Provisos. Naval Volunteers. Service of officers on courts martial. Vol. 39, p. 597, repealed. Naval Militia. Service of officers on courts martial. pealed. Coast Guard, Lighthouse Service, Coast and Geodetic Survey, and Public Health Service are hereby empowered to serve on naval courts-martial and deck courts under such regulations necessary for the proper administration of justice and in the interests of the services involved, as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy: Provided, That so much of the Act approved August twentyninth, nineteen hundred and sixteen (Thirty-ninth Statutes, page five hundred and fifty-six), as reads as follows: “That when serving under the call of the President, officers of said Volunteers may serve on courts-martial for the trial of officers and men of the United States Naval or Naval Militia service, or of said Volunteers, but in the cases of courts-martial convened for the trial of officers or enlisted men of the United States Navy or Marine Corps, the majority of the members shall be officers of the Regular Naval service, and officers and enlisted men of the said Volunteers may be tried by courts-martial, the members of which are members of the Regular Naval service, or of said Volunteers, or any or all of the same," is hereby repealed. Provided further, That so much of the Naval Militia Act of February sixteenth, nineteen hundred and fourteen (Thirty-eighth Statutes, page two hundred and eighty-three), as reads as follows: "That when in the service of the United States officers of the Vol. 38, p. 285, re- Naval Militia may serve on courts-martial for the trial of officers and men of the Regular or Naval Militia service, but in the cases of courts-martial convened for the trial of officers of the Regular service, the majority of the members shall be officers of the Regular service; and officers and men of the Naval Militia may be tried by courts-martial the members of which are officers of the Regular or Naval Militia service, or both," is hereby repealed. Conflicting laws repealed. October 6, 1917. [S. 2527.] [Public, No. 79.] Army. Number increased during the war. Vol. 39, p. 176. And provided further, That any Act or parts of Acts in conflict with the provisions hereof are hereby repealed. Approved, October 6, 1917. CHAP. 94.-An Act Authorizing appointment of chaplains at large for the United States Army. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Chaplains at large. States of America in Congress assembled, That the President may appoint for service during the present emergency not exceeding twenty chaplains at large for the United States Army representing religious sects not recognized in the apportionment of chaplains now Only citizens eligible, recognized by law: Provided, That no person shall be eligible to such appointment unless he be at the time of his appointment a citizen of the United States. Proviso. October 6, 1917. [S. 2531.] [Public, No. 80.] Patents. Withheld during war if disclosure of inven tion detrimental, etc. Post, p. 422. Approved, October 6, 1917. CHAP. 95.-An Act To prevent the publication of inventions by the grant of patents that might be detrimental to the public safety or convey useful information to the enemy, to stimulate invention, and provide adequate protection to owners of patents, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever during a time when the United States is at war the publication of an invention by the granting of a patent might, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Patents, be detrimental to the public safety or defense or might assist the enemy or endanger the successful prosecution of the war he may order that the invention be kept secret and withhold the be aban- grant of a patent until the termination of the war: Provided, That doned if published, etc. the invention disclosed in the application for said patent may be Proviso. Held to held abandoned upon it being established before or by the commissioner that in violation of said order said invention has been published or that an application for a patent therefor has been filed in a foreign country by the inventor or his assigns or legal representatives, without the consent or approval of the Commissioner of Patents, or under a license of the Secretary of Commerce as provided by law. Compensation if in entee. Suit authorized. When an applicant whose patent is withheld as herein provided vention tendered to the and who faithfully obeys the order of the Commissioner of Patents Government by patabove referred to shall tender his invention to the Government of the United States for its use, he shall, if and when he ultimately received a patent, have the right to sue for compensation in the Court of Claims, such right to compensation to begin from the date of the use of the invention by the Government. Approved, October 6, 1917. CHAP. 96.—An Act Granting the consent of Congress to the Wolf Creek Lumber Company to maintain a bridge already constructed across Tug River. October 6, 1917. [S. 2663.] [Public, No. 81.] Tug River. Construction ap Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of Congress Wolf Creek Lumber is hereby granted to the Wolf Creek Lumber Company, and its suc- Company may operate, cessors and assigns, to maintain and operate, in accordance with mit, W. Va. the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters," approved March twentythird, nineteen hundred and six, a bridge and approaches thereto proved. already constructed across the Tug River at or near Wolf Creek near Kermit, West Virginia, in the county of Mingo, in the State of West Virginia, which bridge is hereby declared to have been constructed in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters," approved March twenty-third, nineteen hundred and six. SEC. 2. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, October 6, 1917. Vol. 34, p. 84. Amendment. CHAP. 97.-An Act To amend sections twenty-four and two hundred and fiftysix of the Judicial Code, relating to the jurisdiction of the district courts, so as to save to claimants the rights and remedies under the workmen's compensation law of any State. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That clause three of section twenty-four of the Judicial Code is hereby amended to read as follows: "Third. Of all civil causes of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, saving to suitors in all cases the right of a common-law remedy where the common law is competent to give it, and to claimants the rights and remedies under the workmen's compensation law of any State; of all seizures on land or waters not within admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; of all prizes brought into the United States; and of all proceedings for the condemnation of property taken as prize.' SEC. 2. That clause three of section two hundred and fifty-six of the Judicial Code is hereby amended to read as follows: "Third. Of all civil causes of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, saving to suitors in all cases the right of a common-law remedy where the common law is competent to give it, and to claimants the rights and remedies under the workmen's compensation law of any State." Approved, October 6, 1917. October 6, 1917. [S. 2920.] [Public, No. 83.] North Carolina. Connell Monument, CHAP. 98.-An Act Authorizing the Secretary of War to donate to the State of North Carolina two brass cannon, with carriage. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Obsolete cannon United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary granted to foment, of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to donate to the State of North Carolina two brass or bronze cannon, with carriage, and suitable outfit of cannon balls, condemned or not needed for present service, to be placed at the foot of the monument now being erected at Carthage, North Carolina, in honor of James R. McConnell, an American aviator, who was killed while flying for France. Approved, October 6, 1917. October 6, 1917. [S. 2937.] [Public, No. 84.] Arkansas River. Pulaski County, Little Rock. CHAP. 99.-An Act Granting the consent of Congress for the construction of a bridge and approaches thereto across the Arkansas River between the cities of Little Rock and Argenta. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of Congress Ark., may bridge, is hereby granted for the county of Pulaski, in the State of Arkansas, its successors and assigns, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Arkansas River at the city of Little Rock on the site now occupied by the free highway bridge constructed by said county in the years eighteen hundred and ninetysix and eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters," approved March twenty-third, nineteen hundred and six. Construction. Vol. 34, p. 84. Amendment. SEC. 2. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, October 6, 1917. October 6, 1917. [S. 2947.] [Public, No. 85.] Rio Grande River. bridge. CHAP. 100.-An Act Granting the consent of Congress to the city of El Paso, Texas, to construct a bridge across the Rio Grande River within or near the city limits of El Paso, Texas, such construction to be made with the consent and cooperation of the Republic of Mexico. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United El Paso, Tex., may States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of Congress is hereby granted to the city of El Paso, in the State of Texas, to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Rio Grande River at a point suitable to the interests of navigation within or near the city limits of El Paso, Texas, in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters," approved March twentyConsent, etc., of Mex- third, nineteen hundred and six, such construction to be made only with the consent and cooperation of the Republic of Mexico, and such bridge to be free of any toll. Construction. ico required. Commencement, etc. Amendment. SEC. 2. That this act shall be null and void unless the construction of said bridge is commenced within one year and completed within five years from the date of approval hereof. SEC. 3. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, October 6, 1917. CHAP. 101.-An Act To provide for the promotion of first lieutenants in the Regular Army and National Guard to the grade of captain, and respecting the Dental Corps of the Army and medical and dental students, and for other purposes. October 6, 1917. [H. R. 4897.] [Public, No. 86.] Army. tions in Medical Corps Vol. 39, p. 171. Emergency promo of, and National Guard. Dental Corps. 173, Number authorized. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That during the existing emergency first lieutenants in the Medical Corps of the Regular Army and of the National Guard shall be eligible to promotion as captain upon such examination as may be prescribed by the Secretary of War. Hereafter the Dental Corps of the Army shall consist of commissioned officers of the same grade and proportionally distributed fied. among such grades as are now or may be hereafter provided by law amended." for the Medical Corps, who shall have the rank, pay, promotion and allowances of officers of corresponding grades in the Medical Corps, including the right to retirement as in the case of other officers, and there shall be one dental officer for every thousand of the total strength of the Regular Army authorized from time to time by law: Provided further, That dental examining and review boards shall consist of one officer of the Medical Corps and two officers of the Dental Corps: Provided further, That immediately following the approval of this Act all dental surgeons then in active service shall be recommissioned in the Dental Corps in the grades herein authorized in the order of their seniority and without loss of pay or allowances or of relative rank in the Army: And provided further, That no dental Confirmation resurgeon shall be recommissioned who has not been confirmed by the Senate. Provisos. Recommissions present officers. quired. to Continuance of stu All regulations concerning the enlistment of medical students in dents in college course. the Enlisted Reserve Corps and their continuance in their college course while subject to call to active service, shall apply similarly to dental students. Approved, October 6, 1917. CHAP. 102.