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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1958

United States Senate, Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,

Washington, D. C. The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10 a. m., in room F-82, the Capitol, Hon. Carl Hayden, chairman, presiding.

Present: Chairman Hayden, Senators Young and Dworshak.

Statement by the Chairman

Chairman Hayden. The committee will come to order.

This morning we begin the hearings on H. R. 10476, the Department of the Interior and related agencies appropriation bill for fiscal year 1959. This bill includes funds for the Department of the Interior, exclusive of the Southeastern Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the Bureau of Reclamation, and the following related agencies:

Forest Service, Department of Agriculture

Fine Arts Commission

Federal Coal Mine Safety Board of Review

Indian Claims Commission

National Capital Planning Commission

Smithsonian Institution

National Gallery of Art

The Virgin Islands Corporation

For the current fiscal year, $460,234,100 was appropriated for these agencies, including funds in the Second Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1958. The budget estimates for fiscal year 1959 total $414,-484,600. The bill, as it passed the House of Representatives, provides appropriations totaling $413,145,600.

I will include in the record a tabulation giving the 1958 appropriation, the 1959 budget estimate, and the House allowances for each appropriation in the bill.

(The information referred to follows:)

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill,

1959 (H. R. 10746)

Appropriations, fiscal year 1958; budget estimates, fiscal year 1059; and House

allowances

Appropriation

Title I— Department of the Interior

DEPARTMENTAL OFFICE?

Office of Saline Water

Office of Oil and Gas

Office of the Solicitor

Office of Minerals Mobilization. Acquisition of strategic minerals

-

Total, departmental offices

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Management of lands and resources.

Construction..

Range improvements 2

Total, Bureau of Land Management.

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

Education and welfare services

Resources management -

Construction

Road construction and maintenance (liquidation of contract authorization).

General administrative expenses

Payment to Menominee Tribe of Indians

Payment to Klamath Tribe of Indians

Appropriations, 19.58

(1)

Total, Bureau of Indian Affairs, exclusive

of tribal funds —

Tribal funds (not included in totals of this tabulation)

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Surveys, investigations, and research.

BUREAU OF MINES

Conservation and development of mineral resources

Health and safety

Construction

General administrative expenses

Total, Bureau of Mines

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Management and protection

Maintenance and rehabilitation of physical facilities

Construction

Construction (liquidation of contract authorization)

General administrative expenses

Total, National Park Service

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife: Management and investigations

resources

Construction

General administrative expenses

Total. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife.

See footnotes at end of table, p. 4.

$725,000 585,000

2,900,000 263,000

6, 700,000

11,173,000

i 22,000. 000

5,480,000

(564,846)

27, 480, 000

Budget estimates, 1959

(2)

$825,000

5.50,000

2,873,000

262,000

4,510,000

20,940.000

4, 435,000

(786,000)

25,375, 000

House allowance

(3)

$785,000

500.000

2, 750,000

262,000

4,297,000

20, 940, 000

4, 435, 000

(786, 000)

25, 375,000

59,460,000 17, 200, 000 17, 000, 000

12, 000, 000

3, 4.50. 000

300, 000

109,410,000 (2, 920,000)

36,000, 000

18,835,000

5,900,000

23,000

1,095,000

25, 853,000

14,1.50, 000

11,600,000 17, 400,000

31,000,000 1,330,000

75,480,000

12,000,000

5, 677,000

166, 190

57, 469,000 17,000,000 13, 000,000

8,000.000

3,450,000

200,000

2.50, 000

99, 369, 000 (3,000.000)

36, 750,000

18, 339,000 5,900,000

1,09.5,000

25,334,000

14, 632,000

12,000, 000 12,400,000

22, 000,000 1,330,000

57,469,000 17,000,000 13, 800,000

8,000,000

3,4.50,000

200,000

250,000

100,169,000 (3, 000. 000)

36,000,000

18, 339,000 5,900,000

Restoration requested

(4)

1,095,000

25, 334,000

14,150,000

11,600,000 12, 400,000

22,000,000 1,330,000

11,508,000

1,458, 000

714,100

11, 508,000

1. 458,000

714,100

17,843,190

13.6S0,100

$40,000 50,000 123,000

213,000

750,000

482,000 400,000

882, m<

INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959 21

Smithsonian Institution

STATEMENTS OF L. CARMICHAEL, SECRETARY; J. L. KEDDY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY; R. KELLOGG, ASSISTANT SECRETARY; F. A. TAYLOR, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM; AND L. L. OLIVER, BUILDINGS MANAGER

. Salakies and Expenses

Chairman Hayden. The House allowed the budget estimate of $7,355,000 for "Salaries and expenses of the Smithsonian Institution." The justifications will be included in the record. (The justifications referred to follow:)

During the fiscal year 1959, the Smithsonian Institution will continue the following programs: (1) Preservation for the American people of their irreplaceable National collections, the attractive exhibition of these treasures, and furnishing information relating thereto; (2) continuation of its fundamental researches; (3) publication of the results of these investigations; and (4) the international exchange of scientific literature. The basic concerns of the Institution are to-conduct its special researches and services with full regard for the ever-widening horizons of modern science; to meet increasing demands for authentic scientific data by Congress, by other Federal agencies and scientific institutions, and by the public; to continue preparations so that the Museum of History and Technology, when opened to the public, will dramatize in a superlative way the rise of American civilization; and to carry on the long-term programs of renovating exhibits and rehabilitating the present buildings. The Institution is also engaged in planning for the authorized additions to the Natural History building and for urgently needed additional buildings, including a National Air Museum, a Smithsonian Gallery of Art, and a National Portrait Gallery.

