as heretofore provided the rights of the said John Hays Hammond, junior, and the Radio Engineering Company of New York. Id. 348. 1616. Same-Inventions important to the armament or defenses of the United States.-All applications for patents shall be completed and prepared for examination within one year after the filing of the application, and in default thereof, or upon failure of the applicant to prosecute the same within one year after any action therein, of which notice shall have been given to the applicant, they shall be regarded as abandoned by the parties thereto, unless it be shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Patents that such delay was unavoidable: Provided, however, That no application shall be regarded as abandoned which has become the property of the Government of the United States and with respect to which the head of any department of the Government shall have certified to the Commissioner of Patents, within a period of three years, that the invention disclosed therein is important to the armament or defense of the United States: Provided further, That within ninety days, and not less than thirty days, before the expiration of any such three-year period the Commissioner of Patents shall, in writing, notify the head of the department interested in any pending application for patent, of the approaching expiration of the three-year period within which any application for patent shall have been pending. Sec. 4894, R. S., as amended by Act of July 6, 1916 (39 Stat. 348).

1616a. Keeping secret inventions, and withholding grant of patent therefor during time of war.-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 grant of a patent until the termination of the war. Act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 394.

1616b. Inventions abandoned, when.-The invention disclosed in the application for said patent may be 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. Id.

1616c. Compensation to patentee for use of inventions tendered to Government.-When an applicant whose patent is withheld as herein provided and who faithfully obeys the order of the Commissioner of Patents above referred to shall tender his invention to the Govern54208°-18- -30

ment 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. Id., 395.

(See paragraphs 1425pp-1425rr, ante, for almost identical provisions contained in the Act of October 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 422), entitled the Trading with the Enemy Act," section 10, except that the above provisions may be regarded as applicable during any time when the United States is at war, while the provisions in paragraphs 1425qq-1425rr appear to be applicable only during the present war.)

COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE.

1617. Composition and purpose of.-A Council of National Defense is hereby established, for the coordination of industries and resources for the national security and welfare, to consist of the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Labor. Sec. 2, Act of Aug. 29, 1916 (39 Stat. 649).

1618. Same-Appointment, composition, and duties of an advisory commission.-The Council of National Defense shall nominate to the President, and the President shall appoint, an advisory commission, consisting of not more than seven persons, each of whom shall have special knowledge of some industry, public utility, or the development of some natural resource, or be otherwise specially qualified, in the opinion of the council, for the performance of the duties hereinafter provided. The members of the advisory commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be allowed actual expenses of travel and subsistence when attending meetings of the commission or engaged in investigations pertaining to its activities. The advisory commission shall hold such meetings as shall be called by the council or be provided by the rules and regulations adopted by the council for the conduct of its work. Id.

1619. Same-Duties of council.-It shall be the duty of the Council of National Defense to supervise and direct investigations and make recommendations to the President and the heads of executive departments as to the location of railroads with reference to the frontier of the United States so as to render possible expeditious concentration of troops and supplies to points of defense; the coordination of military, industrial, and commercial purposes in the location of extensive highways and branch lines of railroad; the utilization of waterways; the mobilization of military and naval resources for defense; the increase of domestic production of articles and materials essential to the support of armies and of the people during the interruption of foreign commerce; the development of seagoing transportation; data as to amounts, location, method and means of produc

tion, and availability of military supplies; the giving of information to producers and manufacturers as to the class of supplies needed by the military and other services of the Government, the requirements relating thereto, and the creation of relations which will render possible in time of need the immediate concentration and utilization of the resources of the Nation. Id.

1619a. Powers or duties of council not enlarged by existence of state of war. In the expenditure of said moneys1 the existence of a state of war shall not be construed as enlarging the powers or duties of the Council of National Defense, but that such powers and duties shall remain as prescribed by the Act creating said council, approved August twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and sixteen. Act of June 15, 1917 (40 Stat. 182).

1620. Same-Rules and regulations for conduct of its work; organization of subordinate bodies.-The Council of National Defense shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its work, which rules and regulations shall be subject to the approval of the President, and shall provide for the work of the advisory commission to the end that the special knowledge of such commission may be developed by suitable investigation, research, and inquiry and made available in conference and report for the use of the council; and the council may organize subordinate bodies for its assistance in special investigations, either by the employment of experts or by the creation of committees of specially qualified persons to serve without compensation, but to direct the investigations of experts so employed. Sec. 2, Act of Aug. 29, 1916 (39 Stat. 650).

