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 limitstion 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 13-18T 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;

(h) to pay per diem to personnel required to travel in connection with the operation or inspection of the train as follows: To civilian personnel at the maximum rate applicable under existing laws or regulations; to officer personnel of the armed services in accordance with section 12 of the Pay Readjustment Act of June 16, 1942, and regulations pertinent thereto; and to enlisted personnel of the armed services a military allowance in lieu of rations and quarters as provided in Executive Order Numbered 9871, as amended, and regulations pertinent thereto;

(i) to pay in cash for any services, supplies, or equipment not exceeding $50 in cost;

(j) to purchase, print, mimeograph, multilith, photostat, or produce or reproduce in any known manner, pamphlets, brochures, facsimiles or other material pertaining to the Freedom Train for free distribution or for sale, the proceeds of such sales to be paid into, administered, and expended as a part of the National Archives Trust Fund;

(k) to prescribe such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary for the operation of the Freedom Train.

SEC. 3. The Secretary of Defense is hereby authorized and directed to provide a security detachment for the protection of the Freedom Train.

SEC. 4. A commission is hereby created and established, to be known as the "Freedom Train Commission", to consist of the President protempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, the chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Post Office and Civil Service, the Attorney General of the United States, the Librarian of Congress, the Archivist of the United States, and five members to be appointed by the President. The members of the said Commission shall serve during the period the Freedom Train is in operation, and for six months thereafter. Such members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. The Commission shall elect one of its members to serve as Chairman.

SEC. 5. The Commission shall advise on and consent to the plans and publicity formulated by the Archivist and submitted to it for exhibiting the Freedom Train, and with respect to its itinerary.

SEC. 6. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this joint resolution, not to exceed $2,500,000 for the period ending July 5, 1951

Approved March 2, 1949.

[CHAPTER 272-1ST SESSION]

[S. 257] AN ACT

To amend the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, so as to provide limitations on the time within which actions may be brought for the recovery of undercharges and overcharges by or against common carriers by motor vehicles, common carriers by water, and freight forwarders.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That part II of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, is amended by inserting after section 204 thereof a new section as follows:

"SEC. 204a. (1) All actions at law by common carriers by motor vehicle subject to this part for the recovery of their charges, or any part thereof, shall be begun within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after.

"(2) For recovery of overcharges, action at law shall be begun against common carriers by motor vehicle subject to this part within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after, subject to paragraph (3) of this section, except that if claim for the overcharge has been presented in writing to the carrier within the two-year period of limitation said period shall be extended to include six months from the time notice in writing is given by the carrier to the claimant of disallowance of the claim, or any part or parts thereof, specified in the notice.

"(3) If on or before expiration of the two-year period of limitation in paragraph (2) a common carrier by motor vehicle subject to this part begins action under paragraph (1) for recovery of charges in respect of the same transportation service, or, without beginning action, collects charges in respect of that service, said period of limitation shall be extended to include ninety days from the time such action is begun or such charges are collected by the carrier.

"(4) The cause of action in respect of a shipment of property shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to accrue upon delivery or tender of delivery thereof by the carrier, and not after.

"(5) The term 'overcharges' as used in this section shall be deemed to mean charges for transportation services in excess of those applicable thereto under the tariffs lawfully on file with the Commission.

"(6) The provisions of this section shall apply only to cases in which the cause of action may accrue after the date of the enactment of this section."

SEC. 2. Subsection (a) of section 308 of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(a) For the purposes of this section the term 'carrier' means a common carrier by water."

SEO. 3. (a) Subsection (f) (1) of section 308 of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(1) (A) All actions at law by carriers subject to this part for the recovery of their charges, or any part thereof, shall be begun within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after.

"(B) All complaints against carriers for the recovery of damages not based on overcharges shall be filed with the Commission within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after, subject to subdivision (D).

"(C) For the recovery of overcharges action at law shall be begun or complaint filed with the Commission against carriers subject to this part within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after, subject to subdivision (D), except that if claim for the overcharge has been presented in writing to the carrier within the two-year period of limitation said period shall be extended to include six months from the time notice in writing is given by the carrier to the claimant of disallowance of the claim, or any part or parts thereof, specified in the notice.

"(D) If on or before expiration of the two-year period of limitation in subdivision (B) or the two-year period of limitation in subdivision (C) a carrier subject to this part begins action under subdivision (A) for recovery of charges in respect of the same transportation service, or, without beginning action, collects charges in respect of that service, said period of limitation shall be extended to include ninety days from the time such action is begun or such charges are collected by the carrier."

(b) The amendments made by subsection (a) of this section shall apply only to cases in which the cause of action may accrue after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. Paragraph (5) of subsection (f) of section 308 of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, is hereby repealed.

SEC. 5. Part IV of the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, is hereby amended by inserting after section 406 thereof a new section as follows:

"SEC. 406a. (1) All actions at law by freight forwarders subject to this part for the recovery of their charges, or any part thereof, shall be begun within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after.

"(2) For recovery of overcharges action at law shall be begun against freight forwarders subject to this part within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after, subject to paragraph (3) of this section, except that if claim for the overcharge has been presented in writing to the freight forwarder within the two-year period of limitation said period shall be extended to include six months from the time notice in writing is given by the freight forwarder to the claimant of disallowance of the claim, or any part or parts thereof, specified in the notice.

"(3) If on or before expiration of the two-year period of limitation in paragraph (2) a freight forwarder subject to this part begins action under paragraph (1) for recovery of charges in respect of the same service, or, without beginning action, collects charges in respect of that service, said period of limitation shall be extended to include ninety days from the time such action is begun or such charges are collected by the freight forwarder.