the 1938 appropriations by $3,183,165. In considering this last figure, however, it is well to point out that there were several nonrecurring items occurring in the appropriations for the current year (the largest of which was $2,800,000 to complete construction of the annex building of the Library of Congress) aggregating $3,335,174 which, if taken into account, make the 1939 total recommended by the committee a sum actually in excess of the 1938 total by $152,009. The installation of the new air-conditioning equipment designed to serve the Capitol Building, Senate and House Office Buildings, and the Library of Congress Annex, has necessitated, by way of maintenance funds, a considerable portion of the increase allowed. The committee has gone as thoroughly into the matter of the actual requirements for additional personnel to operate this equipment as limited time and investigatory facilities would permit. With an investment of nearly $4,000,000 in technical equipment required for this air-conditioning it is, of course, essential good husbandry to provide a maintenance force sufficient to operate efficiently and economically the plant. The Architect has stated it to be his judgment that 33 employees would be required for this service with salaries aggregating $60,080 per annum. The committee has reduced the number of employees to be allowed to 21 at a yearly salary obligation of $40,480. The following table indicates the positions requested, the ones allowed, and those disallowed by the committee and, as will be noted, no change is made in the number of additional employees requested for the Senate Office Building:

It is entirely possible that the experience in the operation of the plant which will be gained during the next fiscal year will indicate that some additional engineering assistance is still required. The committee will review the whole operating picture at the hearings on the bill next year and if need is manifest for more employees to properly maintain and operate the equipment necessary adjustments can be made. Salaries, Office of the Architect: The sum of $59,100 as carried in the bill for this expense is the amount of the Budget estimate and represents an increase of $4,600 over the current appropriation. This additional sum is to pay the compensation of one supervisory engineer to have charge of the operation of the entire air-conditioning system in all of the buildings. The committee feels that it is highly desirable to have a trained technical man to exercise this character of supervision.

Capitol Buildings: The reduction of $11,366 under the Budget figure of $298,366 for this maintenance activity is explained in the disallowance of three positions for air-conditioning work with salaries totaling $4,940, and the disapproval of the request for two other positions, one an electrical engineer at $3,200 and one a senior mechanic at $1,860. The essential need of these positions was not made manifest. The total of the salaries thus eliminated amounts to $10,000. The balance of the reduction, amounting to $1,366 is made in anticipation of lapses accruing in that sum during the next fiscal year. New language carried in the bill authorizes the purchase of special distinguishing clothing for workmen in the Capitol.

Capitol Grounds: For this expense $101,000 is recommended to be appropriated. This is $2,107 less than the comparable appropriations for the current year and $51,126 under the Budget estimates. It was the plan of the Architect to devote $50,550 to starting a program of resurfacing and reconstructing the Capitol Plaza, the first work to be done on the south roadway and encompassing drainagesystem corrections and improvement, and roadway grading and repaving. It is not a matter of argument that this work is desirable, but at the same time it is not evident that it is absolutely essential that it be done now. As a measure of economy the committee proposes to defer this improvement for at least 1 more year. In the not distant future the entire plaza must be regraded and repaved and it is the feeling of the Architect that the entire project can be done more cheaply if the work is performed all at one time. Deduction for anticipated lapses has been made in the amount of $576.

Legislative garage: The estimate of $9,280 has been reduced to $9,000. Expenditures for the fiscal year 1937 do not seem to justify an appropriation in excess of the figure recommended.

Senate Office Building: In accord with established custom of having changes in Senate items made by the Senate the estimate of $259,909 for maintenance of this building is approved in the amount provided in the estimates. Consideration being given to nonrecurring items totaling $53,125, there is a net increase in maintenance costs of $20,965 over the current appropriations, of which $12,340 is for seven additional employees for operating air-conditioning equipment.

House Office Buildings: For the fiscal year 1938, $351,370 was allowed for maintenance of the two House Office Buildings. The committee is recommending an appropriation of $370,200, which amount is $56,840 under the Budget estimates. The amount approved anticipates the elimination of the following proposed increases:

additional employees for air-conditioning operation and maintenance (title of specific positions disallowed and salary thereof indicated in preceding table). Amount required to increase salaries of nurses in each building from $1,500 to $1,800 (eliminated pending request to be made for reallocation of these positions upon approval of which increased amount can be paid from this appropriation, if funds are available, or deficiency requested)

Reduction in allowance for special and miscellaneous expenses from $3,500 to $1,500

Reduction in allowance for supplies and materials from $18,500 to $15,000 Reduction in allocation for painting from $50,000 to $30,000 (the $30,000 allowed is $10,000 in excess of the current allowance and will permit certain interior painting in both buildings) _-

Elimination of amount for building storage rooms on fifth floor of old House Office Building (present storage facilities, while not the most convenient, are adequate) _

$9,980

600

2,000

3,500

20, 000

22, 000

Increases of $2,500 for temporary labor for moving (a biennial expenditure) and $5,000 for annual repairs and alterations have been approved in those respective amounts. The allocation of $750 for improvements in the House gymnasium has been increased by $1,240. Capitol power plant: The reduction under the Budget estimates for the Capitol power plant amounts to $17,050, and the sum recommended for appropriation, $542,930, is $404,940 under the 1938 appropriation. Account being had of nonrecurring items for 1938 totaling $462,250, however, there is an increase of $68,710 in comparable appropriations. Included in this increase of $68,710 is a sum of $57,860 for additional cost of fuel, to operate the power plant. The estimate was based upon the anticipated use of 70,000 tons of coal at an average price of $4.77 per ton. The committee has reduced the proposed increase by $8,900 based upon the committee judgment that 65,000 tons at $5 per ton will more nearly approximate actual fuel price and requirements for 1939. The allocation for fuel and waste has been reduced from $5,000 to $4,000 and $1,500 more has been deducted from the appropriation in anticipation of salary lapses accruing in 1939. The aggregate of these three changes is $17,050-the amount accordingly deducted from the Budget estimates.

