This book made available by the Internet Archive.

INDEPENDENT OFFICES APPROPRIATION" RILL. 1948

Tuesday, April 29, 1947. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

STATEMENTS OF DR. ALEXANDER WETMORE, SECRETARY; JOHN E. GRAF, ASSISTANT SECRETARY; J. I. KEDDY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY; H. W. DORSEY, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY; C. W. MITMAN, ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY; L. B. ALDRICH, DIRECTOR, ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY ; W. P. TRUE, CHIEF, EDITORIAL DIVISION ; M. W. STIRLING, CHIEF, BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY; L. L. OLIVER, SUPERINTENDENT, BUILDINGS AND LABOR. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION; AND COL. HARRY A. McBRIDE, ADMINISTRATOR AND GEORGE HECKERT. ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR. NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

SALARIES AND EXPENSES STANDARD CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE

Salaries and expenses, Smithsonian Institution

Standard classification

Appropriation, 1947

Estimate, 1948

Increase (+)

or decrease (—)

Personal services:

Departmental

Travel

Transportation of things

Communication services

Rents and utility services

Printing and binding

Other contractual services..

Supplies and materials

Equipment

Total appropriation or estimate

$1,426,914 2,100

29, 400 7,725

17,000

88, 500

6, 300

24, 222

30, 751

1, 632, 912

$1,694,247 12, 200 29, 400 7,950 19, 000 150, 950 56,025 34, 426 50, 202

+$267, 333 + 10,100 0 +225 +2, 000 +62, 450 +49, 725 + 10,204 + 19,451

2, 054, 400

+421, 48S

Mr. Wigglesworth. Gentlemen, we have the Smithsonian Institution with us, with a request for $1,987,000, which compares with the appropriation for the current fiscal year of $1,452,512, and with the appropriation for 1940, just prior to the war, of $1,258,420, or an apparent increase, as compared with the current fiscal year, of $534,488.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE ESTIMATES

The justification of the estimates for 194S will he inserted in the record at this point.

(The justification follows:)

Dk'est of Statement Stpfortinc 1948 Request

In completing the first 100 years of its mission, which is the "increase and diffusion of knowledge among men," the Smithsonian Institution has amassed one of the world's greatest collections of scientific material in the fields of anthropology, biology, and geology and has become a leader in the natural sciences. The Smithsonian initiated meteorological studies out of which grew the Weather

Bureau. It pioneered fish conservation and administered the original United States Fish Commission. It directed field surveys of the public domain which led to the establishment of the United States Geological Survey. It created the Astrophysical Observatory for the study of solar radiation. It organized the Bureau of American Ethnology for the study of the earlier American civilizations. It established the original National Gallery of Art and maintains extensive art collections representing the (Near and Far East, Europe, and the Americas. It instituted the National Zoological Park and the International Exchange Service and created one of America's leading scientific libraries

The many subjects under investigation by the Smithsonian Institution are of fundamental importance, not only to our own countrymen but to mankind generally. Its anthropological investigations of the early American peoples shed light on age-old problems of humanity, the struggle to survive and to adjust to environmental changes, and discovered facts of direct use to those who deal with native peoples. The Institution's biological studies are basic to all investigations undertaken for the conservation and utilization of beneficial plants and animals and for the control of those injurious to human society. The correct classification and identification of specimens of plants and animals is an absolute prerequisite to part of our agricultural research. The Institution's geological studies and its classification of minerals and fossils are basic to the determination of subterranean rock formations. With this knowledge, more effective exploration can be conducted for reserves of coal, gas, oil, ores, and the many rare earths which are essential to our future national economy. The Institution's studies of solar radiation are vital to man since on the sun depends all life on earth, both plant and animal. The studies are directed not only to the beneficial effects of light on living things but also to its destructive effects on manufactured products.

In order that the Institution's resources may be fully utilized in the Nation's program of scientific development, its research should be expedited and its collections, (1) must be more completely classified, (2) must be arranged to facilitate more effective study, and (3) must be exhibited in accordance with modern standards. For this purpose additional personnel and equipment are needed.

THE 1948 REQUEST

In 1948 increases in personal services and other obligations will be required as follows:

1. Automatic pay increases for existing personnel $83, 501

2. Reduction of backlogs of work:

(a) Uncataloged specimens $106,042

(6) Modernization of exhibits 33,130

(c) Raising low standards of cleaning 55, 530

(d) Enlarging inadequate administrative services 83, 285

Subtotal 277, 987

3. Canal Zone biological area, maintenance 10,000

4. National Air Museum _' 50, 000

Grand total _- 421, 488

(1) The sum of $83,501 for automatic pay increases for existing personnel includes $55,134 for mandatory within-grade promotions under Public Law 200, Seventy-seventh Congress, as amended, and $28,367 for reclassification costs incurred in 1947 under the Reclassification Act of 1923, as amended, and projected on a full-year basis in 1948. These substantial increases cannot be absorbed by appropriations in the current amount.

(2a) The increasing backlog of uncatalogued specimens (estimated at 1,741,000 by close of 1947) must be brought under control as soon as possible. These uncataloged specimens now have to be held in dead storage in the Institution's collections. Stored knowledge is not usable knowledge, and only usable knowledge can be transformed by study and research into useful knowledge. The destruction of many of the famous collections abroad and the tremendous increase in scientific research in this country place upon the Institution the direct responsibility for making available promptly the fundamental knowledge contained in our collections. To begin to meet these challenging needs, an additional $106,042 is requested.

(2b) To begin the modernization of the Institution's exhibits will require an increase of $33,130. Many of the public exhibits have remained unchanged

for over 30 years improvements in educational programs in institutions of secondary and higher learning and the broadening use of visual methods make it imperative that the Institution replan its existing exhibits to accord with these new principles of education. The Smithsonian Institution must participate in correlating and coordinating its museum program with the Nation's modernized program of education.

(2c) The Institution's present char force can meet only 50 percent of the cleaning standards maintained by the Public Buildings Administration in the other Federal buildings in the Nation's Capital. It is time to end this condition. A substantial improvement over the present low-grade cleaning standards can be effected with the $55 : 530 requested.

(2d) The Institution's existing administrative services are now inadequate to the needs of the agency. There is immediate need for additional services in the personnel office and in the purchase of supplies and equipment. The appropriations for printing and binding have remained unchanged for 6 years, despite a 50-percent increase in cost. One-third of the total work load of the library now comprises backlog. For these reasons the administrative services will require an additional $83,285.

(3) The act of July 2, 19-10, established Barro Colorado Island in Gatun Lake, C. Z., as the Canal Zone biological area, a tropical scientific research station for scientists. Under Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1946, House Document 596, Seventy-ninth Congress, the Canal Zone biological area was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. In accordance with the authorization contained in the enabling act, an estimate of appropriation of $10,000 is requested for the purpose of maintaining the laboratories and other parts of the physical plant on the island and equipping the buildings to facilitate research in tropical flora and fauna for which the station was established.

GENERAL STATEMENT

Mr. Wigglesworth. Dr. Wetmore, you are going to make a brief general statement in connection with the request?

Dr. Wetmore. As you may recall, Mr. Chairman, the Smithsonian Institution was founded by act of Congress on August 10, 1846. We are now beginning our second century of work. The Institution came into being at a time when science was in its infancy in our country, and I think I may say, on behalf of the Institution, without seeming to be egotistical, that the Smithsonian has been a very potent factor in the development of American science as we find it today. The Institution looks with pride at its record.

As a part of its accomplishment it founded what is now the Weather Bureau, as we had the first weather service in the country, established in 1851.

The Institution took early steps toward the conservation of our fisheries when it founded the Fish Commission, which we administered for a number of years before it was taken over by other agencies.

We had considerable hand in the early development of the Geological Survey. One of our principal achievements has been the National Museum, which is a major part of the Smithsonian today.

We have done a great deal in the science of fossils, especially those that are the key indicators to the various rock strata used in locating deposits of oil, ores, and minerals of economic importance.

We have been one of the principal agencies, and one of the first in this country, to study the science of the history of man prior to the discovery of America by Columbus. The Bureau of American Ethnology, established in 1879, is one of the first of such agencies in the new world.

One of our scientific bureaus, the Astrophysical Observatory now has a record of 26 years of measurement and study of radiation from

the sun, unequaled anywhere else in the world. The same bureau was instrumental in the early investigations of high-velocity space rockets, forerunner of rocket developments that played an important part toward the close of the last war. We began the studies of the infrared spectrum and other fundamental matters of that type.

The Institution in the course of its 100 years has been instrumental in the development of art on a national basis. We have unexcelled collections in the fine arts from all parts of the world. The Freer Gallery of Art, which was established by private contribution, now has one of the finest collections of oriental art and Near Eastern art known.

The Smithsonian founded the National Zoological Park, one of the major attractions in Washington.

It also established the International Exchange Service, which is responsible for the exchange of congressional, governmental, and scientific documents of all kinds throughout the world.

Om library is one of the foremost scientific libraries of its kind.

The Smithsonian was established for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. One of the foremost means of diffusing knowledge has been through its publications. These now include hundreds of volumes, covering approximately 100 linear feet of space. The information in these volumes, largely scientific, has been used in many, many ways in many fields of investigation.

When the Institution began in 1846 there were only a few small museums with scientific interests in this country. Now there are more than 2,500 museums in the United States, and we have had close connection with many of them in their foundation, development, and work.

During the last war, World War II, the Institution was not classified as a war agency. Our young men went into the services where they could best be utilized, while the Institution continued its work with the older group of personnel; but we may look with pride at our achievements during the war, including the contribution of specialized information and the answering of the thousands of requests which came to us for attention. During this same period.we worked in close relationship with scientists throughout Latin America. Our contacts in this connection have been very effective since we operate on a nonpolitical, scientific level, and are so recognized.. We feel we really get much closer to the people.

We have done much toward the promotion of cultural relations between our people and those who live south of the border.

As I said, in the beginning, the Institution is now just entering its second century. The scientific picture today is quite different than it was some 50 years ago. At that time science was a matter that concerned only a few individuals, and to most was more or less a closed book. Now science is recognized as a matter of national importance. There are scientific articles and stories carried in all daily newspapers. Science editors are on the staffs of these periodicals, and science is recognized as having definite importance in the life of our Nation.

In many fields of science the Smithsonian Institution provides the fundamentals for the scientific investigations carried on by many governmental and other agencies throughout the country. This is an important part of our work, namely, the classification and identification

of various kinds of plants and animals found not only in this country but throughout the world. Many of these are of definite importance to agriculture, to medicine, to public health and to welfare in general. Insect carriers and other animals concerned in the transmission of disease must be specifically known in order to facilitate the study of such disease. It is our function to furnish that information.

We carry on studies in many fields constantly and publish scientific monographs that are utilized wherever research is undertaken. In other words, we consider our field to be closely related to, and, in many respects, to be the foundation for, a great deal of the developmental work of many other branches of the Government.

We are carrying on at the present time other types of investigations, for example, a series of studies of the factors in light and humidity that affect deterioration in textiles, tent materials, uniforms, and things of that kind. This work is conducted in cooperation with the War Department.

