{A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC BUILD- [INGS AND GROUNDS TO INVESTIGATE AND REPORT TO THE SENATE CONCERNING THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE [OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF THE 9 UNITED STATES HOUSING CORPORATION. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1919. UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to the call of the chairman, at 10 o'clock a. m., in room 250, Senate Office Building, Senator Bert M. Fernald presiding. Present: Senators Fernald, Spencer, Ashurst, and Trammell, and Mr. Logan, counsel for the committee. The resolutions under which this investigation was conducted, are here printed in full, as follows: (66th Congress, 1st Session, S. Res. 97). Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, or any subcommittee thereof, be, and hereby is, authorized during the Sixty-sixth Congresss to employ such counsel and expert assistants as may be necessary, to send for persons, books, and papers; to administer oaths, and to employ a stenographer, at a cost not exceeding $1 per printed page, to report such hearings as may be had in connection with any subject which may be before said committee, the expenses thereof to be paid out of the contingent fund of the Senate, and that the committee, or any subcommittee thereof, may sit during the sessions or recesses of the Senate. "(66th Cong., 1st sess., S. Res. 210, Oct. 11, 1919.) **Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, or any subcommittee thereof, be directed to inquire into the costs, construction, operation, maintenance, and future disposition of the public buildings of the Government of every nature, kind, and location and the program and contracts of the various departments of the Government with reference to future costs, construction, operation, maintenance, and location, and report to the Senate thereon, together with their recommendation of any steps which they may deem advisable to take with a view to remedying conditions." In pursuance of the authority in the foregoing resolutions, the subcommittee engaged Mr. George B. Logan, of Cobbs & Logan, St. Louis, Mo., as counsel to assist in conducting the investigations authorized. The CHAIRMAN. The meeting this morning was called by the subcommittee to get some information, and investigate so far as possible the houses commandeered by the Government occupied by the people who are represented here this morning. Mr. Logan, will you call the first witness, please? 3 |