[CHAPTER 622-2D SESSION]

[S. 2192]

AN ACT

To amend the Interstate Commerce Act so as to permit the issuance of free passes to time inspectors of carriers subject to part I of such Act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That paragraph (7) of section 1 of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, is amended by striking out "its officers, surgeons, physicians, and attorneys at law," and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "its officers, time inspectors, surgeons, physicians, and attorneys at law,".

Approved June 24, 1948.

[PUBLIC LAW 765-80тH CONGRESS]

[CHAPTER 631-2D SESSION]

[H. R. 6318]

AN ACT

To amend section 3 of the Standard Time Act of March 19, 1918, as amended, relating to the placing of a certain portion of the State of Idaho in the third time zone.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 3 of the Act entitled "An Act to save daylight and to provide standard time for the United States", approved March 19, 1918, as amended (U. S. C., 1940 edition, title 15, sec. 264), which provides for placing a certain portion of the State of Idaho in the third time zone is hereby amended by striking out the period at the end thereof and inserting a colon and the following: "Provided, That common carriers within such portion of the State of Idaho may conduct their operations on Pacific time."

SEO. 2. This Act shall take effect at 2 o'clock antemeridian of the second Monday following the date of its enactment.

Approved June 24, 1948.

(417)

[PUBLIC LAW 880-80TH CONGRESS]

[CHAPTER 808-2D SESSION]

[S. 1260]

AN ACT

To create a commission to hear and determine the claims of certain motor carriers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby created and established a Motor Carrier Claims Commission, hereafter referred to as the Commission.

SEC. 2. The Commission shall hear and determine, according to law, existing claims against the United States arising out of the taking by the United States of possession or control of any of the motor-carrier transportation systems described in Executive Order Numbered 9462, dated August 11, 1944 (C. F. R., 1944 Supp., p. 70). The settlement of any claim prior to the enactment of this Act shall not prevent the Commission from hearing and determining such claim if it determines that the principles of equity as administered by the courts require that such settlement be set aside and that such claim be heard and determined.

SEC. 3. The Commission shall consist of a Chairman and two other members, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall each receive a salary of $15,000 per year. At least two of such members shall be learned in the law. Each member shall take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and to discharge faithfully the duties of his office. The members shall hold office until the dissolution of the Commission as hereinafter provided. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Two members shall constitute a quorum, and the agreement of two members shall be necessary to any and all determinations for the transaction of the business of the Commission, and if there be a quorum, no vacancy shall impair or affect the business of the Commission, or its determinations.

SEC. 4. The Commission shall appoint a clerk and such other employees as shall be requisite to conduct the business of the Commission. All such employees shall take oath for the faithful discharge of their duties and shall be under the direction of the Commission in the performance thereof.

SEC. 5. The Commission shall meet at such times and places as it may prescribe, shall keep a full written record of all its hearings and proceedings which shall be open to public inspection, and shall have power to establish its rules of procedure.

SEC. 6. The Commission shall receive claims for a period of six months after the date of enactment of this Act, and not thereafter. The jurisdiction of the Commission over claims presented to it as provided in section 2 of this Act shall be exclusive; but nothing in this Act shall prevent any person who does not elect to present his claim to the Commission from pursuing any other remedy available to him.

The Attorney General or his assistants shall represent the United States in all claims presented to the Commission.

SEC. 7. Any member of the Commission or any employee of the Commission, designated in writing for the purpose by the Chairman, may administer oaths and examine witnesses. Any member of the Commission may require by subpena (1) the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production of all necessary books, papers, documents, correspondence, and other evidence, from any place in the United States at any designated place of hearing; or (2) the taking of depositions before any designated individual competent to administer oaths under the laws of the United States or of any State or Territory. In the case of a deposition, the testimony shall be reduced to writing by the individual taking the deposition or under his direction and shall be subscribed by the deponent. In taking oral testimony, opportunity shall be given for cross-examination, under such regulations as the Commission may prescribe. Witnesses subpenaed to testify or whose depositions are taken pursuant to this Act, and the officers or persons taking the same, shall severally be entitled to the same fees and mileage as are paid for like services in the courts of the United States.