Mr. Phillips. Where is that work being done?

Dr. Wetmore. The studies are carried on at Petersburg, Va., and Miami, Fla. We have devised special instruments to measure and record the factors in light that cause break-down in materials, and other textiles.

Another matter of some interest: We were called upon during the last fiscal year, and the early part of this fiscal year, to make an appraisal of a large store of diamonds that were held by the military authorities in Japan. They wanted to get an indication of their value for administrative purposes in connection with the occupation of that country.

(Off-record discussion.)

We had two biologists at the Crossroads operation at Bikini Atoll to make surveys of the plant and animal life prior to the drop of the bomb. The surveys were carefully made and w r e hope in the next few years to continue from time to time to go back and get further facts to determine the effect that radiation has had on all kinds of life there. This is a most important matter since we must learn more of the effects of this intense radiation on all forms of life.

Since the close of the war, there has developed a broad program of river valley improvements, including dam projects, w r ork that is carried on by other services, but in which we have been asked to participate on a scientific basis by making surveys of the remains of the ancient peoples who lived in these areas. Around 80 percent of the Indians who inhabited America before Columbus' time lived in the river valleys, and many of these areas will be flooded by dams. As a consequence, w r e have been requested to obtain the information on these ancient inhabitants by making surveys, excavations, and necessary studies. This is important, for once the areas are flooded the opportunity of collecting information is gone. A part of that work is ours, and.a part will be done through cooperation with State agencies who are interested.

I wish to make one statement here, which I think is quite important, Mi-. Chairman: It is my definite opinion that the funds appropriated to the Smithsonian Institution during the 75 years or so that it has received such appropriations have bees a paying investment to this Nation. The collections which the Institution maintains on behalf

of our country have a value, at the present time, of upward of a half million dollars, many times the total amount of money that has been appropriated during the period of its history. We have submitted through the Bureau of the Budget, the estimates for our needs for 1948. These estimates have been made very carefully with a full understanding of the policy of the Congress for retrenchment of appropriations and expenditures.

Might I also emphasize, if I may, that the Smithsonian Institution is not a war-inflated agency. On the contrary the war period actually decreased the resources available for the discharge of its responsibilities.

REGULAR AND DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL 1947

The chairman has indicated quite properly the apparent over-all increase of money appropriated, but this increase, as I wish to show from the tables which I now lay before you has been due to congressional action upon pay increases affecting the entire Government service.

Mr. Graf. Your statement, Mr. Chairman, does not include the $180,400 in the deficiency for 1947. The increase for 1948 is considerably less than indicated.

Mr. Phillips. That does not show here?

Mr. Graf. We received in the first deficiency the amount for the last pay act, $180,400.

Mr. Phillips. Which one?

Mr. Graf. For 1947.

Mr. Phillips. The first deficiency appropriation.

Mr. Graf. Yes.

Mr. Phillips. Of $180,000, plus.

Mr. Graf. The annual appropriation for 1947 was $1,452,512; but the supplemental appropriation of $180,400 increases it to $1,632,912 for 1947.

Mr. Phillips. Will you give me the actual appropriation again?

Mr. Graf. The appropriation itself was $1,452,512, to which the chairman called attention, but the deficiency that we have just received on account of the pay act, is $180,400, which brings the total for the year to $1,632,912.

Mr. Wigglesworth. That is just another way of saying the same thing, that the increase of $534,488 is accounted for by $180,450 for the Pay Act increases; $214,683 for new positions, and the balance increase for other obligations? i§f

Mr. Graf. The $180,400 is chargeable to 1947, as well as to 1948, and it therefore does not represent an increase for 1948. That deficiency does not appear on the committee print.

(Off-record discussion)

Dr. Wetmore. If I may turn to these tables, Mr. Cl.iiirman, I think the3 r will make the situation clear to you.

COMPARISON OF PERSONAL SERVICES AND APPROPRIATIONS, 1939-48

The first table is a comparison of personal services and appropriations for the years 1939-47, and the estimates for 1948.

Mr. Wigglesworth. The table will be inserted at this point.

(The table follows:)

Table I.— Comparison of personal services and appropriations

1. 44-hour week for 270.5 positions in the crafts, protective, and custodial

service, and a 39-hour week for 187.9 positions in the administrative,

professional, and subprofessional services: 1939:

Personal services

Total appropriation

2. 44-hour week for all, beginning Jan. 26, 1942:

1942:

Personal services

Total appropriation

3. 48-hour week for all, beginning Dec. 26, 1942:

1943:

Personal services

Total appropriation

4. 40-hour week for all, beginning Sept. 9,1945, except guards who continued

on 48-hour week until 1947: 1946:

Personal services. _

Total appropriation

5. 40-hour week for all. Includes 62 positions approved by Congress to place

guards on 40-hour week and to provide for return of veterans: 1947:

Personal services

Total appropriation

6. 40-hour week for all:

1948:

Personal services

Total appropriation

7. Proportion of crafts, protective, and custodial service—60 percent.

Positions

468.0

i 425.0

Appropri- Average ation salary

$817,316 1,021,165

866, 529 1,115,022

972, 082 1,182,080

1,136,045 1, 357, 561

1,426,914 2 1,632,912

1, 694, 247

$1,761

1,851

2, 363

2,848

2,921

1 Personnel ceilings fixed by Budget Bureau greatly reduced number of positions from 1944 through 1946. includes supplemental appropriation of $180,400 for Public Law 390 (increased pay costs).

Dr. Wetmore. In 1939 we bad a "44-hour week for 270.5 positions, and a 39-hour week for 187.9, or a total of 458.4 positions, the personnel appropriation being $817,316. The total appropriation for the year was $1,021,165.

In 1942 we were on a 44-hour week for all, and we had 468 positions with a total salary roll of $866,529, the total appropriation being $1,115,022.

In 1943, beginning in December, we were on a 48-hour week for all, and with the same number of positions, 468, the total item for salaries being increased through congressional action to $972,082, with a total appropriation of $1,182,080.

In fiscal year 1946, we were on a 40-hour week for all, except the guard force which remained on 48 hours per week, but through the imposition of personnel ceilings of the Bureau of the Budget the total number of positions was reduced to 425. You can see here the reflection of the effect of the war involving salary increases to compensate for higher living costs; the total salary roll for these 425 positions being $1,136,045 with a total appropriation for that year of $1,357,561. The average salary per person had increased from $1,761 in 1939 to $2,363 in 1946.

In 1947 the necessity for additional help when guards and all others came under the 40-hour workweek resulted in a request for 62 additional positions which Congress approved. Provision was also made for returning veterans whose positions had been dropped under the imposition of the personnel ceiling during the war. The total personnel for 1947 was 501 costing $1,426,914 with a total appropriation

of $1,632,912, including the $180,400 supplemental estimate under Public Law 390.

In 1948 we are estimating for, including the 68 additional positions

Mr. Wigglesworth (interposing). Is it 68 or 61? The original figure of 562 corresponds with what I find in the Budget break-down.

Dr. Wetmore. The additional is due to the National Air Museum.

Dr. Keddy. That is in the amendment.

Mr. Wigglesworth. You have not been allowed that as yet?

Dr. Wetmore. No, sir; it will be considered at this hearing.

Dr. Keddy. It is being presented as a part of the budget for 1948.

Mr. Wigglesworth. That is including the supplemental item which has just been submitted but which is not included in the Budget statement?

Dr. Keddy. In the printed Budget.

Dr. Wetmore. That is right.

Mr. Wigglesworth. But it is presented to the committee.

Dr. Keddy. As an amendment to the printed Budget.

Dr. Wetmore. In other words, as you will note, in the fiscal year 1947, although we show 42.6 positions over what we had in 1939, our position, so far as service is concerned, is worse than it was in 1939 due to the difference in working hours. We have a very large proportion of custodial services, guards, mechanics, and char force, that work on a 24-hour basis or od measured work; that is, they work 40 hours a week, while they were previously working 48 and 44 hours. Necessarily the change in hours does not affect the scientific staff so much, although we do lose time. In the case of the custodial force, it is quite different as considerably more personnel has to be provided to give the amount of service required.

Then on the next page

Mr. Wigglesworth. Dr. Wetmore, before you leave that page, it is nevertheless true, apparently from the data, you are asking for the fiscal year 1948, including this additional request, and assuming that the supplemental item which you just spoke of is allowed, a total of 144 additional positions, regardless of the increase in salaries under the Pay Act.

Mr. Graf. That is as compared to 1946?

Mr. Wigglesworth. That is in 1946 and 1948.

Mr. Graf. Yes; 1946 was a low point in our operations. As a nonwar agency we were considerably reduced as to personnel.

Dr. Wetmore. You will notice that the low came in 1946, just at the close of the war, when 425 positions were allowed. Actually that was the ceiling imposed by the Bureau of the Budget. The year 1946 was a year of catastrophe which should not be used as a base.

Mr. Wigglesworth. I realize that, Doctor; I am just trying to get the facts clear for the record.

Dr. Wetmore. Under that ceiling of 425 it was never possible to keep our positions filled. The regulation on ceilings provided that not more than 425 names might be on the pay roll at any one time. When anyone dropped out of a position, it took a little time to replace them and we were out that position. We were not permitted to recruit ahead of time.

INDEPENDENT OFFICES APPROPRIATION BILL, 194 8

COMPARISON OF APPROPRIATIONS, 1931-48

The second table I think you will find interesting;. It is a comparative statement of positions, personal services, other obligations, and appropriations from 1931 to 1947 with the estimate for 1948 included.

Mr. Wigglesworth. The table will be inserted in the record.

(The table follows:)

Table II. — Comparative study of appropriations — 1931 through 19J f S

' Does not include $270,000 for installation of alternating-current electric system.

2 Estimated for these years.

3 Increase included: For 40-hour week, 45 positions; restoration of veterans, 17 positions; new positions, ii; total, 76 positions.

« includes supplemental appropriation, $180,400 for Public Law 390 (increased pay costs).

Dr. Wetmore. In 1931 and 1932 the annual appropriation for the Smithsonian Institution was $1,155,000 plus. Under the imposition of the Economy Act we were cut to $820,000. This was effected mainly by reducing "Other obligations," which were cut down 60 percent. Printing was practically wiped out. We made a cut in our personnel of 5 percent in our professional staff, of 10 percent in the subprofessional; and of 5 percent in our protective and custodial staff, while the clerical staff remained practically unchanged. We were faced with a very hard choice. We are entrusted with the preservation of large and valuable collections which could not be neglected, otherwise they might deteriorate and be lost. So we had to hold the technical and custodial staff together to save these collections, while we had to keep our clerical staff practically unchanged, since it was so small that we could not reduce it without stalling our administrative services.

Actually the Institution never fully recovered from that cut which was approximately 30 percent.

At the beginning of the war in 1941, we had increased to $1,085,980. In 1942 it was $1,115,022, still below the appropriation for 1932.

