Mr. O'NEAL. Have you been running fairly uniform with that amount for some time? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. Mr. PLOESER. You only spent $497 up to December 31, 1942, for elevator repairs. Mr. LYNN. We have only spent $497 out of the $2,250, allowed for 1943, as we are reserving $1,000 to overhaul the sidewalk lift on the Senate side of the building. That should be done this spring. In addition, certain repair and replacement parts have yet to be ordered. Mr. O'NEAL. How many new elevators did we provide for recently? Would not that reduce the amount for annual repairs? Mr. LYNN. To some extent. The elevators were generally modernized and improved in 1934-36, but for the past 5 years the annual maintenance cost has run over $2,000. SUBSTATION EQUIPMENT AND REPAIRS Mr. O'NEAL. You have an item for substation equipment and repairs, for which the estimate for 1944 is $3,100. Mr. LYNN. That runs about the same amount year in and year out. Mr. O'NEAL. That refers to a substation of the power plant? When you say substation, do you mean the power plant? Mr. LYNN. No, sir; we have a substation in each building. Mr. O'NEAL. It is a power plant substation, is it? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. One substation is located in the Capitol, one in the Senate Office Building, and one in each House Office Building. These substations are served from the Capitol Power Plant over 6,600volt high-tension feeder cables. Mr. O'NEAL. Could not that stand a little trimming? GENERAL ANNUAL REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS Mr. O'NEAL. What about the item for general annual repairs and alterations, for which the estimate for 1944 is $17,740? Mr. LYNN. That runs rather uniform. Over 80 percent of our allotment of $17,740 for 1943 was required to be spent in the first 6 months of this fiscal year. Mr. O'NEAL. That is a close figure? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. Mr. PLOESER. That does not seem to be excessive considering the amount of property you have to take care of. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR-LIGHTING SYSTEMS ON GROUNDS Mr. O'NEAL. For maintenance and repair, lighting systems on grounds, the estimate for 1944 is $6,227. Mr. LYNN. That is for maintenance and repair of the lighting system in the Capitol grounds. The amount of $6,227 asked for 1944 is the same as allowed for 1943. Mr. O'NEAL. Is that largely maintenance? Mr. LYNN. Yes sir. Mr. O'NEAL. There are no major repairs involved? Mr. LYNN. The break-down of the item is as follows: Mr. O'NEAL. That is a fairly uniform expenditure every year? Mr. O'NEAL. That provides for taking care of the normal breakdown and wear and tear? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS Mr. O'NEAL. For supplies and materials, the estimate for 1944 is $18,025. Have you a break-down of that? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir; we can put that in the record. (The break-down referred to is as follows:) Cleaning Electrical____. Carpentry--- Plumbing Stationery, office supplies, etc__. Hardware_. Books____. Incandescent lamps--- Heating and ventilating. Miscellaneous. Gasoline___ Miscellaneous equipment. Total_ Estimate, 1944 $800 1,.500 1,600 800 700 800 250 8, 360 400 500 350 2,000 18, 060 Mr. O'NEAL. For the first 6 months of the fiscal year 1943 you spent $7,765 ? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. Mr. O'NEAL. Have you spent $18,025 on an annual average for the past few years? Mr. LYNN. In the statement on page 19 of the justifications you will see that the expenditures run rather uniform. In addition to the expenditure of $15,714 shown for 1942, $2,840 was expended out of the supplies and materials allotment for miscellaneous equipment as shown on page 71 of the committee print. PAINTING OF CAPITOL DOME AND CENTRAL PORTION OF BUILDING Mr. O'NEAL. I want to ask you about the item for painting the dome and central portion of the building, for which you are asking $36,735 for 1944. We will be glad to hear you as to the necessity for that item and why it is being requested at this time. Mr. LYNN. For many years, the work of painting the dome and the central portion of the building has been done about every 4 years in order to preserve the structure. This work was last done in the fiscal year 1940. Mr. O'NEAL. That is the main Capitol building? Mr. LYNN. That is the cast-iron dome, and the exterior of the central portion of the building which is constructed of sandstone. If the .committee cares to defer this work for another year, I do not think any serious harm would result. Mr. O'NEAL. Do you believe it would cause any damage or impairment of any kind by deferring that work for another year? Mr. LYNN. I do not think so. Mr. O'NEAL. The paint which is on there is still protecting the iron? Mr. LYNN. Of course, paint, after the oil leaves it, becomes chalky and allows moisture to penetrate through to the structure itself, and that is why we have to repaint the dome and central portion of the building about every 4 years. But I think it would run over another year all right. This painting was deferred an additional year once before. Mr. O'NEAL. The items on page 72 of the committee print, which are bracketed out, to be omitted, I think show what those funds are for. CARE AND IMPROVEMENT OF CAPITOL GROUNDS Mr. O'NEAL. The next item, on page 73 of the committee print, is for the care and improvement of grounds surrounding the Capitol, the Office Buildings, and the Capitol power plant, for which the appropriation for 1943 was $147,566. You are asking for $110,866 for 1944 for that item. We will be glad to have a statement from you about that, Mr. Lynn. Mr. LYNN. For improving the Capitol Grounds for 1944 there is a net decrease of $36,700. There is one 1943 nonrecurring item omitted for 1944, for repairs to sewers, for which the amount was $39,240. There is an increase of $2,540 under personal services requested for 1944, as follows: $560 for within-grade salary promotions, and $1,980 for legislative changes in salary ranges. There is no other change in this estimate. Mr. O'NEAL. The defect in the sewers was corrected by the repairs made under this item? Mr. LYNN. The job has not been completed yet. Mr. O'NEAL. But the major danger which you spoke of before has been taken care of, in your opinion? Mr. LYNN. That will all be taken care of, when the job is completed. Mr. O'NEAL. The situation you describe has been improved by these repairs for the present time? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. PERSONAL SERVICES Mr. O'NEAL. Under the item for improving the Capitol Grounds you have a provision for personal services for which the estimate for 1944 is $87,600. The amount appropriated for 1943 was $85,060. There are 54 regular employees covered in that estimate? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. Mr. O'NEAL. Have you had much of a turn-over among those employees? Mr. LYNN. We have had. Mr. O'NEAL. Could there not be a reduction in that item, due to the fact that there will be lapses? Mr. LYNN. I think there might be some reduction, since the additional compensation is not to be considered. Mr. O'NEAL. You spent only $37,051 up to December 31, 1942. It seems to me that would not be affected if we reduced that some. Mr. LYNN. Of course the number of employees we have on the grounds in normal times are just sufficient to keep the grounds in good condition. We have been unable to fill certain vacancies. However, we have had to carry more men than usual on the temporary roll to help carry on the work of the regular force. GENERAL ANNUAL REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS Mr. O'NEAL. You have an item for general annual repairs and alterations, for which the estimate for 1944 is $6,050. Mr. LYNN. We have a break-down of that. Mr. O'NEAL. Do you use about the same amount each year? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. Mr. O'NEAL. That is a fairly stable item which you learn from experience is needed; is that correct? Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. This is the same as was allotted for 1943 and in general provides for minor repairs and improvements to paving and sidewalks in the grounds; minor pointing of walls surrounding the grounds; repairs to catch basins, manhole frames and covers; repairs and maintenance of underground sprinkler system, drain lines, and sewers; vault lights in the grotto; curbs and curbings; minor repairs and care of the fountains and fountain pools, including necessary rewiring and general repairs in and around the grounds. SNOW REMOVAL Mr. O'NEAL. You have an item for snow removal for which the estimate for 1944 is $5,000. Is that estimate of $5,000 to help get the snow off the roof before we get these repairs made to the roof? Mr. LYNN. No, sir, it is principally for removal of snow from the streets, walks, and driveways in the Capitol Grounds; from the steps and approaches of buildings; also from the gutters in the roof. It is an annual item. Mr. O'NEAL. Have you had to do anything of that kind this year? Mr. LYNN. We have spent $3,224 up to February 15, 1943. In some years we expend only half of the appropriation. In other years we run over the appropriation. In 1940, for instance, we spent $7,416. MAINTENANCE OF SIGNAL LIGHTS Mr. O'NEAL. You have an item for the maintenance of signal lights, for which the estimate for 1944 is $1,364. Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir. Mr. O'NEAL. Are you required to keep the signal lights in repair at all times? Mr. LYNN. They are operated and maintained by the public utility company under contract. This is the same amount as was allotted for the fiscal year 1943. The maintenance cost for signal lights is determined by rates fixed by the Public Utilities Commission for the District of Columbia. The estimate provides for maintenance of 69 signals at an average rate of $19.77 each per annum. Mr. PLOESER. With the great decrease in traffic, would it not be just as well to shut off those lights? Mr. LYNN. I think they have shut off some in the city. I have never made a study of that as to the Capitol Grounds. Before I would want to do that I would like to talk with the District traffic officials. Mr. O'NEAL. Suppose you talk to them and let us know what they say tomorrow. Mr. PLOESER. Traffic has been decreasing tremendously, and it seems to me the traffic lights are rather delaying than they are safeguarding it. Mr. LYNN. I always seek the advice of Mr. Van Duzer, the head of the Traffic Bureau of the District, before making any change in the operation of the traffic lights. Mr. O'NEAL. Suppose you talk to him about it and let us know what he says. Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir; I will be glad to do that. EQUIPMENT Mr. O'NEAL. You also have an item for equipment for which the estimate for 1944 is $4,200. You have spent during this fiscal year, up to December 31, 1942, $1,751. What was that used for? Mr. LYNN. This is the same amount as was allowed for 1943 and provides tools, power and hand mowers, brushes, brooms, hose, couplings, waterproof wearing apparel, repairs, and replacement of equipment; replacement and upkeep of traffic signs and equipment, and truck and tractor repairs. Mr. O'NEAL. The cost of those materials has gone up, I presume. Mr. LYNN. The cost of all materials has gone up some. Mr. O'NEAL. You feel you will need this full amount you are asking for? Mr. LYNN. I think that is about as small an amount as we can get along with. MAINTENANCE OF THE LEGISLATIVE GARAGE Mr. O'NEAL. You have an item on page 29 of the justifications for the maintenance of the legislative garage, for which the estimate for 1944 is $12,720. The amount appropriated for 1943 was $12,210. Mr. JOHNSON. What is the official name of that garage? Mr. LYNN. The garage was originally known as the Capitol garage, but in order to eliminate confusion between this garage and a commercial establishment known as the Capital garage, the title was |