1621. Same-Appropriation for investigations of, annual and other reports by, etc.-The sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be immediately available for experimental work and investigations undertaken by the council, by the advisory commission, or subordinate bodies, for the employment of a director, expert and clerical expenses and supplies, and for the necessary expenses of members of the advisory commission or subordinate bodies going to and attending meetings of the commission or subordinate bodies. Reports shall be submitted by all subordinate bodies and by the advisory commission to the council, and from time to time the council shall report to the President or to the heads of executive departments upon special inquiries or subjects appropriate thereto, and an annual report to the Congress

Appropriation for expenses of experimental work and investigations undertaken by the Council, employinent of experts, and clerical and other assistance at rates of compensation authorized by Section 167, Revised Statutes (Par. 44, ante), purchase of supplies, books of reference, expenses of members of the council, advisory commission. etc., attending meetings, and rental of quarters in the District of Columbia.

shall be submitted through the President, including as full a statement of the activities of the council and the agencies subordinate to it as is consistent with the public interest, including an itemized account of the expenditures made by the council or authorized by it, in as full detail as the public interest will permit: Provided, however, That when deemed proper the President may authorize, in amounts stipulated by him, unvouchered expenditures and report the gross sums so authorized not itemized. Id.

NITRATE SUPPLY.

1622. For manufacture of munitions of war, etc.-The President of the United States is hereby authorized and empowered to make, or cause to be made, such investigation as in his judgment is necessary to determine the best, cheapest, and most available means for the production of nitrates and other products for munitions of war and useful in the manufacture of fertilizers and other useful products by water power or any other power as in his judgment is the best and cheapest to use; and is also hereby authorized and empowered to designate for the exclusive use of the United States, if in his judgment such means is best and cheapest, such site or sites, upon any navigable or nonnavigable river or rivers or upon the public lands, as in his opinion will be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act; and is further authorized to construct, maintain, and operate, at or on any site or sites so designated, dams, locks, improvements to navigation, power houses, and other plants and equipment or other means than water power as in his judgment is the best and cheapest, necessary or convenient for the generation of electrical or other power and for the production of nitrates or other products needed for munitions of war and useful in the manufacture of fertilizers and other useful products. Sec. 124, Act of June 3, 1916 (39 Stat. 215).

1623. Same-Acquisition of lands and materials for construction and operation of plants.-The President is authorized to lease, purchase, or acquire, by condemnation, gift, grant, or devise, such lands and rights of way as may be necessary for the construction and operation of such plants, and to take from any lands of the United States, or to purchase or acquire by condemnation materials, minerals, and processes, patented or otherwise, necessary for the construction and operation of such plants and for the manufacture of such products. Id.

1624. Same-Use and disposition of products of the plants.-The products of such plants shall be used by the President for military and naval purposes to the extent that he may deem necessary, and any surplus which he shall determine is not required shall be sold

and disposed of by him under such regulations as he may prescribe. Id.

1625. Same-Employment of necessary officers or agents to carry out purposes of section.-The President is hereby authorized and empowered to employ such officers, agents, or agencies as may in his discretion be necessary to enable him to carry out the purposes herein specified, and to authorize and require such officers, agents, or agencies to perform any and all of the duties imposed upon him by the provisions hereof. Id.

1626. Same-Appropriation for, to remain available until expended. The sum of $20,000,000 is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, available until - expended, to enable the President of the United States to carry out the purposes herein provided for. Id.

1627. Same-Plants to be operated solely by the Government.The plant or plants provided for under this Act shall be constructed and operated solely by the Government and not in conjunction with any other industry or enterprise carried on by private capital. Id. 1628. Funds appropriated for, may be raised by sale of Panama Canal bonds. In order to raise the money appropriated by this Act and necessary to carry its provisions into effect, the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the request of the President of the United States, may issue and sell, or use for such purpose or construction hereinabove authorized, any of the bonds of the United States now available in the Treasury of the United States under the Act of August fifth, nineteen hundred and nine, the Act of February fourth, nineteen hundred and ten, and the Act of March second, nineteen hundred and eleven, relating to the issue of bonds for the construction of the Panama Canal, to a total amount not to exceed $20,000,000. Id. 1629. Same-Maturity of bonds.-Any Panama Canal bonds issued and sold or used under the provisions of this section may be made payable at such time after issue as the Secretary of the Treasury, in his discretion, may deem advisable, and fix, instead of fifty years. after date of issue, as in said Act of August fifth, nineteen hundred and nine, not exceeding fifty years. Id. 216.