[CHAPTER 804-2D SESSION]

[S. 1547]

AN ACT

To provide for the disposition of vessels, trophies, relics, and material of historical interest by the Secretary of the Navy, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy is authorized, upon such terms and conditions as he may in his discretion prescribe, to transfer by gift or otherwise obsolete or condemned vessels of the United States Navy or captured vessels in the possession of the Navy to any of the several States, Territories, or possessions of the United States, and political subdivisions, or municipal corporations thereof, the District of Columbia, Canal Zone, or to corporations or associations whose charter or articles of agreement denies them the right to operate for profit. The transfer agreement for the disposition of any vessel shall include a stipulation that the transferee shall maintain the vessel in a condition satisfactory to the Navy Department and that no expense shall result to the United States as a consequence of such transfer or as a consequence of such terms and conditions prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy: Provided, That the provisions of section 34 (a) of the Surplus Property Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 765; 50 U. S. C. 1611) shall apply to this Act. SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Navy is authorized, in his discretion, to loan or give to any of the several States, Territories, or possessions of the United States, and political subdivisions or municipal corporations thereof, the District of Columbia, Canal Zone, Soldiers' Monument Associations, post of the Grand Army of the Republic, posts of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, posts of The American Legion, and other recognized war veteran associations, State museums, libraries, historical societies, and museums. operated and maintained for educational purposes only, whose charter denies them the right to operate for profit, and posts of the Sons of Veterans Reserve, educational institutions whose graduates or students fought in World War I or World War II, captured, condemned, or obsolete ordnance, guns, projectiles, books, manuscripts,. works of art, drawings, plans, models, and other condemned or obsolete material, trophies, and flags, and other material of historic interest which may not be needed in the service of the Navy Department: Provided, That the material authorized by this section to be loaned or given by the Secretary of the Navy shall not include any records. of the Federal Government as defined in the Act approved July 7, 1943 (57 Stat. 380; 44 U. S. C. 366).

SEC. 3. The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to loan or give to any individual who sponsored a ship or vessel, the name plate or any small article of a negligible or sentimental value, from that ship or vessel and any person, State, group, or organization named in section 2 of this Act who donated any article, material, or equipment includ(587)

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ing donations of silver service, may receive such articles, equipment, or material at the discretion of the Secretary of the Navy. The loans or gifts described in sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall be made subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy and the Government shall be at no expense in connection with any such loan or gift.

SEC. 4. The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to transfer, without reimbursement, such devices and trophies as he may in his discretion determine, to the Secretary of the Treasury for the promotion of the sale of war or victory bonds, and to any other Government agency for scientific, experimental, monumental, or display purposes. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to sell or donate such war devices and trophies for the promotion of the sale of war or victory bonds.

SEC. 5. Any person who gave or loaned binoculars to the United States or to the United States Navy in order that such binoculars might be used in the naval service during World War II and to whom the binoculars given or loaned cannot be returned, shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary of the Navy binoculars similar in type to the binoculars given or loaned.

SEC. 6. No transfer, loan, or gift authorized by section 1 or 2 of this Act shall take effect until information of the proposal to make such transfer, loan, or gift has been transmitted to the Congress. The transfers authorized by section 1 of this Act shall take effect upon the expiration of the first period of sixty calendar days of continuous session of the Congress following the date on which information of the proposal to make such transfer is transmitted to the Congress; but only if, between the date of transmittal and the expiration of such sixty-day period there has not been passed by the two Houses a concurrent resolution stating in substance that the Congress does not favor the proposed transfer. The loans and gifts authorized by section 2 of this Act shall take effect upon the expiration of the first period of thirty calendar days of continuous session of the Congress following the date on which information of the proposal to make such loan or gift is transmitted to the Congress; but only if, between the date of transmittal and the expiration of such thirty-day period, there has not been passed by the two Houses a concurrent resolution stating in substance that the Congress does not favor the proposed loan or gift. Approved August 7, 1946.

[PUBLIC LAW 697-79TH CONGRESS]

[CHAPTER 917-2D SESSION]

[S. 2085]

AN ACT

To amend title V of the Act entitled "An Act to expedite the provision of housing in connection with the national defense, and for other purposes", approved October 14, 1940, as amended, to authorize the Federal Works Administrator to provide necded educational facilities, other than housing, to educational institutions furnishing courses of training or education to persons under title II of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended.

"(g) Nothing in this section shall authorize the transfer of any property to the Federal Works Administrator until the preference to veterans provided by section 16 of the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended, has been fully satisfied in accordance with its terms; and for the purposes of such section 16 transfers to such Administrator under this section shall not be considered as transfers to a Government agency."

Approved August 8, 1946.

(589)

[CHAPTER 949-2D SESSION]

[H. R. 5552]

AN ACT

Relating to the sale by the United States of surplus vessels suitable for fishing.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That vessels which are determined to be surplus property under the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended, and which are suitable for use as fishing vessels shall not be disposed of until offered for sale by the United States Maritime Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission") in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 2. (a) As used in this Act the term "former owners" means former owners of fishing vessels purchased or requisitioned by the United States who on or before the date of the enactment of this Act have not been notified that their vessels may be returned to them under the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the return to private ownership of certain vessels formerly used or suitable for use in the fisheries or industries related thereto", approved April 29, 1943, as amended (U. S. C., 1940 edition, Supp. IV, title 50, App., sec. 1301). (b) Former owners shall be given notice by the Commission, in such manner (which may include publication) as it may prescribe, that vessels suitable for use as fishing vessels are to be disposed of by the United States and shall be entitled to purchase such vessels at private sale within a reasonable time after such notice. Such reasonable time shall be specified in the notice but may be extended by the Commission when it appears to it that an extension is necessary or appropriate to facilitate the sale of any vessel or vessels under this Act.

SEC. 3. (a) Sales of vessels to former owners under this Act shall be upon such terms and conditions as the Commission deems proper. (b) Any vessels suitable for use as fishing vessels not disposed of by the Commission as provided in this Act shall be disposed of as otherwise provided by law.

Approved August 10, 1946.

REORGANIZATION PLAN No. 1 oF 1947

PART V. WAR ASSETS ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 501. War Assets Administration and War Assets Administrator.-All functions of the War Assets Administration and of the War Assets Administrator established by Executive Order Numbered 9689 of January 31, 1946, are transferred to the Surplus Property Administration and the Surplus Property Administrator, respectively, which were created by the Act of September 18, 1945 (59 Stat. 533, ch. 368). The latter agencies shall hereafter be known as the War Assets Administration and the War Assets Administrator, respectively. The agencies established by Executive Order Numbered 9689 are abolished. The functions transferred by this section shall be performed by the War Assets Administrator or, subject to his direction and control, by such officers and agencies of the War Assets Administration as he may designate: Provided, That the functions specifically vested in the Surplus Property Administrator by the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended, and by the Act of September 18, 1945, shall be performed by the War Assets Administrator or by the Associate Administrator as provided in section 502 hereof. (591)