TO AMEND THE ACT ENTITLED "AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," APPROVED MAY 25, 1926 (44 STAT. 630), AND ACTS AMENDATORY THEREOF January 21, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. ELLIOTT, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 16297] The committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to which was referred H. R. 16297, a bill to amend the act entitled "An act to provide for the construction of certain public buildings, and for other purposes," approved May 25, 1926 (44 Stat. 630), and acts amendatory thereof, having duly considered the same, hereby make report of it to the House with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The following letter from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Speaker of the House, which letter was referred to this committee, reads: The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. JANUARY 17, 1931. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a draft of proposed legislation to amend and repeal certain provisions of the act of May 25, 1926, as amended, known as the public buildings act, with the request that it be given consideration at the present session of Congress. In this connection the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advises that the expenditures contemplated by this proposed legislation would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President. Respectfully, A. W. MELLON, Secretary of the Treasury. Hon. Ferry K. Heath, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, in charge of public buildings, made the following statement before the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to wit: The increase of $100,000,000 for new construction outside the District of Columbia under the public-building program represents the approximate amount TO AMEND THE ACT ENTITLED "AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," APPROVED MAY 25, 1926 (44 STAT. 630), AND ACTS AMENDATORY THEREOF JANUARY 21, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. ELLIOTT, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 16297] The committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to which was referred H. R. 16297, a bill to amend the act entitled "An act to provide for the construction of certain public buildings, and for other purposes," approved May 25, 1926 (44 Stat. 630), and acts amendatory thereof, having duly considered the same, hereby make report of it to the House with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The following letter from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Speaker of the House, which letter was referred to this committee, reads: The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. JANUARY 17, 1931. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a draft of proposed legislation to amend and repeal certain provisions of the act of May 25, 1926, as amended, known as the public buildings act, with the request that it be given consideration at the present session of Congress. In this connection the Director of the Bureau of the Budget advises that the expenditures contemplated by this proposed legislation would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President. Respectfully, A. W. MELLON, Secretary of the Treasury. Hon. Ferry K. Heath, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, in charge of public buildings, made the following statement before the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to wit: The increase of $100,000,000 for new construction outside the District of Columbia under the public-building program represents the approximate amount required to meet the public-building needs of the country as a result of surveys completed during the year 1930. Since 1928, the year of the last previous survey, a considerable number of Federal buildings have become congested due to parcel-post demands and increase in court business. The Post Office Department is also desirous of providing Federal space for large postal units which are now in expensively leased quarters. These large postal units had been contemplated under any previous survey. The estimated total requirement for this class of needs is $130,000,000 and involves approximately 225 projects at places where Federal buildings are now located. There are approximately 585 places not now provided with Federal buildings where the postal receipts are above $20,000 or where sites are owned and for which funds have not yet been allocated under the public building program. To provide buildings at these places will require approximately $60,000,000. The above two classes, therefore, would require a gross authorization of $190,000,000, which would be offset in part by sale proceeds, estimated at $12,000,000, and balances accruing after completion of contracts to the extent of about $15,000,000, which would make a net additional authorization for projects not yet allocated of $163,000,000. Congress has authorized to date for projects outside the District of Columbia under section 5 of the act approved May 25, 1926, as amended, a total of $315,000,000, plus proceeds from sale of old Federal buildings. To date specific authorizations have been secured to the extent of $271,206,176.04. The additional amount necessary to complete projects already allocated is approximately $56,000,000, which amount, when added to the $271,000,000 already authorized, will show a deficit of $12,000,000 under the present authorization of $315,000,000. This