advice as to the merits of such designs before the executive officer having charge of the same shall approve thereof."

In order that the development of the District of Columbia may proceed harmoniously both under Federal and District jurisdictions, the President has requested the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia to consult the Commission of Fine Arts on matters of art falling under their jurisdiction and control.

The duties of the Commission, therefore, now embrace advising upon the location of statues, fountains, and monuments in the public squares, streets, and parks in the District of Columbia; upon the selection of models for statues, fountains, and monuments erected under the authority of the United States, and the selection of the artists for their execution; also for medals, insignia, and coins; upon the plans and designs for public structures and parks in the District of Columbia, as well as upon all questions involving matters of art with which the Federal Government is concerned. In addition the Commission advises upon general questions of art whenever requested to do so by the President or any committee of Congress.

The creation of the National Commission of Fine Arts in 1910 was the outcome of the Senate Park Commission of 1901, which presented plans for the development of the park system of the District of Columbia and the location of future Government buildings and memorials. These plans of 1901 were based on the plan of the National Capital prepared by Pierre Charles L'Enfant in 1792 under the direction of President Washington. The Commission of Fine Arts has been guided by the fundamental plan of 1901, which aims to secure the progressive development of Washington as the well-ordered, unified, and grand capital of a great Nation.

The height, color, and design of private buildings facing public buildings and public parks in certain mapped areas in the District of Columbia are subject to the advice of the Commission, as provided in the act of May 16, 1930, known as the Shipstead-Luce Act.

The advice of the Commission of Fine Arts must be requested in the selection of lands to be acquired, under the act of Congress approved June 6, 1924, as amended, by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission for the park, parkway, and playground system in the District of Columbia and adjacent areas in Maryland and Virginia.

In the will of Charles L. Freer, giving the Smithsonian Institution the building for the Freer Gallery, together with his collections of Far Eastern art, and an endowment for the increase thereof, it is stipulated that purchases shall have the approval of the National Commission of Fine Arts.

The Congress in various legislation has required the advice of the Commission on the design and location of special monuments, memorials, and other works of commemorative art.

COMMITTEE ON PURCHASES OF BLIND-MADE PRODUCTS

The Committee on Purchases of Blind-made Products was created by the act of June 25, 1938, and is composed of a private citizen conversant with the problems incident to the employment of the blind and a representative of each of the following Government Departments: the Navy Department, the War Department, the Treasury Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of the Interior. The members of the Committee are appointed by the President, serve without additional compensation, and designate one of their number as chairman.

It is the duty of the Committee to determine the fair market price of commodities manufactured by the blind and offered for sale to the Federal Government by any non-profit-making agency for the blind organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, to revise such prices from time to time in accordance with changing market conditions, to make such rules and regulations regarding specifications, time of delivery, authorization of a central non-profit-making agency to facilitate the distribution of orders among the agencies for the blind, and other relevant matters of procedure as shall be necessary to carry out the purposes of the act.

The act also provides that all brooms and mops and other suitable commodities hereafter procured in accordance with applicable Federal specifications by or for any Federal department or agency shall be procured from such non-profit-making agencies for the blind where such articles are available within the time specified

at the price determined by the Committee to be the fair market price for the article or articles so procured.

It is further provided by the act that it shall not apply in any case where brooms and mops are available for procurement from any Federal department or agency and procurement therefrom is required under the provisions of any law in effect on the date of enactment of this act, or in any case where brooms and mops are procured for use outside continental United States.

COMMITTEE FOR RECIPROCITY INFORMATION

The Committee for Reciprocity Information was created by Executive order in June 1934 (amended by Executive Order 9647 of October 25, 1945) to carry out the provisions. of section 4 of the act entitled "Promotion of Foreign Trade," under which the President is authorized to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries. This section provides that before any foreign-trade agreement is concluded public notice of the negotiations shall be given in order that any interested person may have the opportunity of presenting his views to the President or to such agency as the President may designate.