Due to delays in the construction of the Government Printing Office Annex Building, appropriations previously made to the Capitol power plant for new steam and condensate lines, to connect certain steam lines to Government Printing Office buildings, had to be deferred. Appropriations previously made for this purpose are proposed to be continued available for another fiscal year in order that the necessary work may be done.

Library buildings and grounds: The committee has approved a figure of $72,000 for the mechanical care of the Library buildings. This is a reduction of $11,540 in the Budget estimates. This decrease results from the disallowance of 7 of the 22 additional positions requested. Five employees are allowed for air-conditioning operation as against eight requested. Request for an additional senior electrical mechanic at $1,860, an electrical under mechanic at $1,320, one substation under mechanic at $1,320, and one senior elevator mechanic at $1,860 have all been disallowed.

A total of $5,000 has been approved for the additional expense of mechanical care of the buildings due to Sunday opening. This compares with a figure of $2,139 for the current year, the increase explainable in the fact that employees will be needed to staff the new annex building on Sundays.

For repairs to buildings and maintenance of grounds, $34,500 has been allowed by the committee. While this is $10,000 in excess of the 1938 appropriation, it is $11,989 less than the Budget estimates. The increase of $6,000 for miscellaneous supplies and replacements has been cut $1,000. The request of $10,000 for the installation of an automatic sprinkler system on the grounds of the new annex building is disapproved. A total of $10,000 has been allowed for certain essential repairs in the old Library Building.

The amount approved for purchase of furniture and equipment is $20,000, an increase of $6,000 over 1938 appropriations, but $21,000 under the 1939 estimates. The sum allowed will permit the purchase of two additional steel map cases at $2,500 each and afford $1,000 additional for purchase of furniture.

BOTANIC GARDEN

A slight reduction of $662 occurs in the amount approved for salaries of employees in the Botanic Garden. This decrease is made in anticipation of lapses in salaries for which the Budget estimates made no provision.

The 1938 appropriation for maintenance of the conservatory, greenhouses, and the Poplar Point nursery was $20,000. The Budget estimates for 1939 increased this figure to $44,725. The committee recommends $33,350, a reduction of $11,375 in the estimates. The estimates contemplated an expenditure of $15,000 for the cost of curbing construction in connection with the plan of the District of Columbia government to pave Canal Street SW. between Independence Avenue and E Street. The charge against the Government for this work grows out of the fact that under the existing law in the District of Columbia cost of curbing construction is charged against the abutting property owner. The Botanic Garden reservations are located in the middle of Canal Street and are about 90 feet wide and hence will have to be curbed on each side. It was the plan of the District of Columbia government to employ granite in the curbing construction at a cost of $3.00 per lineal foot. Cement curbing can be constructed at a figure from one-half to one-third of the cost of granite. Inasmuch as there is comparatively little use of Canal Street by traffic the committee is not impressed with the desirability of using granite in this curbing. Accordingly $6,500 has been approved for this item rather than $15,000 estimated, it being contemplated that cement curbing will be installed, and $1,000 additional has been allowed for contingencies that may arise that cannot be anticipated.

The increase of $3,000 in the allocation for repairs and alterations at the nursery greenhouses in the Maryland Avenue range has been disallowed. The committee is not impressed with the wisdom of continuing to appropriate for the maintenance of these unsightly and somewhat dilapidated structures and has requested the Architect to prepare plans to be submitted at the hearings on the bill next year looking to disposing of these buildings and transferring the nursery stock to the Poplar Point nursery.

Approval is given to the projected expenditure of $5,725 to complete the program of roadway construction at the Poplar Point nursery, it being the understanding of the committee that the roads now planned

will be required for proper access to the grounds and buildings regardless of the character of future plans for the development of the area.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The 1939 Budget estimates for the Library of Congress call for appropriations aggregating $3,127,618 as contrasted with appropriations for 1938 of $2,667,665. The committee has allowed $2,933,700 which represents an increase of $266,035 over the 1938 appropriations but is less than the Budget estimates by $193,918. Practically the entire increase is attributable to the opening of the new annex building to the public which, under present plans, will take place around July 1, 1938.

Salaries, Library proper: The largest increase over the 1938 appropriations occurs in this item. For the old Library Building the estimates provided 24 additional positions (23 of which were requested last year and disallowed) at a net annual cost of $42,480, and 84 new employees in the annex building at an annual expense of $128,060. Considering first the request for 24 persons to be added for the old Library Building, the committee has allowed 9 of this number. The following chart indicates the titles of the positions requested and the disposition made of the request:

New positions (exclusive of annex), Library of Congress

Of the total of $128,060 requested for personnel, to staff the new annex building, the committee has approved $100,000 without endeavoring to designate which positions should be filled and which