Volume 63 · 141
Public Law 81–151
To authorize the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission to proceed with plans for the celebration and commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the seat of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Approved May 31, 1949
Statutory text
JOINT RESOLUTION
To authorize the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission to proceed with plans for the celebration and commemoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the seat of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Whereas the joint resolution entitled “Joint resolution 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”, approved July 18, 1947, established the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission for the purpose of preparing plans and developing programs commemorating 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; and
Whereas pursuant to said joint resolution the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission has, after extending invitations to the several States, the Territories, the District of Columbia, the departments and agencies of the Federal Government, the governments of other nations, and various other civic bodies, organizations, and agencies to join in such celebration by the presentation of exhibits and participation in other programs, adopted a plan or plans which the Commission feels will appropriately and suitably manifest the significance of the sesquicentennial anniversary of the establishment of the seat of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia; and
Whereas the Congress finds that such commemoration and celebration are worthy and deserving of the support and encouragement of the people of the United States and that the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission should be authorized to proceed immediately with the execution of the plan or plans for such commemorative exercises: Now, therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the National Capital Sesquicentennial (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”) is hereby authorized to carry out the plans adopted by it in accordance with the joint resolution entitled “Joint resolution 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”, approved July 18, 1947,
for celebrating the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the seat of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia, and to modify such plans whenever in the discretion of the Commission such action is necessary and desirable.
Sec. 2.
The Commission shall prescribe the duties of the Director
Duties and powers of Director.
appointed under the authority of said joint resolution and may delegate to him such powers and functions as it shall deem advisable in order to give effect to the provisions of this joint resolution. The Director shall exercise such powers as are delegated to him by the Commission and in order to facilitate the functioning of his office may subdelegate such powers as may be deemed advisable by the Commission to those in the employ of, or detailed to, the Commission.
Sec. 3.
In carrying out the purposes of this joint resolution, the
Authority of Commission.
Commission is authorized—
to appoint, without regard to the civil-service laws and regulations and the Classification Act of 1923, as amended, such
5 U.S.C. §§ 661–674; Supp. II, § 662 et seq.
Post, p. 972.
clerks, stenographers, skilled and technical assistants, and other personnel as may be needed in organizing and carrying out the plans of the Commission; to purchase such materials, and to contract for such labor and other services as may be necessary in connection with the performance of the functions of the Commission, including the preparation and production of exhibits and plays;
to erect a building or buildings, or other structures, for
Erection of buildings, etc.
its own use, and to further the purposes of the sesquicentennial celebration, and to provide for the landscaping of the site or sites thereof; to provide for the decoration and maintenance of such buildings, structures, sites, and grounds during the period deemed necessary by the Commission; to rent such space in the District of Columbia without regard to section 322 of the Act of June 30, 1932 (47 Stat. 412), as amended, as the Commission may deem
necessary: Provided, That the erection or construction of the buildings and landscaping of sites shall be under agreements mutually acceptable to the Commission and the Federal and District of Columbia agencies having jurisdiction and control over the area or areas involved, and shall be approved by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission: Provided further, That in the construction of buildings and exhibits requiring skilled and unskilled labor the prevailing rate of wages as provided in the Act of March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1494), as amended, shall be
40 U. S. C. §§ 276a–276a–6; Supp. II, § 276a–5 note.
Allotment of funds.
paid.
to allot funds appropriated for the purposes of this joint resolution to any executive department, independent office, or establishment of the Federal Government, with the consent of the head thereof, or to the District of Columbia Government, with the consent of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia for direct expenditure in executing the duties or functions delegated to it by the Commission;
to fix and collect charges for admission to exhibits, plays,
Admission charges to exhibits, etc.
and dramatic productions: Provided, That all revenues received by the Commission from such source shall be covered into the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the appropriation to be made pursuant to the authority contained herein and maybe expended and shall be accounted for in the same manner as other funds authorized for expenditures by the Commission;
to receive contributions of money, materials, and other
Contributions.
property from any source to aid in carrying out the purposes of this joint resolution; to borrow materials or exhibits; to accept the services of any skilled or unskilled labor that may be made available to it; and to accept reimbursement from private organizations or individuals for rights or privileges granted by it: Provided, That all contributions and reimbursements shall be expended and accounted for in the same manner as the funds made available under an appropriation made pursuant to the authorization contained in this joint resolution.
Sec. 4.
The heads of the executive departments, independent agencies, and establishments of the Federal Government, and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, are authorized to cooperate with the Commission in the procurement, installation, and display of exhibits, and to lend to the Commission such articles, specimens, and exhibits as the Commission shall deem to be in the interest of the United States and in keeping with the purposes of the sesquicentennial celebration; to appoint without regard to the civil-service laws
5 U.S.C. §§ 661–674; Supp. II, § 662 et seq.
Post, p. 972.
and regulations and the Classification Act of 1923, as amended, such draftsmen and other skilled assistants as may be necessary; to contract for such labor and other services as shall be deemed necessary; and to designate officials or employees in their respective spheres to assist the Commission.
