First, we show a reduction of $300, being the additional amount provided for one of the assistants to the superintendent of the House Press Gallery at a basic salary of $2,500. The employee who held this position died on October 5, 1943, and the additional provision is now being eliminated from the bill. Second, we are increasing the number of laborers from 17 to 20 at $1,260 each. The employment of these 3 additional laborers was authorized effective January 1, 1944, by House Resolution 385, adopted December 17, 1943. Third, we decreased the amount required for the salary of pages, amounting to $188, for the period January 1 to June 30, 1945. This decrease is due to the fact that leap year came within the fiscal year 1944. Our regular estimates indicate an increase of $3,780, a decrease of $488, or a net increase of $3,292. It will be noted that a supplemental or deficiency appropriation amounting to $34,592 was required to pay the pages' salaries for the 6-month period July 1 to December 31, 1943. This amount was, or course, eliminated entirely from the Budget estimates. However, by taking this amount into consideration and the small net increase just mentioned totaling $3,292, leaves a net reduction of $31,300, insofar as the total estimates for 1945 are concerned, compared with the appropriations for the fiscal year 1944. For the record I might state that if the present session of Congress extends beyond the current fiscal year ending June 30, 1944, we will have to request sufficient funds to pay the salaries of pages beyond July 1, 1944. SPECIAL AND MINORITY EMPLOYEES The estimates for 1945 are the same as for 1944; total, $22,900. SPECIAL EMPLOYEES The estimate for special employees for 1945 amounts to $4,740, the same as appropriated for 1944. OFFICE OF MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER The estimates for 1945 amount to $13,240, the same as appropriated for 1944, there being no change in that paragraph. OFFICE OF MINORITY FLOOR LEADER There is also no change in the office of the minority leader and the estimates for 1945, amounting to $9,900, remain the same. MESSENGERS, MAJORITY AND MINORITY CAUCUS ROOMS The estimate for the messengers to the majority and minority caucus rooms for 1945 amounts to $3,480, which is also the same amount as appropriated for the fiscal year 1944. PRINTING CLERKS, MAJORITY AND MINORITY A new provision has been incorporated in the estimates providing for two printing clerks, one for the majority caucus room and one for the minority caucus room, to be appointed by the majority and minority leaders, respectively, at $2,000 each, in all $4,000. These two new positions were duly authorized by House Resolution 295, adopted July 7, 1943. Mr. O'NEAL. They are on the rolls now? Mr. SHANKS. Yes, being paid out of the contingent fund. Mr. O'NEAL. This provision provides for them as regular employees? Mr. SHANKS. That is correct. POST OFFICE There is no change in the personnel or salaries of the post office, and the estimate for 1945 amounting to $84,680 remains the same as appropriated for 1944. PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, ETC., FOR POST-OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLES The next paragraph covering motor vehicles for the House post office and carrying the mails amounts to $2,200 for 1945, the same as that appropriated for the fiscal year 1944. Mr. O'NEAL. What is the situation with respect to motor vehicles? Mr. SHANKS. These motor vehicles are trucks for the handling of the mails. That comes under the jurisdiction of Mr. Scott, the Post master. Mr. O'NEAL. Does he buy one every year? Mr. SHANKS. He has not bought one for 2 or 3 years, although he is contemplating, I believe, trying to buy one by the end of this fiscal year. Mr. O'NEAL, Does he have a balance? Mr. SHANKS. He will have a balance to take care of that. He will present those figures when he appears before your committee. OFFICIAL REPORTERS OF DEBATES There is no change in the paragraph covering the office of the official reporters of debates, and the amount estimated for 1945, total $70,500, is the same as that appropriated for 1944. Mr. O'NEAL. I note that the item for official reporters of debates provided for seven official reporters of the proceedings and debates of the House at $7,500 each; clerk, $4,000; assistant clerk, $2,000; six expert transcribers at $2,000 each; in all, $70,500. COMMITTEE STENOGRAPHERS When we turn over to the next item, for committee stenographers, I note that there are four stenographers to committees at $7,000 each and two stenographers to committees at $6,000 each; clerk, $3,360; six expert transcribers at $2,000 each; in all, $55,360; is that correct? Mr. SHANKS. That is correct. Mr. O'NEAL. That is what you are asking for next year? Mr. SHANKS. That is right. Mr. O'NEAL. You may proceed with that item. Mr. SHANKS. The estimates for the office of committee stenographers for 1945 specify $55,360, compared with $43,360 appropriated for the fiscal year 1944, or an increase of $12,000. This increase is due to the employment of six expert transcribers at $2,000 each, as authorized also by House Resolution 385 adopted December 17, 1943. The total estimates for 1945 covering the preceding paragraphs under "Salaries, officers and employees," amount to $1,209,348, as compared with $1,214,752 appropriated for the current fiscal year 1944, or a net decrease of $5,404. CLERK HIRE, MEMBERS AND DELEGATES The next paragraph provides for the clerk-hire allowance for each Member of the House, Delegates, and Resident Commissioner, and the estimate for the