-An Act To amend section fifteen hundred and eighty-five of the Revised Statutes of the United States. October 6, 1917. [H. R. 5646.] [Public, No. 87.] Navy. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section fifteen hundred and eighty-five of the Revised Statutes of the United States be, and amended. it is hereby, amended to read as follows: Ration commuta Restriction after Jan "SEC. 1585. Forty cents shall in all cases be deemed the commu- tion. tation price of the Navy ration: Provided, however, That after Janu- Proviso. ary first, nineteen hundred and eighteen, the commutation price uary 1, 1918. shall not exceed the average cost of the ration during the preceding six months, not to exceed 40 cents. Approved, October 6, 1917. CHAP. 103.—An Act To establish certain new ratings in the United States Navy, and for other purposes. October 6, 1917. [H. R. 5648.] [Public, No. 88.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the ratings of engine- New ratings in artif man, first class, engineman, second class; blacksmith, first class, icer branch. blacksmith, second class; coppersmith, first class, coppersmith, second class; pattern maker, first class, pattern maker, second class; molder, first class, molder, second class; chief special mechanic and special mechanic, first class, be, and they are hereby, established in the artificer branch of the Navy with the following rates of base pay per month: Engineman, first class, $45; engineman, second class, $40; blacksmith, first class, $65; blacksmith, second class, $50; copper Base pay. Provisos. Base pay increases. crease, etc. smith, first class, $65; coppersmith, second class, $50; pattern maker, first class, $65; pattern maker, second class, $50; molder, first class, $65; molder, second class, $50; chief special mechanic, $127; special mechanic, first class, $80: Provided, That the base pay of machinists' mates, second class, and water tenders be, and it is hereby, increased Subject to service in from $40 to $45 per month: Provided further, That all the aforesaid rates of pay shall be subject to such increases of pay and allowances Appointments, etc., as are, or may hereafter be, authorized by law for enlisted men of regulations to be pre- the Navy: And provided further, That appointments or enlistments in the said ratings may be made from enlisted men in the Navy or from civil life, respectively, and the qualifications of candidates for any of said ratings shall be determined in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary of the Navy may prescribe. Approved, October 6, 1917. October 6, 1917. [H. R. 5918.] [Public, No. 89.] emergency. CHAP. 104.-An Act To authorize the President to organize provisionally as Field Artillery or Infantry and to use as Field Artillery or Infantry during the existing emergency such regiments of Cavalry as he may designate. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Cavalry may serve as States of America in Congress assembled, That during the present Field Artillery or In- emergency the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to organize provisionally as Field Artillery or Infantry and to use as Field Artillery or Infantry during the existing emergency such regiments of Cavalry as he may designate: Provided, That immediately after the termination of the existing emergency such regiments shall be reorganized as Cavalry regiments in accordance with the prescribed organization of such regiments. Proviso. Reorganization as Cavalry afterwards. Approved, October 6, 1917. October 6, 1917. [H. R. 5723.] [Public No. 90.] Bureau. CHAP. 105 -An Act To amend an Act entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United War Risk Insurance States of America in Congress assembled, That the first section of the Vol. 38, p. 711, Act entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of Ante, p. 102, amended. War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: amended. Bureau established in Treasury Department. Divisions created. New sections. Vol. 38. p. 712, amended. Marine and seamen's insurance. "ARTICLE I. "SECTION 1. That there is established in the Treasury Department a Bureau to be known as the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, the director of which shall receive a salary at the rate of $5,000 per annum. "That there be in such bureau a Division of Marine and Seamen's Insurance and a Division of Military and Naval Insurance in charge of a commissioner of Marine and Seamen's Insurance and a commissioner of Military and Naval Insurance, respectively, each of whom shall receive a salary of $4,000 per annum.' SEC. 2. That such Act of September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended, is hereby amended by adding new sections, as follows: "SEC. 12. That sections two to seven, inclusive, and section nine, Vol. 38, pp. 711, 712. shall be construed to refer only to the Division of Marine and Sea Ante, p. 102. men's Insurance. |