7. Making a preliminary inquiry, in response to a complaint from an employee association, into the financial and administrative justification and explanation of the Defense Department's transfer of the Naval Training Device Center from Fort Washington, N.Y., to Orlando Air Force Base, Fla.

8. Preparing and sending to the Brookings Institution a letter to correct statements in a recent publication of the Institution entitled "Congressional Control of Administration" which created an erroneous impression concerning congressional responsibility for supervision and followup of reports of the Comptroller General of the United States.

9. Collection of laws relating to jurisdiction of House Government Operations Committee. Members of the full committee staff brought to completion a project to compile most of the basic statutes and amendments comprising the legislative jurisdiction of the House Committee on Government Operations. This compilation should prove a most useful tool in assisting the committee in carrying out its legislative responsibility. It has been issued as a committee print for use by the committee and its staff.

10. Preparing, in response to a Member of Congress, material to determine the merits of proposing legislation to create a Cabinet-level Department of Mineral Resources. The material contained a review of present functions under the Department of Interior now concerning themselves with the Nation's mineral resources. The report also contained a suggested plan of reorganization within the Department of the Interior.

11. Initiating a compilation of analyses of pertinent Federal court decisions relating to witnesses at hearings before congressional committees. The work is being done with a view toward reviewing the effect of certain House and Committee Rules relating to hearings and witnesses. The compilation of this material will continue into the next session of Congress.

12. Making a study concerning the coordination of similar or complementary activities of various Federal programs involving adult basic education and vocational training, and preparing correspondence with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of HEW, and the Director, OEO, suggesting consideration of certain approaches to this problem.

13. Preparing for a member of the committee information on the feasibility of including marine civilian employees of the Military Sea Transportation Service within the provisions of H.R. 10607. This was the bill to amend the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946 to liberalize moving expenses of certain Government employees who are requested to change duty stations for the convenience of the Government.

14. Preparing, for a Member of Congress, material relating to the report of the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations on the reform of building codes; the recent hearings of the Research and Technical Programs Subcommittee of this Committee dealing with a decisionmaking process with respect to research and development budgeting and expenditures; and the research of the U.S. Bureau of Standards relating to the building industry.

15. Checking into the need for drinking water by U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam and ascertaining why the Department of Defense is selling canned drinking water in the United States as surplus property.

EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE REORGANIZATION SUBCOMMITTEE

1. Compilation of Inventory Report.

(a) Summary of investigation.-The subcommittee continued its compilation of real and personal property of the U.S. Government in preparation for the issuance of its Tenth and Eleventh Annual Reports. The inventory reports represent assigned values of real and personal property owned or controlled by the U.S. Government throughout this country and the world. The reports list present-day evaluations of public domain, Capitol Hill properties, as well as realty previously recorded on the books at "zero value." Zero value properties are those which have been acquired by the Government at no cost. During the first session of the 89th Congress, the results of a pilot study made by the Department of the Interior were studied to determine whether or not it would be feasible to request a reevaluation of all Government properties to show estimated present-day values.

(b) Estimated monetary and other benefits.-The reports have proved to be extremely valuable and popular, as they help to show the value of the assets held by the U.S. Government and particularly the relationship of these assets to the national debt.

2. Importation of Foreign Excess Property.

(a) Summary of investigation.-The operation of the foreign excess property program of the Department of Commerce was studied with a view to possible legislative revision of title IV of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act which sets forth the conditions under which such property can be imported.

(b) Estimated monetary and other benefits.-Undetermined at this time.

3. Submissions of Agency Accounting Systems for GAO Approval. (a) Summary of investigation.-The investigation into the submissions of agency accounting systems for GAO approval was continued and intensified after the filing of House Report No. 179, dated March 17, 1965. Conferences were held by the staff with representatives of the General Accounting Office, the joint accounting program, and affected Federal agencies. Questionnaires were submitted to agencies referred to in the above report and their responses analyzed. Preparations were made for a hearing which was held on September 19, 1966, and the transcript has been printed.

(b) Estimated monetary and other benefits.—It is not possible at this time to estimate monetary benefits, but the subcommittee is confident that if the modernization of accounting systems can be achieved, the economies will amount to many millions of dollars.