In 1943 the total shows an increase to about the total for 1931 and 1932, but there, again, the increase was due to increases in salaries that were granted by congressional authorization, and that condition has held right up to the present time. Even in 1946 there was a very considerable increased pay cost; the personnel for 1946 numbering

only 425 while the cost was $1,136,045, whereas in 1931 the personnel numbered 461 and the cost only $845,297.

The point I wish to indicate to you is that the request for additional personnel in the estimates for 1948 is intended largely to restore the institution to its prewar status, to bring us back to our former position, since there was no inflation of staff during the war period. We were decreased during the war. •

INCREASE IN RESPONSIBILITIES AND WORK LOAD

Meanwhile we have had a tremendous increase in our responsibilities. In 1932, for example, the specimens in the National Museum numbered around 13,720,000; the professional staff at that time was 122. Now for these collections, in 1947, the staff has only been increased by 14, up to 136; the collections, meanwhile having increased to more than 19,000,000.

The present personnel, therefore, is only 10 percent above that of 1932, but the work load has increased 28 percent.

The new professional and subprofessional positions requested for 1948 represent only a 21-percent increase over 1932, whereas the work load shows an increase of 28 percent in collections alone. We are thus steadily losing ground in relation to the work we must do.

Mr. Wigglesworth. How much will your work load for 1948 increase over 1947?

Dr. Wetmore. The average biennial increment to our collections is in the neighborhood of one-haJf million specimens. And I might state here that it is our policy, which we follow very definitely, to refuse more proffered gifts than we accept. In other words, we do not take everything that is offered to us. We use definite discrimination in taking only the things that are valuable to us and to the Nation.

OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Comparison of the 1947 funds available for other obligations with those just prior to the economy program in 1933, actually shows the 1947 funds to be 30 percent less than those which were available in 1931, and this 30-percent reduction is further aggravated by the great increase in costs of supplies and materials in the intervening period. That increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, amounts to 80 percent.

INCREASES IN APPROPRIATIONS

Mr. Wigglesworth. You are still referring to page 2 of this statement before us?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Wigglesworth. .Do I read that figure correctly, for other obligations? It looks like $300,380 for 1931.

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Wigglesworth. And you are asking for $360,153 now?

Dr. Wetmore. I was speaking of the 1947 funds.

Dr. Keddy. The $205,998 for 1947 was the amount he was using in his comparison.

Dr. Wetmore. The funds for 1947, the present fiscal year, can buy less than 40 percent of what we could purchase in 1931 with the same amount of money.

Mr. Wigglesworth. But again the $205,998 for 1947 would compare with $171,471 in 1945, and with $119,963 at the low-water mark after the economy Act in 1934.

Dr. Keddy. Yes; that is the point the Secretary is making, Mr. Chairman, that we have been living on a starvation diet for the last 15 years, and the work of the institution is suffering because of our extreme poverty, for lack of supplies and insufficient equipment. For instance, we have a hundred typewriters that should be replaced; some of them have been there for from 7 to 20 years. We have a hundred typewriters now that should be replaced, but we do not have a dime for that purpose.

Mr. Wigglesworth. I think I understand the general inference of Dr. Wetmore's remarks, but if you take the figures that you have given me, the total estimates and the appropriations, you will find an almost steady increase each year, all along the line from 1934 up to 1947, and a still further increase requested for 1948.

Dr. Keddy. But you will also note that during the war years prices were going up and our funds for other obligations were going down. Those are the years that we were on a starvation diet, since..the early thirties.

Dr. Wetmore. Mr. Chairman, the point I made at the beginning was that the increase has been under personal services, while there has not been any large addition in personnel; the increase in cost has been due to adjustments that have come about through congressional action in increasing salary rates for the entire Government service. Naturally we have had that, and without it we would have been unable to operate, but the net result has been to deny us the services that we have needed, the volume of services required remaining at the same level, although the actual cost of ths services has greatly increased due to the increased cost of the lnbor.

If you will compare the total of other obligations for 1947. $205,998, with the total we had available in 1931, $300,380, it indicates that we have actually less money; and to aggravate our problem, supplies cost more in 1947. We lost in two ways.

Mr. Wigglesworth. What is your over-all appropriation for 1947? It was more than your over-all appropriation for 1931?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes. But the difference is entirely in salary increases.

Dr. Keddy. And the other obligations is the smallest item.

Mr. Wigglesworth. I think the figures you have submitted in this statement speak for themselves.

RELATION OF ESTIMATES TO APPROPRIATIONS IN PRIOR FISCAL YEARS

Dr. Keddy. Mr. Chairman I would like to conclude with this thought, that if Congress appropriates every item of the $360,153 we are asking for other obligations, and that, Mr. Chairman, includes the National Air Museum item contained in the amendment, we would still have only 64 percent of the funds which we had available in 1931, on the basis of purchasing power. We would have 64 percent of what we had in 1931 if the committee decides to give us the entire amount we are requesting, $360,153.

Dr. Wetmore. We have made a careful survey recently of our inventories of stocks and supplies, and they are at the lowest ebb

that I have seen them during the 25 years of my connection with the Institution.

Dr. Keddy. The invertories are so low as to completely stall maintenance and repair work at the present time. We have just enough to do the minimum today.

WOEK LOAD

Dr. Wetmore. On page 3 there is a graph indicating the relationship of personnel to specimens, which shows the specimen work load continually going up since 1925. You will note also that the increase is entirely an increase in specimens in the National Museum, which is one criterion of judgment of our needs. The personnel line below on this chart has gone down very definitely from 1944 to 1946, the only increase coming in 1947, and that was largely owing to the shorter workweek.

BACKLOG OF WORK

The next sheets, pages 4 and 5, give an analysis of the backlog in relation to specimens in the National Museum, with an indication of the number of uncataloged specimens. As long as the cataloging work is held up, this material cannot be put to use in the museum. In this uncataloged material there is much valuable information which is not available. It cannot be made available until we can get it arranged, properly identified, and in position for study.

Mr. Wigglesworth. The backlog for 1948 is just about the same as it was for 1947?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Graf. We will lose little ground on the basis of the estimated personnel for 1948.

Dr. Wetmore. But without the additional help provided for in the estimate we will lose ground very definitely. We are basing this figure on the proposition that the additional assistance we are requesting under the 1948 estimates may be provided.

Mr. Wigglesworth. You had an increase of 7 percent one year and 14 percent another year.

Dr. Keddy. The average rate for the last 3 years has been roughly 7 percent.

Dr. Wetmore. There is one other important need at the present time which is shown on page 6.

INCREASE FOR CHAR FORCE

The purpose of this chart is to give to the members of the committee a picture of the char force as it is related to tjie ordinary standards for char force service in cleaning buildings. The upper line is the Public Buildings Administration figures, showing the number of persons that would be required to clean properly the 564,000 square feet of floor space which we have. That would take a standard force of 54.4 positions. Actually at the present time we are doing it inadequately with 28.

Mr. Wigglesworth. How much floor space do you have?

Dr. Wetmore. Five hundred and sixty-four thousand square feet. The standard figure for cleaning is estimated at 110,000 square feet per person per day, and we are running about twice that much.

61038—47—pt. 1 52

Mr. Wigglesworth. That would represent the floor space of a room about 100 feet by 100 feet.

Dr. Keddy. Ten thousand square feet per day per person for an 8-hour day.

Mr. Wigglesworth. That would mean the same thing as one employee taking care of a room 100 feet square?

Dr. Wetmore. That is right; to do it properly. We are running about 50 percent deficiency on that same basis, using those figures as a basis. We are asking for an additional 14.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Is it 14, or 24?

Dr. Keddy. Some of the custodial increases included in the 24 are for other purposes; 14 are actually for floor cleaning.

Mr. Andrews. How many do you have now?

Dr. Keddy. We now have 28.

Mr. Andrews. And you want about 42?

Dr. Keddy. That is right.

Dr. Wetmore. I think this is an important point. We have hundreds of thousands of visitors to our buildings, which necessarily means that there is a considerable accumulation of dirt which must be removed each day. We had in our buildings last year 2,100,000. people. We will have an increase of probably 200,000 over that figure in the course of this present year, or a total of about 2,300,000 people.

I might say that these visitors come from all over the United States The attendance is very large at the present time and will increase steadily up until June, then leveling off for the summer months, with a high figure of around a half million people per month. These visitors come from everywhere in this country, in fact from all over the world. It is most interesting to see them come in, and note the varied interests they have, the things they wish to examine. We will have from 10 to 12 large busses parked out front; they drive up every day. These visitors come to see the exhibits in the National Museum and our other collections. Many of them come from the adjacent States in bus loads. Of course, by automobile they come from everywhere throughout the country.

Dr. Keddy. I think. Mr. Chairman, this particular table presents a kind of challenge of whether the Smithsonian Buildings should be kept as clean as the rest of the Federal buildings in the city of Washington. That is the thing in a nutshell. We have had only this small staff during these years, since the economy wave of 1933. During that time the rest of the Federal buildings, including the Capitol buildings, have had the staff to take care of them, and here we have the largest number of visitors from the United States—along with the Capitol—and are provided with only about a 50 percent force.

Mr. Robertson. Who started the economy wave in 1933?

Dr. Keddy. It began before 1933.

Mr. Robertson. The wave started in 1932 or 1933, but I think you will agree it did not continue did it?

Dr. Keddy. I am glad you raised that point, Congressman, because during my experience of some 30 years in the Government the Smithsonian Institution is about the only agency that has never recovered from the 1933 economy wave.

Mr. Andrews. You have more people going through that building than any other building except the Capitol?

Dr. Keddy. Yes; some 3,000,000 are expected in 1948. Mr. Hendricks. That is less than the number of visitors to the Florida exhibit in the World's Fair.

PRINTING AND BINDING PUBLICATIONS AND COST OF PRINTING

Dr. Wetmore. There is another table, on page 7, which I think you will find of interest. That relates to the analysis of our publications, and the cost of printing. This summary extends from the fiscal year 1940 up to 1947, and is projected into 1948 on the basis of the estimates that we have submitted.

In 1940 we actually issued 3,212 printed pages. The total cost was $36,717 for those pages. The unit cost was $11.43 per page. At that time we had a backlog of publications. We could not put out for lack of available funds 5,725 pages.

In 1946 we actually issued 5,624 pages, and the total cost was $97,331. The unit cost was $17.31 per page.

In 1947, this^present fiscal year, the money we»have available will allow for about 3,600 pages, at a total cost of $69,804, with a unit cost of $19.39. That unit cost is something beyond our control; the work is done by the Government Printing Office and we pay the bill as it comes to us.

As I said a few moments ago, we were set up for the purpose of increasing and diffusing knowledge. This is done very largely through publications, and we find ourselves very considerably crippled at the present time so far as publications are concerned, with a backlog in the neighborhood of 14,000 pages of scientific material that could be issued if funds were available. We have included on that basis an estimate for additional printing in order to overcome this increase in the unit price.

Mr. Wigglesworth. What is the nature of that material?

Dr. Wetmore. It consists of scientific publications. We have some samples of that here.

