of work has increased from $1.50 to $2.50 per hour, and the cost of copper and other repair materials has more than doubled since 1940. (3) $1,000 to replace one of the 4-inch steel rain leaders which carry storm water from the roof. There are 18 of these leaders. Two were replaced during the fiscal year 1942. The other 16 are original installations, installed at the time of construction of the courthouse over 100 years ago, and are embedded in the walls. During the past year one of the original rain leaders has failed, causing water to penetrate the plaster walls. Only temporary repairs could be made under funds available for 1949. Under the amount of $1,000 requested for 1950, it is proposed to replace this defective leader with approximately 65 feet of new galvanized steel pipe extending from the roof to the sewer.

MAINTENANCE OF AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM

Passing on to page 182 of the justifications, we ask $1,200 for the maintenance of the air-conditioning system, the same as provided for 1949 and prior years.

ANNUAL PAINTING

On page 183 of the justifications, we are asking, for annual painting, $3,000, an increase of $1,700 over the amount of $1,300 allowed for 1949. The increase is accounted for almost entirely by an item of $1,500 for exterior painting, which was last done in 1946. Under this amount we propose to paint 194 window frames and sashes, 10 door entrances, iron rails, and 15 lampposts. The balance of the allotment $1,500-is for interior painting, and the rooms and other areas to be done are as itemized on page 183.

INSTALLATION OF ASPHALT FLOOR TILE

On page 184 of the justifications, there is an item of $2,600 for installation of 5,700 square feet of asphalt floor tile in 15 rooms on the basement floor and 1,700 square feet of asphalt floor tile in 6 rooms on the first floor. Most of these rooms now have linoleum floor covering which has deteriorated to such an extent as to constitute a hazard. There is urgent need for this item, which has been deferred for the past several years due to lack of availability of suitable materials. In the basement rooms the existing linoleum floor covering is laid on concrete floors which are on a dirt foundation, as there is no cellar under the courthouse. The linoleum has disintegrated due to dampness penetrating the concrete. The asphalt tile proposed to be used will not be affected by the dampness.

RENOVATING VENETIAN BLINDS

The final item for the district court is $3,300 for renovating venetian blinds. In 1940 the building was completely equipped with venetian blinds, 220 in all, or a total of 7,800 square feet of blinds.

The blinds are of wood construction and are in good condition except for need of repainting, re-cording, and retaping, and the amount of $3,300 is requested for that purpose.

REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS, UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Mr. ROONEY. The next item is for repairs and improvements to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which appears on page 44 of the committee print and will be found on page 186 of the justifications.

SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS

At this point we will insert the statement which is found on page 186 of the justification.

(The matter referred to is as follows:)

Statement relating appropriation estimate to current appropriation

- Mr. ROONEY. I note that this item contemplates an increase from $2,500 in the present year to the amount of $7,900 for next year. Mr. Henlock, will you proceed to explain that, please?

ANALYSIS OF ESTIMATE

GENERAL ANNUAL REPAIRS

Mr. HENLOCK. The explanation starts on page 187 of the justifications, and, as in the case of the courthouse, we are asking, under "Genéral annual repairs," an increase of 50 percent to meet the increases which have occurred in the costs of labor and materials since the present prewar allotment of $1,800 was fixed. The increase amounts to $900, causing the allotment to change from $1,800 to $2,700 for 1950. That is the only change under "General annual repairs.

ADDITIONS TO AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM

The air-conditioning item on page 188 is the usual annual maintenance amount of $700 and a new nonrecurring item of $1,200 for special improvements. The $1,200 item is to provide for the installation of additional air filters and changes to the existing filter system to eliminate excessive dust now being carried through the ducts to the conditioned areas, which has now reached a point of rather serious annoyance to the judges and other occupants of the building.

The present air-conditioning system provides for filtering approximately 75 percent of the returned air. Under the improvements proposed, approximately 90 percent of all dirt will be eliminated.

86521-49-9

Temporary relief was provided in the fiscal year of 1947 by cleaning of the interior of the ducts. Installation of additional air filters will not only eliminate the excessive dirt now being borne into the building, but will also reduce the frequency of the need for cleaning of the ducts. A brief statement of the work to be done is stated on page 189 of the justifications.

PAINTING

The next item, "Painting, $2,000," is shown on page 190. We had no allotment for 1949. The last allotment was $1,300 in 1948.

Under the $2,000 item we are asking $1,200 for interior painting, which is limited to painting of the judges' chambers and the library, and $800 for painting the exterior woodwork, consisting of 98 window frames and sash and 9 doors.

