changed from Capitol garage to legislative garage in the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1936 (49 Stat. 470). The legislative garage provides parking accommodations for 28 Government-owned trucks and automobiles maintained for the official use of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Architect of the Capitol; parking accommodations for 96 privately owned automobiles belonging to Members of the United States Senate, and for 90 privately owned automobiles belonging to Members of the House of Representatives. Mr. O'NEAL. What is the total number of parking spaces you have there? Mr. LYNN. There are 214 parking spaces, in all. In addition, space is provided for the equipment used in the maintenance of the Capitol grounds. Mr. JOHNSON. What service do you give over there? Mr. Lynn. We do not service any cars except the official cars. Mr. LYNN. The Government-owned automobiles and trucks that are housed in the garage. Mr. JOHNSON. I notice there is an item for two gasoline pumps and one oil pump. Do you sell gasoline there? Mr. Lynn. We furnish gasoline for the official cars of the House and for our own equipment from one of the pumps. The other pump is for the exclusive use of the official cars of the Senate. Mr. JOHNSON. You do not sell gasoline to any one else? Mr. LYNN. We do not sell any gasoline. The Architect purchases the gasoline through use of the Government general supply schedule and pays for the gasoline from appropriations under his office. The Architect is reimbursed by the proper officials of the House of Representatives, from appropriations under the House of Representatives, the cost of the gasoline furnished the official cars and trucks of the House of Representatives, at the end of each month, and the amounts so reimbursed are credited to the appropriations under the Architect of the Capitol. Mr. JOHNSON. I also notice an item for two car-washing pumps. Mr. JOHNSON. Do you wash any cars except the official cars? cars washed there by their own chauffeurs. Mr. JOHNSON. There is no charge for that? Mr. LYNN. No, sir. Mr. JOHNSON. There is no one there in the car-washing business? Mr. LYNN. No, sir. We only have seven employees there on our rolls and we do not allow them to service any privately owned cars during their regular working hours. Mr. JOHNSON. Do you need seven employees there? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir; as we have to maintain three 8-hour shifts daily. Mr. O'NEAL. The 1944 estimate for the legislative garage is $12,720, whereas the appropriation for 1943 was $12,210. Will you make a statement in reference to that? Mr. LYNN. That includes $10,500 for personal services, $1,500 for repairs and alterations, and $720 for supplies and materials. For 1943, $9,990 was allotted for personal services, so there is an increase of $510. $90 of this increase is to complete in 1944 the 1943 within-grade promotions authorized by the act of August 1, 1941. The balance of the increase, $420, is to meet the legislative changes in salary ranges prescribed by the act of August 1, 1942. Of the total force of seven employees, the salary rates of four were increased under this act. Due to the changes made under the act of August 1, 1942, we will have to ask a deficiency appropriation of about $385 for 1943, and will run a deficiency again for 1944 unless an increase of $510 is granted. The estimate for personal services for 1944 cannot stand any cut. The amount for repairs and alterations is $1,500. This is the same as allotted for 1943 and provides the necessary repair and upkeep of the structure and equipment. Doors, windows, and equipment must be repaired and kept in order and general structural repair and painting must be carried on. The amount for supplies and materials is $720, which is the same amount that was allotted for 1943, and it provides for claiming supplies, disinfectants, miscellaneous tools, brushes, brooms, paints, plumbing and steamfitting supplies, cleaning hose, electric lamps, oil, grease, waste, and general supplies for the care and maintenance of the garage. No gasoline is purchased under the garade appropriation. Mr. Johnson. Are any of the employees of the garage on patronage? Mr. LYNN. No; none at all. SUBWAY TRANSPORTATION Mr. O'NEAL. You also have on page 76 of the committee print for subway transportation between the Capitol and the Senate Office Building, for which the estimate for 1944 is $2,000, the same amount that was appropriated for 1943. Mr. Lynn. This year we have not spent very much. This small appropriation of $2,000 provides for the rebuilding and maintenance of the subway cars, including the maintenance of the track and electrical equipment of the system. Mr. O'NEAL. Do you think that could stand a reduction of about $500? Mr. LYNN. Possibly so; but I do not think it wise to reduce the allotment below $1,500, because of the importance of keeping the system in safe operating condition. MAINTENANCE OF SENATE OFFICE BUILDING Mr. O'NEAL. As far as the item on page 77 of the committee print, for the maintenance of the Senate Office Building is concerned, I think it has been the practice of the House Committee on Appropriations for the legislative branch to refer that to the proper Senate committee for investigation, and no examination is made of that item by the House committee. Mr. LYNN. That has been the practice of the House committee for a number of years. HOUSE RESTAURANTS Mr. O'NEAL. Mr. Lynn, we will take up the estimates for the House restaurants and we will be glad to have you make a statement, in any way you care to present it. GENERAL STATEMENT ON ESTIMATE, RECEIPTS, AND EXPENDITURES Mr. LYNN. The estimate for 1944 is $27,500. This is the same amount as allowed for 1943. The appropriations for operation, provided by Congress for the past 6 fiscal years to supplement the restaurant receipts, are as follows: In addition to these funds allowed for operation, $15,350 was provided in 1941 to establish the cafeteria in the New House Office Building. The House restaurant in the Capitol was placed under the Architect of the Capitol October 1, 1940. The Architect was directed by House resolution of April 24, 1941, to establish the cafeteria in the New House Office Building and to operate the same as a branch of the House restaurant. The cafeteria was placed in operation March 3, 1942. For the fiscal year 1942-July 1, 1941, to