Mr. Wigglesworth. What I had in mind was this. You are putting out 3,600 pages in this fiscal year?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Wigglesworth. And you want to increase that by about 25 percent, because you say you have important materials which you have not beenable to- print. What would be included in that additional 25 percent?

Dr. Wetmore. That 25 percent would cover monographs of scientific materials in the various fields of zoology, botany, and publications relating to American Indians, and materials of that kind, standard types of publications; but in addition

Mr. Wigglesworth. Have you finished the Handbook on the South American Indians?

Dr. Wetmore. The manuscript is complete and two parts have been printed. As I said, these are merely samples.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Can you specify now what you want to publish in 1948? First, what was the cost oj the work that went into the Handbook on the South American Inc^ins?

Dr. Wetmore. For the printing? al

Mr. Wigglesworth. Well, how muclf^was done in the way of personnel and so on?

Dr. Keddy. It ran about $54,000.

Dr. Wetmore. The cost of the personnel?

Mr. Wigglesworth. How much was the total cost of the work done out of your appropriation?

Mr. Graf. About $54,000. About $12,000 a year for around 4% years.

Mr. Wigglesworth. I was referring to your appropriation. You did not pay all of the costs?

Dr. Keddy. That is right. We have a working arrangement with various other institutions and individuals, but we do the publishing. We had to use our own money to pay the printing costs.

Mr. Wigglesworth. You also indicated earlier you were going to do some work with reference to Indians in the southeastern United States.

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Is that a similar project?

Dr. Wetmore. No.

Mr. Wigglesworth. That covers another project. The first one was completed?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Wigglesworth. And how much went into that?

Dr. Wetmore. I would say approximately, between $15,000 and $20,000. That was distributed over a considerable period of years.

There was one scientist working on it part-time, for a period of perhaps 15 to 20 years.

Mr. Wigglesworth. How about your survey of the mineral resources in Mexico?

Dr. Wetmore. That was done in cooperation with the Geological Survey.

Mr. Wigglesworth. But some of your funds went into that?

Dr. Wetmore. W"e paid the salary of our personnel; they paid the field expenses.

Mr. Wigglesworth. And how much of your money went into that project; could you give us a guess?

Dr. Wetmore. Around $20,000. That was a part of the war effort.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Was there some specific authorization for that, or was it done under your general authority?

Dr. Wetmore. Under our general authority.

Mr. Wigglesworth. How about this archeology material you referred to in connection with the construction of dams and reservoirs? Will that be a continuing problem?

Dr. Wetmore. It will be a continuing problem for several years.

Mr. Wigglesworth. And how much will go into that for the fiscal year 1948?

Mr. Graf. We are using three of our own people; it will run about $12,000 a year for salaries of our personnel; but the major part of the cost is to be paid out of funds transferred from the Bureau of Reclamation.

civil-service examination work

Mr. Wigglesworth. Ijow much have you included in here for work which the Civil Seryce Commission has unloaded on you? Dr. Keddy. One positi' X ,i.

Mr. Wigglesworth. A. $3,000, something like that. Mr. Graf. $2,394.

INDEPENDENT OFFICES APPROPRIATION BILL, 1948

819

PRINTING AND BINDING

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

Mr. Wiggles worth. I wonder if you would insert in the record at this point a list of documents you published in 1947 for this $69,804, the cost of each, and a similar table of what you would like to publish in '48 for $87,255.

Dr. Wetmore. We will insert that in the record.

(The requested information follows:)

Fiscal year 1948 — Proposed use of printing and binding funds

1. Printing (revised additional obligations brought forward from 1947) __ 24, 255

2. Printing (list of manuscripts attached) J 81, 745

Total 106, 000

3. Printing backlog (list of manuscripts attached) _ _

4. Blank forms, etc 11, 000

5. American Historical Association 16, 800

6. Binding 16, 200

Total . 2 150, 000

1 The figure used by the chairman was taken from table 7, column 2, which was the cost of printed pages estimated to be delivered during the fiscal year; the figure used here covers cost of work that will be obligated during the fiscal year.

2 Does not include $950 for printing and binding for National Air Museum, carried separately under that item.

Manuscripts to,be published during 1948

Bent

Glen v—*.

Tattersall

Friedmann_'

Fouts

Clark

Smith and Taylor

Schultz

Blackwelder

Lent and Wygodzinsky

Pate

Monte

Warren and Gruther...

Fisher

Burcham ...

Hershkovitz

Do

Sabrosky

Capps

Swan ton

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

Annual Report of the Board of Regents

U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM

Life histories of North American birds: Nuthatches, wrens, etc__-

Morphology of Lepturoidini (Coleoptera) •.

Mysidacea of U. S. National Museum _—

North American Hawks and their allies (Falconiformes). Bull. 50 pt. 11.

North American Trimorus (Hymenoptera)

Monograph of crinoids (part)

Checklist of Mexican Amphibia

Fishes of Venezuela

Beetles of the family Staphylinidae of Cayman Islands

Assassin bugs in the collections of the U. S. National Museum

Wasps from Nigeria

Coleoptera (beetles) of the group "Tachygonus"

Butterflies of Admiralty Islands

Echiuroid and sipunculoid worms

Grass flora of certain Pacific islands

Mammals of Colombia (1)

Mammals of Colombia (2)

Flies of the genus Eudejeania

Status of Leucinodes (moths) in the New World

Annual Report of the U. S. National Museum '...

BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY

Indian tribes of North America

Total

$20,-000

10,900 3,250 4,680 9,750

910

6, 500

3,120

3,510

105

235

240

365

310

540'

930

210

100

235

495

2,360

13,000

81, 745

Most of these manuscripts are the result of scientific investigations by members of the Institution's staff. The others are by outside scientists working on the Institution's material or sponsored by the Institution. They contribute to that reservoir of basic new knowledge which is essential to the orderly advancement of science and its application to the welfare of mankind.

Printing backlog, 1948

Bartsch

Ginsburg

"Wilson

Bent

Do

Friedmann

Clark

Caldwell

Schultz

Bent

Do

Hedgpeth

Friedmann and Smith

Mao.._

Jledgpeth

Swanton

Hillger

HiHger.

Drucker

Bonnerjea...

Cook

Radin

McDermott

Heizer and Massey... Landis

U. S. NATIONAL MVSEVM

Philippine naninid mollusks

American gobiid fishes _

Albatross cope pods

Life histories of North American birds: Thrushes, kinglets, and their allies.

Life histories of North American birds: Wagtails; shrikes, etc

Birds of Brazil and Venezuela .

Monograph of crinoids (pari)

Insects of tribe Ceresini.

Revision of atherine fishes

Life histories of North American wood warblers:

Part 1

Part 2

Pycnogonida collected by Albatross

Birds from Venezuela _

Hymenoptera of genus the Cardiochiles.

Pycnogonida of North Atlantic .

HURKAt* OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY

Wineland voyages _

Chippewa child life

Arapaho child life

Tres Zapotes archeology _ _

Index to Schoolcraft _. _ _ _

Index to 100 Bureau bulletins

Uintah tales. _ _._

Winnebago myth cycles

Culbertson journal of 1850.

Aboriginal navigation off California

Alaskan Eskimo ceremonialism

Total

$9, 750 5,975 4,300 8,61. r >

7,880

6, 070

'•>. 500

910

7fiO

8, 528

7.730

1.300

680

625

■>. 000

585 5. 035 5. -105 1,940 13.000 19.500 2. 340

2, 925

3. 040 524

3, 250

129. 127

Fiscal year 1947 — 'Use of printing and binding funds

1 To be paid out of 1948 funds.

3 The figure used by the Chairman was taken from table 7. column 2, which cover 1 -' com <>f printed p*gi>< estimated to be delivered during the fiscal year: the figure used here covers c ist of work obligated during t In-fiscal year. 8 The two items listed below exceeded the estimated obligations because of rising printing costs.

Smithsonian Reports. SI0,155

Handbook South American Indians, vol. 5 14,100

Total.

21. 255

INDEPENDENT OFFICES APPROPRIATION BILL, 194 8 List of papers published during the fiscal year 1947 —Continued

821

Davis

Hershkovitz

Cushman

James

Miller

Fisher

Buck

Oahan

Fisher

Gazin

Oahan

Schultz

Bohart

Merrill and Walker.

Steward (editor).

PROCEEDINGS

Review of the weevils of the tribe Ophryastini of America north

of Mexico. Mammals of northern Colombia. Preliminary Report No. 1—

Squirrels.

A generic revision of the ichneumon flies of the tribe Ophionini

A review of the larvaevorid flies of the tribe Leskiini with the

setulose first vein (Ri). A new genus and species of deep-sea fish of the family Myctophidae

from the Philippine Islands.

New cerambycid beetles belonging to the tribe Rhinotragini

Studies on the firefly. IV. Ten new lampyrids from Jamaica

Eight new species of chalcid flies of the genus Pseudaphycus

Clausen, with a key to the species. New cerambycid beetles belonging to the tribe Disteniini from

Central and South America. Machae.roides eothen Matthew, the sabre-tooth creodont of the

Bridger Eocene. Review of some chalcidoid genera related to Cerocephala Westwood. A revision of the genera of mullets, fishes of the family Mugilidae,

with descriptions of three new genera.

The phorid flies of Guam

Title page, contents, illustrations, and index to vol. 95 of the Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM

A botanical bibliography of the islands of the Pacific

ANNUAL REPORTS

Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Insti

tution, 1946. Report of the United States National Museum, 1946

BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY BULLETINS

Handbook of South American Indians, vol. 5 _

Grand total

693 336

70

401

118 23.5

347 226

297 507

4,094

14, 500 2,026

17,480 65,980

Printing backlog, 1947

Author

Subject

Estimated cost

Bartsch

Ginsburg

Wilson

Bent

Glen...

Tattersall

Bent

Do...

Friedmann

Fouts

Friedmann

Clark

Caldwell

Smith and Taylor

Hedgpeth

Schultz

Do

Blackwelder.

Bent

Lent and Wygodzinsky

Bent.. ........

Pate..

Monte

Hedgpeth.

Warren and Grether

Fisher.

Burcham _.

Friedmann and Smith.

U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM

Philippine naninid mollusks

American gobiid fishes...

Albatross copepods

Life histories of North American birds: Nuthatches, wrens, etc...

Morphology of Lepturoidini (Coleoptera)

Mysidacea of U. S. National Museum

Life histories of North American birds: Thrushes, kinglets, and their allies.

Life histories of North American birds: Wagtails, shrikes, etc

North American Falconiformes .--.

North American Trimorus (Hymenoptera)

Birds of Brazil and Venezuela

Monograph of crinoids

Insects of tribe Ceresini

Checklist of Mexican Amphibia

Pycnogonida of North Atlantic

Fishes of Venezuela

Revision of atherine fishes

Staphylinidae of Cayman Islands.

Life Histories of North American Wood Warblers, pt. 1

Assassin bugs in the collections of the U. S. National Museum

Life histories of North American wood warblers, part 2 .

