Public Law 75–222

That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such amount of money as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose of the joint resolution approved June 24, 1936. In carrying into effect the provisions of the joint resolution of Congress of June 24, 1936, the commission is authorized to do all things necessary to accomplish the purposes described by contract or otherwise with or without advertising, including the engagement by contract or otherwise of such personal services as may be necessary without regard to civil-service requirements and restrictions of laws governing the employment and compensation of employees of

Advance payment of transportation costs, etc.

the United States. Any appropriations for carrying this Act into effect shall be available for the payment in advance of the cost of transportation and such per diem allowance in lieu of subsistence and other traveling expenses as may be prescribed by the commission for the travel of veterans and attendants.

Sec. 2.

The money herein authorized to be appropriated shall be expended under the direction of the commission appointed pursuant to the provisions of the joint resolution referred to in section 1 for the following purposes: To defray the necessary expenses of the commission

Participation by War Department, etc.

in the performance of its duties, and any and all expenses incident to participation by the War Department and the Regular Army in the observance of the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which participation is hereby authorized, including the expense of transportation or other movement to and from Gettysburg of individuals, troops, tentage, supplies, and equipment, and the cost of ammunition and other material expended or used incident to participation of the Army in the commemoration, including the cost of renovation or repair of material so used.

Sec. 3.

The commission referred to in section 2 of this Act is

Surviving Union and Confederate veterans to be invited; expenses.

authorized to invite, in the name of the United States, surviving veterans, Union and Confederate, of the Civil War to reunite at Gettysburg during the commemoration, and to furnish transportation requests for travel of said veterans and attendants, in such manner as the commission may determine, or reimbursement in lieu thereof, and such per diem as may be prescribed by the commission. When rail or other commercial transportation is furnished by means of Government transportation requests, such transportation requests shall be issued over the shortest usually traveled route as determined by the commission. If travel is performed without the use of a transportation request, reimbursement shall be made in an amount equal to that which the travel of said veteran and attendant would have cost the Government if transportation in kind had been furnished at the commercial cost thereof. No veteran shall be provided

Restriction.

for at Government expense in Gettysburg for a longer period than duration of the commemoration, except in the case of illness or other causes which prevent the return of the veteran to his home at the end of the period of commemoration. In the event of death while

Care in event of death.

engaged upon the commemoration or en route thereto or therefrom the United States shall pay the cost of the preparation of the body for burial (that is, including the cost of a suitable casket) and transportation of same with escort to the home of the deceased.

Sec. 4.

In the event that the appropriation from the State of

Funds available in event of deficiency.

Pennsylvania for the care of the veterans at Gettysburg is determined by the commission to be insufficient to care properly and adequately for the veterans while at Gettysburg the commission may apply to this purpose such funds from the appropriations which may be made under this authority as in its judgment are required therefor. The

Loan of certain Army equipment.

Secretary of War is authorized to lend to the State of Pennsylvania such property, including cots, blankets, and cooking and other equipment, under the jurisdiction of the War Department as may be available and necessary to provide for the care of veterans as above provided, and the money authorized to be appropriated herein shall be available to pay for any loss of or damage to such property and the cost of transportation and of repair or renovation thereof.

Sec. 5.

The Chief of Finance of the Army is hereby designated,

Fiscal agent.

empowered, and directed to act as the fiscal agent of the commission in carrying out the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 6.

The money authorized to be appropriated by the Act shall

Additional authorized expenditures.

be available for all expenditures necessary to enable the commission to perform its duties, including but not restricted to the employment of clerical and other necessary personnel, professional or otherwise; the purchase of supplies and equipment; the leasing of land and the erection thereon of temporary buildings; the providing of lights, water, sanitation, and other necessary services at Gettysburg to such United States troops as may take part in the commemoration; and all other proper expenditures incident to carrying out the purposes of

Settlement of damage claims.

the Act, including the settlement of claims (not exceeding $500 each) for damage to or loss of private property resulting from the operations of the commission or its agents.

Sec. 7.

The Secretary of War is authorized to undertake, at the request of the commission, such of its functions as it may delegate. The money herein authorized to be appropriated shall be available for the payment of any additional expense to the War Department caused by its operations for the commission, including the salaries of temporary employees.

Sec. 8.

The decision of the commission as to the status as a veteran of anyone who is invited as such to attend the reunion at Gettysburg shall be final and conclusive.

Sec. 9.

The money herein authorized to be appropriated shall be available for expenditure from and after the date of approval of the Act appropriating it and shall remain available until all obligations of the commission and its agencies have been satisfied.

Sec. 10.

When the necessity for its use terminates, all property acquired by the commission shall be delivered to such depots or other installations as the Secretary of War shall designate, to be disposed of in accordance with laws and regulations relating to military

Restoration of leased real estate.

property. Real estate, which may be leased to further the purposes of the commission, shall be restored as nearly as possible to its original condition when it is no longer required.

Sec. 11.

The commission shall promulgate regulations governing the execution of this Act.