The Commission is authorized to allot to the departments, offices, and establishments of the Federal Government to the several States, the District of Columbia, the Territories of the United States, and the governments of other nations, that have signified their desire to create exhibits for the sesquicentennial celebration, space within any structure or structures erected pursuant to the authority conferred by this joint resolution. The Commission shall arrange for the selection, presentation, assembling, transportation, installation, safekeeping, exposition, demonstration, and return of such articles and materials as the Commission shall decide to include in the exhibits of such celebration.
At the close of the sesquicentennial celebration, or when the connection of the Government of the United States therewith ceases, the Commission shall return such property as may have been borrowed. Any expense incident to the restoration, modification, and revision of such property to a condition which will permit its use at subsequent expositions and fairs, and the expense incident to continuing the employment of personnel necessary to close out the fiscal and other records and to prepare the required reports of the participating organizations, may be paid from the funds made available pursuant to the authorization contained herein. If the return of any such property loaned by a department, agency, or establishment of the United States, or by the District of Columbia, is not feasible, the Commission may, with the consent of the lender, make such disposition thereof as may be deemed advisable and in the public interest. The Commission shall dispose of all remaining property and materials, including buildings and structures, at public sale to the highest bidder and the proceeds thereof shall be covered into the Treasury
Transfer of title to permanent building.
of the United States as miscellaneous receipts: Provided, That the Commission may upon request, if it deems it to be in the public interest, transfer without consideration the title to any permanent building or structure constructed hereunder to any agency of the United States having control and jurisdiction over the land on which such building or structure is located, subject to the approval of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The Commission shall account for all property, materials, buildings, or structures disposed of pursuant to this subsection.
Sec. 5.
Such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this
Appropriation authorized.
Post, p. 872
joint resolution are hereby authorized to be appropriated, and shall remain available until expended; except that upon the termination of the Commission any unexpended or unobligated balances shall be covered back into the Treasury of the United States, The appropriation
Availability of appropriation.
authorized by this joint resolution shall be available for the operation of the building or buildings, structure or structures, improvement or improvements, including light, heat, water, gas, janitor, and other required services; for the rental of space in the District of Columbia; for the selection, purchase, preparation, assembling, transportation, installation, arrangement, repair, safekeeping, exhibition, demonstration, and return of such articles and materials as the Commission may decide shall be included in Government exhibits; for the purchase of uniforms; for the compensation of the Director, and other officers and employees of the Commission in the District of Columbia and elsewhere; for actual and necessary traveling, hotel, and other expenses incurred by the Commissioners, the Director, and other officers and employees of the Commission in the discharge of their duties under this joint resolution; for telephone service; for the purchase or rental of furniture and equipment (including typewriting and other office machines), stationery and supplies, maps, reports, documents, plans, specifications, manuscripts, newspapers, and all other appropriate publications: Provided, That payment for telephone service, rents, subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals, and other similar purposes, may be made in advance; for the hire and operation of passenger-carrying automobiles in the District of Columbia; for printing and binding to be done, in the discretion of the Commission, by establishments other than the Government Printing Office; for entertaining of distinguished visitors; and for all other expenses as may be deemed necessary by the Commission to fulfill properly the purposes of this joint resolution: Provided further, That all purchases, expenditures, and disbursements of any moneys made available by authority of this joint resolution shall be made under the direction of the Commission in accordance with law. All accounts and vouchers covering expenditures shall be approved by the Director or by such assistants as the Commission may designate, except for such allotments as may be made to the various executive departments, independent offices, and establishments, or the District of Columbia Government for direct expenditure; but these provisions shall not be construed to waive the submission of accounts and vouchers to the General Accounting Office for audit.
Sec. 6.
Upon request of the Commission, the Director of the Bureau
Issuance of medal
of the Mint is authorized to cause to be issued an appropriate medal commemorating the celebration of the sesquicentennial hereby authorized, which medal shall be sold to the public by the Commission at such price as may be determined by it: Provided, That all revenues received by the Commission from such source shall be covered into the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the appropriation to be made pursuant to the authority contained herein and may be expended and shall be accounted for in the same manner as other funds authorized for expenditures by the Commission. The Director of the Bureau of the Mint is further authorized to cause to be issued badge medals in such quantity as the Commission shall determine, to be awarded to individuals or organizations in recognition of their participation in the celebrations hereby authorized, or for other outstanding service. The Commission shall reimburse the Bureau of the Mint for the cost of the medals and emblems.
Sec. 7.
All articles which shall be imported from foreign countries for the purpose of exhibition at the sesquicentennial celebration, or for use in constructing, installing, or maintaining foreign exhibits during such celebration, upon which there shall be a tariff or customs duty, shall enjoy, to the same extent and in the same manner the privileges conferred by Public Law 614, Eightieth Congress, approved
June 8, 1948. The provisions of the last proviso of said Public Law 614, and the procedures prescribed therein, shall be applicable to merchandise imported for use in the sesquicentennial celebration, and the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission shall be regarded as standing in the place and stead of the International Industrial Exposition, Incorporated, designated therein, with respect to any merchandise imported for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this joint resolution.
Sec. 8.
It shall be the duty of the Commission to transmit to the Congress, within six months after the close of the sesquicentennial, a detailed statement of all expenditures and such other reports as may be deemed proper or called for. Upon the transmission of such report to the Congress the Commission established by and all appointments made under the authority of this joint resolution shall terminate.
Approved May 31, 1949.