630-60. Retirement of submarginal lands.-The Secretary is authorized and directed to develop a program of land conservation and land utilization, including the retirement of lands which are submarginal or not primarily suitable for cultivation, in order thereby to correct maladjustments in land use, and thus assist in controlling soil erosion, reforestation, preserving natural resources, mitigating floods, preventing impairment of dams and reservoirs, conserving surface and subsurface moisture, protecting the watersheds of navigable streams, and protecting the public lands, health, safety, and welfare. (July 22, 1937, Title III, sec. 31, 50 Stat. 525; 7 U. S. Č., sec. 1010.)

630-61. Same; powers of Secretary of Agriculture. To effectuate the program provided for in section 31, the Secretary is authorized

(a) To acquire by purchase, gift, or devise, or by transfer from any agency of the United States or from any State, Territory, or political subdivision, submarginal land and land not primarily suitable for cultivation, and interests in and options on such land. Such property may be acquired subject to any reservations, outstanding estates, interests, easements, or other encumbrances which the Secretary determines will not interfere with the utilization of such property for the purposes of this title.

(b) To protect, improve, develop, and administer any property so acquired and to construct such structures thereon as may be necessary to adapt it to its most beneficial use.

(c) To sell, exchange, lease, or otherwise dispose of, with or without a consideration, any property so acquired, under such terms and conditions as he deems will best accomplish the purposes of this title, but any sale, exchange, or grant shall be made only to public authorities and agencies and only on condition that the property is used for public purposes. The Secretary may recommend to the President other Federal, State, or Territorial agencies to administer such property, together with the conditions of use and administration which will best serve the purposes of a land-conservation and land-utilization program, and the President is authorized to transfer such property to such agencies.

(d) With respect to any land, or any interest therein, acquired by, or transferred to, the Secretary for the purposes of this title, to make dedications or grants, in his discretion, for any public purpose, and to grant licenses and easements upon such terms as he deems reasonable.

(e) To cooperate with Federal, State, Territorial, and other public agencies in developing plans for a program of land conservation and land utilization, to conduct surveys and investigations relating to conditions and factors affecting, and the methods of accomplishing most effectively, the purposes of this title, and to disseminate information concerning these activities.

(f) To make such rules and regulations as he deems necessary to prevent trespasses and otherwise regulate the use and occupancy of property acquired by, or transferred to, the Secretary for the purposes of this title, in order to conserve and utilize it or advance the purposes of this title. Any violation of such rules and regulations shall be punished as prescribed in section 5388 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (U.S. C., 1934 ed., title 18, sec. 104). (July 22, 1937, Title III, sec. 32, 50 Stat. 525; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1011.)

630-62. Same; payments to counties.-As soon as practicable after the end of each calendar year, the Secretary shall pay to the county in which any land is held by the Secretary under this title, 25 per centum of the net revenues received by the Secretary from the use of the land during such year. In case the land is situated in more than one county, the amount to be paid shall be divided equitably among the respective counties. Payments to counties under this section shall be made on the condition that they are used for school or road purposes, or both. This section shall not be construed to apply to amounts received from the sale of land. (July 22, 1937, Title III, sec. 33, 50 Stat. 526; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1012.)

630-63. Same; appropriation.-To carry out the provisions of this title, there is authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1938, and not to exceed $20,000,000 for each of the two fiscal years thereafter. (July 22, 1937, Title III, sec. 34, 50 Stat. 526; 7 U. Š. C., sec. 1013.)

630-64. Farmers' Home Corporation.-Establishment; location.— (a) There is hereby created as an agency, of and within the Department of Agriculture, a body corporate with the name "Farmers' Home Corporation" (in this Act called the Corporation). The principal office of the Corporation shall be located in the District of Columbia, but there may be established agencies or branch offices elsewhere in the United States under rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Delegation of power by Secretary of Agriculture. (b) The Secretary shall have power to delegate to the Corporation such powers and duties conferred upon him under title I or title II, or both, and such powers under title IV as relate to the exercise of the powers and duties so delegated, as he deems may be necessary to the efficient carrying out of the purposes of such titles and may be executed by the Corporation, and to transfer to the Corporation such funds available for such purposes as he deems necessary. In connection with and in the exercise of such powers and duties so delegated, all provisions of this Act relating to the powers and duties of, and limitations upon, the Secretary shall apply to the Corporation in the same manner as to the Secretary, and the term "Secretary" shall be construed to include "Corporation".

