(The pages referred to follow:) 1959 appropriation in annual act. - Total appropriations, 1959----- Additions: Personal services, increased from $272,075 to $302,200, wage rate Under the provisions of Public Law 763, 83d Cong., 48 An increase of $14,290 is requested for 1960 to meet on a full-year basis the cost of increased wage rates established for these wage board positions as a result of a general survey of Government and industrial employees' wages in the Washington metropolitan area, conducted during the past year, and of a merger of grades effected under the wage board system during the same period. The new rates went into effect Jan. 11, 1959, and funds were provided to cover these increases on a part-year basis for 1959. This increase is necessary in order that the Capitol Grounds wage board employees may be compensated on a full-year basis in the fiscal year 1960 in accordance with present prevailing rates. An increase of $5,000 is requested for 1960 to meet the cost of within-grade promotions falling due in that year, authorized by Public Law 763 under the wage board system, for employees compensated under that act. - Within-grade promotions authorized by Classification Act of 1949, as amended, for employees compensated under that act.. Overtime and holiday pay increased by $5,200 to meet increased pay costs under that allotment resulting largely from base pay increases under Public Law 763 and the Classification Act Regular pay above 52 weeks base pay allotment increased by $1,200 to cover 2 additional days instead of the usual 1 additional day above the 52 weeks base-next year being leap year 1 additional position-GS-5 tree surgeon. Only 1 position of tree surgeon is carried on the Capitol Grounds force. This position was established many years ago for the care of the trees in the old area of the Capitol Grounds prior to the enlargement of the Capitol Grounds by the acquisition and development of the area north of Constitution Avenue in 1930-35. There are now about 2,500 trees to be cared for in the Capitol Grounds and the point has been reached where the maintenance work to be done requires the year-around services of 2 full-time tree surgeons. Contribution to retirement fund, increased from $14,800 to $16,200- The additional cost results from increases in basic wage rates and is required by Public Law 854, 84th Cong. Subtotal Total estimate for 1960....... $317, 600 11, 875 329, 475 19, 290 395 5, 200 1, 200 4, 040 1, 400 +31, 525 361,000 re Mr. NORRELL. Mr. Stewart, you will discuss the increases quested, please. PERSONAL SERVICES Mr. STEWART. Of the increase of $31,525 requested, $26,085 is required by law for the purposes shown on pages 35 and 36 of the justification. There is $4,040 for one additional position, which is a GS-5, for a tree surgeon. There is only one position of tree surgeon carried on the Capitol Grounds force at this time. This position was established many years ago for the care of the trees in the old area of the Capitol Grounds prior to the enlargement of the Capitol Grounds by the acquisition and development of the area north of Constitution Avenue in 1930-35. There are now about 2,500 trees to be cared for in the Capitol Grounds and the point has been reached where the maintenance work to be done requires the year-around services of two full-time tree surgeons. I might say this, that many of these trees have not reached their full maturity and up until the present time, it was possible for one man to maintain them. But we are at the point now where we are losing in the Capitol Grounds quite a few of our older trees each and every year and we need exceptionally good care to retain what we have. And I hope some time in the near future I can induce the Congress to give me some money to start reforestation on the grounds that is badly needed. Mr. NORRELL. Now, Mr. Stewart, if I see the thing correctly, while you have an increase here of $31,525, practically all of this amount of money is authorized by law? Mr. STEWART. All except the $4,040. Mr. HORAN. How many trees are in need of work out there? Mr. STEWART. I can give you the exact number if you want it for the record, Congressman, but I would say from 75 to 125 need attention every year. When I say "attention" I mean limbs to be lopped off, holes to be filled, cavities to be treated. But in addition to that we have many other duties that a tree surgeon would perform, such as detecting diseases before severe damage is incurred. When we have severe damage, such as occurred at the time of Hurricane Hazel, we usually ask some help from the National Capital Parks and the District government, but otherwise we have to do the work ourselves. Mr. HORAN. Have you made any studies to see if this work could be done more economically by hiring a private organization to do it periodically? Mr. HENLOCK. Years ago, before Mr. Stewart became architect, we did the work by contract and the committee at that time explored the matter and felt it was less costly to put a man on the rolls on a year-round basis. That is when the first tree surgeon position was established. Mr. HORAN. Would that be true now? Mr. HENLOCK. Yes, because the number of trees have more than doubled and the trees planted when the Grounds were enlarged are now 25 to 30 years old and have reached the point where they need attention. Mr. STEED. Mr. Chairman. Mr. NORRELL. Mr. Steed. Mr. STEED. The damage being done to the lawns by this construction work, using a portion of it for storage and the excavation and all of that is that damage to be