Wasps from Nigeria

Coleoptera of the group "Tachygonus"

Pycnogonida collected by Albatross "

Butterflies of Admiralty Islands

Echiuroid and sipunculoid worms

Grass flora of certain Pacific islands --

Birds from Venezuela _

$9, 750 5,975 4,300

10,900 3,250 4,680 8,615

7,880

9,750

910

5,070

13,000

910

3,120

2,600

3,510

760

104

8,528

235

7,730

240

365

1,300

310

540.

930

Printing backlog, 1947 —Continued

Author

Hershkovitz

Do

Mao..

Sabrosky.

Capps

S wanton

Do

Hillger

Do

Drucker

Bonnerjea..

Cook

Radin

McDermott

Heizer and Massey Landis _

Subject

u. s. national museum— continued

Mammals of Colombia (1).

Mammals of Colombia (2)

Hymenoptera of the Cardiochiles.

Flies of the genus Eudejeania

Status of Leucinodes (moths) in the New World...

BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY

Indian tribes of North America

Wineland voyages

Chippewa child life

Arapaho child life

Tres Zapotes archeology

Index to Schoolcraft

Index to 100 Bureau bulletins

Uintah tales

Winnebago myth cycles

Culbertson journal of 1850

Aboriginal navigation off California

Alaskan Eskimo ceremonialism

Total

Estimated

cost

$210 100 625 235 495

13,000

585

5,635

5,465

1.940

13,000

19,500

2,340

2,925

3.040

525

3,250

188,812

OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Dr. Wetmore. Pages 8 and 9 are exhibits showing in graph and tabular form the fact that since 1942 our funds available for other contractual services, supplies, materials and equipment have dropped, with only two exceptions, to a point considerably below the year 1942 despite the fact that the wholesale price index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a 48 percent increase in cost for these same items during that period.

The graph illustrates that. On page 9 there is a break-down in figures of the basis on which the graph was prepared. I think these figures speak for themselves. I will not explain them any further unless you wish to have the additional information.

Dr. Keddy. I think that those last two tables simply reinforce our previous statement in regard to the funds that we need for other obligations. Our purchasing power is much lower than it ever was with these same dollars. We need every cent of this money that we are asking for other obligations if the Institution is to continue to do business.

TRAVEL

Mr. Wigglesworth. I see that you have a very large increase in your travel item, almost 600 percent.

Mr. Graf. A large proportion of travel funds for 1948 is for the travel of the advisory board to select the site for the new National Air Museum, and plan the whole matter.

PRINTING AND BINDING

Mr. Wigglesworth. We will come to that. Now, printing and binding shows a hundred-percent increase, from $88,500 to $150,950.

Mr. True. The increase in the cost of printing has been about 50 percent.

Dr. Keddy. That is based wholly on the increased cost of printing.

Mr. Wiggles worth. The increase in your request is approximately— ■ —

Dr. Keddy. Slightly more than 50 percent.

Mr. Wigglesworth. A good deal more.

Dr. Keddy. About $16,000 over the 50 percent increase in printing costs.

MISCELLANEOUS CONTRACTUAL SERVICES

Mr. Wigglesworth. Miscellaneous contractual services is jumping from $2,900 to $45,875.

Dr. Keddy. Dr. Wetmore will now take up the program and explain why we are asking for those amounts.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Suppose you go ahead, Dr. Wetmore.

Dr. Wetmore. We have divided the increases that we are requesting into several categories.

backlog of work

The first of those is our backlog of work in the National Museum. That includes the uncataloged specimens mentioned a few minutes ago. We had a backlog at the close of 1946 of about 1,500,000 uncataloged specimens. This is outlined on charts 3, 4, and 5 which you have before you. We are anticipating in 1947 and 1948 new accessions that will approximate 500,000 specimens.

PERSONNEL IN SCIENTIFIC DIVISIONS

Now, the present personnel in our scientific divisions is inadequate to handle that backlog, or for that matter to keep it from increasing.

Mr. Wigglesworth. How many do you have now?

Dr. Wetmore. At the present time, for the fiscal year 1947, we have 85 professional and 51 subprofessional.

Mr. Wigglesworth. That is 136 and you want 26 more; is that right?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes, 26 additional positions at a cost of $79,513. The other obligations under this same item amount to $26,529 for a total of $106,042.

Other obligations include the containers of various kinds that are necessary for the specimens—the cabinets in which they are stored for protection, and miscellaneous items concerned with the work.

I will go into detail on those 26 positions if you desire.

Mr. Wigglesworth. I think that is pretty well defined in your justifications unless you want to enlarge.

modernization of exhibits

Dr. Wetmore. The second item concerns the modernization of our exhibits. Necessarily, as an old organization, our exhibits have grown over a period of 75 years or more, and while many of them are very adequate, there are others that need to be brought up to date.

The present day educational methods are concerned very largely with the visual method of display. There have been many changes, many new ideas regarding the exhibition of museum material.

We began work of that kind before the war; laid it aside during the war because materials were not available, and we wish now to take this work up and cany it on in a proper manner.

We are not planning large expenditures for expensive tilings in exhibition. Frankly, my own opinion is that some museums are making a mistake in spending too much money in that way. We have developed methods of display that are not expensive, but at the same time are highly effective.

There is the preparation of dioramas for our mammal hall; groups of animals against a natural background that shows them adequately and impressively; and we have plans to remodel our exhibits in anthropology, those relating to the peoples of the world, on the same scheme. To do this we will need some additional assistance. We are asking for three additional positions for a total of $8,Oof), and $25,070 under other obligations.

Mr. Hendricks. May I ask a question about the dioramas?

Mr. YVigglesworth. How many have you completed now 9

Dr. Wetmore. Four.

Mr. Wigglesworth. How many personnel do you have?

Dr. Keddy. Do you mean doing purely exhibition work?

Mr. Wigglesworth. You said that you wanted three additional personnel.

Dr. Wetmore. We have about 13 now.

Mr. Hendricks. Does not a diorama affect greatly your available space?

Dr. Wetmore. No.

Mr. Graf. It is a space-saving method.

Dr. Wetmore. Our halls are large. In making these dioramas we merely build a false front of lath and plaster and then put this group behind, arranged in a semicircular form.

Mr. Hendricks. I know what a diorama is, but I would think that that would take a great deal of space.

Dr. Wetmore. No, sir. What we are doing is to replace some of the older exhibits with these diorama displays. It is a much more effective method.

Mr. Hendricks. It is more effective. There is no question about that, but I do not see how it could be a space saver.

Mr. Graf. We are able to handle people better because they have a tendency to follow 7 the aisles and do not wander around the cases and stall traffic.

Mr. Phillips. Have you seen the State museum at Austin, Tex.?

Dr. Wetmore. I know 7 of that museum. It is very good. The Colorado Museum of Natural History in Denver also is excellent.

We are developing this type of exhibition on an economical basis. It is one that is very effective. We have made a careful study of the methods that have been used and have developed those that we think are wholly adequate, without being too costly.

Any of these museum exhibitions are good for about 50 years. After that they need renovation and change.

(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. Wigglesworth. Do you have any money for that purpose now T ?

Dr. Wetmore. No.

Mr. Wigglesworth. This $33,130 that you are requesting would be exclusively for that purpose?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes. The cleaning and maintenance, as I have already explained, is shown in relation to this chart No. 6 that you had before you a few moments ago. We are estimating 24 additional char positions at $43,824 with an expense of $11,706 for cleaning supplies that would be required; that is, soap powders, mops, and similar items. -

There is a total there of $55,530.

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES REQUESTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Regarding administrative services, we have considerable additional demands upon us.

The chairman mentioned a moment ago the recruitment and examination of personnel under the new decentralized plan of the Civil Service Commission. We have one new position, a CAF-4, estimated for the personnel office to cover that work.

We will also have requirement for an additional helper CAF-3 in our fiscal office in connection with the plan of simplified pay roll system and also the many demands that come upon us for data regarding civil-service records and retirement records and things of that kind.

In the purchasing office we have one additional position, CAF-3. Now, the purchasing office was operated in the fiscal year 1946 with an overtime allowance of 162 man-days, and a very considerable accumulation of annual leave. To cover the service necessary we have put in an additional CAF-4 position, one position, for the purchasing-office.

Our photographic laboratory is understaffed. We have listed one CPC-3 for assistance there in minor work in the laboratory.

Our library has a constant call for services in connection with the work of the scientific divisions, and also has a heavy backlog of un-cataloged books and pamphlets that are not available because we have not been able yet to put them on the shelves. We are asking for four additional positions there, a professional cataloger, grade P-l, a minor assistant, SP-4, and two CPC-3 messengers and laborers for minor work.

The total additional personal services required for the administrative section, that provides services for the entire institution, include eight positions, at a total cost of $17,235. The other obligations under this would come to $4,550, being the additional supplies that we would need in the way of typewriters, shelving, stationery and other items.

Mr. Wigglesworth. How many personnel do you now have in these services? I am speaking of administrative services.

Dr. Wetmore. Seventy-five.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Is there anything else, Doctor?

Dr. Wetmore. The addition under printing and binding which we have already discussed in connection with that chart I gave you is $61,500. This is based on the costs that the Smithsonian has to pay at the present time.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Let us limit ourselves at the moment to the original request before us before we go into the supplemental.

CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA

There is a $10,000 item in there for the Canal Zone Biological Area.

Dr. Wetmore. Yes. The Canal Zone Biological Area is a laboratory located on an island in Gatun Lake in the Canal Zone that was established by law as an entity under the Government in 1940. At that time, according to the original act, it had independent status under a governing boards Now, in the simplification of the governmental structure that has been under way for several years, the laboratory, under Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1946, has been assigned by the Congress to the Smithsonian Institution, and we are now including it in our estimate here for the first time, this being the first fiscal year's estimate since the laboratory came to us. It was actually placed under our jurisdiction on July 16, 1946.

Mr. Wigglesworth. What is that $10,000 to cover?

Dr. Wetmore. To cover restoration and repairs to our physical plant on the island.

Mr. Wigglesworth. What is that plant?

Dr. Wetmore. I have here a map of this island [handing].

When Gatun Lake was formed the water flowed in around this hill, making it into an island and a natural jungle reserve. The island is approximately 3% miles across, north and south, and east and west, and is covered by a virgin tropical forest. It is really a wonderful place.

On that island there have been established some simple buildings. I have some pictures here showing the view from the water [handing]. These buildings are used for scientific research work of a variety of kinds by scientists who come there from all over the country.

REPAIRS TO BE MADE AT LABORATORY

Mr. Wigglesworth. What are you going to do with the $10,000? It looks like it is in pretty good shape, judging from these pictures.

Dr. Wetmore. You have me there. Those pictures were taken several years ago, prior to the war. I was at the island on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, the purpose of my recent trip to Panama being in part to make an inspection of this laboratory. The buildings are simple. They are frame buildings with a cement base, but there has been definite deterioration during the period of the war. With this $10,000 we plan replacement and repairs. We need a new concrete water tank to replace the present wooden installations which are now in bad shape, at a cost of about $3,000. We need to replace a septic tank that was installed in 1939. That will take about $1,000.