Capital stock. (c) The Corporation shall have a nominal capital stock in an amount determined and subscribed for by the Secretary. Receipts for payments for or on account of such stock shall be issued by the Corporation to the Secretary and shall be evidence of the stock ownership of the United States.

Board of directors; personnel; quorum; compensation; expenses. (d) The management of the Corporation shall be vested in a board of directors (in this Act called the Board) subject to the general supervision of the Secretary. The Board shall consist of three persons employed in the Department of Agriculture who shall be designated by the Secretary. Vacancies in the Board, so long as there are two members in office, shall not impair the powers of the Board to execute its functions and two of the members in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The directors, appointed as hereinbefore provided, shall receive no additional compensation for their

services as such directors but may be allowed travel and subsistence expenses when engaged in business of the Corporation outside of the District of Columbia.

Selection of administrator. (e) The Board may select, subject to the approval of the Secretary, an administrator, who shall be the executive officer of the Corporation, with such power and authority as may be conferred upon him by the Board.

Powers of corporation. (f) The Corporation

(1) Shall have succession in its corporate name;

(2) May adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall be judicially noticed;

(3) May sue and be sued in its corporate name in any court of competent jurisdiction, State or Federal: Provided, That the prosecution and defense of all litigation to which the Corporation may be a party shall be conducted under the supervision of the Attorney General, and the Corporation shall be represented by the United States Attorneys for the districts, respectively, in which such litigation may arise, or by such other attorney or attorneys as may, under the law, be designated by the Attorney General: And provided further, That no attachment, injunction, garnishment, or other similar process, mesne or final, shall be issued against the Corporation or its property;

(4) May adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws, rules, and regulations governing the manner in which its business may be conducted and the powers vested in it may be exercised and enjoyed;

(5) Shall be entitled to the free use of the United States mails in the same manner as other executive agencies of the Government;

(6) Shall have such powers as may be necessary or appropriate for the exercise of the powers vested in the Corporation (including, but subject to the limitations of this Act, the power to make contracts, and to purchase or lease, and to hold or dispose of, such real and personal property as it deems necessary) and all such incidental powers as are customary in corporations generally. The Board shall define the authority and duties of the officers and employees of the Corporation, delegate to them such of the powers vested in the Corporation as it may determine, and require bonds of such of them as it may designate and fix the penalties and pay the premiums of such bonds.

Compensation to injured employees. (g) Insofar as applicable, the benefits of the Act entitled "An Act to provide compensation for employees of the United States suffering injuries while in the performance of their duties, and for other purposes", approved September 7, 1916, as amended, shall extend to employees of the Corporation.

Deposit of monies. (h) All money of the Corporation not otherwise employed may be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States or in any bank approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, subject to withdrawal by the Corporation at any time, or with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury may be invested in obligations of the United States. Subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve banks are hereby authorized and directed to act as depositories, custodians, and fiscal agents for the Corporation in the performance of its powers.

Tax exemption. (i) The Corporation, including its franchises, its capital, reserves, and surplus and its income and property shall, ex

cept as otherwise provided in section 50 (a), be exempt from all taxation now or hereafter imposed by the United States or any State, Territory, District, dependency, or political subdivision.

Records; annual report. (j) The Corporation shall at all times maintain complete and accurate books of account and shall file annually with the Secretary a complete report as to the business of the Corporation. (July 22, 1937, Title IV, sec. 40, 50 Stat. 527; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1014 (a) to (j).)

