390; and $6,570 to provide for the additional cost of postage for Members, made necessary by the increasing service being rendered constituents. Another consideration of the committee in connection with the latter item was the recent increase of 2 cents per ounce in air-mail rates. This additional sum will permit an increase in the allocation presently made to each member from $50 to $65 per annum.

CAPITOL POLICE

The accompanying bill carries an amount of $64,000 for this item, which is a reduction of $117,045 under the current appropriation and a reduction of $98,940 under the estimates. The amount recommended, as previously indicated, excludes the item of salaries for Capitol Police. It is proposed, beginning July 1, to split the joint. police roll and incorporate the proportionate shares of funds with the existing Senate and House police items. Heretofore, this appropriation was expended jointly by the House and the Senate, but in order to facilitate the administrative processes which were made more or less complicated and cumbersome by the joint handling of this appropriation, it was recommended that this action be taken.

The amount provided is an increase of $86,082 over the requirements for 1944 and a reduction of $386,227 under the Budget estimates. Of the total increase recommended the amount of $11,176 is estimated as necessary for within-grade promotions required by law.

Major deviations in the items of appropriations coming under this head are explained below.

Capitol buildings.-The amount of $383,747, the same as the Budget estimates, but an increase of $92,747 over the current year's appropriations, is recommended. The major item of increase is $40,000 for painting the dome and central portion of the Capitol. Funds to do this painting were requested in the 1944 estimates but were not allowed because it was felt that the painting could be deferred for another year without serious effects. This portion of the building was last painted during the fiscal year 1940 and should be painted approximately every 4 years. By the time these funds become available, a period of approximately 5 years will have elapsed. The Architect advises that the paint is scaling off in a number of places and that it might be advisable to perform this work in the next fiscal year. Approximately $51,000 of the above-stated increase is for additional war compensation and within-grade promotions required by law.

Senate Office Building.-The amount recommended is $306,955, which is the same as the appropriation for the current fiscal year. Although the only increases requested were amounts to cover withingrade promotions and the cost of additional war compensation it was nevertheless decided to leave this item for initial action by the Senate.

House Office Building.-The committee has approved the amount of $465,000 for this item, an increase of $74,800 over the 1944 appro

priation and a reduction of $2,556 under the estimates submitted. The entire increase allowed is to cover the cost of additional war compensation and within-grade promotions. The item of $2,500, requested for temporary labor, has been eliminated. It is the thought of the committee that every effort should be made to perform such additional functions as may be necessary with the current force. However, should it become necessary to employ additional labor because of the additional moving which occurs with every change in Congress such help can be employed out of any savings that may accrue from the total appropriation which is being recommended.

Capitol power plant.—An appropriation of $850,000 is recommended under this heading. The principal item of increase included in the amount of $84,400 over the 1944 appropriation is for additional war compensation and $33,620 for the increased cost of fuel. Bids for fuel are received each year by the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department and the fuel is contracted for with a provision in the contract allowing for changes in fuel rates and freight rates. The average cost of fuel during the current fiscal year is $5.88 per ton with an estimated cost for the fiscal year 1945 of $6.29 per ton. The reduction in the Budget estimates of $7,072 is directed at the amount requested for temporary labor and for supplies and materials. The expenditures for these items during the first 6 months of the current fiscal year indicate that the full amounts of the requests will not be required.

Library buildings and grounds. This heading encompasses 3 separate appropriation items for which the total of $147,000 is recommended. The amount allowed for salaries, $115,000, is an increase of $16,700 over the current year's appropriation and a decrease of $7,687 under the Budget estimates. The reduction by the committee was based on the fact that only an average of 51 employees have been on the pay roll thus far this year, whereas the appropriation calls for a total of 54 positions. The total amount expended under this item for base pay and additional war compensation for 6 months of the current fiscal year is approximately $56,400, or about $114,000 on an annual basis. The estimate of $32,500 for repairs was reduced by the committee to $25,000, the decrease being predicated on the expenditures made during the current fiscal year to December 31 and on the lack of adequate justification for the requested amount of $5,000 for restoration of built-in furniture.

The amount of $300,000 requested for the construction of an addition to the main Library of Congress Building is not allowed. While the committee is sympathetic to the needs of the Library for a cafeteria and additional space for the card catalogs, it is of the belief that the demands are not so urgent that the construction of such an addition could not be deferred to a period of more normal conditions. There is no doubt that a saving in the total cost of this project can be effected if constructed during the post-war period when the cost of labor and materials will be reduced. Furthermore, it would seem that more thoughtful consideration should be given before such a project is embarked upon since the testimony indicated that the type of construction and location of the addition may not be all that should be desired, especially from the standpoint of lighting and ventilation.

BOTANIC GARDEN

The amount of $115,000 is recommended for the Botanic Garden, an increase of $12,000 over the appropriation for 1944 and a decrease of $7,234 under the Budget estimates. The increase over the current year's appropriation allowed for the salaries item is the result of additional war overtime and within-grade promotions, both a matter of statute. The reduction under the Budget estimates is predicated on the reduced expenditures for 6 months of the current fiscal year resulting from vacancies in authorized positions, the total amount expended during this period being $47,250, or somewhat less than $95,000 on an annual basis.

Exclusive of the item of additional war compensation, the major increases requested are contained in the items of Library proper and printing and binding. The action of the committee with respect to these items is explained below.