SALAKIES AND EXPENSES

The 1959 base

The 1958 appropriation for "Salaries and expenses of the Smithsonian Institution" totaled $6 million. Of this total, $1,118,835 is nonrecurring. Consequently the 1959 base for this appropriation is $4,881,165. This amount includes $3,267,-067 for personal services, which provides for a maximum staff of 680 permanent employees, and $1,614,098 for other obligations.

The 1959 increases

In order to meet requirements for the fiscal year 1959, the Smithsonian Institution requests for "Salaries and expenses, Smithsonian Institution" an increase over the 1959 base amounting to $2,473,835 as follows:

1. 01 Personal services (all activities), $12,000. —For regular pay above 52-week base;

2. United States National Museum, $2,260,096. —For renovation of exhibits ($610,500); for continuing the staffing and equipping of the Museum of History and Technology ($1,649,596);

3. Maintenance and operation of buildings, $201,739. —For rehabilitation of exhibition buildings ($58,000); for improving building services ($143,739).

Analysis by activities

' Includes $12,000 for additional day's pay for all salaries and expenses.

Justification of Increases, United States National Museum renovation of exhibits

For 1954, the Congress appropriated funds to initiate a program of revitalizing the exhibits in the United States National Museum. For each year since 1954, funds have been appropriated to continue this necessary improvement at a steady rate. For 1958, the sum of $605,000 was appropriated.

The schedule below shows the status of work on the halls included in the renovation of exhibits program.

Completed and opened to the public by the end of fiscal year 1957

1. First Ladies Hall

2. One American Indian Hall

3. North American Mammals Hall

4. Latin American Archeology Hall

5. Bird Hall

6. American Cultural History Hall

7. Power Machinery Hall

To be completed and opened to the public by the end of fiscal year 1958

1. The second American Indian Hall

2. Health Hall

3. Printing Arts Hall

4. Gems and Minerals Hall

5. Textiles Hall

6. World of Mammals Hall (construction completely only)

During fiscal year 1958 drawings will be finished and contracts awarded for the following halls

1. The first North American Archeology Hall

2. Fossil Fishes and Amphibians Hall

3. Fossil Plants and Invertebrates Hall

4. Agriculture Hall

5. Historical Persons Hall

For 1959, the United States National Museum requires $610,500 for the renovation of exhibits as follows:

07 Other contractual services

1. Renovating the second Hall of North American Archeology $175, 100

2. Renovating Hall of Prehistoric Mammals 158,900

3. Renovating Hall of Medical and Dental History 92, 500

4. Renovating Hall of Numismatics 130,000

5. Completing 1958 projects and preparing collections for 1960 and

1961 projects 54, 000

Total 610,500

INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959 23

MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY

The Smithsonian Institution was directed by the act of June 28, 1955, (69 Stat. 189) to design and construct a Museum of History and Technology and has been granted appropriations totaling $36 million for this purpose.

In order to continue preparations for the opening of this building to the public in 1962 as the outstanding museum which the Congress expects it to be, the United States National Museum requires in 1959 an additional amount of $1,649,-596 for personal services and other obligations.

01 Personal services

The United States National Museum requires 70 new positions (net) in 1959^ estimated to cost $318,586 over the 1959 base. This will provide 19 additional museum curators, museum aids, and stenographers to perform the added work of preparing the collections and directing the design of exhibits for the Museum of History and Technology; and 51 exhibits designers and constructors to design and construct exhibits, involving work on a total of 32 exhibit halls.

02 Travel

The United States National Museum requires in 1959 an increase over the 1959 base amounting to $5,800 for travel.

Of this amount $4,500 is required to send curators to examine historical objects and collections offered to the museum, to consult with collectors about future gifts, to study the collections and preservation practices of other museums, and to consult experts in museum planning. The sum of $1,300 is required to send exhibits specialists and planning personnel to consult with architects, museum planning consultants, and exhibits and taxidermy contractors; and to examine recent exhibits construction in other museums and expositions.

05 Transportation of things

The United States National Museum requires in 1959 an increase over the 1959 base amounting to $3,675 for transportation of collections and objects for the new museum. These include historical furniture, period room interiors, engines, and historical scientific apparatus being assembled for the Museum of History and Technology.

06 Printing and reproduction

The United States National Museum requires in 1959 an increase over the 1959 base amounting to $10,955 for printing labels for the new exhibits.

07 Other contractual services

The United States National Museum requires in 1959 an increase over the 1959 base amounting to $401,000 for contractual services of specialists to prepare collections and exhibits which cannot be undertaken by museum staff. These services will provide for designing and constructing certain exhibits; for designing specialized exhibits fixtures and equipment; and for renovating and repairing vehicles, machines, weapons, furniture, costumes, uniforms, instruments, period rooms, documents, and models.

