(The pages follow:)

1961 appropriation in annual act_----
Pay supplemental in Third Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1961----

Total appropriations, 1961

Additions:

Within-grade salary advancements and other changes authorized by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended___.

Overtime and holiday pay increased by $4,034 to meet increased pay costs under the allotment resulting from base pay increases under the Classification Act and the proposed addition of two new positions for 1962

2 additional positions:

1 GS-4 clerk-typist at $4,056 per annum; 1 GS-5 clerk at $4,347
per annum.

1 GS-4 clerk-typist. -1 additional employee is re-
quired for the office under the Architect responsible for fly-
ing American flags over the Capitol at the request of
Members of the House and Senate, preparation of the nec-
essary certificates, and keeping identification and other
records.

Because of the tremendous increase in the number of flags being requested to be flown each year over the U.S. Capitol, it is no longer possible for the 1 employee now assigned to this work to carry the load in this Office.

The need for the position can best be justified by citing the following statistics relating to flying the flags over the Capitol:

Period

Entire period 1937 to 1954.

Number of flags flown

3, 207

2,666

$301,400 15,000

316,400

3,663

4,034

8,403

Calendar year 1955.

Calendar year 1956.

Calendar year 1957.
Calendar year 1958.

Calendar year 1959.

Calendar year 1960__.

2, 192

2, 529

2,850

7,428

16, 013

It is true that some of the increase in 1959 and 1960 was due to changing the flag as a result of Alaska and Hawaii being admitted to the Union as States, but even if the flags flown on July 4, 1959 (1,070) and July 4, 1960 (5,131)-the dates the 49-star and 50-star flags became official-are subtracted from the total in those years, the number to be flown regularly continues to rise rapidly each year.

During the first 3 months of the calendar year 1961, 3,500 flags have already been flown. We can forsee no reason to expect this trend to change.

One GS-5 clerk. - One additional clerk GS-5 is required for 1962. The need for this position arises because of the heavy workload placed upon the personnel and payroll section due to two factors: (1) enactment by the Congress of such laws as the insurance and health benefits acts; and (2) increased activity within the Architect's Office.

There are now four employees in the personnel and payroll section handling all types of personnel actions, and administration of the Retirement Act, Insurance Act, and Health Benefits Act. Preparation of payrolls has become more complicated because of frequent changes in wage schedules of blue-collar workers, the necessity of computing night pay differentials, overtime, holiday pay, and deductions for Federal and District income taxes, and

Additions-Continued

2 additional positions-Continued

both the Government's and the employees' contributions
to retirement, insurance, and health benefits. Adminis-
tration of the health benefits program is particularly
time consuming.

One additional employee is required in this office to
make possible timely and proper processing of essential
personnel, payroll, and time documents, together with
the periodic reports and statistical work required.

Contribution to retirement fund-increased from $17,700 to $18,200-

This item is required to cover 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 additional cost results from increase in basic pay rates.

Total estimate for 1962.

INCREASES REQUESTED

$500

+16,600 333, 000

Mr. STEED. If you will go through the additions item by item, we may have some questions.

Mr. STEWART. The additions under this appropriation item are: Within-grade salary advancements and other changes authorized by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, $3,663.

Overtime and holiday pay to meet increased pay costs under the allotment resulting from base pay increases under the Classification Act and the proposed addition of two new positions for 1962, $4,034. Mr. STEED. At that point, will you give us a little more detail on that? Is the increase in this allotment actually due to the fact that you in effect had to create these two new positions?

Mr. STEWART. That is part of it; yes, sir.

I might add, Mr. Chairman, that each year as the base pay goes up naturally the overtime increases too.

Mr. STEED. You mean in terms of additional overtime costs?

Mr. STEWART. That is right, sir.

Two additional positions are requested. One is a GS-4 clerktypist at $4,056 per annum and the other is a GS-5 clerk at $4,347 per annum, totaling $8,403.

Mr. Bow. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield at that point? Going back to the question the chairman asked about the overtime pay and the two new positions, could you break that down as to what portion is for the two new positions and what portion is for the overtime pay?

Mr. STEWART. May I ask Mr. Henlock to answer that? Mr. HENLOCK. $3,200 would be the general increase from year to year and about $800 for the two new positions for Saturday work. Mr. Bow. Thank you.

