Following the project estimate sheet, the items by activities are explained as follows:

1. The personnel is divided into three classes according to assignments. The sum of $16,814.is allotted for temporary employees for social functions, and other work of a temporary character.

2. The sum of $3,000 is allotted for greenhouse supplies and materials. This amount is the average expenditures for these purposes over several years and is not excessive for the 18 houses (13 used exclusively and part of 5 others).

3. Fixed charges. The amount allotted for fuel, electricity, and laundry compares favorably with the average annual expenditures for these purposes. 4. The item of repairs to furniture, furnishings, equipment, and buildings is in line with previous expenditures for these purposes, except during those years in which additional funds were available for extraordinary repairs, refurnishings, etc. 5. The amount estimated for equipment is in proportion to previous expenditures for normal operating purposes and is necessary for replacement.

6. This item is to provide for miscellaneous purchases in connection with the operation of the Mansion, such as the purchase of soaps, cleaning materials, hardware, gasoline, oil, etc.

Mr. WOODRUM. Do you desire to make any statement in explanation of these items?

Mr. CAMMERER. I may say that the total estimate for the fiscal year 1938, as submitted by the Bureau of the Budget, is $143,098, which is the same as the appropriation for the current year, that is, the same as the normal appropriation.

Last year's appropriation was augmented by the amount of $78,000 in the First Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1936, which, deducted from the total amount appropriated, leaves $143,098.

We have a very definite break-down of that amount, Mr. Chairman, which is generally followed, and which I would like to have inserted in the record, and then Captain Lock will be glad to go into the details, if the committee is interested to that extent.

Captain Lock. The estimate for this year is the same as the appropriation for running expenses last year.

Mr. WOODRUM. What amount are you speaking of now?

Captain Lock. The $143,098, which was the amount of the regular appropriation in the 1937 act.

The $78,000 referred to by Mr. Cammerer was a special appropriation for the removal of fire hazards. That money was expended for the purpose indicated, and did not cover regular maintenance. The estimate for maintenance is the same as it was last year.

Mr. WOODRUM. Has the work covered by the $78,000 been done? Captain Lock. That has been completed.

Mr. CAMMERER. That was emergency work which was badly needed to be done, and it was done just in time.

That building is appraised by the District of Columbia officials at a cost of 21⁄2 million dollars and the grounds at $23,623,170, so the expenditure for the elimination of the fire hazards was a very small amount to be used for that purpose.

Mr. WOODRUM. You have the building protected now, have you? Mr. CAMMERER. Yes. There may be some loose ends to pick up here and there.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION REQUESTED FOR REPAIRS TO BUILDING AND GROUNDS, REPLACEMENT OF FURNISHINGS, ETC.

Every 4 years it has been customary, according to the records, for Congress to grant an extra appropriation of $50,000 for the use of the incoming administration, so that various loose ends in the White

House building may be taken care of. At the present time there are repairs to the terraces surrounding the grounds, and new furniture, sashes and screens, repairs to some of the rooms in the south grounds, new curtains for the East Room, and drapes, which are needed. Every 4 years they take up a little slack here and there in the matter of replacing old furnishings, chairs, and so forth, and for taking care of the pictures and renovating the oil paintings that need to be renovated. It has not been customary to put that amount through the Budget. Every 4 years it seems to come automatically from Congress. Mr. WOODRUM. And that fund is available during the 4-year period? Mr. CAMMERER. Yes; it averages $12,500 a year. That takes care of unusual emergencies during the 4 years.

Mr. WOODRUM. You are asking for the same amount at this time? Mr. CAMMERER. We are submitting it to the committee as being the time to do that for the same 4-year period.

Mr. WOODRUM. Is the money needed for repairs and replacements? Mr. CAMMERER. Yes; very much so.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. And even if that is allowed you do not feel you can make any reduction in the amount you are asking for in this item, as compared with last year.

Mr. CAMMERER. No; that is something in addition that has been figured separately.

We have here a list of the things included in that amount, which we will be glad to show the committee. That will show you what this amount would be used for. It is not included in the normal, regular appropriation.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Is the regular appropriation likely to show any decrease next year if this amount is allowed? I notice it is at about the highest point at which it has been at any time.

Captain Lock. I doubt that it will. I might say that the size of the building has been increased within the last 2 years by the addition of an office which was built in 1934. So we have more building to take care of. The building is getting older and the cost of maintenance is not decreasing.

