provide a high degree of safety for these documents. The proposed depository would further permit the concentration of all the files of the House of Representatives in a convenient location under the custody of the Library of Congress, a part of the legislative establishment, which long has been familiar with the strict rules of the House governing the handling of such papers. Yours very truly, SOUTH TRIMBLE, Clerk of the House of Representatives. Mr. DAVID LYNN, Architect of the Capitol. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. LYNNS I am informed that the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives has raised inquiries with you regarding the proposed use of the vaults in our annex as places of protection, in case of air raid bombings, for the papers of the House of Representatives. As you know, the decision to store these papers in the vaults of the annex was not made by the Library of Congress. On January 7 the Librarian wrote to the Clerk of the House of Representatives regarding the disposition of these papers. As I understand it, the Clerk of the House of Representatives at that time conferred with the Architect of the Capitol on the subject, and it was decided to make use of the vaults in the Library of Congress Annex for the purposes of protecting these papers. Consequently, the Architect of the Capitol addressed the Librarian on January 29, 1942, asking whether the Librarian would have any objection to such use. On February 2, 1942, the Librarian replied that he would have no objection. The vaults in the annex do indeed present a considerable degree of security against many possible hazards, and were under consideration when plans for the protection of the Library's materials were being formulated over a year ago. At that time the Librarian came to the conclusion that (quite apart from the limited capacity of the vaults) he would not be justified in leaving the most valuable materials in his custody in any location so likely to become a target for military bombing as are the buildings on Capitol Hill. Consequently, locations of safety were sought in a variety of places at a greater distance from the coast and of less strategic importance. Of course, the Library has shipped only its most valuable collections from Washington. Other collections, of great value, are being retained here, and are being safeguarded in the buildings. Sincerely yours, LUTHER H. EVANS, Chief Assistant Librarian. SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1942. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIGHWAY FUND, GASOLINE TAX AND MOTOR VEHICLE FEES STATEMENTS OF CAPT. H. C. WHITEHURST, DIRECTOR OF HIGHWAYS, AND WILLIAM G. WILDING, DEPUTY BUDGET OFFICER MOTOR VEHICLE PARKING AGENCY-SALARIES AND EXPENSES The CHAIRMAN. We have before us an item in House Document No. 653 for a motor vehicle parking agency, in the amount of $5,800. Is this in the nature of an emergency, Captain? Captain WHITEHURST. This is not in the nature of an emergency measure. The motor vehicle parking agency was recommended and planned before the present emergency had headed up. The CHAIRMAN. It is in response to legislation which was en acted when? Captain WHITEHURST. The legislation was approved on February 16, 1942. It was a part of the recommendations contained in the highway planning survey report covering highway improvements and improvements in terminal facilities. The endeavor is being made to correlate on-street and off-street parking of the various characters. And it is through this agency that we hope to accomplish that purpose. The legislation also provides for the District acquiring by purchase, transfer, lease, or otherwise, areas for the establishment of offstreet parking facilities, if it is deemed advisable or necessary to do Of course, that will be moved in upon with very great caution. There is little that can be done to improve the parking situation, in our judgment, by any single operation. It is a question of coordinating all phases of the parking problem. So. I have here, although I do not know that you would want it in the record, the report on the subject of terminal facilities that was a justification for this legislation, which was heard before the House and Senate, and the legislation became a law, as I stated, on February 16. The CHAIRMAN. The parking situation in Washington, I suppose, has become very acute? Captain WHITEHURST. Very. And while conditions may not be quite as acute today due to a lesser use of the automobile, it is still acute and will continue to be acute. The CHAIRMAN. In view of the fact that this is not an emergency matter and that the demand for parking space is slowly but steadily declining, would it be possible for us to carry this over and take it up in the regular District appropriation bill for the coming fiscal year? Captain WHITEHURST. Mr. Chairman, of course, it might be possible, but any delay that we have in organizing this agency and getting it into operation, is going to extend into the future just that much. We were desirous of getting the agency organized promptly, and operating, because there is a great deal of foundation work to be done. The CHAIRMAN. This $5,800 is for personnel and supplies? The CHAIRMAN. And other expenses. How much is for personal services? Captain WHITEHURST. $4,305 is for personnel figured on an annual basis of $14,760. This item is figured for a period of 312 months. The 1943 appropriation would be $14,760 for personnel, and a very much smaller amount for miscellaneous and contingent expenses. The CHAIRMAN. This will carry you through what period? Captain WHITEHURST. This estimate would carry us to June 30, and the next estimate would carry us through the fiscal year 1943. The CHAIRMAN. What comes under miscellaneous and contingent expenses? Captain WHITEHURST. That is for setting up the office, purchasing furniture and stationery and perhaps some incidental printing and binding; just odds and ends that would come under that caption. The CHAIRMAN. Will the four board members devote their entire time to this work? Captain WHITEHURST. No, sir; they will not. That was fixed in the act. There are three District employees and four citizens named by the Commissioners. The act provides for the payment of $500 per annum to the citizen members. The CHAIRMAN. And the rest are already on the pay roll? Captain WHITEHURST. They are on the Federal pay roll and the act provides that they shall receive no additional compensation. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. How much has been appropriated previous to this for this purpose? Captain WHITEHURST. Nothing. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. This is the first appropriation? Captain WHITEHURST. Yes. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Does this agency have anything to do with the regulation of the traffic lights? Captain WHITEHURST. Ño, sir; nothing whatsoever. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Who has the direction of that? Captain WHITEHURST. The Director of Vehicles and Traffic. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. It seems to me that that is one of the great impediments to traffic here. Captain WHITEHURST. We are dealing alone here with the question of terminal facilities which in its broader terms means parking in all of its phases. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Captain Whitehurst. MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1942. FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD STATEMENTS OF ARTHUR J. ALTMEYER, CHAIRMAN; MISS JANE M. HOEY, DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; JOEL GORDON, CHIEF, DIVISION OF OPERATING STATISTICS AND ANALYSIS; AND J. R. CORSON, DIRECTOR, UNITED STATES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE GRANTS TO STATES FOR OLD-AGE ASSISTANCE The CHAIRMAN. We have a deficiency estimate before us in House Document No. 562 that calls for $30,000,000 for grants to States for old-age assistance, which is as follows: Grants to States for old-age assistance: For an additional amount for grants to States for old-age assistance, subject to the conditions specified under this heading in the Federal Security Appropriation Act, 1942. Mr. ALTMEYER. Yes, sir. $30, 000, 000 The CHAIRMAN. What is the occasion for this request? Mr. ALTMEYER. This is needed because the rate of expenditures in the States for what is known as old-age assistance, sometimes called State old-age pensions, is running at a higher rate than can be defrayed out of the present appropriation of $270,000,000. APPROPRIATION FOR 1942 AND REGULAR ESTIMATE FOR 1943 The CHAIRMAN. Now, you were given $270,000,000 in the 1942 appropriation. This increase has come about recently, has it? Mr. ALTMEYER. No; it has been through the whole year. The CHAIRMAN. I see you have an estimate for 1943 of $329,000,000. The CHAIRMAN. You expect that to carry you through 1943? The CHAIRMAN. What have you on hand at the present time? Miss HOEY. $49,000,000. The CHAIRMAN. $49,000,000? Miss HOEY. We need about $79,000,000 for the last quarter. Mr. GORDON. $30,000,000. Mr. O'NEAL. When will this money be needed? Mr. GORDON. The estimates are submitted by the States at the end of March, and an increased amount for the fourth quarter will be needed in most of the States. The CHAIRMAN. You may continue your statement, Mr. Altmeyer. BASIS OF ESTIMATE Mr. ALTMEYER. The estimate is based upon the actual number of recipients in January of 2,243,000 who were receiving an average of $21.39 per month. We have taken each single State and gone over their figures month by month since the beginning of this fiscal year. If they did not show any increase we did not project an increase. If they showed an increase from month to month we projected that increase to the end of this present fiscal year. If there were no increases shown in any of the States and the fourth quarter expenditures were at the same rate as the third quarter, we would need only $26,000,000. Putting it another way we have put in $4,000,000 more than the third quarter rate to take care of the increase shown in some States. The CHAIRMAN. Is this increase on the actual number of recipients or increases in rates paid by the States? Mr. ALTMEYER. It is largely an increase in the number of recipients. The average grant per month has increased a little bit, but not very much. NUMBER OF OLD-AGE RECIPIENTS AND AVERAGE PAYMENTS The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you show by States, or put it in the record, a tabulation by States, showing the number of recipients and average payment per recipient for the fiscal year 1941 and the fiscal year 1942. Mr. ALTMEYER. Yes, sir. (The statement referred to is as follows:) Number of recipients and average payments of old-age assistance in States with approved plans, July 1940 to June 1942, by months 1 Actual number of recipients and average payments from July 1940 through December 1941, corrected as of Jan. 15, 1942; estimated number of recipients and average payments from January 1942 through June 1942. The CHAIRMAN. Now, will you give us an estimate of the number of recipients the fourth quarter of this year compared with the fourth quarter of last year.? Miss HOEY. Last year we had a similar increase in old age assistance payments and had to transfer funds from aid to dependent children and aid to the blind to meet the deficit in old age assistance. The fourth quarter is always heavier than the other quarters because the States review their estimate at that time and see how much money they have available, and then put on new cases during the last quarter if State funds permit. The CHAIRMAN. Give us then the third quarter. Miss HOEY. The third quarter last year? The CHAIRMAN. Yes; and the third quarter this year. Miss HOEY. Yes, sir. (The information requested is as follows:) Average number of recipients in third and fourth quarters of fiscal years 1940-41 and 1941-42 Mr. LUDLOW. I was wondering if it might be possible for the picture to change the other way in the stress of the emergent conditions and the great increase in employment so that some of these people would cease to be in pensioned status, and go off the rolls. Mr. ALTMEYER. I think there are two forces at work, older persons being able to find jobs and relatives being able to find jobs and support them. That has kept the rate of increase down. |