TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS Libraries administered by agencies and units of Department of Agriculture consolidated for duration of war, see Ex. Ord. No. 9069, set out in note under section 601 of Appendix to Title 50, War. § 535. Leave of absence; employees in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam.-Employees of the Department of Agriculture assigned to permanent duty in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam may, in the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture, without additional expense to the Government, be granted leave or absence not to exceed thirty days in any one year, which leave may, in exceptional and meritorious cases where an employee is ill, be extended, in the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture, not to exceed thirty days additional in any one year. (June 30, 1914, ch. 131, 38 Stat. 441; May 17, 1932, ch. 190, 47 Stat. 158.) § 536. Same; employees assigned to duty in Virgin Islands.Employees of the Department of Agriculture assigned to permanent duty in the Virgin Islands shall be entitled to the same privileges as to leave of absence as are conferred upon employees assigned to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam by section 535 of this title, and if any employee of the agricultural experiment stations of the United States in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin Islands shall elect to postpone the taking of any or all of the annual leave to which he may be entitled under said section 535, he may, in the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the interests of the public service, be allowed to take at one time unused annual leave which may have accumulated within not to exceed four years, and be paid at the rate prevailing during the year such leave of absence has accumulated. (July 24, 1919; ch. 26, 41 Stat. 262; May 17, 1932, ch. 190, 47 Stat. 158.) § 538. Traveling expenses.-The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to purchase from appropriations made for traveling expenses for employees of the Department of Agriculture, mileage and mileage books, at commercial rates, in the manner in which such mileage or mileage books are usually purchased. (Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1281.) REPEAL Insofar as the provisions of this section relating to subsistence may conflict with those of sections 821-833 of this title they were repealed by section 829 of this title. § 539. Same; on transfer between stations.-Officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture transferred from one official station to another for permanent duty, when authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture, may be allowed actual traveling expenses, including charges for the transfer of their effects and personal property used in official work, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture. (Mar. 4, 1911, ch. 238, 36 Stat. 1265.) REPEAL Insofar as the provisions of this section relating to subsistence may conflict with those of sections 821-833 of this title they were repealed by section 829 of this title. § 540. Same; per diem in lieu of subsistence, etc.-When officials and employees of the Department of Agriculture are traveling on official business in the United States, they may be allowed necessary railroad and steamboat fares, sleeping berth, and stateroom on steamboats, livery hire and stage fare, and other means of conveyance between points not accessible by railroad, but in lieu of subsistence and all other traveling expenses they may receive a per diem allowance, to be fixed by the Secretary in each case, in addition to their regular salaries, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe. (Aug. 10, 1912, ch. 284, 37 Stat, 300.) REPEAL Insofar as the provisions of this section relating to subsistence may conflict with those of sections 821-833 of this title they were repealed by section 829 of this title. Per diem in lieu of subsistence to government employees engaged in field work or traveling on official business, see sections 75 and 823 of this title. § 541. Same; reimbursement for street-car fares.-Officials and employees of the Department of Agriculture may, when authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture, receive reimbursement for moneys expended for street-car fares at their official headquarters when expended in the transaction of official business. (Aug. 10, 1912, ch. 284, 37 Stat. 300.) REPEAL Insofar as the provisions of this section relating to subsistence may conflict with those of sections 821-833 of this title they were repealed by section 829 of this title. § 541a. Mileage allowance to officers and employees using privately owned vehicles.-Officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture who, under proper authorization, use privately owned motor vehicles in the performance of official travel within the corporate limits of their official stations for the purpose of inspecting and grading farm and food products and the supervision thereof at points located within the said corporate limits may be reimbursed for such travel at a rate not to exceed 3 cents per mile. (Sept. 21, 1944, ch. 412, title IV, § 401 (d), 58 Stat, 738.) CODIFICATION This section was enacted as a part of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944. § 541b. Expenses of persons serving in an advisory capacity.The Department of Agriculture is authorized to pay actual transportation and other necessary expenses and not to exceed $10 per diem in lieu of subsistence of persons serving, while away from their homes, without other compensation from the United States, in an advisory capacity to the Department of Agriculture: Provided, That such expenditures shall not be made unless provision is made therefor in the applicable appropriation and the cost thereof is not in excess of limitations prescribed therein. (Sept. 21, 1944, ch. 412, title VII, § 706 (b), 58 Stat. 742.) CODIFICATION This section was enacted as a part of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944. § 542. Purchases for bureaus from appropriations for contingent expenses.--The Secretary of Agriculture may purchase stationery, supplies, furniture, and miscellaneous materials from this appropriation for contingent expenses and transfer the same at actual cost to the various bureaus, divisions, and offices of the Department of Agriculture in the city of Washington, reimbursement therefor to be made to such appropriation by said bureaus, divisions, and offices from their lump-fund appropriations by transfer settlements through the Treasury Department. (Aug. 10, 1912, ch. 284, 37 Stat. 296.) CROSS REFERENCES General Accounting Office to exercise some of functions formerly exercised by Treasury Department, see section 41 et seq. of Title 31, Money and Finance. Procurement Division under a Director of Procurement to direct procurement, warehousing, or distribution for all agencies, see Ex. Ord. `No. 6166, § 1, June 10, 1933, set out in note to section 132 of this title. § 542-1. Working capital fund established; use of central services by bureaus, etc., of the Department.-A working capital fund of $400,000 is established without fiscal year limitation, for the payment of salaries and other expenses necessary to the maintenance and operation of (1) central duplicating, photographic, and tabulating services, (2) a central motor-transport service for the maintenance, repair, and operation of motor-transport vehicles and other equipment, (3) a central supply service for the purchase, storage, handling, issuance, packing, or shipping of stationery, supplies, equipment, blank forms, and miscellaneous materials, for which stock thereof, not to exceed $200,000 in value (except for the value of blank forms) at the close of any fiscal year, may be maintained sufficient to meet, in whole or in part, requirements of the bureaus and offices of the Department in the city of Washington and elsewhere, and (4) such other services as the Secretary, with the approval of the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, determines may be performed more advantageously as central services; said fund to be reimbursed from applicable funds of bureaus, offices, and agencies for which services are performed on the basis of rates which shall include estimated or actual charges for personal services, materials, equipment (including maintenance, repairs, and depreciation) and other expenses: Provided, That such central services shall, to the fullest extent practicable, be used to make unnecessary the maintenance of separate like services in the bureaus, offices, and agencies of the department. (July 12, 1943, ch. 215, § 1, 57 Stat, 393.) CROSS REFERENCE Schedule of expenditures of working capital fund, see section 558, this title. § 542a. Use of field work funds for employment of men with equipment, etc.--Funds available for field work in the Department of Agriculture shall be available for employment by contract or otherwise of men with equipment, boats, work animals, animaldrawn, and motor-propelled vehicles. (June 4, 1936, ch. 489, 49 Stat. 1422.) § 542b. Use of field work funds for purchase of arms and ammunition. Funds available for field work in the Department of Agriculture may be used for the purchase of arms and ammunition whenever the individual purchase does not exceed $50, and for the individual purchase exceeding $50, when such arms and ammunition cannot advantageously be supplied by the Secretary of War pursuant to section 61 of Title 50. (June 4, 1936, ch. 489, 49 Stat. 1422.) § 543. Reimbursement of appropriation for salaries and compensation of employees in mechanical shops.