269 57 STAT.] 78TH CONG. , 1ST SESS.-CH. 179-JUNE 30, 1943 Transportation of equipment and supplies: For the transportation and delivery of equipment, materials, and supplies for the Post Office Department and Postal Service by freight, express, or motor trans- portation, and other incidental expenses, $385,000. PUBLIC BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION Operating force: For personal services in connection with the oper- ation of public buildings, including the Washington Post Office and the Customhouse Building in the District of Columbia, operated by the Post Office Department, together with the grounds thereof and the equipment and furnishings therein, including telephone operators for the operation of telephone switchboards or equivalent telephone switchboard equipment in such buildings jointly serving in each case two or more governmental activities, $27,000,000: Provided, P rates for me- That in no case shall the rates of compensation for the mechanical labor force be in excess of the rates current at the time and in the place where such services are employed. Operating supplies, public buildings: For fuel, steam, gas, and electric current for lighting, heating, and power purposes, water, ice, lighting supplies, removal of ashes and rubbish, snow and ice, cutting grass and weeds, washing towels, telephone service for custodial forces, and for miscellaneous services and supplies, accident preven- tion, vacuum cleaners, tools and appliances and repairs thereto, for the operation of completed and occupied public buildings and grounds, including mechanical and electrical equipment, but not the repair thereof, operated by the Post Office Department, including the Washington Post Office and the Customhouse Building in the District of Columbia, and for the transportation of articles and sup- plies authorized herein, $5,800,000: Provided, That the foregoing ueStonal ser vi res appropriation shall not be available for personal services except for work done by contract, or for temporary job labor under exigency not exceeding at one time the sum of $100 at any one building: Provided further, That the Postmaster General is authorized to con- Telephone service. tract for telephone service in public buildings under his administra- tion by means of telephone switchboards or equivalent telephone switching equipment jointly serving in each case two or more gov- ernmental activities, where he determines that joint service is econom- ical and in the interest of the Government, and to secure reimburse- ment for the cost of such joint service from available appropriations for telephone expenses of the bureaus and offices receiving the same. Furniture, carpets, and safes, public buildings: For the procure- ment, including transportation, of furniture, carpets, safes, safe and vault protective devices, and repairs of same, for use in public build- ings which are now, or may hereafter be, operated by the Post Office Department, $550,000: Provided, That excepting expenditures for ersonal servies labor for or incidental to the moving of equipment from or into Umition. public buildings, the foregoing appropriation shall not be used for personal services except for work done under contract or for tempo- rary job labor under exigency and not exceeding at one time the sum of $100 at any one building: Provided further, That all furniture Use ofpresentfurni- now owned by the United States in other public buildings or in tr. buildings rented by the United States shall be used, so far as practi- cable, whether or not it corresponds with the present regulation plan of furniture. SEC. 202. Scientific investigations: In the disbursement of appro- B esf ofSftndards priations contained in this title for the field service of the Post Office Department the Postmaster General may transfer to the Bureau of Standards not to exceed $20,000 for scientific investigations in con-
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