Mr. ROONEY. The next, then, is the third subdivision of the general appropriations for the Coast and Geodetic Survey, entitled "Pay, commissioned officers," wherein there is an increase of $85,000 above current appropriations of $1,430,000. We shall at this point in the record insert page 539 of the justification, as well as page 540. (The pages referred to are as follows:) The following increases are required for this appropriation for 1951: Pay increases prescribed by the Career Compensation Act of 1949 (Pub- $30, 100 9, 900 45, 000 Total increase__ JUSTIFICATION 85,000 This appropriation provides funds for the pay and allowances of the Bureau's corps of commissioned officers as prescribed by law. These officers are technically trained engineers who direct and take part in field surveys and who fill administrative positions in the Washington office. They serve as commanding officers of survey vessels, chiefs of shore parties, and, in ship and shore units, in positions grading from junior to executive officers of the larger survey ships. The operations of the Coast and Geodetic Survey are performed by no other agency to the specialized extent required in United States areas. These operations have become more comprehensive and complicated in recent years as new methods and equipment utilizing echo sounding, shoran, radar, and other electronic discoveries are developed to improve the efficiency of the work and to meet increasing civil and governmental needs of navigation of the air and the sea. Efficient conduct of the Bureau's work requires the services of a permanent Corps of Engineers with extensive training and experience in its highly specialized work. Furthermore, on account of the impracticability of maintaining a separate staff for ship operation, these officers must become proficient in seamanship and navigation as well as in a variety of complicated survey operations. Principally, because of the exclusive nature of the Survey's marine operations, there is no outside source from which field engineers with these qualifications can be recruited. The only means of meeting this condition is to obtain young men with suitable basic education (generally a degree in civil engineering) and to train them gradually, through actual service, in the various classes of work and in ship operation. A number of new deck officers are now in training on the various survey ships. The authorized complement of commissioned officers was fixed at 171 in 1932 and has remained unchanged since that time, although a larger number of officers could now be used to advantage on account of expanded operations. The full services of the Bureau's corps of 171 commissioned officers as now authorized will be required for operations in 1951. LANGUAGE CHANGES HIRE OF AIRCRAFT Mr. ROONEY. Let us direct ourselves to the language contained in the committee print, "Salaries and expenses, field," page 70. What is the reason for the insertion of the words "aircraft hire"? Admiral COLBERT. Mr. Cawley, you had that item in the Department and the budget. Will you speak on that? Mr. CAWLEY. The reason that it has been included is this: There is some question, as I understand it, under Public Law 600, as to whether we can hire aircraft without specific authority granted in the appropriation. Mr. ROONEY. You have been doing it all along; have you? Admiral COLBERT. Yes, sir. Mr. ROONEY. Have been doing it for a number of years? Mr. ROONEY. Has anybody ever questioned it? Admiral COLBERT. No; but I understand from the Department that in a recent decision the Comptroller General indicated that special authorization would be desirable. When I went before the Senate last year, it was brought up after we had had hearings in the House. I spoke to Chairman McCarran, and he thought language should be inserted to cover the point. DUTIES OF CREW MEMBERS Mr. ROONEY. What about the words "or duties of a similar nature”? That appears at the seventh line from the bottom on page 70 of the committee print. Admiral COLBERT. That refers to members of a crew of a vessel assigned certain additional duties. We pay them a small bonus; it is a very small amount, about $15 a month, but, it is necessary. We have basic authority to pay this extra sum to a certain class of personnel, bombers and fathometer readers, but our methods and equipment have changed so much in recent years that the old language is not adequate to cover our needs. PURCHASE OF PASSENGER VEHICLES Mr. ROONEY. What about the new language providing for the purchase of not to exceed seven passenger motor vehicles; five shall be for replacement only? Admiral COLBERT. The Bureau of the Budget suggested the language providing for transfer of surplus equipment from the Army and Navy. They were stopped due to the fact that Mr. ROONEY. That is obvious on the face of it. We are talking about motor vehicles. Admiral ADAMS. The Comptroller General has recently ruled that a suburban