630-65. Powers of Secretary of Agriculture.-For the purposes of this Act, the Secretary shall have power to

(a) Appoint (without regard to the civil-service laws and regulations) and fix the compensation of such officers and employees as may be necessary. No person (except as to positions requiring technical training and experience for which no one possessing the requisite technical training and experience is available within the area) shall be appointed or transferred under this Act to any position in an office in a State or Territory the operations of which are confined to such State or Territory or a portion thereof, or in a regional office outside the District of Columbia the operations of which extend to more than one, or portions of more than one, State or Territory, unless such person has been an actual and bona-fide resident of the State or Territory, or region, as the case may be, in which such office is located, for a period of not less than one year next preceding the appointment or transfer to such position (disregarding periods of residence outside such State or Territory, or region, as the case may be, while in the Federal Government service). If the operations of the office are confined to a portion of a single State or Territory, the Secretary in making appointments or transfers to such office shall, except in the classes of cases exempted from the preceding sentence, appoint or transfer only persons who are residents of such portion of the State or Territory: Provided, That hereafter, wherever practicable, all appointments of persons to the Federal service for employment within the District of Columbia, under the provisions of this Act, whether such appointments be within the classified civil service or otherwise, shall be apportioned among the several States and the District of Columbia upon the basis of population as ascertained at the last preceding census.

(b) Accept and utilize voluntary and uncompensated services, and, with the consent of the agency concerned, utilize the officers, employees, equipment, and information of any agency of the Federal Government, or of any State, Territory, or political subdivision.

(c) Within the limits of appropriations made therefor, make necessary expenditures for personal services and rent at the seat of government and elsewhere; contract stenographic reporting services; purchase and exchange of supplies and equipment, law books, books of reference, directories, periodicals, newspapers, and press clippings; travel and subsistence expenses, including the expense of attendance at meetings and conferences; purchase, operation, and maintenance, at the seat of government and elsewhere, of motor-propelled passengercarrying and other vehicles; printing and binding; and for such other facilities and services as he may from time to time find necessary for the proper administration of this Act.

(d) Make contracts for services and purchases of supplies without regard to the provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (Ü. S. C., 1934 ed., title 41, sec. 5) when the aggregate amount involved is less than $300.

(e) Make payments prior to audit and settlement by the General Accounting Office.

(f) Acquire land and interests therein without regard to section 355 of the Revised Statutes, as amended. This subsection shall not apply with respect to the acquisition of land or interests in land under title III.

(g) Compromise claims and obligations arising under, and adjust and modify the terms of mortgages, leases, contracts, and agreements entered into pursuant to, this Act, as circumstances may require.

(h) Collect all claims and obligations arising under this Act, or under any mortgage, lease, contract, or agreement entered into pursuant to this Act, and, if in his judgment necessary and advisable, to pursue the same to final collection in any court having jurisdiction: Provided, That the prosecution and defense of all litigation under this Act shall be conducted under the supervision of the Attorney General, and the legal representation shall be by the United States Attorneys for the districts, respectively, in which such litigation may arise, or by such other attorney or attorneys as may, under the law, be designated by the Attorney General.

(i) Make such rules and regulations as he deems necessary to carry out this Act. (July 22, 1937, Title IV, sec. 41, 50 Stat. 528; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1015.)

630-66. County Committee; appointments; compensation; meetings; duties. (a) The Secretary is authorized and directed to appoint in each county in which activities are carried on under title I a county committee composed of three farmers residing in the county.

(b) Each member of the committee shall be allowed compensation at the rate of $3 per day while engaged in the performance of duties under this Act but such compensation shall not be allowed with respect to more than five days in a month. In addition, they shall be allowed such amounts as the Secretary may prescribe for necessary traveling and subsistence expenses.

(c) The committee shall meet on the call of the county agent in the county, or on the call of such other person as the Secretary may designate. Two members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. The Secretary shall prescribe rules governing the procedure of the committees, furnish forms and equipment necessary for the perform ance of their duties, and authorize and provide for the compensation of such clerical assistants as he deems may be required by any committee.

(d) Committees established under this Act shall, in addition to the duties specifically imposed under this Act, perform such other duties under this Act as the Secretary may require of them. (July 22, 1937, Title IV, sec. 42, 50 Stat. 529; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1016.)

630-67. Completion of resettlement projects.-The Secretary is authorized to continue to perform such of the functions vested in him pursuant to Executive Order Numbered 7530 of December 31, 1936, as amended by Executive Order Numbered 7557 of February 19, 1937, and pursuant to Public Act Numbered 845, approved June 29, 1936 (49