08 Supplies and materials

The United States National Museum requires an increase over the 1959 base amounting to $36,180 for the purchase of supplies to be used in preparing exhibits and collections. These include hardware, lumber, wallboard, paints, brushes,, metal stock, fumigants, and artists' supplies.

09 Equipment

The United States National Museum requires in 1959 an increase over the 1959 base amounting to $873,400 for the purchase of exhibition cases and exhibition fixtures to be used as integral parts of the exhibits to be constructed in 1959. It is necessary to construct these exhibits in 1959 in order to continue the schedule of exhibit construction which will assure that the exhibits will be ready for the new building when it is completed.

MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION DIVISION

The Division of Maintenance and Operation requires for 1959 a net increase over the 1959 base amounting to $201,739 to cope with the extremely heavy additional workload resulting from the expansion of the Institution's programs and substantial annual increase in the number of visitors to the exhibition buildings.

01 Personal services

The sum of $127,129 for 34 additional positions (net) is required to maintain effectively the extensive improvements resulting from the long-term programs for modernization of exhibits and rehabilitation of buildings and to keep the building interiors, windows, and the glass of exhibit cases clean. Additional positions include carpenters, painters, electricians, sheet-metal workers, mechanics, and laborers needed to meet the rapidly increased maintenance and operation workload resulting from the enlargement of the scientific staff; the modernization of exhibits; the rehabilitation of buildings; the alteration and improvement of existing office, laboratory, and storage space; and the tremendous increase in the number of visitors to our exhibits buildings.

As scientific personnel are added to the Institution's staff to develop the Museum of History and Technology, a great variety of additional work must be performed by the mechanical staff of the Institution. This work includes converting storage and shop space into office or laboratory space; altering and improving existing office and storage space; relocating partition walls; plastering, painting, and finishing new walls and ceilings; reallocating or installing additional electric, gas, steam, ventilation, and water services; and moving and installing office furniture, files, and cases.

In the course of contracting for exhibits renovation and building rehabilitation projects, considerable supplementary work must be performed by the Institution's operation and maintenance staffs prior to, during, and after completion of contractual work. This supplementary work includes preliminary clearing of the project site; moving equipment, supplies, boxes, exhibit cases, and furniture; assembling, installing and maintaining special equipment; erecting temporary structures to facilitate daily operations; installing temporary ramps, partitions, or barriers to prevent accidents or injury to public and staff; relocating, removing or installing gas, steam, water, or electric services; painting some 20,000 square feet of exhibition case interiors per year; plastering, finishing, and painting alterations and improvements; replacing floor coverings; installing improved lighting; replacing annually an average of 4,000 burned-out lighting units in the Institution's modernized lighting system; maintaining new ventilating and heating equipment; and operating and maintaining protective air-conditioning systems. For these purposes 18 wage board employees are required.

Floor cleaning in the Smithsonian, Arts and Industries, Aircraft, Natural History, and Freer Gallery of Art Buildings has become a major problem because visitor attendance during the past 12 months totaled over 5,100,000, representing an increase of 49 percent over the corresponding period in 1953. Funds have never been appropriated for floor cleaners in the Smithsonian, Arts and Industries, and Aircraft Buildings, which have 399,457 square feet of floorspace. In attempting to cope with the problem, several adjustments were made in the assignments of both day and night labor forces, but these attempts to solve the problem have been entirely unsatisfactory and inadequate. Considering the tremendous traffic of tens of thousands of visitors through these buildings daily, and the fact that only 1 cleaner is available per 28,000 square feet, the present makeshift arrangements are obviously inadequate. Eight additional night laborers are, therefore, required.

The Institution's buildings have 302,000 square feet of glass to be cleaned regularly, including 86,400 square feet of windows and 215,600 square feet of exhibition cases (inside glass). Funds have never been provided to hire laborers to do this glass-cleaning work, which is considered to be equally as important as floor cleaning. Seventy percent of the windows must be cleaned from scaffolding and 20 percent from extension ladders. The inside glass of sealed exhibition cases requires cleaning at least twice a year, as it becomes blurred from turpentine fumes given off by the interior paints or varnishes. This work is necessarily a slow operation, as the laborers frequently must remove or shift large numbers of specimens before they can reach the interior glass to clean it. Based on the experience of the Public Buildings Service and pilot jobs conducted by the Institution, the Maintenance and Operation Division requires eight laborers for glass cleaning.

04 Comrqunication services

The Maintenance and Operation Division requires for 1959 an increase over the 1959 base amounting to $6,430 for communication services. During the past

INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959 25

fiscal year, the Institution's modernization, rehabilitation, and building programs and the rapid growth in the staff of the Museum of History and Technology have imposed an exceedingly heavy additional workload on the switchboard. This has resulted in serious loss of staff time in trying to place outside calls. Numerous complaints about the poor switchboard service also were received from incoming callers. To correct this serious development, a new panel was installed on the board. The increase requested provides $5,704 for rental and operational charges connected with the additional switchboard panel installed this year and for new telephone installations, and $726 for increased service charges on existing equipment.