The President designated the Committee for Reciprocity Information as the body to receive the views of interested parties. This Committee is composed of representatives from those Government departments or agencies concerned with the operation of the Trade Agreements Act. Its Chairman is one of the members of the Committee and is named by the Secretary of State.

Under the rules promulgated by the Committee for Reciprocity Information, those wishing to present information or requests for consideration in connection with announcements as to proposed negotiations may file their material with the Committee, and may request permission to present supplementary information at the hearing which the Committee holds on each trade agreement.

The Committee also receives information on any phase of the trade-agreements program, whether relating to the operation of an agreement already made or to one under consideration, and such views may be presented verbally or by letter. However, Executive Order 9832, February 25, 1947, imposes upon the Tariff Commission the function of investigating alleged injuries to domestic producers, resulting from concessions in trade agreements and, in appropriate cases, of recommending remedial action to the President.

The type of data that should be supplied in written and oral material presented to the Committee is explained in a pamphlet entitled "Suggestions as to the Methods and Character of Representations to the Committee for Reciprocity Information." Copies are available from the Committee.

COURT OF CLAIMS OF THE UNITED STATES

This court was established by act of Congress February 24, 1855 (10 Stat. L. 612). It has general jurisdiction (36 Stat. L. 1135) of all "claims founded upon the Constitution of the United States or any law of Congress, except for pensions, or upon any regulations of an executive department, or upon any contract, express or implied, with the Government of the United States, or for damages, liquidated or unliquidated, in cases not sounding in tort, in respect of which claims the party would be entitled to redress against the United States, either in a court of law, equity, or admiralty, if the United States were suable, except claims growing out of the late Civil War and commonly known as war claims," and certain rejected

claims.

It has jurisdiction also of claims of like character which may be referred to it by the head of any executive department involving controverted questions of fact or law. In all the above-mentioned cases the court, when it finds for the claimant, may enter judgment against the United States, payable out of the Public Treasury.

Under section 3 of the act of February 13, 1925, the Court of Claims may certify to the Supreme Court any definite and distinct questions of law concerning which instructions are desired for the proper disposition of the cause; and also in any case the Supreme Court upon the petition of either party may require by certiorari that the cause be certified to it for review and determination.

It also has jurisdiction of the claims of disbursing officers of the United States for relief from responsibility for losses of Government funds and property by capture or otherwise, without negligence, while in the line of duty.

There is a statute of limitations which prevents parties from bringing actions on their own motion beyond 6 years after the cause of action accrued, but the departments may refer claims at any time if they were pending therein within the 6 years.

By the act of March 2, 1919 (40 Stat. 772), known as the Dent Act, the Court of Claims is given jurisdiction of the class of war claims therein specified. In these cases the action of the Secretary of War upon the claim, or his failure to act thereon, is a condition precedent to the right of the claimant to commence an action in the Court of Claims.

The court also has jurisdiction of actions provided for by certain statutes passed during the first world war permitting the seizure of property by the Government. By section 151, Judicial Code (36 Stat. L. 1135), whenever any bill, except for a pension, is pending in either House of Congress providing for the payment of a claim against the United States, legal or equitable, or for a grant, gift, or bounty to any person, the House in which such bill is pending may, for the investigation and determination of facts, refer the same to the Court of Claims, which shall proceed with the same in accordance with such rules as it may adopt and report to such House the facts in the case and the amount, where the same can be liquidated, including any facts bearing upon the question whether there has been delay or laches in presenting such claim or applying for such grant, gift, or bounty, and any facts bearing upon the question whether the bar of any statute of limitation should be removed or which shall be claimed to excuse the claimant for not having resorted to any established legal remedy, together with such conclusions as shall be sufficient to inform Congress of the nature and character of the demand, either as a claim, legal or equitable, or as a gratuity against the United States, and the amount, if any, legally or equitably due from the United States to the claimant: Provided, however, That if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court upon the facts established that under existing laws or the provisions of this chapter, the subject matter of the bill is such that it has jurisdiction to render judgment or decree thereon, it shall proceed to do so, giving to either party such further opportunity for hearing as in its judgment justice shall require, and it shall report its proceedings therein to the House of Congress by which the same was referred to said court.