-The Secretary of Agriculture may, by transfer settlements through the General Accounting Office, reimburse any appropriation made for the salaries and compensation of employees in the mechanical shops of the department from the appropriation made for the bureau, office, or division for which any work in said shops is performed, and such reimbursement shall be at the actual cost of labor for such work. (May 11, 1922, ch. 185, 42 Stat. 508.) TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS The function of disbursement of moneys of the United States exercised by any agency except War Department, Navy Department, and Panama Canal was transferred to the Treasury Department and together with the office of Disbursing Clerk of that Department, was consolidated in a Division of Disbursement at the head of which is a Chief Disbursing Officer. See Executive Order No. 6166, § 4, and Executive Order No. 6728 set out in note to section 132 of this title. Division of Disbursement and certain other offices and agencies and their functions were consolidated into Fiscal Service of Treasury Department by Reorganization Plan No. III, § 1 (a), effective June 30, 1940, set out in note under section 133t of this title. § 543a. Employees in Alaska; subsistence, equipment, and supplies.-The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to furnish subsistence to employees of the United States Department of Agriculture in the Territory of Alaska, and to purchase personal equipment and supplies for them, and to make deductions to meet the cost thereof from any money appropriated for salary payments or otherwise due such employees. (Feb. 16, 1931, ch. 200, 46 Stat. 1162.) REPEAL Insofar as the provisions of this section relating to subsistence may conflict with those of sections 821-833 of this title they were repealed by section 829 of this title. § 543b. Official expenses of employees stationed abroad.-Employees of the Department of Agriculture stationed abroad may, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, enter into leases for official quarters, for periods not exceeding one year, and may pay rent, telephone, subscriptions to publications, and other charges incident to the conduct of their offices and the discharge of their duties, in advance, in any foreign country where custom or practice requires payment in advance. (Sept. 21, 1944, ch. 412, title VII, § 705 (c), 58 Stat. 742.) AMENDMENTS 1943-Act July 12, 1943, cited to text, subsistuted "secretary" for "Secretary of Agriculture" and "Department" for "Department of Agriculture." CODIFICATION This section was enacted as a part of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944. § 544. Sale of waste paper.-The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to sell as waste paper, or otherwise to dispose of the accumulation of department files which do not constitute permanent records, and all other documents and publications which have become obsolete or worthless. (Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1281.) § 545. Exchange of typewriters and computing machines.— The Secretary of Agriculture may exchange typewriters and computing, addressing, and duplicating machines purchased from any lump-fund appropriation of the Department of Agriculture. (Aug. 10, 1912, ch. 284, 37 Stat. 296.) § 546. Exchange of scientific apparatus and laboratory equipment. The Secretary of Agriculture may exchange general scientific apparatus and laboratory equipment purchased from any appropriation of the Department of Agriculture. (June 30, 1914, ch. 131, 38 Stat. 441.) § 547. Exchange of motor-propelled vehicles. In purchasing motor-propelled or animal-drawn vehicles or tractors, or road, agricultural, manufacturing, or laboratory equipment, or boats, or parts, accessories, tires, or equipment thereof, the head of any executive department or independent establishment or his duly authorized representative may exchange or sell similar items and apply the exchange allowances or proceeds of sales in such cases in whole or in part payment therefor: Provided, That any transaction carried out under the authority of this section shall be evidenced in writing. (May 3, 1945, Title II, § 204, Pub. Law. 49, 79th Cong.) § 548. Exchange of books.-The Secretary of Agriculture may exchange books and periodicals of the library not needed for permanent use for other books and periodicals. (Mar. 4, 1915, ch. 144, 38 Stat. 1107.) TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS Libraries administered by agencies and units of Department of Agriculture consolidated for duration of war, see Ex. Ord. No. 9069, set out in note under section 601 of Appendix to Title 50, War. § 549. Sale or exchange of animals or animal products.-The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to sell in the open market or to exchange for other livestock such animals or animal products as cease to be needed in the work of the department, and all moneys received from the sale of such animals or animal products or as a bonus in the exchange of the same shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts. Mar. 4, 1915, ch. 144, 38 Stat. 1114.) CROSS REFERENCE Sale or exchange of animals not needed, see section 392 of Title 7, Agriculture. |