to exceed 3 cents per mile for a motor cycle or 7 cents per mile for an automobile used for official business, and including not to exceed $5,000 for necessary traveling expenses of the Director and members of the Geological Survey acting under his direction, for attendance upon meetings of technical, professional and scientific societies when required in connection with the authorized work of the Geological Survey, to be expended under the regulations from time to time prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior and under the following heads:

Mr. SMITH. The language under this item furnishes the general authority for the conduct of field investigations as well as the office work, under each of the specific appropriation items which follow. One change in this general authorization is requested. Frequently a saving in Government funds could be effected and the efficiency of engineers and geologists could be increased were they permitted to use personally owned automobiles or motor cycles in official work, on a basis that would reimburse them for a reasonable part of the actual operating cost of such official use. At present the owners can be reimbursed only for gasoline and oil consumed and for overnight

storage.

The Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Reclamation in the Interior Department now have the authority sought by the Geological Survey. The language suggested follows closely that used in the Bureau of Reclamation item. Such authority would be used only where a saving in travel expense could be effected.

ALLOWANCES FOR USE OF PERSONAL AUTOMOBILES

Mr. CRAMTON. The appropriation for the current year was $500,000, and the estimate here is $485,000. I find new language proposed as follows:

Whenever, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1926, the Director of the Geological Survey shall find that the expenses of travel can be reduced thereby, he may authorize the payment of not to exceed 3 cents per mile for a motorcycle or 7 cents per mile for an automobile used for official business.

To what extent do you expect to use that authorization?

Mr. SMITH. It may amount to 20 or 30 instances. Such a case came up recently in the East; in fact, the other day. An officer wanted to use his own machine. The practice has been that there was no general authorization, but in specific cases we would allow an official to use his personal automobile. He is allowed overnight garage fees and the repayment for oil and gas actually expended. It is not intended to pay any more under this authorization, but to pay it in a simpler way.