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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION   1615

Civil Service Commission Building was urgently being sought from Senator Hayden's Committee in the Appropriation Bill for fiscal year 1964. The sum of $400,000 was appropriated in 1962 for plans and specifications and the plans were virtually complete. The 1964 Budget included the amount of $6,465,000 for necessary expenses of remodeling. The House Committee on Appropriations had recommended the amount of $5,465,000. This amount was deleted from the Bill on the Floor of the House. 

The Clerk of the Senate Subcommittee on Appropriations had advised informally that the Bill might be reported to the Senate during the week of May 13. Senator Saltonstall stated that the Subcommittee had acted, but he was not at liberty to inform the Regents what the amount would be. (Note: Subsequently, it was noted that the Bill as passed by the Senate on May 28, 1963, included $5,465,000 for remodeling the Building.)

The Secretary stated he had explained to the Senate Subcommittee that this was not a new project but rather the culmination of several prior Acts of Congress including the authorization of the transfer of the Building to the Smithsonian, the appropriation of planning funds, and the authorization of a National Portrait Gallery which would occupy a part of the building.

DEFERMENT OF TRANSFER OF OLD CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION BUILDING BY GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

The Regents had before them the letter of May 8, 1963 from the Administrator of General Services, Mr. Boutin, reaffirming his decision to delay transfer of the old Civil Service Commission Building to the Smithsonian. On the question of the effect that the appropriation of funds to renovate the Building would have on the General Services Administration action, Mr. Cannon thought it would be "persuasive but not mandatory" to the transfer. Dr. Fleming felt the General Services Administration letter should not remain unanswered. Mr. Bow agreed that it might well be pointed out to the General Services Administrator that there was legislative history to support the understanding, contrary to Mr. Boutin's allegations, that the Building should be transferred to the Smithsonian. In