Library proper. An increase of $47,220 was requested for 14 additional positions. The committee has denied funds for 3 additional positions in the personnel office, the position of secretary in the Asiatic Division, the positions of serial record assistant and clerical assistant in the Acquisitions Department, and the position of binding assistant in the Law Library. It is the belief of the committee that savings which may accrue as a result of personnel turn-over will enable the Library to employ personnel for the additional positions which have been authorized and to effect a number of the more urgent reallocations of salary grades.

The item of $26,140 requested in House Document No. 403 to cover the cost of 10 positions in connection with the proposed transfer of photographic files from the Office of War Information has been denied. It is the judgment of the committee that so long as these files are to be maintained primarily for the use of the Office of War Information sufficient funds should be transferred to the Library from that agency to cover the necessary costs. It is understandable that the present situation of physically placing the personnel in the Library, but retaining them on the pay roll of the Office of War Information, is unsatisfactory. The companion item of $5,820 requested under contingent expenses is also denied.

Printing and binding.-An increase of $125,875 over the current year's appropriation of $270,000 was requested for this item for 1945. It was testified that the total amount of $295,875 would enable the Library to bind approximately 60,000 volumes of new material and 54,000 of a total of approximately 201,000 old volumes which need rebinding. While the committee is appreciative of the need for the protection of this property, the value of which is perhaps inestimable, it is not fully satisfied that the necessary binding is being done in the most economical manner. The estimated cost of this binding was based on an estimate furnished the Library by the Government Printing Office which, according to testimony, is $4 for a full binding

and $1.50 for a quarter binding. Estimates received by the Library, at the request of the committee, as shown on page 142 of the printed hearings, indicate that the cost of binding, if secured from sources. outside the Government Printing Office, will range from 85 cents to $1.50 per full binding, depending on the size of the book. While it was testified that the Library has not had an opportunity to investigate all the pros and cons of commercial binding, it is suggested that this matter be further studied and, if necessary, some arrangement be effected with the Government Printing Office to have this work performed by commercial binderies if it proves more economical to do so. The increase of $30,000 over the current year's appropriation allowed by the committee will enable the Library to increase the rate of bindings even under the present arrangements and perhaps accomplish the entire program contemplated in the Budget estimates if a lesser unit cost is obtained.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

Excluding the amount of $20,000,000 being recommended for the working fund, and which is returnable to the Treasury within 12 months following the close of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made, the amount of $4,200,000 is recommended for the Public Printer. There is given below a tabulation of the items of expense contemplated in the Budget request.

A reduction of $250,000 was effected by the committee for the printing of the Federal Register, the amount of $500,000 being recommended as compared with the estimate of $750,000. Although the appropriation for the Federal Register for the current fiscal year is only $400,000, it was testified that due to the continued increase in the volume of documents required to be printed in the Register it will be necessary to request a deficiency appropriation to complete the fiscal year 1944. The reduction of $250,000 in this item was predicated on the enactment of language in connection with the current year's appropriation which provides that the printing of community ceiling-price schedules of the Office of Price Administration in the Federal Register will not be required. These schedules are being printed separately by the Government Printing Office and distributed among the retail establishments in the United States and, in addition, may be obtained by the public at the local war price and rationing boards.

The amount of $1,345,000 is approved for the Superintendent of Documents. The entire increase over the current year's appropriation

is to cover the cost of additional war compensation. The committee effected a reduction of $62,085 under the Budget estimates on the basis of the statement of the Superintendent of Documents that approximately that amount could perhaps be absorbed in the total amount as the result of turn-over in personnel.

The above tabulation covers the cost of operation of the Federal judicial system, including the United States Supreme Court.

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT

The amount of $693,259, an increase of $58,059 over the appropriation for 1944 and a decrease of $2,827 under the estimates, is recommended. The entire increase over the current year's salary appropriations is due to the existing statutory requirements covering additional war compensation and within-grade promotions.

An increase of $23,750 is allowed under the item, "Printing and binding," due to the increased cost of printing and to the additional amount of printing that is now being required by the Court. Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone and Justices Owen J. Roberts and Hugo L. Black strongly urged that this increase be made. It seems that the same printer has been performing this service for the Supreme Court for the past 70 years and the matter was gone into thoroughly by the officials of the Supreme Court who are convinced that the increase is necessary. It should be stated that the entire increase is not for the fiscal year 1945, $12,750 being requested in the way of a deficiency appropriation for the current fiscal year to enable the Court to fully meet its obligations for this year.

SALARIES, CLERKS OF COURTS

The

An appropriation of $2,975,000 is recommended for this item. increase of $404,720 is allowed for the following three purposes: Additional war compensation, $388,500; within-grade promotions, $17,490; and salary differential for higher living cost outside the United States, $14,920. It is the belief of the committee that the difference between the total of these amounts and the increase allowed can be absorbed in personnel turn-over and the resulting savings in the estimated costs of base pay and additional war compensation. The salary-differential item, although not a matter of statute, is nevertheless being allowed by other agencies of the Government and has the sanction of the Civil Service Commission and the General Accounting Office. The committee has denied requests for the reclassification of positions of deputy clerks and librarians and additional temporary employees in the field, as it is felt that the increased war compensation being granted employees at this time should serve as a sufficient reason for deferring such action, if not abandoning it entirely.