SEC. 28a. Upon the organization of said commission and notification to the heads of all executive departments that the commission is ready to take up the work devolved upon it by this Act, all commissions and independent bureaus, by or in which payments for compensation are now provided, together with the adjustment and settlement of such claims, shall cease and determine, and such executive departments, commissions, and independent bureaus shall transfer all pending claims to said commission to be administered by it. The said commission may obtain, in all cases, in addition to the reports provided in section twenty-four, such information and such reports from employees of the departments as may be agreed upon by the commission and the heads of the respective departments. All clerks and employees now exclusively engaged in carrying on said work in the various executive departments, commissions, and independent bureaus, shall be transferred to, and become employees of, the commission at their present grades and salaries.

SEC. 29. That the commission, or any commissioner by authority of the commission, shall have power to issue subpoenas for and compel the attendance of witnesses within a radius of one hundred miles, to require the production of books, papers, documents, and other evidence, to administer oaths, and to examine witnesses, upon any matter within the jurisdiction of the commission.

SEC. 30. That the commission shall have such assistants, clerks, and other employees as may be from time to time provided by Congress. They shall be appointed from lists of eligibles to be supplied by the Civil Service Commission, and in accordance with the civil-service law.

SEC. 31. That the commission shall submit annually to the Secretary of the Treasury estimates of the appropriations necessary for the work of the commission.

SEC. 32. That the commission is authorized to make necessary rules and regulations for the enforcement of this Act, and shall decide all questions arising under this Act.

SEC. 33. That the commission shall make to Congress at the beginning of each regular session a report of its work for the preceding fiscal year, including a detailed statement of appropriations and expenditures, a detailed statement showing receipts of and expenditures from the employees' compensation fund, and its recommendations for legislation.

SEC. 34. That for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $50,000 for the work of the commission, including salaries of the commissioners and of such assistants, clerks, and other employees as the commission may deem necessary, and for traveling expenses, expenses of medical examinations under sections twentyone and twenty-two, reasonable traveling and other expenses and loss of wages payable to employees under section twenty-one, rent and equipment of offices, purchase of books, stationery, and other supplies, printing and binding to be done at the Government Printing Office, and other necessary expenses.

SEC. 35. That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $500,000, to be set aside as a separate fund in the Treasury, to be known as the employees' compensation fund. To this fund there shall be added such sums as Congress may from time to time appropriate for the purpose. Such fund, including all additions that may be made to it, is hereby authorized to be permanently appropriated for the payment of the compensation provided by this Act, including the medical, surgical, and hospital services and supplies provided by section nine, and the transportation and burial expenses provided by sections nine and eleven. The commission shall submit annually to the Secretary of the Treasury estimates of the appropriations necessary for the maintenance of the fund.

SEC. 36. The commission, upon consideration of the claim presented by the beneficiary, and the report furnished by the immediate superior and the completion of such investigation as it may deem necessary, shall determine and make a finding of facts thereon and make an award for or against payment of the compensation provided for in this Act. Compensation when awarded shall be paid from the employees' compensation fund.

SEC. 37. That if the original claim for compensation has been made within the time specified in section twenty, the commission may, at any time, on its own motion or on application, review the award, and, in accordance with the facts found on such review, may end, diminish, or increase the compensation

previously awarded, or, if compensation has been refused or discontinued, award compensation.

SEC. 38. That if any compensation is paid under a mistake of law or of fact, the commission shall immediately cancel any award under which such compensation has been paid and shall recover, as far as practicable, any amount which has been so paid. Any amount so recovered shall be placed to the credit of the employees' compensation fund.

SEC. 39. That whoever makes, in any affidavit required under section four or in any claim for compensation, any statement, knowing it to be false, shall be guilty of perjury and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,000, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

SEC. 40. That wherever used in this Act

The singular includes the plural and the masculine includes the feminine.

The term "employee" includes all civil employees of the United States and of the Panama Railroad Company.

The term "commission" shall be taken to refer to the United States Employees' Compensation Commission provided for in section twenty-eight.

The term "physician

includes surgeons.

The term "monthly pay" shall be taken to refer to the monthly pay at the time of the injury.