repaired by the contractor? Mr. STEWART. Yes, sir. Mr. STEED. So that that will not necessarily add to your Capitol Grounds expenses? Mr. STEWART. In the Capitol Grounds, the funds for the extension of the east front, together with our Grounds money, will take care of repairing any damage. WIDENING OF INDEPENDENCE AVENUE Mr. STEED. I do not know whether this question comes on properly at this point or not, but on Independence Avenue between the Grounds and the new additional House Office Building, the street there is not as wide as it is on both ends of that block. I am assuming that at some stage of this construction they contemplate widening that street so that the bottleneck that exists there now can be eliminated? Mr. STEWART. It will be widened approximately 3 feet, which will give you three traffic lanes. Mr. STEED. Who will pay for that? Mr. STEWART. The District of Columbia will reset the curb and pave the street. From the curb back to the building line it is our responsibility. Mr. STEED. Do you have any idea how long it will be before that particular type of work can be done? Mr. STEWART. I might say that to the best of my knowledge the District of Columbia wants to reset the curb this summer and have the street paved then. Mr. STEED. That will not interfere with your construction? Average salary of ungraded positions... $3, 621 $3,771 $4,071 01 Personal services: Permanent positions... Other personal services $25, 349 $27,580 11,400 $28,500 11,700 Total personal services. 34,875 38,980 40, 200 07 Other contractual services: General annual repairs. 2,469 2,500 2,500 Improvements to lighting system and painting. 95,000 08 Supplies and materials.. 1,026 1,000 1,000 11 Grants, subsidies, and contributions. 1,668 1,800 1,800 Total obligations. 40, 038 44, 280 140, 500 Mr. NORRELL. That takes us to the next item, legislative garage. Pages 63 and 64 will be placed in the record. (The pages referred to follow:) 1959 appropriation in annual act. Pay supplemental, in Second Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1959- Total appropriations, 1959........ Additions: Personal services, increased from $38,980 to $40,200: Wage rate increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Cong-- An increase of $920 is requested for 1960 to meet on a full- Overtime and holiday pay increased by $200 to meet increased Regular pay above 52-week base pay allotment increased by year Improvements to lighting system and painting, nonrecurring item_ $25,000 for painting. The garage is now being converted to 60-cycle alternating The ceiling of the garage has not been painted since original Total estimate for 1960--- $42,000 2, 280 44, 280 920 200 100 95,000 +96, 220 140, 500 Mr. NORRELL. Proceed with the justifications for the additions, please. Mr. STEWART. For the legislative garage an increase of $96,220 is requested. Of that, only $1,220 is required by law. Mr. NoRRELL. Did we not appropriate some money for this in the fiscal year that is just ending? Mr. STEWART. Not for any increased work. PERSONAL SERVICES Mr. STEWART. Personal services is increased from $38,980 to $40,200. Of the increase, $920 is for wage-rate increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Congress. That is for seven employees on the legislative garage roll who are compensated on a wage board prevailing rate basis, as required by law. Overtime and holiday pay is increased by $200 to meet increased pay costs under that allotment resulting from base pay increases under Public Law 763 and the Classification Act. Regular pay above 52 weeks base pay allotment is increased by $100 to cover 2 additional days instead of the usual 1 additional day above the 52 weeks base, next year being leap year. PAINTING AND LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS There is a nonrecurring item of $95,000 for improvements to the lighting system and painting. This request provides $70,000 for lighting improvements and $25,000 for painting. Mr. NORRELL. Which item is that? Mr. STEWART. This is in the legislative garage. The garage is now being converted to 60-cycle alternating current so that improved lighting can now be installed. The present lighting system, installed when the garage was built in 1932, is highly deficient when compared to the lighting in the garage in the New Senate Office Building and the garage in the courtyard of the Old House Office Building, and falls far short of present day accepted standards of lighting for garages. The rubber insulation on the wiring has been weakened by age and overheating and the service life of the present wiring system is definitely limited by the deteriorated condition of the rubber insulation. The impaired wiring systems should be replaced to eliminate the possibility of electrical shock and fire hazards. The ceiling of the garage has not been painted since original construction in 1932 and is now badly in need of painting. The ceiling, which is concrete, is not a flat continuous surface, but consists of a series of beams and recesses. It actually consists of 68 sections. total area to be painted comprises 131,000 square feet. The It has been very close to 4 years, Mr. Chairman, since the Congress appropriated money to repair the leaks in the garage. That repair work has been finished and there are no leaks now but the years during which there were leaks have no doubt contributed to the deterioration of the wiring and the paint. Mr. NORRELL. Will this amount complete the two items? Mr. NORRELL. If we appropriate this amount we will not have any further request? |