SEC. 8. The final determination of the Commission shall be in writing, shall be filed with its clerk, and shall include (1) its findings of the facts upon which its conclusions are based; (2) a statement (a) whether there are any just grounds for relief of the claimant and, if so, the amount thereof; (b) whether there are any allowable offsets, counterclaims, or other deductions, and, if so, the amount thereof; and (3) a statement of its reasons for its findings and conclusions.

SEC. 9. (a) When the final determination of the Commission has been filed with the clerk of said Commission the clerk shall give notice of the filing of such determination to the parties to the proceeding in manner and form as directed by the Commission. Such determination shall be subject to review in the same manner as is provided for cases in the Court of Claims upon application to the Supreme Court within three months from the date of the filing of such determination with the clerk.

SEC. 10. In each claim, after the proceedings have been finally concluded, the Commission shall promptly submit its report to Congress. The report to Congress shall contain (1) the final determination of the Commission; (2) a transcript of the proceedings or judgment upon review, if any, with the instructions of the Supreme Court; and (3) a statement of how each Commissioner voted upon the final determination of the claim.

SEC. 11. (a) When the report of the Commission determining any claimant to be entitled to recover has been filed with Congress, such report shall have the effect of, and be paid in the same manner as is provided for, a final judgment of the Court of Claims.

The payment of any claim, after its determination in accordance with this Act, shall be a full discharge of the United States of all claims and demands touching any of the matters involved in the controversy.

(b) A final determination against a claimant made and reported in accordance with this Act shall forever bar any further claim or demand against the United States arising out of the matter involved in the controversy.

71-725 O-66-28

SEC. 12. The Commission shall determine all claims presented to it as expeditiously as possible, and shall make a report to Congress of its progress not later than the fifteenth of April of each year until its dissolution.

SEO. 13. The existence of the Commission shall terminate at the end of two years after the first meeting of the Commission or at such earlier time after the expiration of the six months' period of limitation set forth in section 6 hereof as the Commission shall have made its final report to Congress on all claims filed with it. Upon its dissolution the records of the Commission shall be delivered to the Archivist of the United States.

Approved July 2, 1948.

[CHAPTER 13-1ST SESSION]

[H. J. Res. 84]

JOINT RESOLUTION

To provide for the acquisition and operation of the Freedom Train by the Archivist of the United States, and for other purposes.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, as a means of focusing the attention of the American people on a reexamination of their heritage of freedom, fostering the preservation of their liberties, awakening their loyalty to the American tradition, and contributing to citizenship training, particularly of Americans of school age, the Archivist of the United States is hereby authorized and directed to acquire the Freedom Train, and to operate the said train during the period ending July 5, 1951.

SEC. 2. In carrying out the purposes of this joint resolution the Archivist is hereby authorized

(a) to enter into and carry out such agreements with such person or persons, natural or artificial, as may be necessary for the acquisition of the Freedom Train and its equipment, for its operation during the period ending July 5, 1951, and for the disposition of such train and equipment within sixty days after such date; and to make such expenditures, without regard to other provisions of law, as may be required to carry out such agreements;

(b) to appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as he deems advisable without regard to the civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1923, as amended; to procure services as authorized by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (60 Stat. 810), but at rates not to exceed $40 per diem for individuals; to accept services and facilities without compensation; and, with the consent of the head of any Government department or agency, to utilize or employ the services of personnel or facilities of any such department or agency, with or without reimbursement therefor;

(c) to obtain printing and binding without regard to section 11 of the Act of March 1, 1919, as amended (40 Stat. 1270);

(d) to purchase or contract for supplies or services (including printing and binding) without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes, as amended;

(e) to obtain and pay for comprehensive insurance coverage, as he may deem necessary, of other than Government property used in connection with the Freedom Train;

(f) to acquire by gift, bequest, loan, or otherwise, personal property for the benefit of, or in connection with, the operation of the Freedom Train;

(g) to cooperate with the governments of the several States and their political subdivisions in promoting the exhibition of the Freedom Train;