Mr. DAVIS. Well, are you purchasing more horses and new vehicles for that purpose? Col. KUTZ. Yes, sir; enough to keep up the supply. Mr. DAVIS. I noticed somewhere in these estimates that you are asking for automobiles and trucks, and one thing or another, on the theory that you were not to purchase any more horses for any purposes? Col. KUTZ. Well, we are trying to use the most economical form of transportation in the different services. But the experience here and elsewhere indicates that horse-drawn vehicles are more economical in the collection of ashes, trash, and garbage than are motordrawn vehicles. What we hope to do is to use horses for the collection. service, and then transfer at transfer stations the loads to motordrawn vehicles for the long haul. But where the vehicle has to stop at every house, the horse is a more economical and more satisfactory means of transportation than the motor. Mr. CRAMTON. Especially where they run them in processions, as they generally do up our way; three or four wagons come together collecting the ashes, a sort of company for one another. Col. KUTZ. I do not think it is that; it is a question of supervision. We try to group the activities, in order that the work may be supervised. Mr. CRAMTON. Generally about five or six men and about three or four wagons come up the alley at one time to get the ashes. Col. KUTZ. The largest part of that expense is in the labor. Mr. CRAMTON. It always impressed me that it would be a big item, the labor; because one wagon could collect all the ashes there were in that section. Col. KUTZ. If you scatter your forces, you find that you do not get. as good results as if you keep them in more or less compact form, so that the supervisor can keep tab on them. Mr. CRAMTON. These typewriters and mimeographs and addressographs and adding machines, are you obliged to go into the open market for those, or do you get those from the Government's surplus? Col. KUTZ. We are required by law to buy from Federal departments if it is possible to obtain them from the Federal departments. We do that in the case of all our supplies. Mr. SISSON. In compliance with that statute, has the District made every effort to comply with the statute, or has there been any effort on the part of your employees to avoid that statute which requires you to purchase from the Government? Col. KUTZ. No, sir; we have made very earnest efforts to obtain supplies from the Government, and have done so wherever it was possible to get them. Mr. SISSON. To what extent have you had to go outside of the Government supply for automobiles, typewriters, etc.? Col. KUTZ. I do not know about the typewriters; but all our requirements in the automobile line have been presented to the Federal departments. And where they said they could fill them we have purchased from the Government. Mr. SISSON. Will you put in the record if you can how many of your typewriters and other articles that you are required by that statute to buy from the Government have been bought outside of the Government? Statement showing the number of typewriters purchased during the fiscal year 1920, through the General Supply Committee and from commercial dealers, the departments for which purchased, the number of machines, cost, make, and the allowance for old machines taken in exchange. NOTE.-The above typewriters were purchased of commercial dealers after a request had been made of and advised by the General Supply Committee that they could not furnish the machines. Statement showing the number of motor vehicles purchased during the fiscal year 1920 from commercial dealers and through the Director of Sales, United States Army; the departments for which purchased, the number of machines, cost and the character thereof. NOTE.-The above machines were purchased of commercial dealers, after a request had been made of, and advised by the Director of Sales, United States Army, that they could not furnish the motor vehicles desired. Mr. DAVIS. What is this item of furniture and equipment, $1,800, for? That is on page 30. What are you furnishing and equipping now-the District Building? Col. KUTZ. That is furniture and equipment for the District Building. I can not tell you in detail what is purchased under that. Mr. DAVIS. The next item in that list on page 30 is typewriters, purchase, repairs, and rental, $1,500. Are you purchasing any new typewriters, and if so, why do you not get them from the General Supply Committee of the Government? Col. KUTZ. We do, if we are able to get them; but we have to pay for them. Mr. DAVIS. You have to pay for them? Col. KUTZ. Yes. Mr. DAVIS. Are you buying a good many typewriters recently? Col. KUTZ. I do not think we are increasing the number; but there are a large number of typewriters that have to be replaced. PRINTING REPORTS. Mr. DAVIS. The next item is on page 30, for printing all annual and special reports of the District of Columbia, in which you ask an increase from $10,000 to $11,000. Is it more expensive to print that annual report now since paper is coming down? Col. KUTZ. The amount expended in 1920 was $10,878. Mr. GARGES. All of that work is done at the Government Printing Office. Mr. SISSON. Well, is it necessary to encumber this appropriation so that you would have more money than you needed? I imagine with the decreased price of paper and other supplies that you will be better off than last year. Mr. DONOVAN. As a matter of fact, there will be a deficiency this year. Mr. DAVIS. Well, as a matter of fact, will it not be possible to cut down the size of your annual report, and thus reduce this expense? Mr. GARGES. We had a committee appointed for that purpose last year, and the size of the report was cut down 50 per cent. it is now down to a minimum. Mr. DAVIS. You think they are now down to a minimum? PURCHASE AND MAINTENANCE OF AUTOMOBILES. I think Mr. CRAMTON. In the next item on page 31, when you ask for 11 new automobiles, I take it that you have in mind definitely where they are to go and what they are to be? Col. KUTZ. We are proposing to get three Fords for the repair department of the municipal architect's office; one Ford for the inspector of buildings; one Ford for the assessor. And then to replace horse-drawn vehicles with Fords, one for the surface division, one for the superintendent of streets and one for the inspector of minor repairs; one Ford for the disbursing officer; one for the surveyor, and one for the inspector of asphalts and cements. Five of them constitute additional transportation, and six of them are to replace horse-drawn transportation. Mr. CRAMTON. And the balance of this item would be for the exchange of automobiles now owned? Col. KUTZ. Yes, sir; we are proposing to exchange seven worn-out motor vehicles. Mr. CRAMTON. Yes. The amount of that item is increased from $8,400 to $17,200. Does that take into account the recent decreases in the prices of automobiles and the prospective decreases? Col. KUTZ. Well, that is based on paying $800 for the Ford car. Mr. SISSON. That was before the price of the Ford was cut? Col. KUTZ. Yes; and it is probable that that amount could be reduced at the present time. Mr. DAVIS. How much of this $17,200 is for new machines, and how much is for the replacement of old machines? Col. KUTZ. $8,800 is estimated for new machines and $8,400 is for replacement. Miss BOARDMAN. Does that include a new one for the dog pound service? Col. KUTZ. No; that comes later; that is a special one. Mr. DAVIS. Will you make a statement for the record showing the number of machines and the kinds of machines you expect to exchange? Mr. SISSON. And for what department? Mr. DAVIS. Yes; and state for what department. The details of this estimate are as follows: 3 Fords, slip-on bodies, new, municipal architect. 1 Ford touring, new, inspector of buildings.. 1 Ford touring, new, assessor.. To replace horse-drawn vehicles: 3 Ford roadsters, (1) principal assistant, (2) superintendent of streets, and (3) inspector of minor repairs.. $2,400 800 800 $4,000 1 Ford touring, disbursing officer.. 2,400 1 Ford touring, surveyor... 800 1 Ford roadster, inspector of asphalts and cements, replacing buggy and 2 horses.. 800 To replace worn-out motor vehicles: 4,800 1,500 800 1,500 800 3,000 800 1 Ford roadster, superintendent suburban roads.. Total...... 8,400 17, 200 Age and mileage of District of Columbia automobiles which will probably be subject to exchange during fiscal year 1922, from contingent and miscellaneous ex |