Mr. NORRELL. We now come to "Capitol Buildings," which appears on page 61 of the committee print and page 19 of the justifications, and at this point in the record we shall insert pages 19 through 22. (The pages referred to follow:) 1959 appropriation in annual act Pay Supplementals in Second Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1959 Maintenance, air-conditioning system: Nonrecurring items al- Metal mobile shelving for 3 Senate kitchen walk-in refrigera- Base for 1960.... $893, 600 39,900 933, 500 -7,100 926, 400 Additions: Personal services, increased from $764,400 to $805,800: Wage-Rate increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Congress.. Under the provisions of Public Law 763, 83d Cong., 94 laborers and mechanics on the Capitol Buildings roll are compensated on a wage board, prevailing-rate basis. Public Law 763 provides that the compensation of such employees shall be fixed and adjusted from time to time as nearly as is consistent with the public interest in accordance with prevailing rates. An increase of $12,400 is requested for 1960 An increase of $7,330 is requested for 1960 to $19, 730 1,770 Overtime and holiday pay increased by $17,500 to meet increased pay costs under that allotment resulting largely from base pay increases under Public Law 763 and the Classification Act 17,500 Regular pay above 52-week base allotment increased by $2,400 to cover 2 additional days instead of the usual 1 additional day above the 52-week base, next year being leap year 2,400 Annual painting, increased from $32,000 to $48,000---- 16,000 An increase, from $32,000 to $48,000, is requested under this allotment to provide $15,000 for scaffolding and painting Statuary Hall, last done in 1949, and $1,000 for painting the walls and repairing the plaster in the Old Supreme Court Chamber, last done in 1941. Elevator repairs and improvements, increased from $4,000 to $5,000- An increase, from $4,000 to $5,000, is requested under this allotment to meet increased costs of labor and materials and to provide spare parts for the 2 new elevators recently installed in the Senate Wing. Substation equipment and repairs, increased from $4,205 to $5,305. An increase, from $4,205 to $5,305, is requested under this allotment to cover current costs of maintaining the electrical substation in the Capitol, and the electrical transformer stations installed under the Capitol Power Plant improvement program in the Senate Office Building, Old and New House Office Buildings, and Library Annex; also, the transformer station in the New Senate Office Building recently placed in service. 1,000 1, 100 Additions-Continued Maintenance, air-conditioning system: Nonrecurring A nonrecurring increase of $25,000 is requested Painting exterior of dome and exterior of west central This request is withdrawn as it is found to be Equipment, increased from $1,000 to $2,000 An increase, from $1,000 to $2,000, is requested Contribution to retirement fund, increased from $33,700 The additional cost results from increases in Total, estimate for 1960 $25,000 75,000 1,000 1, 300 +$161,800 1,088, 200 Mr. NORRELL. Mr. Stewart, what about this request? Mr. STEWART. I have a brief statement, or I can go into it in detail if you would like. For 1960, we are asking a net increase of $154,700, resulting from increases of $161,800, offset by decreases totaling $7,100, due to dropping of nonrecurring items allowed for 1959. For 1959, we had $933,500 including pay supplementals, and we are asking for $1,088,200 for 1960. If you would like further information on any of those items, I would be glad to furnish it to the committee. Mr. NORRELL. Yes. I would like to get the additions. PERSONAL SERVICES Mr. STEWART. The first increase is under "Personal services" and is in the amount of $19,730. Mr. NORRELL. For what is that? Mr. STEWART. For wage rate increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Congress. Under the provisions of Public Law 763, 83d Congress, 94 laborers and mechanics on the Capitol Buildings roll are compensated on a wage-board-prevailing rate basis. Public Law 763 provides that the compensation of such employees shall be fixed and adjusted from time to time as nearly as is consistent with the public interest in accordance with prevailing rates. That is decreed by law. Mr. NORRELL. Are there any questions? Mr. STEED. No questions. Mr. HORAN. No questions. Mr. STEWART. The $19,730 increase is made up of two items $12,400 and $7,330, explained as follows: An increase of $12,400 is requested for 1960 to meet on a full-year basis the cost of increased wage rates established for these wageboard positions as a result of a general survey of Government and industrial employees' wages in the Washington metropolitan area, conducted during the past year, and of a merger of grades effected under the wage-board system during the same period. The new rates went into effect January 