RENOVATING VENETIAN BLINDS

The final item is $1,300 for renovating 71 venetian blinds. The same explanation obtains as in the case of the district courthouse-repainting, re-cording, and retaping these blinds which are of wooden construction and otherwise in good condition. The detail of the estimate is shown on page 191 of the justification.

Mr. ROONEY. Are there any questions, gentlemen?

COST OF ASPHALT TILE

Mr. PRESTON. I want to ask you about the price you expect to pay for asphalt tile. I notice in the first instance, although it is not set up in the justification, you propose to put in 4,800 square feet of asphalt tile in the Customs Court building.

Mr. HENLOCK. In the Court of Claims, sir.

Mr. PRESTON. Yes. Now, that is twice as much as the normal price for laying asphalt tile, isn't it?

Mr. HENLOCK. No, sir. The price of 35 to 40 cents per square foot is normal.

Mr. PRESTON. That is on cement. In the Court of Claims, is the tile to be laid on cement?

Mr. HENLOCK. In the basement, 2,800 square feet are to be installed on cement, and on the first floor 4,800 square feet are to be installed on pine floors.

Mr. PRESTON. On wood?

Mr. HENLOCK. Yes, sir. Only a part of it is on cement.

Mr. PRESTON. You have set up 35 cents a square foot over the cement?

Mr. HENLOCK. Forty cents per square foot for the Court of Claims, and 35 cents per square foot for the district courthouse.

Mr. PRESTON. You say that is a reasonable price for laying asphalt tile?

Mr. LYNN. That is a reasonable price. We have used quite a good deal of tile in the last year.

Mr. PRESTON. The newspapers are full of advertisements offering to lay it for considerably lower than that, and in any room.

Mr. LYNN. It all depends on the character of the tile you lay. Some of it is much better than other tile.

Mr. PRESTON. You would not pay more than 10 cents elsewhere, would you, sir?

Mr. LYNN. I am speaking through experience, sir. We have bought asphalt tile for the Capitol, and we have paid as high as 40 cents a square foot.

Mr. PRESTON. For other tile?

Mr. LYNN. No; asphalt tile, and we bought it under competition. Mr. PRESTON. At 40 cents?

Mr. LYNN. Thirty-five to forty cents.

Mr. PRESTON. For asphalt tile?

Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir.

Mr. PRESTON. Well, sir, I know you are an architect, but at the same time I know a little something about the price of asphalt tile. I have never seen any of that for 40 cents except for the Government, and I suppose the Government gets the best.

I am satisfied that tile can be laid on a competitive-bid basis much cheaper than 40 cents a square foot, and that it can be laid, as you say, cheaper than 35 cents. I don't know how it is, but the Government manages to buy and pay more than anybody else for certain things, so I guess it is in keeping with our general policy.

Mr. LYNN. On the contrary. The Government gets the best prices. Our office gets very reasonable prices because we do have competition. Competitive bids will be asked for both of the court jobs, if the funds are allowed, and every effort will be made to secure the best results at the lowest price.

Mr. PRESTON. My experience has generally been that the Government generally pays more than the private citizen for goods. I don't know why, but it seems that they generally do it that way.

Mr. LYNN. We buy a good deal of our material through the general supply schedule. They take competitive bids for furnishing materials all over the United States, and usually they have a very good price because of the quantities that they buy.

COST OF VENETIAN BLINDS

Mr. STEFAN. Mr. Lynn, how much do venetian blinds cost per foot?

Mr. LYNN. Forty cents, sir.

Mr. STEFAN. If the new ones cost 40 cents, why should you pay 40 cents to renovate the old ones?

Mr. LYNN. Mr. Stefan, the material in these older blinds is a finequality wood, much superior to the wood or other materials being used in the construction of venetian blinds today.

Mr. STEFAN. Will they last longer than the ones you buy for the same price-brand new ones?

Mr. LYNN. I should think so, because they are better wood and of better construction. That is my understanding.

Mr. STEFAN. You think it is more economical to repair these at 40 cents per foot in spite of the fact that you can get brand new ones at

40 cents?

Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir.

Mr. STEFAN. So the explanation is, in spite of the fact that you can get them new at 40 cents, you are paying 40 cents to repair the old ones because the material or the wood is better?

Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir.

Mr. STEFAN. And it will last longer?

Mr. LYNN. Yes, sir.

Mr. STEFAN. Will the blinds last as long, too?

Mr. HENLOCK. They have been in there now for about 10 years. Mr. STEFAN. Have they been repainted before?

Mr. HENLOCK. No, sir. This will be the first since they were installed about 10 years ago.

Mr. STEFAN. There must be some explanation for it, and that is what it is because it is better material?

Mr. HENLOCK. That is correct.

Mr. STEFAN. No further questions.