June 30, 1942—the receipts from the combined operation totaled $114,318; the expenditures totaled $137,034; so that the expenditures exceeded the receipts by $22,716. The net loss on operations for the fiscal year 1942, how ever, actually amounted to $20,508. The difference is accounted for by the increased value of inventories, including the establishment of inventories for the operation of the cafeteria. For the 6-month period-July 1, 1942, to December 31, 1942-the receipts from operation of the House restaurant in the Capitol amounted to $34,000, and the expenditures exceeded the receipts by $18,767 for the first half of the fiscal year 1943. For this same period, the receipts from the operation of the cafeteria amounted to $33,771, and the expenditures to $30,265; so that there was a profit of $3,506. The expenditure of $18,767 in excess of receipts from the House restaurant in the Capitol for the first half of the fiscal year 1943 was, therefore, partly offset by the $3,506 profit on the cafeteria, reducing the excess expenditures for the combined operations to $15,261. The net loss on the combined operations for this period amounted to $14,632; the difference being due to increased value of inventories. For the information of the committee, the following statement of expenditures and receipts, covering the House restaurant operations for the fiscal years 1940, 1941, 1942, and the first half of 1943, is presented. :. On July 1, 1942-the beginning of the present fiscal year-the unobligated cash balance available for the operation of the House restaurants was $40,230. This amount consisted of an unobligated cash balance of $12,730 carried forward from prior fiscal year operations, plus the appropriation of $27,500 provided by Congress in the 1943 Legislative Branch Appropriation Act. Out of the cash balance of $40,230, there has had to be expended $15,261 to meet the amount that the expenditures exceeded the receipts for the 6-month period July 1, 1942, to December 31, 1942; leaving as the unobligated cash balance on January 1, 1943, available for the operation of the restaurants, $24,969. The Comptroller General has ruled that the employees of the House restaurants are entitled to the 10 percent additional compensation authorized by the act of December 22, 1942. To meet the requirements of this act will require an expenditure of approximately $3,800 more during the second half of this fiscal year than was expended for labor during the first half of this fiscal year. In fact, as the rate of increase for legislative employees is likely to be raised to 15 percent or more, according to proposals now understood to be under consideration by Congress, the expenditure for labor will, in all probability, be increased to an even greater extent. Should the additional compensation increase be left at the rate of 10 percent for the fiscal year 1944, then the cost of meeting such increase on a full year basis for 1944 would amount to about $6,500. Should the increase be fixed at 15 percent, the cost would amount to nearly $10,000. And, of course, if fixed at a higher rate, the cost would increase correspondingly. In view of this consideration and the higher costs of food, it is urgently requested that the amount of $27,500 requested to be appropriated, again be allowed for the fiscal year 1944. For the further information of the committee, I wish to state that the restaurant accounts have been audited by the General Accounting Office and found in satisfactory condition. Also, I wish to state that no changes have been made during the past year in the prices charged for meals served in the House restaurant, except in comparatively few instances. This factor, together with the fact that pay-roll costs were increased by approximately $9,000 per annum, due to general salary adjustments which were largely the outgrowth of House Resolution 311, Seventy-seventh Congress, must be taken into consideration when considering operating losses, particularly in view of the increased cost of foods. Mr. O'NEAL. That is a very interesting statement, Mr. Lynn. Mr. LYNN. Mr. Chairman, I have asked Mr. Brockwell, the Manager of the House restaurants, to appear this morning and, if you have no objection, I would like him to make a statement to the committee. Mr. O'NEAL. We will be very glad to have Mr. Brockwell make a statement. OPERATIONS OF HOUSE RESTAURANTS AND CAFETERIA Mr. BROCKWELL. Here are facts regarding the operation of the House restaurants and the New House Office cafeteria during 1942. Mr. O'NEAL. Is that the fiscal year 1942? Mr. BROCKWELL. That is the calendar year 1942. All operating costs have risen substantially during 1942, and despite ceilings, the end of these cost increases is not yet in sight. Pay-roll costs have increased at the rate of about $15,500 per year. Of this amount approximately $9,000 covers the general salary adjustments and approximately $6,500 the 10 percent additional compensation authorized by Congress (as of December 1, 1942) for congressional employees. Food costs have continued their general rise begun in 1940. Every category has risen. We now pay, as of January 1, 1943, 21 percent more for foods used in this operation than as of January 1, 1942; and 49 percent more than as of September 1, 1940. Other materials such as paper supplies, cleaning materials, linen, china, silver, glassware, uniforms, equipment, replacements, and repair parts, have all risen as much or more. Menu prices, however, have remained substantially the same, and it is again emphasized that some price increases are long past due. The restaurant labor and manpower situation has become increasingly difficult. We have simplified our menu and replaced some men with women; and other men leaving have been replaced, where possible, by older or draft exempt men. Despite these devices, restaurant labor remains an acute day-to-day problem. Deliveries of merchandise are slow and uncertain, necessitating larger than normal inventories. Many items have to be bought on a "pick it up yourself" basis. Replacement of damaged and worn-out equipment has become a serious problem, sometimes involving months. Food procurement difficulties grow from day to day. There are already shortages in meats. fish, shortening, poultry, butter, and so forth. A long list of foods now comes under Government rationing control. Many others are due to follow. This operation is conform |