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and custodial activities ($875,000) and $965,000 for all other purposes. In general, sharp cuts were made by OMB in our request for funds for our science programs. None of the figures for this FY 1974 allowance nor for the FY 1973 Appropriation include provision for the 5.1% Federal pay boost which is effective this month and for which a supplemental appropriation request may be made later.

With respect to the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange, the $65,000 increase allowed for FY 1974 is minimal in relation to the needs of that organization, which is already so tightly squeezed financially in the current year that it has been necessary to limit the application of the general January 1973 salary increase to only the one-third of SSIE employees who are in the lower clerical grades; at the same time it was necessary to lengthen working hours to enable the Exchange to keep abreast of its increasing activity.

An Excess Foreign Currency appropriations of $9,000,000 for FY 1974,thus far allowed by OMB, if approved by Congress, will permit a $1,500,000 increase in the regular grant program, and $4,000,000 for a one-time project to preserve the archaeological monuments in Nubia. It may be recalled that Mr. Burden had suggested that the Smithsonian seek the assurance of Mr. Joseph Sisco, Assistant Secretary of State, confirming that our efforts to support the salvage of Philae Island monuments are in the national interest. Mr. Sisco did confirm this on November 2, 1972 in a telephone call with Mr. Ripley.