Public Law 80–270

That, to provide for the appropriate commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the seat of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia in the year 1800, there is hereby established a commission to be known as the National Capital Sesqui-Centennial Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”) and to be

Commissioners.

composed of fifteen Commissioners, as follows: The President of the United States, who shall be ex officio Chairman; the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, ex officio; three Senators to be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and three Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; three residents of the District of Columbia to be appointed by the President after receiving the recommendations of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia; and three prominent citizens residents in the District of Columbia at large to be appointed by the President. The Commissioners, with the approval of the Chairman, shall select an Executive Vice Chairman from among their number.

Sec. 2.

It shall be the duty of the Commission, after promulgating to the American people an address relative to the reason of its creation and of its purpose, to prepare a plan or plans and a program for the signalizing the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the seat of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia; to give due and proper consideration to any plan which may be submitted to it; to take such steps as may be necessary in the coordination and correlation of plans prepared by State commissions or by bodies created under appointment by the governors of the respective States and Territories or by representative civic bodies; and, if the participation of other nations in the commemoration be deemed advisable, to communicate with the governments of such nations.

Sec. 3

When the Commission shall have approved of any plan of

Submission of plan for approval.

commemoration, then it shall submit such plan, insofar as it may relate to the fine arts, to the Commission of Fine Arts for its approval, and, insofar as it may relate to the plan of the National Capital and its history, to the National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia for their joint approval, and in accordance with statutory requirements.

Sec. 4.

The Commission, after selecting an Executive Vice Chairman

Employment of personnel.

from among its members, may employ a director and a secretary and such other assistants as may be needed to organize and perform the necessary technical and clerical work connected with the Commission’s duties and may also engage the services of expert advisers without regard to civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1923,

42 Stat. 1488.

5 U. S. C. §§ 661–674.

as amended, and may fix their compensation within the amounts appropriated for such purposes.

Sec. 5.

The Commissioners shall receive no compensation for their

Compensation.

services, but shall be paid actual and necessary traveling, hotel, and other expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties, out of the amounts appropriated therefor.

Sec. 6.

The Commission shall, on or before the 2d day of January

Report to Congress.

1948, make a report to the Congress, in order that further enabling legislation may be enacted.

Sec. 7.

The Commission shall expire December 31, 1952.