Originally, this $50,000 item was appropriated for such furnishings and refittings as the new administration might want. During the last few administrations it has been used to take care of accumulated structural needed repairs on the building, and it has been counted on to help out in that respect. There are many things that could be done to bring the building up to first-class condition, but I think the President would not approve of our asking for the entire amount that would be required for that purpose.

Mr. WOODRUM. Will you give us some information as to some of the needs to be covered by the $50,000?

Captain Lock. Yes, we have a list of the items covered by that amount. The first item is $4,000 for new East Room curtains and drapes. At present, the curtains and drapes are in a very bad state of repair and new ones are needed.

The second item is $11,000 for the alteration and repair of roads in the south grounds. That is to start work on making some improvements that the President has had in mind in the south grounds in repairing the roads, widening gates and changing the landscaping in certain particulars, in conformance with plans he has in mind.

The third item is for the repair of the wrought-iron stair rails on the south portico, at a cost of $900. The stair rails are beginning to be eaten by rust.

The fourth item is $2,000 to renew water pipe in the north and south grounds. The old pipe there has been repaired before, and is wearing right through; new pipe is needed.

The fifth item is $400 for repairing the roof on the terraces and the Mansion. In some places there are holes in the roof and the terraces have leaks in them.

The sixth item is for repairing, pointing up, and painting the fence around the grounds, and the amount for that item is $1,500. The fence going entirely around the grounds is very much in need of painting and repairs. It has not been repaired for a long time.

The seventh item is $5,000 for new furniture and rugs for the conference room, the cabinet room, and lobby of the Executive Office. When the Executive Office was built we did not have any money to put in furniture. We have been using such old furniture as we could get out of our warehouse. The Treasury Department has given us a furniture plan which we think we can carry out for $5,000.

The next item is $7,200 for painting the exterior of the Office and Mansion. About every 2 years we have to do the repainting of the exterior of the building. The white paint that is used shows the dirt. The White House is, unfortunately, in a location where smoke and dust from the street makes the exterior of the building quite dirty, in a short time, and it is necessary to repaint it frequently.

The ninth item of this proposed tentative budget is $8,000 for replacing deteriorated sash, screens and weatherproofing throughout the Mansion.

Some of the screens and sash are as old as the building, and they have so rotted that it is unsafe to push them up and down.

The last item is $10,000 for new air-conditioning machines for the Mansion. That is not to provide for the complete air conditioning of the Mansion; it is merely to provide for using individual room units.

The President has decided that he will not go into the complete air-conditioning of the Mansion at this time. These small machines, which it is proposed to use, bring in fresh air and cool it and clean it, and they can be put in without any structural change in the building. To air condition the whole White House proper would cost between $150,000 and $200,000, and the President does not wish to have that done now. We have tried out these machines and have found them satisfactory.

Mr. CAMMERER. This is just a tentative layout for 4 years, Mr. Chairman. If something more important comes along the President will have authority to use the fund for that purpose. We do not want to be in the position of promising definitely that each of these items will be carried out. This is simply a tentative layout.

Mr. WOODRUM. What is the total amount?

Captain Lock. The total amount is $50,000. In arriving at this sum we made up a list of a large number of items which could be done, and then they were gone over and it was decided that the most important ones could be put in at this time. This list does not represent all of the things which could be done; it merely represents what we think are the most important at this time.

Mr. CAMMERER. The annual appropriation for maintenance the Executive Mansion and grounds is $143,000. The bulk of this is used for salaries, electricity, coal, greenhouse supplies, and other miscellaneous running expenses. Only about $10,000 a year is ordinarily available for structural repairs to buildings and grounds. The District of Columbia government has assessed the White House buildings at $2,250,000 and the grounds at $23,623,170. The normal depreciation of 3 percent on the building would indicate that about $67,500 a year could properly be spent in keeping the building in first-class shape. This would not include changes and additions occasioned by equipment being obsolete or the need for more room. While a good deal has been done to put the building in first-class shape in connection with other work, it has not been possible to do everything on the limited appropriation we receive. It has, therefore, been necessary from time to time, to request funds from Congress to take care of the accumulated. repairs.

