the various States necessitates the use of automobiles to reach the marsh areas and other isolated sections frequented by waterfowl. These United States game protectors are now using their own automobiles on an allowance of 5 cents a mile. Because the Government can purchase automobiles, tires, gas, accessories, and repair parts at lower prices than individuals, and has no license fees, etc., to pay, Government-owned cars can be operated at considerably lower costs than personally-owned ones. It is the experience of the Biological Survey in the operation of Government-owned light passenger-carrying automobiles and light trucks that the costs of operation including depreciation run as low as 3.2 cents per mile and it is estimated that in the territory in which the new automobiles will be operated the average cost per mile will not exceed 4 cents including depreciation on car. This will result in a saving to the Government of approximately 1 cent a mile, which on an estimated mileage of 50,000 miles a year for the six automobiles would result in saving of $500 per annum.

A further and important reason for purchasing Government-owned cars for game protectors is that considerable of their travel is confined to a radius of 100 or 150 miles from their official stations. Due to Comptroller General's rulings the General Accounting Office has been suspending items of mileage on personally-owned cars where employees travel from their official station and return the same day. This forces the employee to operate his car at a loss as he can receive only actual expenses for gas and oil consumed on trip, or to resort to the hiring of automobiles at rates of from 10 to 15 cents per mile, which is greatly in excess of mileage allowance to employees or the cost to Government of operating its own cars.

Of the remaining six cars one is needed for patrol work on the Upper Mississippi River Wild Life Refuge by the superintendent and his assistants in visiting various sections of the refuge over the 300 miles of its length. Now personally owned cars are used with a reimbursement at 5 cents per mile. Three are needed for use in land examination work under the migratory bird conservation act. By experience it has been found that Government automobiles are the most economical means of transportation to reach the various areas to be examined, and they are a great saving of time over other means of transportation thus greatly facilitating the work of examining land. Personally owned cars are used on a 5-cent mileage allowance where Government-owned cars are not available. Two are needed in connection with rodent control operations to replace the use of privately owned cars now operated on a 5-cent mileage basis. In the sections where these automobiles will be used it is also estimated from available statistics on operation of Government-owned cars that the Government-owned cars can be operated for 4 cents a mile, thus saving approximately 1 cent a mile on all travel performed by these six cars. The yearly saving should amount to at least $500. Mr. BUCHANAN. What other items have you Mr. Redington? Mr. REDINGTON. That was the final item.

149139-3244

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1932.

BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS

STATEMENT OF THOMAS H. MacDONALD, CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS

Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. MacDonald, we will take up the Bureau of Public Roads, and discuss the various items under the bureau. These items, as a group, are as follows:

For necessary expenses of the Bureau of Public Roads, including salaries and the employment of labor in the city of Washington and elsewhere, supplies, office and laboratory fixtures and apparatus, traveling and other necessary expenses; for conducting research and investigational studies, either independently or in cooperation with State highway departments, or other agencies, including studies of highway administration, legislation, finance, economics, transport, construction, operation, maintenance, utilization, and safety, and of street and highway traffic control; investigations and experiments in the best methods of road making, especially by the use of local materials; studies of types of mechanical plants and appliances used for road building and maintenance and of methods of road repair and maintenance suited to the needs of different localities; and maintenance and repairs of experimental highways, including the purchase of materials and equipment; for furnishing expert advice on these subjects; for collating, reporting, and illustrating the results of same; and for preparing, publishing, and distributing bulletins and reports; to be paid from any moneys available from the administrative funds provided under the act of July 11, 1916 (U. S. C., title 23, sec. 21), as amended, or as otherwise provided.

For carrying out the provisions of the act entitled "An act to provide that the United States shall aid the States in the construction of rural post roads, and for other purposes," approved July 11, 1916 (39 Stat., pp. 355-359), and all acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, to be expended in accordance with the provisions of said act, as amended, including not to exceed $733,100 for departmental personal services in the District of Columbia, $39,814,387, to be immediately available and to remain available until expended, which sum is a part of the sum of $125,000,000 authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1933 by section 1 of the act approved April 4, 1930 (46 Stat., p. 141), after deducting $15,840,743.86 in making the apportionment of said authorization to the States, in accordance with the act of December 20, 1930 (46 Stat., p. 1031): Provided, That none of the money herein appropriated shall be paid to any State on account of any project on which convict labor shall be directly employed, except this provision shall not apply to convict labor performed by convicts on parole or probation: Provided further, That not to exceed $45,000 of the funds provided for carrying out the provisions of the Federal Highway act of November 9, 1921 (U. S. C., title 23, secs. 21 and 23), shall be available for the purchase of motor-propelled passenger-carrying vehicles necessary for carrying out the provisions of said Act, including the replacement of not to exceed one such vehicle for use in the administrative work of the Bureau of Public Roads in the District of Columbia.