Section 5, act of March 4, 1915 (38 Stat. 996), provides: "That from and after the passage and approval of this act the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims shall not extend to or include any claim against the United States based upon or growing out of the destruction of any property or damage done to any property by the military or naval forces of the United States during the war for the suppression of the rebellion, nor to any claim for stores and supplies taken by or furnished to or for the use of the military or naval forces of the United States, nor to any claim for the value of any use and occupation of any real estate by the military or naval forces of the United States during said war; nor shall said Court of Claims have jurisdiction of any claim which is now barred by the provisions of any law of the United States."

The act of June 25, 1910, chapter 423 (36 Stat. L. 851-852), “An act to provide additional protection for owners of patents of the United States, and for other purposes," conferred a new jurisdiction.

The jurisdiction of the Court of Claims was extended by Section 13 (b) of the Act approved July 1, 1944 (58 Stat. 649) to cases involving appeals by contractors from findings of contracting agencies on their claims under terminated war contracts. Also, under the Federal Tort Claims Act (60 Stat. 842) there is a further extension of the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims subject to the limitations prescribed in the act. The court is given jurisdiction concurrent with that of the Circuit Courts of Appeals in suits of certain types of claims against the United States for money only based on torts.

There are five judges who sit together in the hearing of cases, the concurrence of three of whom is necessary for the decision of any case.

All claims are prosecuted in the Court of Claims by an action commenced by the filing of a petition and prosecuted in accordance with the rules of the court, copies of which rules can be obtained upon application to the clerk of the court. The court is located at Washington, D. C., in the old Corcoran Art Building, Seventeenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The term begins on the first Monday in December each year and continues until the Saturday before the first Monday in December. Cases may be commenced and entered at any time, whether the court be in session or not.

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ADMINISTRATION

The Economic Cooperation Administration was created by title I of an Act of Congress approved April 3, 1948 (Public Law 472, 80th Cong.), for the purpose of assisting certain foreign countries in their individual and cooperative programs for achieving economic stability and independence through the promotion of increased agricultural and industrial productivity, sound financial systems, and the growth of international trade.

The Administration is headed by an Administrator for Economic Cooperation, assisted by a Deputy Administrator, and a United States Special Representative in Europe, all appointed by the President.

Also authorized by the Act are a bipartisan Public Advisory Board of no more than 12 members; a Joint (Congressional) Committee on Foreign Economic Cooperation; and special ECA missions abroad, all to advise and assist in carrying out the purposes of the Administration.

In carrying out his functions, the Administrator is expected to cooperate closely with all established government agencies whose services or facilities have a bearing on the recovery program (known as the "European Recovery Program") and with such functioning international organizations as the United Nations, the Committee (Office) of European Economic Cooperation, and the Economic Commission for Europe.

In supplying material and financial assistance to the countries participating in the recovery program, the Administrator is directed to use private channels of trade whenever possible.

For the purposes of the Act, a participating country is one which signed the Report of the Committee of European Economic Cooperation at Paris on September 22, 1947, or any other country wholly or partly in Europe (including any of the occupied zones of Germany, any areas under international administration and control, and the Free Territory of Trieste or its zones) which agrees and adheres to the principles of the joint program for European Recovery.

Assistance may be rendered to participating countries on any of the following terms: grants (the participating country will provide a commensurate amount of money in its own currency to be deposited locally and expended within the country on approved projects designed to promote recovery); on the basis of cash payments from the participating country; on credit terms; in exchange for strategic materials in short supply in the United States; or on any other terms approved by the Administrator in consultation with his advisors and the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Problems.

Title IV of the Act authorizes aid to China under applicable provisions of title I.