05 Rents and utility services

The Maintenance and Operation Division requires for 1959 an increase over the 1959 base amounting to $10,180 for rents and utility services. The sum of $7,400 is needed to meet the increased cost of electricity resulting from the modernization of 12 exhibition halls and rehabilitation of laboratory, shop, and office areas which will require additional lighting fixtures, electrical equipment, and machinery, power-driven exhibits, and ventilating equipment.

The sum of $2,780 is needed to meet the increased cost of gas required to heat 4 of the 15 storage buildings at Suitland, Md., and for the increased cost of steam in the Natural History Building.

07 Other contractual services

The building rehabilitation program for 1959 has been substantially curtailed below that for 1958 because of the deletion of all Natural History Building rehabilitation items. These items will be considered for inclusion in the proposed construction appropriation, fiscal year 1960, to provide funds for the addition of wings to and reconditioning of the Natural History Building.

To continue the long-term rehabilitation of buildings program on this curtailed basis, the Maintenance and Operation Division proposes the following projects for the fiscal year 1959 amounting to $58,000:

Project No. 1 — Smithsonian Building {1852).-—The sum of $23,000 is requested for rehabilitating floors and replacing floor coverings in the office and corridor areas of the Smithsonian Building. The wooden flooring approximates 40,000 square feet, of which 75 percent is covered with asphalt tile. This flooring, after many decades of use, has deteriorated so badly that it must now be replaced and covered with new vinyl asbestos tile.

Project No. 2 — Arts and Industries Building (1881). —The sum of $20,000 is requested to rehabilitate the outside area along the south side of the Arts and Industries Building. This includes reconstruction of the sidewalk. It is proposed to wall in the old coal vaults and shop areas beneath the existing sidewalk, fill the vacant area with bank gravel, and reconstruct the sidewalk on a solid foundation. The completion of this work will eliminate the hazard now existing in the cracked, broken, and failing sidewalk and the possibility of a cave-in of the sidewalk over the vaults.

Project No. 8 — Suitland storage facility (1952). —The sum of $15,000 is requested for constructing concrete ramps in front of 6 of the storage buildings at Suitland, Md.

26 INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959

General Statement

Chairman Hayden. Do you have a statement to make?

Mr. Carmichael. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, you have our detailed justification before you. I would, if you would allow it, like to say just a few words that are not in this justification.

We. are requesting this year an appropriation to allow the Smithsonian Institution to continue its basic work which, I am sure you will remember, in the words of our distinguished founder is "the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."

In comparison with the appropriation made to the Smithsonian Institution for the fiscal year 1958, we are asking the same amount of money allowed last year for all but two items.

We are requesting $255,096 less than last year for building rehabilitation projects. We are requesting an increase of $1,610,096 to make it possible for us to have fully organized exhibits ready for our new building when it is opened. After taking the reduction into consideration, this means that we are requesting for next vear a net increase of $1,355,000.

RENOVATION OF EXHIBITS

Chairman Hayden. Funds were first appropriated in fiscal year 1954 for renovation of exhibits. At the present rate, how long will it take to complete that program?

Mr. Carmichael. That program will require several more years to complete, and even then with the change of buildings that will be involved in the opening of our new building, we may have to come to you with a statement in regard to our additional needs.

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MUSEUM

Chairman Hayden. I wanted to ask you about the status of construction of the new Museum of History and Technology.

Mr. Charmichael. Mr. Chairman, you will remember that the building is to be erected on the Mall, between Constitution Avenue, Madison Drive, and 12th and 14 th Streets NW. The temporary buildings on the site are now being vacated. Evacuation will be completed during the month of April.

The contract for the demolition of these buildings will be let in April. The contract for the excavation and piling will be let so that this work can be done during the coming summer, this summer and the autumn. Final detailed working drawings will be delivered by the architects on or before November 1 and the contract let for erection of the superstructure by the end of December 1958. Work on construction will start soon thereafter.

We believe that the building will be complete, in the latter part of the calendar year 1961. That will be the fiscal year 1962, sir.

TOTAL VISITORS

Chairman Hayden. How many people visit the Smithsonian museums annually?

Mr. Carmichael. The Smithsonian, as a whole, 10,100,000 but that includes the National Gallerv of Art and the National Zoological Park.

INTERIOR .WD RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959 27

If you take the 1957 calendar year not the fiscal year, the total number of visitors to the Smithsonian buildings on the Mall was over 5,200,000. That does not include the National Gallery of Art or the Zoo. Mr. Chairman, I cannot help believing that this is due to the fact that you and your committee have allowed the funds for the renovation of our exhibits.

You know that we have many millions of objects in our museum buildings, probably the largest museum collections in the world, but we have been unable heretofore properly to show these treasures to the American people. Now, however, due to the appropriations that you have given us in recent years, these objects are being put on display, and the citizens of our Nation are flocking in to study them and I believe to be educated by them, sir.

PROPOSED ADMISSION CHARGE

Chairman Hayden. Several years ago, it was suggested that consideration be given to an admission charge. Is this proposal still under consideration?