The buildings are badly in need of paint. We estimate that at about $2,500.

Then there is necessary replacement of deteriorated equipment— bedding, linen, dishes, tools, and so forth, in the amount of $1,500.

There will be needed dry-storage cases for materials to guard against dampness, at $1,000, and miscellaneous repairs to roofs, another $1,000.

This place is located in the tropics. There are some very important scientific studies that are going forward there at the present time. For example, there are specimens of optical glass, photographic materials, and things of that kind laid out there in open buildings, so that the effect of dampness in the atmosphere on them may be tested. Glass in the tropics is subject to a fungus growth that will etch it like acid.

I have just returned, myself, from a month's expedition in the interior of Darien, and I will have to send my field glasses and photographic equipment to the factory to have it cleaned because otherwise the lenses may be ruined by fungus growth on them. That is common to tropical areas.

USE MADE OF THE LABORATORY

Mr. Wigglesworth. What do you really hope to accomplish at this laboratory?

Dr. Wetmore. Mr. Chairman, we have at this laboratory simple but competent living quarters to which American and other scientists may come to carry on investigations of a scientific nature in a tropical environment, and under living conditions that will insure the same health we expect here in this country.

As I said, I was there last week. I found one medical man there from a university in New York State, who was making an investigation of sloths, in connection with some research on cancer.

There was another college professor there from a western university on sabbatical leave from his school who had never been in the American tropics, but in connection with his teaching he wished to spend such time as he could in such an environment to help him in his work.

There were extensive tests of termite-proof materials going on. Companies that think they have some termite proofing that will guard against termite destruction, send us wood samples of a certain size that we simply put into the ground, each one with a number on it for record, and examine for termite damage on it from time to time.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Do we shoulder all the expense, or are there some contributions from other sources?

Dr. Wetmore. A number of scientific institutions contribute table fees annually to the amount of $2,600 for the maintenance of this laboratory.

Mr. Wigglesworth. $2,600 over all?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Not individually?

Dr. Wetmore. That is the total amount. There are 11 or 12 institutions concerned. Workers from those institutions receive subsistence on the island at a charge of $3 a day. The workers who come from other organizations what do not pay these table fees are charged $1 a day overhead for maintenance of the laboratory.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Has it produced results yet, or are you still experimenting?

Dr. Wetmore. Very definitely. There have been some 500 scientific publications issued from this island by a considerable number of men.

Two weeks ago T was in one of the most magnificent tropical forests that I have ever seen, in a very remote part of Panama. I went in from the coast in a dugout canoe for 2 long days to reach it. A trip of that kind can be made only by someone experienced in that type of travel because of the definite danger to health. I was in a malaria country, a country where the water was bad, and I used many precautions as safeguards. The ordinary American coming into the tropics for the first time cannot take those precautions, but he can go to this laboratory and stay as healthy as he would at home and at the same time be in a tropical jungle that is unexcelled anywhere. It affords an opportunity for college professors, and scientific investigators, to carry on studies in their own problems that arc of definite importance.

I mentioned this work in cancer research. There is a man going down presently to carry on investigations of the endocrine glands of certain animals which will have a relation to public health. We have many studies made there of insects, of types that may carry diseases. There have been investigations of fruitflies. I have already mentioned the studies on termites. There is a long list of experiments being carried on there for the wood products laboratory of the Department of Agriculture in relation to deterioration of plywood materials and packaging materials. Those have been going on for several years. During the war there was considerable work that went on for OSRD under contract arrangement, and also for the War Department. During the war period that was our source of support. We arc now at the end of that and are asking for this appropriation that was authorized in the original act establishing the island as a laboratory.

Mr. Andrew's. How many people live on that island?

Dr. Wetmore. We have a resident foreman there and four laborers and a cook. That is the regular staff. We have an arrangement with a man in Panama to serve as resident manager. He goes over once a week to check up on supplies and other matters of that kind.

Permits for work on the island to the investigators that go down are issued in my office here in Washington.

Mr. Andrews. You have six people living there on the island and one who goes once a week?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Dr. Keddy. I might say, Mr. Chairman, that Dr. Wetmore did not mention the floating equipment. Being a couple of miles offshore you have to have launches to carry supplies and visitors back and forth between the island and the mainland, and boats in the Tropics are terribly expensive pieces of equipment to maintain. Half of the fleet is hung up in the process of repair.

comparative statement of appropriations and expenditures, 1947 and estimates, 1948

Mr. Wigglesworth. When you revise your remarks will you be good enough to insert page 51 of your justifications and add a column showing the amount actually expended foi each item in the first 9 months of the fiscal vear 1947?

(The information follows:)

Salaries and expenses, Smithsonian Institution

By objects

Appropriations 1947

Estimate 1948

Increase (+)

or decrease (—)

1947 actual expenditures

through Apr. 30, 1947

01 Personal services: Departmental-

02 Travel

03 Transportation of things

04 Communication services

05 Rents and utility services

06 Printing and binding

07 O ther contractual services

08 Supplies and materials _

09 Equipment

Total appropriation or estimate

$1,426. 914

2,100

29,400

7,725

17,000

88, 500

6,300

24, 222

30, 751

$1. 694, 247 12, 200 29,400 7,950 19, 000 150,950 56, 025 34, 426 50, 202

+$267, 333

+10,100

0

+225

+2,000

+62,450

+49, 725

+ 10,204

+19, 451

$1,139,615 1,069 19,009 3, 676 13,179 20, 604 5,204 25,126 14, 778

1,632,912

2,054, 400

+421,488

1, 242, 260

RECLASSIFICATIONS UPWARD IN 1946

Mr. Wigglesworth." Will you also give us a statement showing the number of reclassifications upward, if any, in '46, and the dollars and cents involved?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes, sir.

(The information follows:)

Reclassification costs July 1, 1945-June 30, 1946

Clark, L. B

Shephard, G. Pi... Cochran, Doris M.

Chance, J. H

Robertson, J

Wade, W. E '.

Wright, R. F

Oehser, P. H

Edelen, E. B

McCain, L

Grand total.

Date

Julv 15,1945

do

Oct. 7,1945 Dec. 30.1945 do

do

..-•__ do

Jan. 13,1916 Juno 2,1946 June 16.1946

From-

Grade Salary

P-4

SP-4___. P-3

CPC-tK

CPC-6. CPC-6-. CPC-6-.

P-4

CAF-4. CAE-5-.

$4, 960

1, 968 3,860 2.298 2.232 2.298 2,232 4.960 2,298

2, 540

To-

P-5..^ SP-5..-

P-4

CPC-V. CPC-7. CPC-7_ CPC-7. P-5._.„ CAF-6. CAF-6.

Grade Salary

$5, 180 2,100 4,300 2,364 2,364 2.364 2, 364 5,180 2, 650 2.650

Total increase

$220 132 440

66 132

66 132 220 352

no

1,870

Mr. Wigglesworth. Did we ask you for any information on the personnel set-up in the public relations set-up?

Dr. Keddy. Yes, but we have nothing to report on that.

Air. Wigglesworth. How about the personnel set-up?

Dr. Keddy. We have no personnel for public relations.

Mr. Wigglesworth. How many do you have actually on the rolls right now?

Dr. Keddy. Last Friday, 490.

Mr. Wigglesworth. So you have about 11 vaeancies?

Dr. Keddy. Right at this moment.

Mr. Graf. The reason for that is that we are not filling vacancies.

Dr. Keddy. We lack the money. We have had to pay out so much for other obligations that it has just crippled us. Consequently we have been severely restricted as to our personnel.

REVENUE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES

Mr. Wigglesworth. You have certain funds from the outside, do you not?

Dr. Wetmore. We have funds from the endowment to the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Those are added to from time to time?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Are those kept separately from your appropriated funds?

Dr. Wetmore. Entirely.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Are either or both audited by the Comptroller General?

Dr. Wetmore. The Federal funds appropriated are audited in the regular manner of all Government moneys. Our other funds are audited by a regular auditor engaged by the Board of Regents for that purpose, and we make a report to the Congress every year in our annual report. We had an examination not long ago by a representative of this committee.

Mr. Wigglesworth. The investment of those private funds is controlled by the Board of Regents?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

INCOME FROM INVESTED FUNDS

Mr. Wigglesworth. What, roughly, is your income from those funds that supplement your appropriated funds?

Dr. Wetmore. The income from the invested funds of the Smithsonian Institution for the year ending June 30, 1946, was $344,774. 45, of which $60,000 was interest on Smithsonian moneys lent to the United States Treasury in accordance with the act of Congress of August 10, 1846, and which act authorized the Regents to expend said income * * * "as they (the Regents) shall deem best suited for the promotion of the purposes of the testator" (Smithson). The act of February 5, 1867, increased the amount to be lent to the Treasury to $1,000,000.

Of this total income of $344,774.45, $274,292.74 was income from funds given to the Institution for specific purposes and which can therefore be expended only for the specific purposes specified by the donors and cannot be used for any other purposes.

A report on the financial condition of the Institution is made to the Congress each year in the annual report of the Regents of the Institution in accordance with the act of August 10, 1846, establishing the Snithsonian Institution. The last financial report is printed in the report of the secretary of the Institution for 1946, pages 128-134. Copies of this report are each year transmitted to the Appropriations Committee.

PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS

Mr. Wigglesworth. I wish you would tell us about these two permanent appropriations, Doctor, because we are required to check up on permanent appropriations under the Reorganization Act.

Mr. Graf. Actually, those were appropriations made to the Treasury to pay interest on loans.

Dr. Wetmore. It was basic law that was enacted years ago authorizing the deposit on $1,000,000 of 6 percent. That appears at page 50 of the justification text.

Mr. Wigglesworth. That appears under "Expenses of Smithsonian Institute, Interest Account"?

Dr. Wetmore. We call it the permanent specific appropriation.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Providing that there is appropriated out of any money not otherwise appropriated a sum equal to interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum on a trust fund of $1,000,000 derived from the original bequest of James Smithson and other deposits in the Treasury on the same terms.

Mr. Phillips. The money was simply put in the Treasury under an agreement by which we would pay the equivalent of 6 percent.

Dr. Wetmore. Automatically, every half year half of the interest money is put to our private account.

Mr. Wigglesworth. And since it is 6 percent on $1,000,000, there is no possible variation from year to year?

Dr. Keddy. That is why it is called a permanent specific account rather than permanent indefinite.

INCREASES REQUESTED IN 1948 OVER 1947

Mr. Hendricks. According to my figures, the increase this year over 1947 is $421,488. Is that correct?

Dr. Keddy. Yes.

Mr. Hendricks. You are asking for 68 additional personnel.

Dr. Keddy. Yes.

Mr. Hendricks. A good portion of this increase, you say, is for supplies, materials, and so forth?

Dr. Keddy. Yes.

Mr. Hendricks. How much of it?

Dr. Keddy. $360,163 is for other obligations.

Mr. Hendricks. And the remainder of it is personnel?