The appropriation of $2,000,000 for roads on unappropriated or unreserved public lands, nontaxable Indian lands, and so forth, contained in the act entitled An act to relieve destitution, to broaden the lending powers of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and to create employment by providing for and expe diting a public-works program," approved July 21, 1932, is hereby continued available during the fiscal year 1934, and not to exceed $4,760 may be use for personal services in the District of Columbia.

Road and bridge flood relief, Georgia and South Carolina: To enable the Secretary of Agriculture to carry into effect the provisions of the act entitled "An act for the relief of the State of Georgia for damage to and destruction of roads and bridges by floods in 1929," approved May 27, 1930, and the act entitled "An act for the relief of the State of South Carolina for damage to and destruction of roads and bridges by floods in 1929," approved June 2, 1930, the unexpended balances of the appropriations for these purposes contained in the second deficiency act, 1930, shall remain available until June 30, 1934.

The appropriation of $3,000,000 for roads on unappropriated or unreserved public lands, nontaxable Indian lands, and so forth, contained in the act entitled "An act making supplemental appropriations to provide for emergency construction on certain public works during the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1931, with a view to increasing employment," approved December 20, 1930, is hereby continued available during the fiscal year 1934.

Mr. MACDONALD. The following statement concerning the items coming under this bureau is submitted for the record:

Appropriation, 1932.

Federal aid highway system

$175, 000, 000

Appropriation, 1933.

Budget estimate, 1934

Decrease...

The situation from the expenditure standpoint is shown as follows:

Funds available, 1933:

1. Agricultural act

2. Plus unexpended balance carried forward from 1932......

Total..

3. Plus estimated amount of 1934 appropriation to be expended in 1933..

100, 000, 000

39, 814, 387

60, 185, 613

$100, 000, 000

19, 651, 496

119, 651, 496

13, 000, 000

The estimated experditures for 1933 exceed the apportionment for that year because of the effect of the emergency construction highway funds ($120,000,000) appropriated by the act of July 21, 1932, and made available for use by the States in matching their regular Federal-aid funds in lieu of State funds. This is expediting the program and accordingly will increase the expenditures during 1933. At the present time (November, 1932) there is unappropriated from the 1933 authorization of $125,000,000, $67,400,000. Deducting from this unappropriated amount, $15,840,744 to comply with the provisions of the emergency construction act of 1930 and $39,814,387 as estimated in the Budget for 1934 leaves $11,744,869 of the 1933 authorization for future appropriations. Since there is no authorization for 1934, the estimated expenditure for 1934 covers only the carry-over into that year from previous year authorizations; $185,613 reduction on account of continuation of legislative furlough.

Exclusive of $58,912,432 expended 1932 on account of advances to States under emergency construction act of 1930. ? Exclusive of $85,000,000 estimated expenditures 1933 account of advances to States under emergency construction act of 1932. Budget estimate of $39,814,387 less $13,000,000 estimated to be expended in fiscal year 1933.

WORK UNDER THIS APPROPRIATION

Under this appropriation the Federal Government cooperates with the several States and the Territory of Hawaii in improving the Federal-aid highway system as provided in the Federal highway act of November 9, 1921, and subsequent amendments. The Federal-aid highway system is often referred to as the 7 per cent system because the mileage in each State was initially limited to 7 per cent of the total highway mileage in such State. The routes in the system were selected by the States and approved by the Secretary of Agriculture. On June 30, 1932, the system included 200,013 miles of the principal highways of the country and connected all the principal cities, county seats and other market centers in the United States. About 101,124 miles of this system have been improved with Federal aid and 15,606 miles additional were under construction or approved for construction on October 1, 1932. The initiation and immediate supervision of the construction of Federal-aid projects is under the State highway departments with engineers of the Bureau of Public Roads making frequent inspections and following and approving all work from the inception of a project until its completion.

This cooperative highway work was started by the act of July 11, 1916, and since 1925 Congress has authorized the appropriation of funds for four 2-year programs. The authorization of $125,000,000 for the fiscal year 1933 is the last authorization to date. Legislation authorizing appropriations for 1934 and 1935 has passed the Senate and is pending before the House.

The apportionment of the 1933 authorization was made October 15, 1931, and became available immediately for new work. In making the apportionment a deduction of $16,000,000 was made on account of funds advanced to the States under the $80,000,000 emergency advance appropriation carried in the act of December 20, 1930.

