livery in time portation of troops and material of war, and carriers shall adopt every means within their control to facilitate and expedite the military traffic. And in time of peace, Prompt deshipments consigned to agents of the United States for of peace. its use shall be delivered by the carriers as promptly as possible and without regard to any embargo that may have been declared, and no such embargo shall apply to shipments so consigned." "COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT." [619] CHAP. 418.-An Act Making appropriations for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, and for other purposes. [Approved, August 29, 1916. 39 Stats. 619.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * [622] PURCHASE OF LAND IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR AVIATION SCHOOL PURPOSES: For the acquisition, by purchase or by condemnation, of a site or sites in the State of California for an aviation school and training grounds of the Signal Corps of the United States Army, not to exceed $300,000. The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to accept for the United States from any citizen of the United States a donation of a tract or tracts of land suitable and desirable in his judgment for the purposes of an aviation field and remount station, the terms of the donation also to authorize the use of the property donated for any other service of the United States which may hereafter appear desirable.1 Embargoes prohibited. Acquirement of land for pur poses, if no res able. The Secretary of War is directed to investigate the suitability of the various military reservations for avia- aviation tion purposes, and should any of the reservations be ervation availfound not suitable and not available for aviation he is authorized, in his discretion, to acquire, by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, for the United States of America, such [623] land as may be necessary for aviation purposes, and there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $300,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for said purpose.2 1 Military Laws of the U. S., Sec. 1274 a. etc., stations. land for. Mobilization, The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to accept Acceptance of for the United States from any person such tract or tracts of land suitable and desirable in his judgment for permanent mobilization, training, and supply stations; Report on and he is directed to investigate and report to Congress as soon as practicable what additional tracts are necessary for said purposes for use by the National Guard and by the Regular Army and the probable cost of the same.1 tracts necessary, etc. Transportation of troops, etc. Exclusive tems in time of war. [645] The President, in time of war, is empowered, through the Secretary of War, to take possession and control of sys- assume control of any system or systems of transportation, or any part thereof, and to utilize the same, to the exclusion as far as may be necessary of all other traffic thereon, for the transfer or transportation of troops, war material and equipment, or for such other purposes connected with the emergency as may be needful or desirable.2 1 Military Laws of the U. S., Sec. 1274 d. See Presidential Proclamation No. 1419, December 26, 1917 [p. 155]. Revolutionary War Statutes. Connecticut: See Act to compel the furnishing necessary supplies and assistance to the Quartermaster General of the Continental Army, Acts and Laws of Connecticut, 1776, p. 507 [p. 243]; Act to compel the furnishing necessary supplies and assistance to the Quartermaster General and Commissary General of Forage, of the Continental Army, id. 1779, p. 511 [p. 244]. Georgia: See Act for the better ordering and regulating the militia of this state, Nov. 15, 1778, 19 Col. Records of Georgia, Pt. II, p. 103, 116 [p. 284]. Maryland: See Supplemental Act to Act entitled, An Act to regulate the militia, Original Laws of Maryland, 1777, October Session, c. xxi [p. 302]; Act for the service of the United States, 1778, March session, id. c. 1 [p. 305]; Act for enlarging the powers of the Governor and Council, 1778, id. c. xili [p. 310]; Act for enlarging the powers of the Governor and Council, 1778, October Session, id. c. x [p. 329]; Act for enlarging the powers of the Governor and Council, 1779, November Session, id. c. xvii [p. 367]; Act for the immediate supply of flour and other provisions for the Army, 1779, November session, id. c. xxxii [p. 384]; Act supplementary to the act entitled "an act for enlarging the powers of the Governor and Council," 1779, November session, id. c. xxxiv [p. 387]; Last foregoing act continued, 1780, March Session, id. c. xxi [p. 388]; Act to authorize impressment of vessels and carriages, 1780, June Session, id. c. i [p. 389]. Massachusetts: See Act to empower the Quarter-master General or his deputies within this Commonwealth to impress such teams as may be found necessary to transport supplies to the army, Original Acts, May 18, 1781, p. 69 [p. 462]. New Jersey: See Act for regulating the quartering of soldiers and furnishing of carriages, horses, and other necessaries for the army, Acts of the State of New Jersey, March 24, 1778, c. 15 [p. 520]; Act for limiting the prices of various articles and to prevent the withholding from sale the necessaries of life, id. December 21, 1779, c. xii [p. [649] SEC. 2. That 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. Council of Na tional Defense. Composition. commission to Special quali That the Council of National Defense shall nominate Advisory to the President, and the President shall appoint, an be appointed. advisory commission, consisting of not more than seven fications. 