11, 1959, and funds were provided to cover these increases on a part-year basis for 1959. This increase is necessary in order that the Capitol Buildings wage-board employees may be compensated on a full-year basis in the fiscal year 1960 in accordance with present prevailing rates. An increase of $7,330 is requested for 1960 to meet the cost of within-grade promotions falling due in that year, authorized by Public Law 763 under the wage-board system, for employees compensated under that act. Mr. STEWART. The next increase, in the amount of $1,770, covers the cost of within-grade promotions authorized by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended. Overtime and holiday pay is increased by $17,500 to meet increased pay costs under that allotment, resulting from base pay increases under Public Law 763 and the Classification Act. Then we have the regular pay above the 52-week base allotment increased by $2,400 to cover 2 additional days instead of the usual 1 additional day above the 52-week base-next year being leap year. ANNUAL PAINTING The next item of increase is under "Annual painting," which is increased from $32,000 to $48,000. Mr. NORRELL. For what is that? Mr. STEWART. There is an increase of $16,000, of which $15,000 is for scaffolding and painting Statuary Hall, last done in 1949; and $1,000 for painting the walls and repairing the plaster in the old Supreme Court Chamber, last done in 1941. ELEVATOR REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS The next item is elevator repairs and improvements, which is Mcreased from $4,000 to $5,000, to meet increased costs of labor and materials and to provide spare parts for the two new elevators recently Estalled in the Senate wing. SUBSTATION EQUIPMENT AND REPAIRS The next item is "Substation equipment and repairs," which is inTeased from $4,205 to $5,305, to cover current costs of maintaining the electrical substation in the Capitol, and the electrical transformer stations installed under the Capitol Power Plant improvement program in the Senate Office Building, Old and New House Office Buildings, and the Library Annex; also the transformer station in the New Senate Office Building recently placed in service. MAINTENANCE OF AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM Next is maintenance of the air-conditioning system, under which a nonrecurring increase of $25,000 is requested. This increase is requested to make necessary repairs and replacements to two airconditioning units on the House side of the Capitol, with capacities of 40,000 and 30,000 cubic feet of air per minute, respectively, which serve all inside rooms on the ground floor, House side of the Capitol, with the exception of the press; all gallery floor rooms, House side; and the Statuary Hall section of the building. These units have been in use since 1938, and have reached the point where it is necessary to replace chilled water coils, piping, and other corroded parts; the interchanger system with steam reheating coils, making room for a larger filter blank; and to install new stainless steel eliminator plates. Mr. NORRELL. Next item. EXTERIOR PAINTING ON THE CAPITOL Mr. STEWART. Next is painting the exterior of the dome and exterior of the west central section of the Capitol. I have withdrawn that request. I find that it would be much more practical to do this work as a part of the extension of the Capitol program, coordinating the painting work with the work of construction of the new extension, and repairs and improvements being made to the dome. The scaffolding is there for the repair work and even though we are a few months ahead of our scheduled time to paint, I think it is worth while to take advantage of it. It will reflect some saving, I am sure, in the cost of doing the painting work. Mr. NORRELL. Please tell me something about the exterior of the dome of the Capitol. You might mention that just briefly. Mr. STEWART. As to the repairs of it, sir? Mr. STEWART. The dome is constructed of cast iron. We will probably sandblast the entire exterior surface of the dome to get it down to a smooth surface before we paint it again. We will remove and repair, or replace as needed, any of the parts that are corroded or any parts that show any strain or stress. They will be replaced to whatever extent is required and then painted. During our examinations of a year or so ago, by consulting engineers engaged for such purpose, we discovered several areas where corrosion was evident; and since it is a dome that oscillates, the same as a sunflower, there is a certain amount of stretch, and all the members are coordinated together with bolts and various pieces of metal. In order to detect structural defects and prevent structural damage, the various structural members of the dome should be subjected to a closer and more thorough inspection at this time. Mr. NORRELL. All right; you may proceed, Mr. Stewart. |