Mr. Carmichael. Senator, that has been considered and we have prepared a detailed statement in regard to it. I do hope that it will not be pressed this year. A good many of our greatest objects were given to us with the understanding that they be displayed without charge to the people as you know, many of our visitors are high-school students, and other people who come from long distances on small budgets, and I sincerely hope that we may not be required to make a charge.

Chairman Hayden. Personally, I questioned the desirability of that charge when it was first brought up 2 years ago but I wanted to inquire about the status of it.

Senator Dworshak?

Senator Dworshak. I have no questions.

Chairman Hayden. If there are no further statements, we thank you.

National Gallery of Art

salaries and expenses

STATEMENTS OF JOHN WALKER, DIRECTOR; HUNTINGTON CAIRNS, SECRETARY; ERNEST R. FEIDLER, ADMINISTRATOR; E. ROY BERGHOIZ, ASSISTANT TREASURER, AND L. D. HAYES, ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR

HOUSE ALLOWANCE

Mr. Walker. Mr. Chairman, I am John Walker, the Director of the National Gallery of Art.

Chairman Hayden. The House allowed the budget estimate of $1,674,000 for the "Salaries and expenses of the National Gallery of Art."

I will include the justifications in the record.

(The justifications referred to follow:)

28 INTERIOR AND RETATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959

Program and financing

Actual, 1957

Estimate, 1958

Estimate, 1959

Program by activities:

1. Acquisition, care, and exhibition of art objects

2. Office of the Secretary, Treasurer, and General Counsel..

3. General administration -

(n) General services

lb) Maintenance and operation of building and

grounds..

(c) Protection of works of art, building, and grounds.

Total obligations

Financing:

Unobligated balance no longer available

Appropriation...

$214,848 68.1P6

212,182

617,360 422. 385

1,534,971

29 1,535,000

$238, 400 73,100

221,900

648,900 462, 700

1,045,000

1,645,000

$244, 2O0 79,100

225, 500

055. 800 469, 400

1, 674,000 1,674,606

Salaries and Expenses, National Gallery of Art Standard classification schedule

Standard classification

Estimate, 1958

Estimate, 1959

Increase (+)

or decrease

(-)

Personal services

Travo]

Transportation of things

Communication services

Rents and utility services:

Electric current

Steam

Printing and reproduction

Other contractual services.

Services performed by other agencies

Supplies and materials

Equipment

Grants, subsidies, and contributions

Refunds, awards and indemnities

Taxes and assessments

Total estimate

, 319, 700

2,400

600

11,800

85.000 72,300

8,400

26, 8M

600

32. 900

3,400

79.600

500

1,000

$1,330,100

2,400

600

11,800

85,000 72,300

8,400

38,000

600

35, 400

5,200

82,700

500

1,000

1, 645,000

+$10,400

+ 11,200

+2, 500 + 1.800 +3,100

+29.000

Obligations by objects

Object classification

Actual, 1957

Estimate, 1958

Estimate, 1959

Total number of permanent positions

Full-time equivalent of all other positions-Average number of all employees.

Number of employees at end of year

Average GS grade and salary

Average salary ungraded positions.

316 333

327

5

318

335

330

5

320

337

4.0

$4, 078 3,947

$4. 125 3,987

$4. 138 3,970

Personal services:

Permanent positions

Positions other than permanent

Other personal services

Total personal services

Travel _.

Transportation of things

Comm'mication services

Rents and utility sorvices:

Electric current

Steam

Printing and reproduction

Other contract'ial services

Services performed by other agencies.

S"pplies and materials

Equipment

Lands and structures

Grants, subsidies, and contrib"tions

Refunds, awards, and indemnities

Taxes and assessments

, 248. 538 19,082 26.015

$1, 277,100 16.400 26.200

$1,287,500 16, 400 26.200

, 293.635

2,397

591

11,632

84,828 65,000

5.358

22,063

616

31. 294

2,411 13,500

3,319.700

2,400

600

11,800

85.000 72.300

8.400

26,800

600

32,900

3,400

1,330.100

2,400

600

11,800

86,000

72.300 8,400

38,000 600

35, 400 5,200

510

1, 136

79,600

500

1,000

82.700

500

1,000

Total obligations.

1, 534, 971

1,674, 000

INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959 29

Explanation of Estimates for Personal Services

During fiscal year 1958 an average of 110 rooms will be used for exhibiting the collections. Three new rooms to be constructed this year from private funds will provide an average of 113 gallery rooms in use for exhibition purposes in fiscal year 1959.

INCREASES (AS SET FORTH ON P. 3), $10,400

Additional guards for new rooms {2 GS-2 positions), $5,900

The protection of the 3 additional rooms to be open to the public in 1959 requires the establishment of an additional guard post to be manned for the 363 days the gallery is open each year. To provide this service, two new guard positions, at an annual cost of $5,900, have been included in these estimates.