Funds are appropriated as needed to discharge obligations incurred under the authorizations. It is estimated that $132,500,000 will be required to make necessary payments during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1933. The expenditures in the fiscal year 1933 will exceed the authorizations because of the enlarged and expedited program made possible by the emergency appropriation of $120,000,000 carried in the emergency relief and construction act of July 21, 1932. Under this act the States may use their share of the $120,000,000 appropriation instead of State funds in matching their regular Federal-aid funds. Sums so advanced will be deducted over a period of 10 years from future apportionments of Federal aid beginning in 1938.

On July 1, 1932, there was a cash balance of $119,651,496 available. To meet estimated expenditures of $132,500,000 during the fiscal year 1933 it will be necessary to use about $13,000,000 of the $39,814,387 carried in the agricultural bill for 1934. The funds now available will provide for payments until after March 4, 1933, and as the agricultural bill will pass by March 4, 1933, a supplemental appropriation for 1933 will be unnecessary.

ADVANCES TO STATES, EMERGENCY CONSTRUCTION, 1933

The schedule contained in the Budget indicates an expenditure during 1933 under this special appropriation as follows:

Project: Grants to States...

$120, 000, 000

ADVANCES TO STATES, EMERGENCY CONSTRUCTION, 1931 The schedule contained in the Budget shows the expenditure during 1932 under this special appropriation.

PUBLIC-LANDS HIGHWAYS, 1931-1933

Explanation: The language submitted is necessary in order to make available until June 30, 1934, the unexpended balance (estimated at $12,000) of the $3,000,000 appropriated by the emergency construction act approved December 20, 1930 (46 Stat. 1030) for roads on unappropriated or unreserved public lands, nontaxable Indian lands, etc. Continuation of availability of this appropriation is necessary in order to provide for authorized obligations which may not be consummated prior to June 30, 1933, and for supervision of work which will carry over into the fiscal year 1934.

PUBLIC-LANDS HIGHWAYS, EMERGENCY CONSTRUCTION, 1933-1934

Explanation: The language submitted is necessary in order to make available until June 30, 1934, the unexpended balance (estimated at $12,560) of the $2,000,000 appropriated by the emergency relief and construction act, approved July 21, 1932, for roads on unappropriated or unreserved public lands, nontaxable Indian lands, etc. Continuation of availability of this appropriation is necessary in order to provide for authorized obligations which may not be consummated prior to June 30, 1933, and for supervision of work which will carry over into the fiscal year 1934.

FLOOD RELIEF, GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA, 1931-1934

Explanation: The language submitted is recommended to make available until June 30, 1934, the unexpended balance (estimated at $15,000) of the $1,311,628.50 already appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the acts approved May 27, 1930 (46 Stat. 386) and June 2, 1930 (46 Ŝtat. 489).

FLOOD RELIEF, ALABAMA, 1930-1933

The schedule contained in the Budget indicates an estimated unobligated balance in this appropriation, which will lapse on June 30, 1933.

FLOOD RELIEF, FLORIDA (NO YEAR)

Explanation: The schedules submitted in the Budget for 1934 set forth expenditures during 1932 and estimated expenditures during 1933 under this item. flood relief, MISSOURI, MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA, AND ARKANSAS (NO YEAR) Explanation: The schedule contained in the Budget indicates an estimated unobligated balance in this appropriation, which is available until expended.

FLOOD RELIEF, VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND KENTUCKY (NO YEAR) Explanation: The schedule contained in the Budget indicates estimated expenditures under this item up to the full amount appropriated.

LIMITATION ON PURCHASE OF PASSENGER-CARRYING VEHICLES

The language authorizing and limiting the expenditure for purchase of passenger-carrying vehicles is submitted in connection with the total for the bureau in order to provide for consideration of this item at the same time the general estimates of the bureau are under consideration. The purchase authorization of the bureau from the general departmental authorization for 1933 is $45,000. The authorization for 1934 is in the same amount.

MILEAGE OF FEDERAL ROADS IMPROVED DURING FISCAL YEAR 1932

Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. MacDonald, I wish you would give a preliminary statement, giving the general status of the public-road appropriation and authorizations, although it is probably tolerably well given in this detailed account of the work.

Mr. MACDONALD. The statement I have just submitted does cover the matter of authorizations and appropriations, but I would like to make a further statement relative to the status of the work.

During the fiscal year 1932, 15,997.2 miles of the Federal Aid System were improved with Federal aid. These improvements were of all types, and I suggest that this table be incorporated in the record, Mr. Chairman. It is a detailed statement of the various types of roads that were improved during the year.

The fiscal year 1932 was a record year in the matter of completed mileage of Federal aid improvements. This record accomplishment was made possible by the emergency advance appropriation of