Stat. 1061), as augmented by the First Deficiency Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1936 (49 Stat., p. 1638), shall be available for the augmentation of limits of cost of projects selected under the provisions of this Act in an amount not exceeding 10 per centum for any project: Provided, That with a view to relieving countrywide unemployment the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster General, in the selection of towns or cities in which buildings are to be constructed, shall endeavor to distribute the projects equitably throughout the country so far as may be consistent with the needs of the public service; and the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster General may also select for prosecution under this appropriation such projects not included in such revised report as in their judgment are economically sound and advantageous to the public service: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to direct the preparation of all sketches, estimates, plans, and specifications (including supervision and inspection thereof), and to enter into all contracts necessary for carrying out the purposes of this paragraph, and he is hereby authorized, when deemed by him desirable and advantageous, to employ, by contract or otherwise, the personal services of temporary professional, technical, or nontechnical employees to such extent as may be required to carry out the purposes of this paragraph, without reference to civil-service laws, rules, regulations, or to the Classification Act of 1923, as amended: Provided further, That in the acquisition of land or sites for the purposes of Federal public buildings and in the construction of such buildings provided for in this paragraph, the provisions of sections 305 and 306 of the Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932, as amended, shall apply. Mr. WOODRUM. Admiral, we will be glad for you to make a statement to the committee and furnish us with information showing what you have done so far under the building program, what buildings have been begun up to date, the present status of those you have under way, and so forth. Admiral PEOPLES. Yes, sir; Mr. Chairman. I have here a joint report of the Secretary of the Treasury and of the Postmaster General, the two Cabinet officers named in the act, and who have been handling the building program during the last 2 or 3 years, which report sets forth the situation. This report is under date of May 17, 1937, and is as follows: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY AND THE POSTMASTER GENERAL SUBMITTING REVISED LIST OF PROJECTS SET FORTH IN HOUSE REPORT 1879 TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 17, 1937. Hon. EDWARD THOMAS TAYLOR, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In each of the authorizations for the construction of public buildings outside of the District of Columbia during the past 3 years, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster General were directed to act jointly in the selection of public-building projects and the sites therefor. Lists of places under consideration for public-building construction accompanied each of the three previous reports made to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster General. This fourth report includes a consolidated list showing by States: (a) All projects selected under the provisions of the acts approved June 19, 1934, August 12, 1935, and June 22, 1936, and (b) projects eligible for consideration under future authorizations, including all projects having postal receipts in excess of $10,000 for the calendar year 1936. In selecting projects for consummation under the three prior authorizations, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster General have been guided by the expressed intent of Congress that the projects be distributed equitably throughout the country so far as might be consistent with the needs of the public service. The following tabulation shows the amount of the previous appropriation, the number of projects selected thereunder, total limits of cost and the balance remaining unallotted in each appropriation at this time: In making selections under the authorization contained in act of June 22, 1936, 62 projects were authorized which were not listed in the previous report. The reasons for the selection of these additional projects are set forth in a separate statement. Since the submission of the last report on March 16, 1936, it appears that the limits of cost established for 37 projects are insufficient to permit their completion and that amendatory legislation increasing the respective limits of cost will be required before proceeding further with the projects. The unallotted balance under the total appropriation is too limited to permit the necessary increases and the projects must be deferred until additional funds are made available for the construction of public buildings. All of these cases have been listed in a separate statement which shows the original limits of cost, the increase considered necessary and the reason for the deficit. Unauthorized projects listed in report of March 16, 1936, were of two classes: (1) 355 with limits of cost proposed and (2) 770 with no limits of cost. concerning which it was stated that this latter class of projects was being investigated and studied to determine the necessity and comparative urgency therefor and that limits of cost had not yet been established pending survey and analysis of require ments. During the past year, the two Departments have carefully reviewed the merits of these projects and where the needs appeared to be urgent, limits of cost have been established and the projects included in this report. Certain of these projects previously submitted for consideration have not been included in this report for the reason that the postal receipts for the calendar year 1936, were less than the $10,000 fixed under the act of March 4, 1913, as a minimum requirement for construction of Federal buildings for post office purposes. This report, therefore, is confined to one list and covers all projects with postal receipts above $10,000 remaining for consideration in the formulation of future building programs. Total number of projects remaining for consideration _ _ 1,806 $208, 101, 500 It is recognized, however, that additional projects will be brought to the attention of the two Departments from time to time as a result of new legislation, increased needs, or other special conditions which cannot be foreseen at present and in order that such projects may receive the same consideration as other eligible projects listed in this report, it is recommended that similar authority heretofore granted the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster General to select projects not included in this report, as in their judgment are economically sound and advantageous to the public service, be continued in subsequent authorizations for public-building construction. The following statement shows the status of all projects authorized under the three previous programs as of May 14, 1937: Agr. & P. O. B. S.. THIRD REVISION, HOUSE REPORT 1879, MAY 17, 1937 KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS IN TABLES FOLLOWING Addl. Stories. A. L.. B... Bldgs. Dem. N. B. N. S. & B. Remod.. Rem. & Garage. S. & B.. Character of project Additional facilities. Buildings. Demolition, new building. Remodeling and garage. Site and building. Third revision of H. Rept. 1879 (73d Cong., 2d sess.) relative to the emergency construction of public-building projects outside of the District of Columbia, showing (a) projects authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster General under acts approved June 19, 1934, Aug. 12, 1935, and June 22, 1936; and (b) unauthorized projects eligible for consideration under future public building 1 Denotes projects not originally included in H. Rept. 1879, as revised Feb. 29, 1936. 78,700 Third revision of H. Rept. 1879 (73d Cong., 2d sess.) relative to the emergency construction of public-building projects outside of the District of Columbia-Con. 1 Denotes projects not originally included in H. Rept. 1879, as revised Feb. 29, 1936. 'Denotes increases requested in projects already authorized. |