Dr. Keddy. And the remainder for personal services. We have $83,501 for what we ca]l automatics that come under the Ramspeck and Reclassification Acts.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Are you including in these figures the supplemental requests?

Dr. Keddy. Yes; we are including both the $50,000 National Air Museum item and the $17,400 for reclassification.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Your figures do not jibe with mine on the basis of the original appropriation.

Dr. Keddy. The tables that you have have all been corrected to include that. The supplemental requests are not shown in the committee print.

Mr. Hendricks. You say that this does not include the increase under the Pay Act?

Dr. Keddy. Yes.

Mr. Hendricks. That is for the fiscal year 1948?

Dr. Keddy. It is included in there.

Mr. Hendricks. You said $80,000, I believe, was for pay under the Ramspeck Act. Is it for your total personnel?

61038—47—pt. 1 53

Dr. Keddy. "We had $83,501 for what we call automatic pay increases.

Mr. Hendricks. For what year?

Dr. Keddy. For 1948.

Mr. Hendricks. Is that for your total personnel now?

Dr. Keddy. Yes.

Mr. Graf. For pay increases and reclassifications.

Mr. Hendricks. $83,000?

Mr. Graf. $83,501.

Mr. Hendricks. I thought that Mr. Wigglesworth said something about $100,000.

Dr. Wetmore. He was including not only the new positions but also automatic increases in pay.

Dr. Keddy. Of the total personnel increase we have $267,333.'

Mr. Wigglesworth. That is including the two supplemental items that we have not considered?

Dr. Keddy. Yes, and also the automatics. If you subtract $83,501 from $267,333

Mr. Hendricks. Why subtract?

Dr. Keddy. You will see what the cost of the 68 positions we are asking for is.

Mr. Hendricks. What is the increase aside from the supplementals?

Dr. Keddy. The gross increase, aside from the supplementals, is $354,088.

Mr. Hendricks. Did you give us the amount for the 1948 personnel?

Dr. Keddy. Excluding supplemental requests, the increase for personal services include $214,733; the increase in other obligations is $139,355.

Mr. Hendricks. Give me briefly what that increased personnel is for.

Dr. Keddy. We have it here broken down into five different columns. It is composed of $83,501 for automatic pay increases.

Mr. Hendricks. Just a moment. Do you have the positions? That is what I want.

Dr. Keddy. Sixty-one positions, excluding supplemental requests.

Mr. Hendricks. Tell me, then, what in this particular portion your increased personnel is for by positions, not the amount of money—■ where are they going to be placed, and what work they are going to do.

Dr. Keddy. Do you mean individually?

Mr. Hendricks. Not each individual. You were speaking of cleaning a while ago.

Dr. Keddy. That is what I was going to give you. I was going to give it to you by——■

Mr. Hendricks. I want the number of persons.

Dr. Keddy. Twenty-six in the amount of $79,513.

Mr. Hendricks. W T hat for?

Dr. Keddy. To work on the cataloging backlog; three people for modernizing exhibits, $8,060.

Mr. Hendricks. Just a word about what they are going to do to bring them up to date.

Dr. Keddy. That is the work that Dr. Wetmore was mentioning in the line of putting in dioramas, modernizing the exhibits.

Then, 24 people for cleaning and maintenance work in the amount of $43,824.

For improved administrative services, eight people, $17,235.

Mr. Hendricks. What kind of work?

Dr. Keddy. We have gone into each individual case. One was a clerk for the Personnel Division to help with this examining work which has been pushed back onto the agencies by the civil-service examination.

One was a storekeeper for the Purchasing Office. We have no storekeeper at the present time.

Another position was a clerk in the Accounting Division to help with the retirement work.

There were four people in the library. Sixty percent of our library work is backlog. That is so bad we need the additional staff.

Mr. Hendricks. What will be the functions of the four people in the library?

Dr. Keddy. They will help maintain and operate a library of 500,000 volumes.

Mr. Hendricks. Keep files, and so forth?

Dr. Keddy. It is one of the premier science libraries of the world, We need two catalogers and one cleaner and one messenger.

Mr. Hendricks. Did you not give me more catalogers a while ago?

Mr. Graf. Yes; in connection with the collections.

Dr. Keddy. That is the cataloging of scientific specimens rather than books.

Mr. Hendricks. What are these for?

Dr. Keddy. Cataloging books.

Mr. Hendricks. I think you said someone else.

Dr. Keddy. A laborer to help in the photographic laboratory. That is a total of eight.

Mr. Hendricks. That covers your 61?

Dr. Keddy. That totals 61 people.

Mr. Hendricks. What is the total amount of money?

Dr. Keddy. $214,733. I want to modify that by saying this: Of that $214,733, $66,101 is for automatic pay increases, so that the net total of 61 positions is the difference between $214,733 and $66,101.

Mr. Hendricks. That is a pretty sizable increase, and I just wanted to know what it is for.

Dr. Keddy. We have taken it up under the four programs.

Mr. Hendricks. You say that you are starved for materials to do your work and also that we cut your help during the war; is that correct?

Dr. Keddy. Yes.

Mr. Hendricks. I think that is all.

Mr. Andrews. I have no questions.

Mr. Phillips. I am not quite clear here. You have a reference to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Is that you?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Phillips. Your salary does not appear in this list for the request next year. Does your salary come from another fund?

Dr. Wetmore. It will next year.

Mr. Phillips. It is not in this at all?

Dr. Wetmore. The Secretary's salary is from private funds.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Has the method changed? Dr. Wetmore. It has always been that way. Mr. Phillips. No change in the method? Dr. Wetmore. No change.

Mr. Phillips. The Assistant Secretary would be your assistant, Dr. Wetmore?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

establishment of a national air museum

Mr. Wigglesworth. We have a supplemental item here in Document No. 181, which includes a request of $50,000 for planning a national air museum, as authorized by the act of August 2, 1946.

I have here a copy of that act which we will insert in the record at this point.

(The act referred to is as follows:)

[Public Law 722— 79th Congress] [Chapter 955— 2d Session]

[H. R. 5144] AX ACT To establish a national air museum, and for other purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) there is hereby established under the Smithsonian Institution a bureau to be known as a national air museum, which shall be administered by the Smithsonian Institution with the advice of a board to be composed of the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces, or his successor, the Chief of Naval Operations, or his successor, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and two citizens of the United States appointed by the President from civilian life who shall serve at the pleasure of the President. The members of the board shall serve as such members without compensation.

(b) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution with the advice of the board may appoint and fix the compensation and duties of the head of a national air museum whose appointment and salary shall not be subject to the civil-service laws or the Classification Act of 1923, as amended. The Smithsonian Institution may employ such other officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient operation and administration of the museum.

Sec. 2. Said national air museum shall memorialize the national development of aviation; collect, preserve, and display aeronautical equipment of historical interest and significance; serve as a repository for scientific equipment and data pertaining to the development of aviation; and provide educational material for the historical study of aviation.

Sec. 3. The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution with the advice of the advisory board is hereby directed to investigate and survey suitable lands and buildings for selection as a site for said national air museum and to make recommendations to Congress for the acquisition of suitable lands and buildings for said national air museum.

Sec. 4. (a) The board is authorized to adopt an official seal which shall be judicially noticed and to make such bylaws, rules, and regulations as it deems necessary for the administration of its functions. The board may function notwithstanding vacancies and three members of the board shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.

(b) The Smithsonian Institution shall include in its annual report of its operations to Congress a statement of the operations of said national air museum, including all public and private moneys received and disbursed.

Sec. 5. (a) The heads of executive departments of the (lovernment are authorized to transfer or loan to said national air museum without charge therefor aircraft, aircraft parts, instruments, engines, or other aeronautical equipment or records for exhibition, historical, or educational purposes.

(b) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, with the advice of the Commission of Fine Arts, is authorized (I s ) to accept as a gift to the Smithsonian Institution from George H. Stephenson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a statue

of Brigadier General William L. Mitchell of such character as may be deemed appropriate, and (2) without expense to the United States, to cause such statue to be erected at a suitable location on the grounds of the national air museum.

Sec. 6. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $50,000 for the purposes of this Act and there are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually hereafter such sums as may be necessary to maintain and administer said national air museum including salaries and all other necessary expenses.

Approved August 12, 1946.

GENERAL STATEMENT

Mr. Wiggles worth. Who will tell us about this item?

Dr. Wetmore. The National Air Museum, as now authorized by act of Congress, was initiated through the interest of General Arnold, when Chief of the Army Air Forces. General Arnold became greatly impressed with the necessity for preservation of the various items of air equipment that had been developed during the war, and also the necessity for preserving air materials in general that might illustrate the history of aviation in this country.

We think that it is very evident the aviation industry is developing to the point where it is one of the major factors in this country. The Smithsonian Institution has recognized this for many years and has carried on pioneer investigations relating to aviation and has assembled a collection for more than 40 years that includes many of the basic materials relating to the development of this science.

Now, the act authorizes a national air museum and provides for an appropriation of $50,000 to make the necessary investigations and recommendations to Congress as to what should be done as to the site, buildings, and type of collections. The act provides for an advisory board composed of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Chief of the Army Air Forces, who has designated Major General E. M. Powers to represent him, and the Chief of Naval Operations, who has designated Rear Admiral H. B. Sallada to represent him, and two civil members to be appointed by the President.

The President last December appointed Mr. Grover Loening and Mr. William B. Stout. Mr. Loening is well known for his work in developing the Loening amphibian and various other aeronatical devices, and Mr. Stout for similar work on other types of aircraft. Both of them are men of long experience in the art and men very much interested in its development and history. Both have been excellent appointments.

Immediately following the appointment by the President we had an organization meeting of this board last December, held at the Smithsonian Institution, and as a result I was instructed by the board to present the estimate for $50,000 in the form that is now before you.

The plan calls for a small staff to carry on the necessary investigation for the advisory board as to the types of collections that should be assembled, their scope, and the preliminary work to acquire them, and to determine the extent and location of the facilities to preserve them.

There are included under personal services, seven positions, at a total cost of $35,200, including a small amount of temporary employment in addition to the regular positions; other obligations amounting to $14,800. Under other obligations there is included for travel an estimate of $8,000, since it will be necessary for the members of the Board and the personnel to travel rather extensively in connection

with this investigation. Then we have items of $950 for printing and binding, other contractual services, $3,850, supplies and materials, $500, and equipment, $1,500, making a grand total of $50,000.

It is necessary to take quick action relative to this matter. The various agencies concerned in aviation were practically all engaged in war work during the war. They are now engaged in a very rapid process of reconversion for the postwar period, and they are cleaning house and getting rid of things that they consider useless for their coming work. Many of these things may be useless now, but the proposed investigations will show whether they have high importance from a historical standpoint for a record for the future.

What we envision in this air museum are two things, first public exhibition, to which interested persons may come and view the major steps by which aviation has developed in this country, and, second, a very considerable research collection that will be behind the scenes and that will be available for study and investigation on the part of engineers and specialists in aviation and those carrying on researches of that kind.

LOCATION OF MUSEUM

Mr. Wigglesworth. Will the museum be located here or some other place in the country, or do you not know?