SEC. 41. That all Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed: Provided, however, That for injuries occurring prior to the passage of this Act compensation shall be paid under the law in force at the time of the passage of this Act: And provided further, That if an injury or death for which compensation is payable under this Act is caused under circumstances creating a legal liability in the Panama Railroad Company to pay damages therefor under the laws of any State, Territory, or possession of the United States or of the District of Columbia or of any foreign country, no compensation shall be payable until the person entitled to compensation releases to the Panama Railroad Company any right of action which he may have to enforce such liability of the Panama Railroad Company, or until he assigns to the United States any right which he may have to share in any money or other property received in satisfaction of such liability of the Panama Railroad Company.

SEC. 42. That the President may, from time to time, transfer the administration of this Act so far as employees of the Panama Canal and of the Panama Railroad Company are concerned to the governor of the Panama Canal, and so far as employees of the Alaskan Engineering Commission are concerned to the chairman of that commission, in which cases the words "commission " and "its" wherever they appear in this Act shall, so far as necessary to give effect to such transfer, be read " governor of the Panama Canal or chairman of the Alaskan Engineering Commission," as the case may be, and "his"; and the expenses of medical examinations under sections twenty-one and twenty-two, and the reasonable traveling and other expenses and loss of wages payable to employees under section twenty-one, shall be paid out of appropriations for the Panama Canal or for the Alaskan Engineering Commission or out of funds of the Panama Railroad, as the case may be, instead of out of the appropriation for the work of the commission.

In the case of compensation to employees of the Panama Canal or of the Panama Railroad Company for temporary disability, either total or partial, the President may authorize the governor of the Panama Canal to waive, at his discretion, the making of the claim required by section eighteen. In the case of alien employees of the Panama Canal or of the Panama Railroad Company, or of any class or classes of them, the President may remove or modify the minimum limit established by section six on the monthly compensation for disability and the minimum limit established by clause (K) of section ten on the monthly pay on which death compensation is to be computed. The President may authorize the governor of the Panama Canal and the chairman of the Alaskan Engineering Commission to pay the compensation provided by this Act, including the medical, surgical, and hospital services and supplies provided by section nine and the transportation and burial expenses provided by sections nine and eleven, out of the appropriations for the Panama Canal and for the Alaskan Engineering Commission, such appropriations to be reimbursed for such payments by the transfer of funds from the employees' compensation fund.

Approved, September 7, 1916. [39 Stat., 742.]

An Act To establish a United States Shipping Board for the purpose of encouraging, developing, and creating a naval auxiliary and naval reserve and a merchant marine to meet the requirements of the commerce of the United States with its Territories and possessions and with foreign countries; to regulate carriers by water engaged in the foreign and interstate commerce of the United States; and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That when used in this Act:

The term " common carrier by water in foreign commerce means a common carrier, except ferryboats running on regular routes, engaged in the transportation by water of passengers or property between the United States or any of its Districts, Territories, or possessions and a foreign country, whether in the import or export trade: Provided, That a cargo boat commonly called an ocean tramp shall not be deemed such "common carrier by water in foreign commerce."

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The term common carrier by water in interstate commerce means a common carrier engaged in the transportation by water of passengers or property on the high seas or the Great Lakes on regular routes from port to port between one State, Territory, District, or possession of the United States and any other State, Territory, District, or possession of the United States, or between places in the same Territory, District, or possession.

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The term common carrier by water" means a common carrier by water in foreign commerce or a common carrier by water in interstate commerce on the high seas or the Great Lakes on regular routes from port to port.

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The term "other person subject to this Act" means any person not included in the term common carrier by water," carrying on the business of forwarding or furnishing wharfage, dock, warehouse, or other terminal facilities in connection with a common carrier by water.

The term 66 person includes corporations, partnerships, and associations, existing under or authorized by the laws of the United States, or any State, Territory, District, or possession thereof, or of any foreign country.

SEC. 2. That within the meaning of this Act no corporation, partnership, or association shall be deemed a citizen of the United States unless the controlling interest therein is owned by citizens of the United States, and, in the case of a corporation, unless its president and managing directors are citizens of the United States and the corporation itself is organized under the laws of the United States or of a State, Territory, District, or possession thereof.