Additional accountant (1 GS-7 position), $4,500

In 1942 the accounting office of the gallery was staffed with four full-time employees. Since that time there has been no increase in the number of employees assigned to accounting work, although new laws, regulations, and procedures during the past 8 years have progressively increased the workload of the office. The major changes resulting in an increase in accounting work have been:

(1) Social Security Act Amendments of 1950, by which employees not covered by the Civil Service Retirement Act were extended social security coverage.

(2) Changes in appropriation accounting procedures in 1952 to provide accounting support for classification of obligations by activities as well as by objects.

(3) Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Act, 1955, providing for deduction of premiums from employees' salaries and contributions from appropriations.

(4) Amendments to the Classification Act of 1949 (effective in 1956) in accordance with which almost one-third of the gallery employees are now paid under a separate and more complex salary system than prior to the conversion of these employees to wage-board rates.

(5) Amendment of the District of Columbia income and franchise tax law providing for withholding of District of Columbia income tax from salaries of employees domiciled in the District of Columbia.

(6) Amendment of the Civil Service Retirement Act by which, beginning in fiscal year 1957, contributions based on employee earnings must be made from the agency appropriation to the retirement fund.

In addition to the new accounting work represented by the above items, the volume of accounts for works of art and other gifts made to the gallery has more than doubled since 1942.

As fiscal work must be kept current, it was necessary during the past fiscal year to provide additional man-hours by overtime work, by restricting the granting of annual leave, and by the employment of temporary help. These measures must be continued until public funds for an additional employee can be made available.

The workload of the accounting office for 1959 is estimated at 5.3 man-years. The additional position requested will provide a total of five employees for the office.

Employment for 1959. —Within-grade promotions to be absorbed in 1959 are estimated at a net cost of $3,155. With the absorption of this amount, the total request of $1,330,100 for 1959 personal services will support a full-time employment (including the 3 new positions) of 315, as compared to the 313 estimated for 1958.

30 INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959 Detail of "Other obligations"

1956 actual

1957 actual

19.58 estimate

1959 estimate

■02 Travel -

j03 Transportation of things:

031 Postage

032 Bills oflading...

Total.

04 Communication services:

041 Postage

042 Telephone

044 Telegrams

Total -

05 Rents and utility services:

051 Electric current._

052 Steam

Total.

Printing and reproduction:

061 Information booklets.

062 Bookbinding

063 All other printing

Total.

07 Other contractual services:

071 Repair, alteration, and maintenance of personal

property

Repair, alteration, and maintenance of real property —

Restoration of works of art

074 Contributions, employees' life insurance

075 All other services

072 073

Total.

08 Supplies and materials:

081 Art, library, and curatorial supplies

082 Photographic supplies

083 General office supplies

084 Building operating supplies

085 Supplies for repair, alteration, and renovation of building and fixed equipment

Ground maintenance supplies

Guard force supplies

All other supplies

086 087

Total

09 Equipment

10 Lands and structures

11 Grants, subsidies, and contributions (contribution to re-

tirement fund)

13 Refunds, awards, and indemnities

15 Taxes and assessments (Federal Insurance Contributions

Act taxes)

$1,883

320 182

502

3,130

8.7&S

147

12,065

77,289

77,289

1,783 1,942 2,058

6, 783

2,297

8, 565

9,000

4,309

733

24,904

3,049 4,401 3,146

11,158

3,137 1,182 2,764 1,780

30, 617 3,507 12,200

230 1,289

Totals.

170, 269

$2,397

$2,400

280 31]

2 si i 820

591

600

2, 520

8,911

201

2. 520

9,080

200

11.632

11,800

84,828 65,000

85,000 72.300

149,828

3,176 1,595

587

5,500 1,700 1,200

5,358

8,400

2,461

6,275

9,000

4,224

719

5,580

7,320

9,200

4,500

800

22,679

27, 400

2,843 4,420 2,900 12,554

2,932 1,473 2,532 1,640

2,800 4,400 2,900 12,500

2,900 1,400 4,400 1,600

31,294 2,411 13,500

32,900 3,400

510 1,136

79,600 500

1,000

241,336

325, 300

$2,400

280 320

2,520

9,080

200

11,800

85,000 72,300

157,300

5, .500 1,700 1,200

8,400

5,580

18,520

9,200

4,500

800

38,600

5,300 4,400 2,900 12,500

2,900 1,400 4,400 1,600

35,400 5,200

82, 700 500

1,000

343,900

Explanation of "Other Obligations"

A detailed analysis of "Other obligations" (object classes 02 through 15) is presented on the two preceding pages. Except for two equipment repair and replacement programs approved in the 1958 estimates, and the items explained below, the amounts shown in the preceding tabulation represent the normal recurring items required in the operation of the gallery.

Repair and replacement programs continuing through 1959

The 1958 appropriation includes $3,500 for reupholstering 20 of a total of 70 sofas purchased in 1941, and $1,860 for the replacement of 12 of a total of 36 typewriters purchased in 1940. As contemplated in the 1958 budget submission, these projects are included at the same level in these estimates for 1959.