That is the justification we present to you for this item. Estimate sheets indicating the text for the item follow:

Maintenance, Executive Mansion and grounds. For extraordinary repairs to and refurnishing the Executive Mansion, to be expended as the President may determine, notwithstanding the provisions of any other act, to be immediately available and to remain available until expended, $50,000 (U. S. C., title 40, sec. 2; act Mar. 19, 1936, 49 Stat., p. 1168). Estimate 1938, $50,000; appropriated 1937, $0.00.

Mr. WOODRUM. We now take up the item for the American Battle Monuments Commission, which reads as follows:

For every expenditure requisite for or incident to the work of the American Battle Monuments Commission authorized by the Act of March 4, 1923 (U. S. C., title 36, secs. 121–133), and by Executive Order Numbered 6614 of February 26, 1934, including the acquisition of land or interest in land in foreign countries for carrying out the purposes of said Act and Executive order without submission to the Attorney General of the United States under the provisions of section 355 of the Revised Statutes (U. S. C., title 34, sec. 520; title 40, sec. 255); employment of personal services in the District of Columbia and elsewhere; including not to exceed $3,000 for allowances for living quarters, including heat, fuel, and light, as authorized by the Act approved June 26, 1930 (U. S. C., title 5, sec. 118a); purchase and repair of uniforms for caretakers of national cemeteries and monuments in Europe at a cost not exceeding $1,200; travel expenses; rent of office space in foreign countries; the maintenance, repair, and operation of motor-propelled passenger-carrying vehicles which may be furnished to the Commission by other departments of the Government or acquired by purchase; the purchase of one motor-propelled passenger-carrying vehicle at a cost not exceeding $1,600; printing, engraving, lithographing, photographing, and typewriting, including the publication of information concerning the American activities, battlefields, memorials, and cemeteries in Europe; the purchase of maps, textbooks, news

papers, and periodicals, $138,673, together with $21,327 of the unexpended balance of the no-year appropriations for the said Commission carried in any and all previous Acts, which unexpended sum is hereby made available for all the purposes of this appropriation: Provided, That notwithstanding the requirements of existing laws or regulations, and under such terms and conditions as the Commission may in its discretion deem necessary and proper, the Commission may contract for work in Europe and engage, by contract or otherwise, the services of architects, firms of architects, and other technical and professional personnel: Provided further, That the Commission may purchase supplies and materials without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (U. S. C., title 41, sec. 5) when the aggregate amount involved does not exceed $500: Provided further, That when traveling on business of the Commission officers of the Army serving as members or as secretary of the Commission may be reimbursed for expenses as provided for civilian members of the Commission: Provided further, That the Commission may delegate to its chairman, secretary, or officials in charge of either its Washington or Paris offices, under such terms and conditions as it may prescribe, such of its authority as it may deem necessary and proper.

LETTER OF GENERAL PERSHING IN JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATE

Mr. WOODRUM. Mr. Mangum, you have a statement, have you not, that you want to put in the record?

Mr. MANGUM. Yes, sir. I have a letter from General Pershing, chairman of the Commission, outlining the work of the Commission and giving information regarding our estimate of appropriations. I believe all of you gentlemen are familiar with the work of the Commission.

Mr. WOODRUM. Yes.

Mr. MANGUM. So I do not believe it will be necessary to read the letter, but I should like to put it in the record. (The letter referred to is as follows:)

Hon. JAMES P. BUCHANAN,

Chairman, Committee on Appropriations,

NOVEMBER 20, 1936.

House of Representatives, United States, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN BUCHANAN: In response to a telephonic request from your office, I am pleased to give you the following information regarding the work of the American Battle Monuments Commission and its estimate of appropriations for the fiscal year 1938.

Appropriations made to the Commission prior to the fiscal year 1936 were principally for the following projects, whose status is indicated below:

(a) The erection of a memorial chapel in each of the eight American cemeteries in Europe and the construction of service buildings, caretakers' houses, and masonry walls at the cemeteries where needed. The names of these cemeteries, their locations, and the number of burials in each are as follows:

(b) The installation of improved landscape designs in each of these cemeteries. (c) The erection of 11 memorials at the following places outside of the cemeteries: Montfauson, Montsec, near Chateau-Thierry, Brest, Tours, near Bellicourt, and on Blanc Mont Ridge (in the Champagne region), France; Audenarde and near Ypres, Belgium; Cantigny, France; and Gibraltar, Gibraltar.