deficit of $12,000,000, however, is offset by estimated sale proceeds for allocated projects totaling $54,000,000, and estimated balances figured at 7 per cent, or $21,000,000, giving a total credit of $75,000,000. The net credit of $63,000,000 when applied to the $163,000,000 additional amount required for projects not yet allocated, shows that $100,000,000 is the approximate additional amount required to meet the needs as of January, 1931. In explanation of the additional amount required to complete the program of places already allocated in Document 613, Seventieth Congress, second session, it may be stated that increased demands for space, changes in the character of projects, especially in large cities, together with the desire of the department to have liberal limits of cost in order that contracts may be let without supplementary changes in drawings, will account for the increase of $56,000,000 in limits of cost. This amount will be offset by approximately $7,000,000 additional sales due to changes in character of project, and $21,000,000 in balances accruing after completion of projects. The net additional sum required to complete Document 613 appears to be $37,000,000, and nearly all of this amount is due to increased limits of cost in connection with space demands and changes in the character of 21 large projects. It is necessary that this additional authorization contemplated in H. R. 16297 be authorized in order that the public-building program may proceed without delay. Under the public building act the $315,000,000 program outside the District of Columbia would require 10 years to complete, from 1928 to 1938. The analysis showing the status of the work on January 15, 1931, respecting the $271,000,000 already authorized indicates that the present program of $315,000,000 will be practically completed by 1933, and that unless an increased authorization is obtained the department will be limited in the submission of new estimates to $44,000,000, except such additional amounts as may be released from the sale of Federal buildings and balances from completed projects. It must be realized, however, that these frozen assets will not materialize for sev eral years, and to depend upon this source will seriously jeopardize the continuation of the accelerated program now in force. $315,000,000 program, section 5 Status Jan. 15, 1931: Completed 36 buildings, total limit.. Under contract 96 projects, total limit. Bids in, on market or in specification stage, 38 projects, total limit Drawing stage Supervising Architect, 69 projects, total limit.. Sites acquired, drawings not yet taken up, 13 projects, Sites accepted, awaiting title, 74 projects, total limit. Sites selected, negotiation stage, 16 projects, total limit_. Total.... CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW In compliance with paragraph 2a of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives the following is submitted: PARTS OF EXISTING LAW AFFECTED BY THE BILL SEC. 5 OF THE ACT ENTITLED "AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," APPROVED MAY 25, 1926 SEC. 5. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act the sum of $150,000,000, in addition to the amount authorized in section 3 hereof, is hereby authorized to be appropriated, but under this authorization, and from appropriations (exclusive of appropriations made for "remodeling and enlarging public buildings"), heretofore made for the acquisition of sites for, or the construction, enlarging, remodeling, or extension of, public buildings under the control of the Treasury Department, not more than $25,000,000 in the aggregate shall be expended annually: Provided, That such amount as is necessary, not to exceed $50,000,000 of the total amount authorized to be expended under the provisions of this act, shall be available for projects in the District of Columbia, and not more than $10,000,000 thereof shall be expended annually: Provided, That at least one-third of the expenditures outside of the District of Columbia during the fiscal year 1927 shall be for the buildings heretofore authorized and at least one-third of the expenditures for the fiscal year 1928, and at least onethird of the expenditures for the fiscal PARTS OF BILL AFFECTING EXISTING LAW That the act entitled "An act to provide for the construction of certain public buildings, and for other purposes," approved May 25, 1926 (44 Stat. 630), and acts amendatory thereof, are hereby amended to provide that for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of said acts and to permit of expediting the public-building program thereby authorized, the amounts heretofore authorized to be appropriated for public-building projects outside the District of Columbia are extended $100,000,000: Provided, That under this authorization and from appropriations (exclusive of appropriations made for remodeling and enlarging public buildings) heretofore made or herein authorized for the acquisition of sites for, or the construction, enlarging, remodellng, or extension of public buildings under the control of the Treasury Department, not more than $65,000,000 in the aggregate, shall be expended annually, of which sum not more than $15,000,000 may be expended on projects in the District of Columbia (except that any part of the balance of such sum of $65,000,000 remaining unexpended at the end of any fiscal year may be expended in any subsequent fiscal year without reference to this limitation, beginning with the fiscal year 1928). |