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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION   1263

funds available for supplies and equipment had decreased in value due to increased costs. Through congressional action, much needed increases in salaries had come at intervals during the war which were most valuable, as without them we could not have retained a reasonable nucleus of our usual staff. There had also been adjustments in the custodial staff required to allow placing this group on a 40-hour week basis. The result has been that while the total of the appropriation was greater in number of dollars than immediately before the war, the staff had actually decreased in number in point of operation, and purchasing power for supplies was less.

In consideration of this, the Bureau of the Budget recommended increases of $421,488 for the present fiscal year (1948), of which $167,000 was finally appropriated thanks to the interest of the Congressional Regents, and to the action of the Appropriation Committees in the House and Senate. The additional sum has been most helpful in current operations. The new funds included $50,000 for the National Air Museum, leaving $117,400 increase for the ordinary operation of the Institution. 

In September last, the Bureau of the Budget gave careful and full consideration to the needs of the Institution and allotted increases in the estimates for 1949 of $389,688. This is distributed as follows:

For ingrade promotions, required by law for which there are no funds at present available $32,821

Additional for Smithsonian Bureaus, except for the National Air Museum 204,819

National Air Museum 152,048

Hearings were held on January 5 before the Subcommittee on Independent Offices, when these matters were presented fully. The increases are badly needed to maintain present levels of operation and to permit the discharge of the duties assigned to 

A.W.

Transcription Notes:
Initials AW appear on the lower left side of the page (not transcribed).