carry-all may be considered as a truck. So we no longer have to get any authority for buying suburban carry-alls. The ones that are considered passenger-carrying vehicles are station wagons. The number was reduced from 10 to 7. Mr. ROONEY. Where do you get the figure 10? Admiral ADAMS. That is in the language deleted. Ten vehicles known as station wagons and- Mr. ROONEY. You assumed because you got 10 last year that that would be some indication of the justification for even an additional car this year? Admiral ADAMS. No, sir: I am just explaining the change in the language. Mr. ROONEY. It is obvious. I want to hear why you want seven. Admiral ADAMS. We have to buy seven new station wagons for our field parties to use. These station wagons are the type which has been found to be most suitable for certain kinds of field work where it is necessary for the observer to have a clear vision of the country side. Mr. ROONEY. That is very nice, but where are you going to use these seven station wagons? Admiral ADAMS. They will be used in connection with the expansion for geodetic operations and photographic operations in the United States. Mr. ROONEY. The request for these seven station wagons is contingent upon the allowance of the requested personnel as presented in this budget; is that so? Admiral ADAMS. No, sir; I think five of them are for replacements. Mr. ROONEY. Would you say that the other two were? Admiral ADAMS. I am saying that from memory. Mr. ROONEY. Would you say that two were contingent upon the allowance of additional personnel? Admiral ADAMS. No; I think we need the two anyhow. Mr. ROONEY. You will take more if you can get it. Admiral ADAMS. We have used sedan delivery trucks and we had a lot of accidents due to the fact that the drivers could not see out of the back and sides; they can only see ahead. Mr. ROONEY. You have 18 motor vehicles now, have you not? Mr. ROONEY. Passenger motor vehicles. Admiral ADAMS. That is about right, according to my memory. Admiral COLBERT. I would like to extend to the members of this. committee an invitation to visit the Bureau, at their convenience in order that I might explain our activities further. I believe the operations of compiling and printing the charts would be especially interesting to you. Mr. PRESTON. You have never fallen down before a congressional committee. I heard you before the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and you have always been a fine witness and you had the confidence of every member of that committee, just as you have the confidence of this committee. Admiral COLBERT. Thank you very much, sir; it has been a pleasure to appear before this committee. Mr. ROONEY. Thank you very much, gentlemen. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1950. BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE WITNESSES THOMAS C. BLAISDELL, JR., ASSISTANT SECRETARY M. JOSEPH MEEHAN, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF BUSINESS ECONOMICS CARLTON HAYWARD, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF FIELD SERVICE OSCAR H. NIELSON, BUDGET EXAMINER, OFFICE OF THE SECRE- ESTIMATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 1951 Mr. ROONEY. Gentlemen, we shall this morning start on what we hope will be the last week of the hearings. The first item for the week and for this morning is that for the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, which appears at page 81 of the committee print and beginning at page 601 of the justifications. We shall at this point in the record insert the summary of requirements at page 602; the summary of obligations by object of expenditure at page 603 and the summary of personal services obligations at page 604 of the justifications. Summary of requirements, fiscal year 1951 Appropriation, 1950 (regular bill). Proposed supplemental estimate due to pay increase.. Deduct: Estimated savings, 1950. Base for 1951 Net differences-1951 over 1950: $11.508, 000 $11, 553, 000 $11,673, 000 20, 560 114, 110 11, 558, 890 Requirements Difference, +$683, 960 -1, 945, 465 -1,208, 890 -1,208, 890 10,350,000 Mr. ROONEY. We have with us Assistant Secretary of Commerce Blaisdell and his staff. Mr. Blaisdell, I take it you have a general statement on the operations of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce? Mr. BLAISDELL. Yes, sir. Mr. ROONEY. We shall insert that general statement in the record at this point and shall ask you to give us the high lights of it, touching on the particular items which you feel the committee should be acquainted with in connection with the requested appropriation. (The general statement referred to is as follows:) STATEMENT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE BLAISDELL Secretary Sawyer has told you that the Bureau of Foreign aid Domestic Commerce is taking on new jobs, all of them aimed at promoting the interests of American business. We are happy to say that we are able to reduce those |