ADDITIONAL POSITION FOR FLAG FLYING

of

Mr. STEWART. The GS-4 clerk-typist is required for the office under the Architect responsible for flying American flags over the Capitol at the request of Members of the House and Senate, preparation the necessary certificates, and keeping identification and other records. Because of the tremendous increase in the number of flags being requested to be flown each year over the U.S. Capitol, it is no longer possible for the one employee now assigned to this work to carry the load in this office.

The need for the position can best be justified by citing the following statistics relating to flying the flags over the Capitol:

For the entire period 1937 to 1954, 3,207 flags were flown.
For calendar year 1955, 2,666 flags were flown.
For calendar year 1956, 2,192 flags were flown.
For calendar year 1957, 2,529 flags were flown.
For calendar year 1958, 2,850 flags were flown.
For calendar year 1959, 7,428 flags were flown.
And for calendar year 1960, 16,013 flags were flown.

It is true that some of the increase in 1959 and 1960 was due to changing the flag as a result of Alaska and Hawaii being admitted to the Union as States, but even if the flags flown on July 4, 1959 (1,070) and July 4, 1960 (5,131) - the dates the 49-star and 50-star flags became official-are subtracted from the totals in those years, the number to be flown regularly continues to rise rapidly each year.

During the first 3 months of the calendar year 1961, 3,500 flags have already been flown. We can foresee no reason to expect this trend to change.

Mr. STEED. Will this new clerk devote his entire time to that?
Mr. STEWART. Yes, sir.

Mr. STEED. How do you do that? Is that a separate operation? Mr. STEWART. Yes. We were fortunate in having the Speaker give us a little space in the terrace which we made available for what we call the flag room. We have established a regular process for flying these flags. This involves receipt of the flags from the stationery room, properly identifying each flag by name and number, storing flags both before and after flying, actual flying of the flags over the Capitol, preparation of appropriate certificates for my signature, and releasing flags and certificates to Members' offices.

The certificates are prepared in the flag office and cleared by my personal secretary for language and accuracy, because I try very religiously to make the certificates factual and dignified. It requires a great deal of work.

Mr. STEED. This would, then, mean two people assigned to this?
Mr. STEWART. That is right.

Mr. STEED. Off the record.

(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. STEWART. Mr. Chairman, I would like to leave for your infor

mation a complete list of the flags that have been flown.

Mr. Bow. Off the record.

(Discussion off the record.)

ADDITIONAL POSITION FOR PAYROLL OFFICE

Mr. STEWART. The next item is for one GS-5 clerk. The need for this position arises because of the heavy workload placed upon the personnel and payroll section due to two factors: (1) Enactment by the Congress of such laws as the Insurance and Health Benefits Acts; and (2) increased activity within the Architect's Office.

There are now four employees in the personnel and payroll section handling all types of personnel actions, and administration of the Retirement Act, Insurance Act, and Health Benefits Act. Preparation of payrolls has become more complicated because of frequent changes in wage schedules of blue-collar workers, the necessity of computing night-pay differentials, overtime, holiday pay, and deductions for Federal and District income taxes, and both the Government's and the employees' contributions to retirement, insurance, and health benefits. Administration of the health benefits program is particularly time consuming.

One additional employee is required in this office to make possible timely and proper processing of essential personnel, payroll, and time documents, together with the periodic reports and statistical work required.

CONTRIBUTION TO RETIREMENT FUND

The next item is contribution to retirement fund, increased from $17,700 to $18,200 an increase of $500. This item is required to cover the cost of Government contribution to retirement fund required by Public Law 854, 84th Congress, "Title IV-Civil Service Retirement Act Amendments of 1956." The additional cost results from increase in basic pay rates.

SAFETY ENGINEER AND SAFETY INSPECTORS

Mr. STEED. I think last year you asked for and we gave you two safety inspectors in addition to your safety engineer. Have you been able to obtain those men and, if so, are they working?

Mr. STEWART. I will ask Mr. Roof to bring you up to date on that. Mr. Roor. Yes, Mr. Chairman. We had some difficulty in getting the second man, but we do have a full force now. We have the safety engineer and the two safety inspectors. We had the safety engineer prepare a statement of his major activities.

Mr. STEED. I think that should be in the record.

Mr. Roor. For instance, one of the recent activities has been arranging for and assisting in safety training of our supervisors; 137 supervisory personnel of the Architect of the Capitol have completed the course and they in turn will train the men under them, and this has been at no additional cost to the Government.

(The following report was submitted for the record :)

MAJOR ACTIVITIES, ACCIDENT PREVENTION DEPARTMENT, OCTOBER 1958 TO MAY 1961