The provisions of this Act shall apply to receivers and trustees of all persons. to whom the Act applies, and to the successors or assignees of such persons. SEC. 3. That a board is hereby created, to be known as the United States Shipping Board, and hereinafter referred to as the board. The board shall be composed of five commissioners, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; said board shall annually elect one of its members as chairman and one as vice chairman.

The first commissioners appointed shall continue in office for terms of two, three, four, five, and six years, respectively, from the date of their appointment, the term of each to be designated by the President, but their successors shall be appointed for terms of six years, except that any person chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term of the commissioner whom he succeeds.

The commissioners shall be appointed with due regard to their fitness for the efficient discharge of the duties imposed on them by this Act, and to a fair representation of the geographical divisions of the country. Not more than three of the commissioners shall be appointed from the same political party. No commissioner shall be in the employ of or hold any official relation to any common carrier by water or other person subject to this Act, or own any stocks or bonds thereof, or be pecuniarily interested therein. No commissioner shall actively engage in any other business, vocation, or employment. Any commissioner may be removed by the President for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. A vacancy in the board shall not impair the right of the remaining members of the board to exercise all its powers. The board shall have an official seal, which shall be judicially noticed.

The board may adopt rules and regulations in regard to its procedure and the conduct of its business.

SEC. 4. That each member of the board shall receive a salary of $7,500 per annum. The board shall appoint a secretary, at a salary of $5,000 per annum, and employ and fix the compensation of such attorneys, officers, naval architects, special experts, examiners, clerks, and other employees as it may find

necessary for the proper performance of its duties and as may be appropriated for by the Congress. The President, upon the request of the board, may authorize the detail of officers of the military, naval, or other services of the United States for such duties as the board may deem necessary in connection with its business.

With the exception of the secretary, a clerk to each commissioner, the attorneys, naval architects, and such special experts and examiners as the board may from time to time find necessary to employ for the conduct of its work, all employees of the board shall be appointed from lists of eligibles to be supplied by the Civil Service Commission and in accordance with the civil-service law.

The expenses of the board, including necessary expenses for transportation, incurred by the members of the board or by its employees under its orders, in making any investigation, or upon official business in any other place than in the city of Washington, shall be allowed and paid on the presentation of itemized vouchers therefor approved by the chairman of the board.

Until otherwise provided by law the board may rent suitable offices for its use. The Auditor for the State and Other Departments shall receive and examine all accounts of expenditures of the board.

SEC. 5. That the board, with the approval of the President, is authorized to have constructed and equipped in American shipyards and navy yards or elsewhere, giving preference, other things being equal, to domestic yards, or to purchase, lease, or charter, vessels suitable, as far as the commercial requirements of the marine trade of the United States may permit, for use as naval auxiliaries or Army transports, or for other naval or military purposes, and to make necessary repairs on and alterations of such vessels: Provided, That neither the board nor any corporation formed under section eleven in which the United States is then a stockholder shall purchase, lease, or charter any · vessel

(a) Which is then engaged in the foreign or domestic commerce of the United States, unless it is about to be withdrawn from such commerce without any intention on the part of the owner to return it thereto within a reasonable time;

(b) Which is under the registry or flag or a foreign country which is then engaged in war;

(c) Which is not adapted, or can not by reasonable alterations and repairs be adapted, to the purposes specified in this section;

(d) Which, upon expert examination made under the direction of the board, a written report of such examination being filed as a public record, is not without alteration or repair found to be at least seventy-five per centum as efficient as at the time it was originally put in commission as a seaworthy vessel.

SEC. 6. That the President may transfer either permanently or for limited periods to the board such vessels belonging to the War or Navy Department as are suitable for commercial uses and not required for military or naval use in time of peace, and cause to be transferred to the board vessels owned by the Panama Railroad Company and not required in its business.

SEC. 7. That the board, upon terms and conditions prescribed by it and approved by the President, may charter, lease, or sell to any person, a citizen of the United States, any vessel so purchased, constructed, or transferred.

SEC. 8. That when any vessel purchased or constructed by or transferred to the board as herein provided, and owned by the United States, becomes, in the opinion of the board, unfit for the purposes of this Act, it shall be appraised and sold at public or private competitive sale after due advertisement free from the conditions and restrictions of this Act.