fiscal year 1945 amounts to $2,847,000, the same as that appropriated for the current fiscal year, and is based on an allowance of $6,500 per annum as provided by law for 438 Members, including the Delegates from Alaska and Hawaii, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico. Mr. O'NEAL. Of course, the amount for clerk hire, Members, and Delegates is more or less fixed, but about how much is returned each. year as an unused balance? Mr. SHANKS. It varies, of course, Mr. Chairman. Later on I am going to insert in the record a statement of the unexpended balances of the appropriations that we contemplate returning to the Treasury, and one is an item for clerk hire. Mr. O'NEAL. The extra compensation as a matter of law is not included in this appropriation? Mr. SHANKS. That is correct. Mr. O'NEAL. It is usually handled by the Deficiency Subcommittee of the Commitee on Appropriations and, in your opinion, comes to in the neighborhood of $400,000? Mr. SHANKS. It is running $407,500 for clerk hire, although we are absorbing $7,500 from the regular appropriation. CONTINGENT EXPENSES OF THE HOUSE Mr. O'NEAL. We will take up "Contingent expenses of the House," which is divided into several items, is that correct? Mr. SHANKS. Yes, sir. Mr. O'NEAL. We shall be glad to have your statement on "Contingent expenses of the House." Mr. SHANKS. We now take up the contingent fund of the House and accordingly submit herewith a detailed statement marked "Exhibit B" showing the appropriations and expenditures of the contingent fund from July 1, 1943, to January 31, 1944, inclusive, and the balance of each item unexpended as of February 1, 1944. Each item in the contingent fund will now be taken up with explanatory remarks. (Exhibit B referred to is as follows:) EXHIBIT B.-House of Representatives contingent fund 1944, expenditures from July 1, 1943, to Jan. 31, 1944, inclusive Mr. O'NEAL. Exhibit B shows the appropriation for the various items under contingent expenses, the amount expended to January 31, 1944, and the balance as of February 1, 1944? Mr. SHANKS. Yes, sir. Mr. O'NEAL. With reference to the fiscal year 1943, how much was appropriated and how much was actually spent? In other words, do we run pretty close to the total amount appropriated? Mr. SHANKS. Yes. We will return about $28,000 of the 1943 contingent fund back to the Treasury. Mr. O'NEAL. Will you take up the various items under contingent expenses? FURNITURE AND REPAIR SHOP Mr. SHANKS. In connection with the furniture and repair shop the property custodian in charge thereof reports that during the fiscal year 1943, 23,760 different pieces of work was performed such as that listed at the top of exhibit C, which we desire to have inserted in the record at this point. (Exhibit C referred to is as follows:) EXHIBIT C.-Summary of work executed by the furniture repair shop, House of Repre sentatives, during the fiscal year 1943, the character of work consisting of repairing upholstering, refinishing, making, repairing, and hanging of window shades and venetian blinds, contract cleaning and repairing rugs and carpet, making special pieces of furniture, polishing furniture in offices and committee rooms, delivering, and handling LABOR, TOOLS, AND MACHINERY Number of Labor Item 1. Repairing, refinishing, and reupholstering furniture and equipment, Item 2. Repairing, and constructing furniture for standing committees' gallery, cloakrooms, Speaker's lobby, floor of House, and offices in House side of the Capitol Item 3. Repair of venetian blinds, making of shades, cleaning and hanging of draperies. EXHIBIT C.-Summary of work executed by the furniture repair shop, House of Representatives, during the fiscal year 1943, the character of work consisting of repairing, upholstering, refinishing, making, repairing, and hanging of window shades and venetian blinds, contract cleaning and repairing rugs and carpet, making special pieces of furniture, polishing furniture in offices and committee rooms, delivering, and handling-Continued LABOR, TOOLS, AND MACHINERY-continued Item 4. Odd jobs in Members' offices and committee rooms requiring 2 hours or less time. Item 5. Helpers, at $4 per day exclusive of Sundays, except for extermination Item 6. Polishing furniture in Members' offices and committee rooms, New and $1,010. 27 Mr. SHANKS. The estimates for 1945 furniture and repairs call for $40,000 the same as appropriated for 1944. Up to January 31 we expended $20,085.89, leaving a balance of $19,914.11. The Clerk of the House and the property custodian have recommended a change in the appropriation paragraph eliminating the limitation of $29,000 for labor, tools, and machinery, which will not change the total amount of the appropriation. By removing this provision the property custodian will then be able to employ one or two extra craftsmen as they may be needed in handling the repair work in the furniture and repair shop. Due to present-day conditions and being unable to purchase new furniture necessitates repairing and rebuilding our existing furniture more than usual. However, Mr. Page, the property custodian, is present and will be glad to furnish the committee with any further information desired. Mr. O NEAL. We are glad to have Mr. Page with us. Would you like to make a statement on this item, Mr. Page? Mr. PAGE. I think Mr. Shanks' statement covers the subject pretty well, Mr. Chairman. Mr. JOHNSON. The bill as it now reads limits the amount to be expended on labor, tools, and machinery to $29,000. Do you want to leave the whole of the appropriation item open to the employment of personnel? |