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 ad-Expenses alvisory 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 ad- Meetings. visory commission shall hold such meetings as shall be 535]; Act for procuring provisions for the use of the Army, and other supplies for carrying on the war, etc., id. Dec. 25, 1779, c. 17 [p. 547]; Act for the more speedy and effectual procurement of supplies for the army of the United States, id. Dec. 4, 1780, c. 3 [p. 566]. New York: See Act for regulating impresses of forage and carriages and for billeting troops within this State, 1778, I Cook's N. Y. Laws 55 [p. 587]; Act amending the foregoing, 1779, id. p. 134 [p. 616]; Act reviving and amending act first mentioned, 1779, id. p. 148 [p. 622]; Act reviving and further amending the several laws relative to impressing teams, forage, timber, etc., 1780, id. p. 208 [p. 633]; Act authorizing the person administering the government of this state to grant warrants of impress, 1780, id. p. 264 [p. 642]; Act to procure supplies for the use of the army, and to prevent a monopoly of cattle within this state and more effectually to prevent supplies of cattle to the enemy, 1780, id. p. 266 [p. 652]; Act reviving and amending laws relative to impresses of teams, etc., 1780, id. p. 304 [p. 664]. North Carolina: See Act amending an act to establish a militia in this state, 24 Clark's Laws of North Carolina, 1777, c. 15, pp. 113, 116 [p. 678]; Act to prevent the impressment of boats, wagons, carts and other carriages employed in carrying salt, and for other purposes therein mentioned, 24 Clark's Laws of North Carolira, 1780, c. 5, p. 351 [p. 687]; Act to amend an act entitled "an Act to prevent the impressment of boats, wagons, carts, and other carriages employed in carrying salt, and for other purposes therein mentioned," 24 Clark's Laws of North Carolina, 1781, c. 11, p. 383 [p. 693]; Act to enable the governor, with the advice of the Council of the State, to procure tobacco for the purpose of obtaining arms and for other purposes, id. 1781, c. 13, p. 407 [p. 695]. Pennsylvania: See Act for the regulation of wagons, carriages, and pack horses, teams, furniture and equipment therefor, 1777, IX Stats. at L. 181 [p. 712]; Act supplemental to the last named statute, 1777, id. p. 218 [p. 727]; Act supplemental to the two foregoing, and providing punishment for impressment of wagons, 1778, id. p. 287 [p. 737]; Act continuing the first two of the foregoing acts, 1778, id. p. 302 [p. 743]; Act amendatory of the foregoing with provisions restricting impressment, 1779, id. p. 384 [p. 752]; Act for procuring Subjects for investigation, etc. roads. etc. called by the council or be provided by the rules and regulations adopted by the council for the conduct of its work. That it shall be the duty of the Council of National Defense to supervise and direct investigations and make recommendations to [650] the President and the heads of executive departments as to the location of railroads Frontier rail- with reference to the frontier of the United States so as to render possible expeditious concentration of troops Highways, 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; Mobilizing re- the utilization of waterways; the mobilization of miliIncrease of tary and naval resources for defense; the increase of duction. domestic production of articles and materials essential to the support of armies and of the people during the interSeagoing ruption of foreign commerce; the development of seagoSources of ing transportation; data as to amounts, location, method military sup-and means of production, and availability of military supplies; the giving of information to producers and sources. domestic pro transporta tion. plies, etc. 9 a supply of provisions and other necessaries for the use of the Army, 1780, X Stats. at L. 176 [p. 787]; Act to make more effectual provision for the defense of this State, 1781, id. p. 361 [p. 814]. Rhode Island: See Act for impressing horses, wagons, carts, and cattle, Laws of Rhode Island, January, 1776, p. 237 [p. 819]; Act for providing the army with horses, teams, etc., id. December, 1778, p. 16 [p. 857]; Act repealing the last foregoing act, id. January, 1779, p. 5 [p. 859]; Act to provide teams for the French Army, id. May, 1781, p. 31 [p. 868]. Virginia: See Order for raising and embodying a sufficient force for the defense and protection of this colony, IX Hening's Stats. at L. pp. 9, 24-25 [p. 915]; Act providing against invasions and insurrections, 1777, id. p. 291, 293 [p. 936]; Act to embody militia for the relief of South Carolina, and for other purposes, 1780, X Hening's Stats. at L. 221, 224 [p. 962]; Act for procuring a supply of provisions and other necessaries for the use of the army, 1780, id. p. 233 [p. 963]; Act for recruiting this state's quota of troops to serve in the Continental Army, 1780, id. p. 326. 335 [p. 969]; Act for supplying the Army with clothes, provisions, and wagons, 1780, id. p. 338 [p. 969]; See remedial act to last-named, 1781, id. p. 393 [p. 979]; * Act for giving certain powers to the governor and council, etc., 1781, 10 Hening's Stats. 413, 414, 416 [p. 982]; Act for adjusting claims for property impressed or taken for public service, 1781, 10 Hening's Stats. at L. 468 [p. 986]; Act for supplying the southern army with wagons and horses, 1781, id. p. 482 [p. 987]. Federal Statutes-Civil War. See Act to authorize the President of the United States in certain cases to take possession of railroad and telegraph lines, and for other purposes, January 31, 1862, 12 Stats. 334 [p. 1055]; Resolution to declare the meaning of "an Act to authorize the President of the United States in certain cases to take possession of railroad and telegraph lines, and for other purposes," approved January 31, 1862, and to repeal a part of said Act, July 14, 1862, 12 Stats. 625 [p. 1065]. * Somewhat on the principle of a compulsory order. 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. Conduct of investigations. That 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 Subordinate organize subordinate bodies for its assistance in special cial work, etc. 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. bodies for spe Appropriation for work, etc. ex That the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any money peri mental 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, Submission 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 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 Detail of exthe 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 without items. may authorize, in amounts stipulated by him, unvouchered expenditures and report the gross sums so authorized not itemized. penses. Proviso. |