SEC. 9. That any vessel purchased, chartered, or leased from the board may be registered or enrolled and licensed, or both registered and enrolled and licensed, as a vessel of the United States and entitled to the benefits and privileges appertaining thereto: Provided, That foreign-built vessels admitted to American registry or enrollment and license under this Act, and vessels owned, chartered, or leased by any corporation in which the United States is a stockholder, and vessels sold, leased, or chartered to any person a citizen of the United States, as provided in this Act, may engage in the coastwise trade of the United States.

Every vessel purchased, chartered, or leased from the board shall, unless otherwise authorized by the board, be operated only under such registry or enrollment and license. Such vessels while employed solely as merchant

No

vessels shall be subject to all laws, regulations, and liabilities governing merchant vessels, whether the United States be interested therein as owner, in whole or in part, or hold any mortgage, lien, or other interest therein. such vessel, without the approval of the board, shall be transferred to a foreign registry or flag, or sold; nor, except under regulations prescribed by the board, be chartered or leased.

When the United States is at war, or during any national emergency the existence of which is declared by proclamation of the President, no vessel registered or enrolled and licensed under the laws of the United States shall, without the approval of the board, be sold, leased, or chartered to any person not a citizen of the United States, or transferred to a foreign registry or flag. No vessel registered or enrolled and licensed under the laws of the United States, or owned by any person a citizen of the United States, except one which the board is prohibited from purchasing, shall be sold to any person not a citizen of the United States or transferred to a foreign registry or flag, unless such vessel is first tendered to the board at the price in good faith offered by others, or, if no such offer, at a fair price to be determined in the manner provided in section ten.

Any vessel sold, chartered, leased, transferred, or operated in violation of this section shall be forfeited to the United States, and whoever violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment of not more than five years, or both such fine and imprisonment.

SEC. 10. That the President, upon giving to the person interested such reasonable notice in writing as in his judgment the circumstances permit, may take possession, absolutely or temporarily, for any naval or military purpose, of any vessel purchased, leased, or chartered from the board: Provided, That if, in the judgment of the President, an emergency exists requiring such action he may take possession of any such vessel without notice.

Thereafter, upon ascertainment by agreement or otherwise, the United States shall pay the person interested the fair actual value based upon normal conditions at the time of taking of the interest of such person in every vessel taken absolutely, or if taken for a limited period, the fair charter value under normal conditions for such period. In case of disagreement as to such fair value it shall be determined by appraisers, one to be appointed by the board, one by the person interested, and a third by the two so appointed. The finding of such appraisers shall be final and binding upon both parties.

SEC. 11. That the board, if in its judgment such action is necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, may form under the laws of the District of Columbia one or more corporations for the purchase, construction, equipment, lease, charter, maintenance, and operation of merchant vessels in the commerce of the United States. The total capital stock thereof shall not exceed $50,000,000. The board may, for and on behalf of the United States, subscribe to, purchase, and vote not less than a majority of the capital stock of any such corporation, and do all other things in regard thereto necessary to protect the interests of the United States and to carry out the purposes of this Act. The board, with the approval of the President, may sell any or all of the stock of the United States in such corporation, but at no time shall it be a minority stockholder therein: Provided, That no corporation in which the United States is a stockholder, formed under the authority of this section, shall engage in the operation of any vessel constructed, purchased, leased, chartered, or transferred under the authority of this Act unless the board shall be unable, after a bona fide effort, to contract with any person a citizen of the United States for the purchase, lease, or charter of such vessel under such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the board.

The board shall give public notice of the fact that vessels are offered and the terms and conditions upon which a contract will be made, and shall invite competitive offerings. In the event the board shall, after full compliance with the terms of this proviso, determine that it is unable to enter into a contract with such private parties for the purchase, lease, or charter of such vessel, it shall make a full report to the President, who shall examine such report, and if he shall approve the same he shall make an order declaring that the conditions have been found to exist which justify the operation of such vessel by a corporation formed under the provisions of this section.

At the expiration of five years from the conclusion of the present European war the operation of vessels on the part of any such corporation in which the United States is then a stockholder shall cease and the said corporation stand