BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, April 21, 1936. The PRESIDENT, The White House. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith for your consideration a supplemental estimate of appropriation for the Executive Office for the fiscal years 1936 and 1937 amounting to $78,000, as follows: EXECUTIVE OFFICE Maintenance, Executive Mansion and grounds: For an additional amount for repairs and alterations of the Executive Mansion, including the same objects specified under this head in the Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1936, to remain available until June 30, 1937, and to be expended as the President may determine, notwithstanding the provisions of any other act (U. Š. C., title 40, sec. 2; act Feb. 2, 1935, 49 Stat., p. 6). $78, 000 The purpose of this estimate is to make necessary improvements and repairs to eliminate certain fire and other hazards in the Executive Mansion to insure the safety of the occupants and the protection of valuable Government records, equipment, and the real and historic value of the building. The foregoing estimate of appropriation is to meet a contingency which has arisen since the transmission of the Budgets for the fiscal years 1936 and 1937, and approval thereof is recommended. Very respectfully, D. W. BELL, Acting Director of the Bureau of the Budget. О SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL COMMISSION LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MOUNT RUSHMORE JANUARY 16, 1936.-Referred to the Committee on the Library and ordered to be MY DEAR MR. BYRNS: I enclose herewith Seventh Annual Report of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission, as provided by the act of February 25, 1929 (Public, No. 805, 70th Cong.). In former years it has been the practice to have this report printed, and I should like to suggest to you the desirability of publishing the report attached hereto. I am, Sincerely yours, FRED W. SARGENT. MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL COMMISSION, Hon. JOSEPH W. BYRNS, Rapid City, S. Dak., January 9, 1936. Speaker House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. SIR: In accordance with the act of February 25, 1929 (Public, No. 805, 70th Cong.), we have the honor to transmit herewith the seventh annual report of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission. During the past season the sculptor has had a larger crew than in former years, and the work upon the mountain has been correspondingly rapid. Considering the structural difficulties in the rock and the colossal size of the memorial we feel that much has been accomplished for the amount of money expended. Respectfully yours, FRED W. SARGENT, President. SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL COMMISSION AS OF DECEMBER 10, 1935 To the Congress: ADMINISTRATION This year marked a complete change in the manner of disbursing the funds available for construction work upon the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Under the original act the Commission was required to match Government funds, dollar for dollar, from private sources. The Federal contribution was transferred to the treasurer of the Commission upon requisitions of its executive committee, and paid out by such treasurer upon vouchers issued by the chairman of the executive committee, countersigned by its secretary. The Commission acted as an independent body and had full control and supervision of construction and expenditures, subject only to audit by the Comptroller General of the United States. Pursuant to "An act to maintain the credit of the United States Government", approved March 20, 1933, the President issued an Executive order under date of June 10, 1933, transferring the expenditures of the Commission to the Department of the Interior. However, no immediate change was made by the Secretary with reference to the expenditures of the Commission except to require that its reports be made to his Department. Under the act of June 26, 1934 (Public, No. 471, 73d Cong.), the law was so modified as to dispense with the necessity of dollar matching from private sources and the construction of the memorial has now become a Government responsibility. This has necessitated a change in the method of handling the fiscal affairs of the Commission. Its funds are now expended through a disbursing officer responsible directly to the Secretary of the Interior. PROGRESS OF THE WORK Work was resumed upon the memorial on June 1 and prosecuted without interruption to November 4 when it was discontinued due to severe weather conditions upon the mountain which made it impracticable to continue longer. Approximately 50 persons were employed and very satisfactory progress was made in view of the difficulties encountered in carving figures of the colossal size called for in a mountain of solid granite. Washington, while not completed, stands out as a monumental work of art, and expresses the power, dignity, and serenity characteristic of that great national leader. In point of spirit and character it is already one of the finest portraits of its kind in the world, and when completed promises to be more expressive of the real Washington than anything that has so far been produced. The stability and uprightness of character depicted in the fine face will forever be an inspiration to the millions who shall look upon it in the countless years it is destined to stand as the most outstanding work of its kind of all time. Jefferson is emerging as a splendid youthful figure. His face is characterized with mental alertness and vision. As one looks upon it, it is easy to understand how such a man could write the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. One need not resort to dusty tomes to appreciate the qualities of the great liberal. He has but to sit on a rock and study that huge stone face as it is being slowly uncovered by the matchless art of the sculptor. TIME OF COMPLETION The time within which the memorial can be completed is hedged about with too many contingencies to venture a prediction. Much depends upon the amount of money that will be available for the prosecution of the work. Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor, is perhaps more anxious than anyone else to press the work with all possible speed, consistent with that high standard of art which he visualizes for the four great characters to be carved. In his annual report to the Commission he says: The work for 1936 should be refining and completing the Washington face, hair, shoulders, and such part of the coat as will be wise to finish. To finish the sides of Jefferson's face and his collar, cut away the stone between the two heads. Finish the Lincoln face and locate the head of Theodore Roosevelt. To accomplish the above, our force will have to be doubled, our power be doubled, our air compressors doubled, and a hoist provided for our men. The Commission has never had the funds to carry forward the work in the manner which has consistently been urged and insisted upon by the sculptor. PUBLIC INTEREST Nothing, perhaps, can better measure the remarkable public interest in the memorial than the host of people from all parts of the world that visit it daily. The studio, which is constructed of native logs on a great rock mass about a quarter of a mile from the facade of the mountain upon which the figures are being carved, was kept open from May 15 to November 1 of the current year. During that time 35,210 visitors registered, or 6,330 more than registered in 1934. It is estimated that but one out of each five and six-tenths visitors registered. Approximately 197,176 persons visited the memorial during the period mentioned. There were registrations from every State and 22 foreign countries. The average daily registrations were as follows: Financial statement for the year ending Oct. 31, 1935, as certified by public accountants for the year ending Oct. 31, 1935 'It will be noted that the disbursements are given under two heads. Those appearing under "Special disbursing agent" were made through the duly accredited disbursing officer of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Those appearing under "The Commission" were paid to the Commission upon requsition of its executive committee and expended through its treasurer. The above consolidated statement by Keightley & Mollers, certified public accountants, checks with the financial records of the Commission. O JOHN A. BOLAND, Chairman, Executive Committee. WILLIAM WILLIAMSON, |