INTERIOR AND REOLATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959 31

INCREASES (AS SET FORTH ON P. 3), $18,600

07 Replacement of built-up roof, $6,000

In view of the deteriorated condition of the membrane waterproofing and the insulation in the built-up roof over areas of ornate plaster ceiling (approximately 3,200 square feet, laid in 1939), it has been determined that the only safe and economical step to take is to replace this roof. The work contemplated should provide a satisfactory roof for another 18 to 20 years. A reputable roofing contractor has estimated this work at $6,000.

07 Replacement of potentiometers {temperature recording instruments), $5,200 When the building was constructed, 16 potentiometers were installed in the

control room of the operating engineer. These instruments record the temperature and humidity in the several art-exhibition areas. Parts subject to greatest wear were obtained prior to the discontinuance of their manufacture more than 10 years ago. This supply has been exhausted and new parts are unobtainable. The replacement program for these instruments will cover a 4-year period with 4 instruments being replaced in 1959 and 4 during each of the next 3 years. Parts from the discarded machines will be used, as far as possible, to keep the remaining old machines in operation until replacement.

08 Protective material, Index of American Design, $2,500

The Index of American Design is a collection of watercolor renderings of the popular arts in the United States from about 1700 to 1900. The purpose of the index was to record designs of historical significance which had not been studied and which stood in danger of being lost; to gather traditional material which might form the basis of an organic development of American design, and to make this material accessible to artists, designers, manufacturers, museums, libraries, and art schools.

The index contains color plates of ceramics, furniture, wood carving, glassware, metalwork, tools, utensils, textiles, costumes, etc. Some 15,000 finely executed plates and about 5,000 photographs may be studied at the National Gallery of Art. The designs are sent out on exhibition and for study purposes; they are used by designers, authors, publishers, and others. In view of the use that is being made of the index material and the large investment made by the Government to produce it, reasonable precaution should be taken to insure its preservation. In the preservation process it is necessary to enclose each plate in a transparent-faced envelope. It is contemplated that during the year 1959 a portion of the items comprising the index will be protected by providing such envelopes. At the rate of completion represented by the $2,000 requested for 1959, the entire project will cover a 10-year period.

09 Replacement of embossing machine for making addressograph plates, $1,800 The graphotype machine presently in use was acquired in 1945. On this

machine the addressograph plates are made by operation of a lever for each letter after a handwheel is used to place the letter or die in proper position. During the past fiscal year 4,999 plates were made on this machine. The process is extremely slow, antiquated, and costly. It is proposed to procure a modern machine with typewriter keyboard which will enable these plates to be made rapidly by a typist. Plates made by use of this graphotype machine are used to record all property and all works of art (source, artist, location, etc.), and for mailing lists.

11 Increase in contribution to retirement fund, $3,100

The payment to the retirement fund (as required by title IV of Public Law 384, approved July 31, 1956) will be one biweekly pay period greater in 1959 than in the 1958 fiscal year. The additional amount required for this purpose in 1959 is $3,100.

- General Statement

Chairman Ha yd en. Have you a statement?

Mr. Walker. May I make this statement, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee: This month the National Gallery of Art completed its 17th year of service. In this relatively short period, the gallery has become one of the great national museums of the world. This phenomenal growth, both in collections and world prestige, is

23673—58 3

32 INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959

attributed to the generosity of public-spirited Americans and the high standard of operation and maintenance supported through annual appropriations by the Congress.

All works of art in the National Gallery have been given or loaned by private individuals. None has been acquired from public funds. During the past fiscal year the gallery received as gifts or loans 198 paintings, 3 pieces of sculpture, 113 objects of decorative art, and 19G prints and drawings.

The monumental structure housing this great national collection was also a gift to the people. Since the building opened in 1941, 24 new exhibition rooms have been constructed in areas initially left unfinished. Funds for this work were given by private citizens. In 1959, three more new rooms will be opened to the public.

MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION OF EXHIBITS

Growth of the collections and a subsequent expansion of area required for their exhibition do result in slight increases in the annual cost of protecting and maintaining the exhibits. As the building and equipment become older, upkeep costs also increase. The current year's appropriation for the National Gallery is $1,645,000. An appropriation of $1,674,000 is requested for the fiscal year 1959. This increase of $29,000 is due chiefly to the growth of the collections and additional upkeep expense for the building and equipment. Specifically, the increase consists of the following items:

(1) Three new positions (two guards and one accounting clerk) with total annual salaries of $10,400.

(2) Repairs to the roof of the building, estimated at $6,000.

(3) Replacement of 4 recording instruments in the air-conditioning system at $5,200.

(4) Replacement of an addressing machine for $1,800.

(5) Purchase of material for protecting drawings of American designs at $2,500.

(6) An increase in the gallery's contribution to the civil-service retirement fund amounting to $3,100.

The 2 guard positions are for the protection of exhibitions in the 3 new rooms 1 have mentioned. The additional accounting clerk will provide the only increase in our accounting personnel since 1942, although the workload of that office has continued to increase due to the growth of the gallery and to added accounting work required by new laws and regulations affecting the pay of employees and salary deductions.

Chairman Hayden. I wanted to ask a question there. These guards are necessary, I assume, to prevent defacement or damage to the exhibits?

Mr. Walker. Yes, sir.

Chairman Hayden. They are needed to do that.

Mr. Walker. Yes, sir.

INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 1959 33

TOTAL VISITORS

Chairman Hayden. How many visitors do you have in a year?

Mr. Walker. Last year just under a million visitors, 942,000. The increase in the contribution to the retirement fund is due to an additional biweekly payroll in 1959 for which the contribution will be required. (The law providing for these contributions was first effective on the 14th day of the current fiscal year.) All other increases listed are for repair or replacement items required in the upkeep of the building or equipment, and in the preservation of the collection of American designs.

Since the National Gallery of Art was opened to the public in 1941, it has been our earnest attempt to administer its activities in a manner which would attract gifts of great works of art to the national collection and to maintain the building in a condition comparable to that at the time of its acceptance by the Government. The appropriation requested is based on the continuance of this policy in the fiscal year 1959.

Chairman Hayden. Are there any questions, Senator Young?

Senator Young. I have no questions.

Chairman Hayden. Senator Dworshak?

PAY OP GUARDS

Senator Dworshak. What is the average pay of the guards?

Mr. Feidler. About $3,200.

Senator Dworshak. Is that part-time?

Mr. Feidler. No, that is full-time on an annual basis.

Senator Dworshak. $3,200.

Mr. Feidler. That is correct.

Senator Dworshak. That is for how many months' work?

Mr. Feidler. Well, they work 12 months out of the year.

Senator Dworshak. They all have civil service status?

Mr. Feidler. Yes, sir. They are all GS-2's. They start at $2,960 but most of them are above the initial entrance step.

Senator Dworshak. Are they married people?

Mr. Feidler. Yes, they are.

Senator Dworshak. That is not much of a salary.

Mr. Feidler. We have been making attempts to get their salaries raised but, of course, they come under civil service standards and we will have to get prior approval from them, which we have not been able to accomplish up to this time.

Senator Dworshak. How many hours a week do they work?

Mr. Feidler. Forty hours.

Senator Dworshak. They have to do some other outside work to make up that salary.

Mr. Feidler. That is true. Some of them do. On the other hand, some of them are retired servicemen having other income.

Senator Dworshak. Your payroll estimate for 1959, of course, gives no consideration to the possibilities of salary increase?

Mr. Feidler. No, sir.

Senator Hayden. Thank you, gentlemen.

National Capital Planning Commission

salaries and expenses

STATEMENTS OF HARLAND BARTHOLOMEW, CHAIRMAN; JOHN NOLEN, JR., DIRECTOR; JOHN R. PRITCHARD, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, AND EDWARD GROTECLOSS, JR., LAND PURCHASING OFFICER

HOUSE ALLOWANCE

Chairman Hayden. The House bill provides an appropriation of $225,000 for salaries and expenses of the Commission. This is the same amount as appropriated for the current year, and a reduction of $25,000 in the budget estimate of $250,000.

I understand that the Commission is requesting this committee to provide the full amount of the estimate

The justifications will be included in the record.

(The justifications referred to follow:)

Part I. Salaries and Expenses (City and Regional Planning)

1. Amount of estimate, $250,000: 1958 appropriation, $225,000.

2. Appropriation language changes proposed: None proposed.

'.'>. Statutory authorization: Public Law 592, S2d Congress (66 Stat. 781).

4. Purpose of appropriation: To finance the city and regional planning operations of the National Capital Planning Commission and the National Capital Regional Planning Council. The two agencies occupy the same offices and use the same staff.

5. General scope of the Commission's functions: The Commission has three principal functions:

(1) To prepare and keep up to date its comprehensive plan for the National Capital and make related recommendations to developmental agencies.

(2) To serve as the central planning agency for both Federal and District governments, reviewing their current development programs.

(3) To represent the Federal and District governments for collaboration with the regional planning council.

In addition to these planning functions, the Commission has for more than 30 years had the duty of acquiring land for parks, parkways, and playgrounds.

Because of the need to serve coordinalely both Federal and District governments in the Washington area and collaborate with Maryland and Virginia on interstate problems of growing magnitude, city and regional planning programs and procedures are far more complex and interdependent than in the average American city.

It was the purpose of the National Capital Planning Act of 1952 to provide, through the Planning Commission and the Regional Planning Council, the media for development of general guiding plans throughout the National Capital region with a view to avoiding costly mistakes in public policy and as a means for evaluating and resolving inevitable differing views and interests. The experience of the last 5 years has shown that this purpose cannot be realized, however, without a far more adequate Staff to service the Commission's increased needs under the new act.

In 1953 a committee of the Commission made an exhaustive study of the staff requirements for carrying out all its responsibilities as intended under the new legislation. The committee concluded that it would require about double the then staff of 20, recognized a- inadequate even under the old legislation. This report was presented to the Bureau of the Budget and requesl made for progressive expansion to this objective. One additional position was allowed this year.

Washington, the National Capital, enjoys the services of a ten member plan-ping commission composed of "five eminent citizens well qualified and experienced in city and regional planning," two of whom must be residents of the District of Columbia or environs fall of whom serve without pay) and five ex officio members who arc Federal and District officials designated especially because of their re-Bponsibilities for development of the Nation's Capital. Other ex officio members