4. An Exploratory Study of Costs per Placement in State Employment Service Offices.

(a) Summary of investigation.-This study was conducted by the staff and resulted in a revision of cost analysis procedures by the Bureau of Employment Security in the Department of Labor of Employment Service operations. Inasmuch as the objective of the study was achieved, it was not considered necessary to issue a formal report.

(b) Estimated monetary and other benefits. It is not possible to estimate monetary savings, but the benefits in improved administration should be considerable.

MILITARY OPERATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE

1. Procurement Practices and Administration of Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J.

(a) Summary of investigation.-Alleged irregularities in procurement practices at the U.S. Army Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J., became a matter of general concern to the Congress during the past session and of particular concern to members of the Committee on Government Operations. A GAO report on "Procurement of Inaccurate Radiation Measuring Instruments" (Dec. 17, 1963, B-146834) dealt with one of the procurements in question. The matter was also raised during the subcommittee hearings on GAO audits of Defense contracts. An inquiry dealing with all the relevant issues was made, at the completion of which a report of certain findings and other background information was transmitted to interested Members. It was concluded that there was no evidence of unresolved questions of fraud or malfeasance in connection with disciplinary action taken against several officials at Fort Monmouth for dereliction of duty in the procurement of radiacmeters. It was further concluded that the disciplinary action, as modified, was within the proper discretion of the Army.

(b) Estimated monetary and other benefits.-The Army Materiel Command and the Electronics Command, a division of the Materiel Command, have been reorganized, providing, among other things, for a clearer chain of command and delineation of responsibilities. In addition, procurement policies and practices of the command have been substantially modified and improved, particularly in the area of enabling industry to be better aware of the user's needs. No precise estimate can be made of the monetary benefits which will inevitably accrue from these changes, but there is considerable confidence that more efficient and economical procurement will be achieved. Another result of the inquiry and related consideration during the subcommittee hearings on GAO audit reports is a clarification of the difficult problem of disciplining individuals for mistakes uncovered during a GAO audit.

2. Communications Systems at White Sands Missile Range.

The staff made a thorough investigation of the Army Materiel Command's handling of prime and subcontract equipment leasing and purchase arrangements, reviewing Army data on policy changes and equipment contracts. The complainant and the office of the Member who requested the inquiry were advised of the facts in the

case.

3. Surplus Property Disposal.

The staff has continuously scrutinized military surplus disposal actions, investigating more closely those which indicated dissipation of valuable Government resources. Rechecks and rescreening of several lots of property were made by the Department of Defense, but no additional Government users were found for those lots of material.

4. Payment for Meals in Government Messes by Military Personnel Drawing Separate Subsistence Allowances.

The staff investigated a complaint and suggestion that action was needed with respect to enforcement of rules against paying subsistence allowances to personnel for meals consumed at Government messes. Applicable regulations, procedures, and practices were reviewed. It was found that appropriate enforcement procedures were in effect, consonant with economy in administration. The results of the inquiry were provided to the complainant and the office of the interested Member.

5. Civil Defense and Emergency Preparedness Planning.

The staff continued to answer frequent requests and inquiries related to its many previous reports on the subject of civil defense, which are basic documents, known nationally and abroad. It is also, continuing to study the redefinition of Federal responsibilities for emergency preparedness planning and continuity of Government. Briefings were received on this matter as required.

6. Procurement of Thermometers by Defense Medical Supply Center. The staff investigated a complaint about a canceled invitation for bids and a specification change in a procurement of thermometers. It was found that the specification change was inserted in the procurement for the purpose of quality control and that there was no violation of procurement regulations. A report was provided to the complainant and the office of the interested Member.

7. Proposal for Reduced Costs for Rental of Data Processing Equip

ment.

(a) Summary of investigation.-A proposal by a company seeking to rent IBM-type equipment to the Defense Department and other agencies on a sale and leaseback arrangement featuring similar maintenance service, but extended depreciation periods that would permit substantially lower rentals, was brought to the attention of the subcommittee. Since the proposal featured purchase by the leasing company from the producing company through the exercise of Govern