Dr. Wetmore. We do not know.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Is it to include planes and parts of planes, or is it to include paper work?

Dr. Wetmore. It will include planes and parts of planes, different types of propellers and engines and all of the miscellaneous items included in the development of this art of aviation. There will be a good many paper records also. The collections that the Smithsonian Institution now has in the Division of Aeronautics of the National Museum will be the basis on which this Air Museum is built. Added to those collections will be similar materials that will come to us largely by gift from outside agencies.

PERSON'XEL FOR MUSEUM

Mr. Wigglesworth. Just what are these seven men going to do if they are authorized now?

Dr. Wetmore. First, there is the Director, who will have charge of this work, and who will have to be a highly experienced man.

Mr. Wigglesworth. But I understood first you said that this money was just to make preliminary investigations?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Why do you need a permanent force of seven people?

Dr. Wetmore. The staff will serve as technical assistants to the advisory board in helping to determine the locations and size of the museum and the specimens it should contain.

Mr. Wigglesworth. And they are to work under this over-all board of six, I take it?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes, sir.

Mr. Wigglesworth. What are they going to do?

Dr. Wetmore. They will make the detailed investigations under the instruction of the board. The board are all men engaged in other work who will serve in an advisory capacity.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Does this involve going to every plant that ever made a plane to see whether or not there is something there of historical value?

Dr. Wetmore. In part; yes, sir.

I may say that in order to avoid possible loss we have made informal contact already with these various agencies concerned and asked them to reserve such things as they might think of importance pending this investigation.

It seemed necessary to do that without delay, as we knew many of these things were being discarded at the present time.

I am sure that we have restricted this staff to the smallest number that we thought would be necessary for the work.

NUMBER OF PERSONNEL REQUESTED

Mr. Hendricks. How many employees are you requesting, Doctor?

Dr. Wetmore. Seven.

Mr. Wigglesworth. And $14,800 for other obligations.

Mr. Hendricks. Just briefly what are they supposed to do now?

Dr. Wetmore. Under the act

Mr. Hendricks. What act?

Dr. Wetmore. The act authorizing the National Air Museum; under that act this Advisory Board is to investigate and survey suitable land and buildings for selection as a site for the National Air Museum and to make recommendations to Congress.

Mr. Hendricks. And you have 14 personnel for that purpose?

Dr. Wetmore. No, sir; seven.

Mr. Hendricks. Seven?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes, sir.

Mr. Hendricks. And this is a new item in the bill?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes, sir; an entirely new item. This act was approved August 12, 1946.

Mr. Hendricks. They are merely to help this Board?

Dr. Wetmore. They are to perform the necessary work of determining what should go into such a National Air Museum and to make recommendations to the Board.

Mr. Hendricks. As to what should go into it?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes, sir; as to what should go into it.

Mr. Hendricks. But they are not supposed to select the site?

Dr. Wetwore. No; that would be done by the Board.

Mr. Hendricks. Does the Board receive any pay, or is it just a per diem?

Dr. Wetmore. For travel only.

Mr. Hendricks. A per diem?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes.

Mr. Hendricks. How much is that per diem?

Dr. Wetmore. $10 a day for the civilian members.

Mr. Hendricks. Is this going to be a permanent staff?

Dr. Wetmore. If the recommendations are approved it will be a permanent staff, yes, sir.

Mr. Hendricks. Is this staff authorized by them?

Dr. Wetmore. Yes, sir.

Mr. Hendricks. What is the total appropriations?

Dr. Wetmore. The total appropriation is $50,000.

Mr. Hendricks. That is all, Mr. Chairman.

INDEPENDENT OFFICES APPROPRIATION BILL, 1948

SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM FOR INCREASE FOR SALARIES AND EXPENSES RECLASSIFICATION OF PERSONNEL

Mr. "Wigglesworth. There is another supplemental item of $17,400, an increase in the amount of the estimate for "Salaries and expenses, Smithsonian Institution," from $2,037,000 to $2,054,000 required to pay for the increased cost of personal services due to the recent reclassification of some 26 positions in the classified service in accordance with the Classification Act of 1923, as amended, and Comptroller General's decisions thereunder.

What is this reclassification, Doctor, is it mandatory, or was it sought by the Smithsonian Institution?

Dr. Keddy. Well, the Smithsonian Institution's scientific staff had not been reviewed as to its classification and grade since they were first classified under the 1923 act.

No one had ever surveyed the professional staff, and under Dr. Wetmore's direction we have begun this survey, but so far we have gone down just two levels. We have gone down to what we call division chief levels, and they have been reclassified now by the Civil Service Commission on the basis of definite increases in responsibilities and duties in the last 24 years.

Mr. Wigglesworth. At your request?

Dr. Keddy. We recommended to the Civil Service Commission that they be reclassified in accordance with the Classification Act as amended.

Mr. Wigglesjvorth. Then as to the additional personnel that you are asking for, will that result in further classification upward on the theory that they have more assistants?

Dr. Keddy. Ko, sir, definitely not.

Dr. Wetmore. No, sir.

Mr. Wigglesworth. I wish you would put in the record a list of the 26 positions by title, their former compensation and the compensation on the reclassified basis.

(The matter referred to is as follows:)

INDEPENDENT OFFICES APPROPRIATION BILL, 1948

839

Dr. Wetmore. I might say in this connection that we are definitely required to raise this level. We are in competition with the colleges and universities and other museums, and if we are to retain the people that we should have for this type of work we must pay higher compensation.

Mr. Wigglesworth. Are there any questions on this tiem?

Thank you for your statement, Dr. Wetmore.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

STANDARD CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE Salaries and expenses, National Gallery of Art

Standard classification

Personal services:

Denartmental

Field

Travel

Transportation of things... Communication services... Rents and utility services..

Printing and binding

Other contractual services.

Supplies and materials

Equipment

Lands and structures

Grand total obligations

Reimbursement for services performed

Excess of obligations over appropriation due to Public Law 390. Within-grade salary advancements

Total appropriation or estimate-

Estimate, 1947

$779, 638

1,600 300

6,307 51, 500

4,300 19, 000 27, 000

4,500

4,500

898, 645

-100

-100,971

-25, 084

772,490

Estimate, 1948

$833, 600

1,600 300

6,500 51, 500

6,300 20, 300 27, 000

2.500 10, 500

960,100 -100

960. 000

Increase (+)

or decrease (—)

+$53,962

+193

+1, 000 +1, 300

-2,000 +6, 000

+61, 455

+100,971 +25,08

+187, 510

Mr. Wigglesworth. "Salaries and expenses, National Gallery of Art." Mr. McBride, are you going to talk to us about that? Mr. McBride. Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman.

ESTIMATES, 1948, AND APPROPRIATIONS, 1947

Mr. Wigglesworth. For the National Gallery of Art the request for 1948 is $960,000 as compared with $772,490 in the current fiscal year, or an apparent over-all increase of $187,510.

GENERAL STATEMENT

Will you tell us about that, Mr. McBride?

Mr. McBride. Mr. Chairman, the actual increase is only $61,455; we have a short statement about it here. Would you care to have that read, or inserted in the record?

Mr. Wigglesworth. We would be glad to have it for the record. How long is it?

Mr. McBride. It is about six or seven pages in length.

Mr. Wigglesworth. That is in your justification?

Mr. McBride. Yes, sir.

Mr. Wigglesworth. I think you might just as well insert that in the record.

Mr. McBride. All right, sir. (The statement is as follows:)

GENERAL STATEMENT

The premises on which the estimates for the National Galley of Art are based are contained in section 4 (a" 1 - of the act of March 24, 1937, in which "the faith of the United States is pledged that, on completion of the National Gallery of Art by the donor in accordance with the terms of this act, and the acquisition from the donor of this collection of works of art, the United States will provide such funds as may be necessary for the upkeep of the National Gallery of Art and the administrative expenses and costs of operation thereof including the protection and care of works of art acquired by the Board so that the National Gallery of Art shall be at all times properly maintained and the work* of art contained therein shall be exhibited regularly to the general public free of charge."

Section 7 of the trust indenture dated June 24, 1937, providing for the construction of the Gallery building and the gift of the Mellon collection, states that the above provision is "an express condition of the trust of said collection of works of art, hereby created." This same provision appears in the trust indenture covering the gift to the Nation of the Kress collection, as well as that of the Widener collection, now installed in the Gallery.

The broad policy of the Board of Trustees is to hold and administer the great collections of works of art acquired by the National Gallery and, as provided in the act of March 24, 1937, to give adequate protection and care thereto, properly to operate and maintain the Gallery, and to exhibit the collections regularly to the public free of charge.

No expense was spared in the construction of the building, which cost over $15,000,000, and the uniformly high quality of the works of art in the Gallery's collections has already placed it among the leading galleries in the world. As these National collections increase in size, the costs of protection and operation will similarly increase to a certain extent.

During the first 5 years of its existence, the National Gallery of Art was visited by 9,933,935 people, and the attendance during the fiscal year 1946 w T as 1,947,668, a daily average of 5,365 people. The greatest number of visitors in any one day since the opening of the Gallery was 27,823 on Sunday, October 21, 1945. The lifting of travel restrictions since the end of the war brought about a sudden increase in the number of groups of school children to view the collections; and during March, April, May, and June of this year, 181 groups of young students from almost every part of the United States were given special tours through the Gallery.

The outstanding event of the fiscal year 1946 was the opening to the public, on February 2, at a reception attended by President and Mrs. Truman and over 15,000 invited guests, of the group of 110 masterpieces of painting and sculpture from some of the greatest private collections of Europe and America which were added to the Samuel H. Kress Collection in the National Gallery. At the time of the opening of the new Kress collection, seven new galleries were opened to the public, six having just been constructed from unfinished spaces in the building, and one of these specially designed and finished to display the cycle of nine sixteenth century frescoes by Bernardino Luini.

During the year there were 591 new accessions, either gifts or loans to the Gallery, including 120 paintings, 13 pieces of sculpture, 455 prints, and three decorative art objects which were placed on exhibition or, as in the case of prints, placed in safekeeping where they are available to the public. Important acquisitions for the collection of American paintings in the Gallery were the portrait of Miss Elizabeth Ridgely, called The Lady with a Harp, by Thomas Sully, and a distinguished example of the work of one of America's greatest artists, Albert P. Ryder, Siegfried and the Rhine Maidens. The latter is said to be one of the five or six canvases which most clearly reveal the originality and status of Ryder and is the first painting by this artist to be acquired by the Gallery.

On December 7, 202 paintings (including multipanel altarnieces) belonging to the Kaiser-Friedrich Museum and the National Gallery in Berlin were received at the Gallery for deposit and safekeeping at the State Department's request. The paintings were placed in storage under the supervisory care of the curatorial department. Technical examination for purposes of preservation is in progress.

An important exhibition of 220 American paintings was chosen from American museums and private collections for showing in London, England, at the Tate Gallery during June and July. This exhibition was organized by the National Gallery of Art at the request of the Tate Gallery, with the cooperation of the