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF WASHINGTON

The Export-Import Bank of Washington was organized as a District of Columbia banking corporation pursuant to Executive Order 6851, of February 2, 1934, and was continued as an agency of the United States by Acts of Congress in 1935, 1937, 1939, and 1940, and was made an independent agency of Government by the Export-Import Bank Act of July 31, 1945, as amended. (59 Stat. 526, as amended by Public Law 89, 80th Cong., 12 U. S. C. Sup. 635-635h.)

The purpose of the Bank, as laid down by Congress, is to aid in "financing and facilitating of exports and imports and the exchange of commodities between the United States or any of its Territories or insular possessions and any foreign country as the agencies or nationals thereof."

The management of the Bank is vested in a Board of Directors consisting of four full-time directors appointed by the President of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and the Secretary of State. Not more than three of the five members of the Board shall be members of any one political party.

The capital stock of the Bank, in the amount of $1,000,000,000, is held by the United States Treasury and the Bank is authorized to borrow from the Treasury up to two and one-half times the amount of its capital stock. The Bank may not have outstanding at any one time loans and guaranties in an aggregate amount in excess of $3,500,000,000.

In accordance with the statutes governing its activities, the Bank makes only loans and guaranties which serve to promote the export and import trade of the United States. The loans are made for specific purposes and must offer reasonable assurance of repayment. As a general rule, the Bank extends credit only to

finance purchases of materials and equipment produced or manufactured in the United States and the technical services of American firms and individuals as distinguished from outlays for materials and labor in the borrowing country or purchases in third countries. The facilities of the Bank are open to United States exporters either of goods or of engineering and other technical services, to United States importers, and to foreign governments, the agencies of foreign governments, and to foreign firms and individuals.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

The Federal Communications Commission was created by an act of Congress approved June 19, 1934, as subsequently amended, for the purpose of regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so far as possible, to all people of the United States a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges, for the purpose of the national defense, for the purpose of promoting safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communication, and for the purpose of securing a more effective execution of this policy by centralizing authority heretofore granted by law to several agencies and by granting additional authority with respect to interstate and foreign commerce in wire and radio communication.

The Commission exercises functions previously vested in the Federal Radio Commission which was abolished by the Communications Act, certain functions previously exercised by the Interstate Commerce Commission with respect to telegraph operation, powers formerly exercised by the Postmaster General with respect to Government telegraph rates, and powers formerly exercised by the State Department under the Cable Landing License Act. The powers of the Commission extend beyond those previously vested in these other agencies in the communications field. The powers conferred by the Communications Act also include authority for the Commission to exercise additional powers derived under many international agreements relating to communications.

The Commission is composed of seven members and functions as a unit. The Commission makes all important policy determinations. From time to time committees of the Commission, consisting usually of three members, are delegated to make special studies and supervise particular undertakings. The performance of specified functions is delegated to individual commissioners, and to the heads of certain departments and divisions as individuals.

Title I of the Communications Act contains provisions defining the purposes of the statute, fixing the terms and compensation of Commissioners, and conferring general powers. The statute provides that with certain exceptions employees of the Commission shall be appointed subject to the provisions of the civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1923.

Title II applies to all common carriers engaged in interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio. The act specifically provides that persons engaged in radio broadcasting shall not be deemed common carriers. Common carriers are required by title II to furnish communication service upon reasonable request, to establish physical connections with other carriers, to establish through routes and charges and the divisions thereof, and to establish and provide facilities. All charges and practices are required to be just and reasonable, and it is declared unlawful for any carrier to make unjust or unreasonable discriminations or to extend undue or unreasonable preferences or advantages in connection with communication service. Carriers are required to publish and file with the Commission tariffs for all charges showing the practices affecting such charges. The Commission is given powers to hold hearings as to the lawfulness of charges, to suspend tariffs, and to prescribe just and reasonable rates. Persons claiming to suffer damages as a result of action by common carriers subject to the act may make complaint to the Commission, and the Commission is required to investigate such complaints and may make an award of damages. Carriers are required to file their contracts with the Commission. Persons seeking to hold office in more than one carrier company subject to the act must obtain the Commission's consent. The Commission has power to make valuations of carrier property, to make inquiries into management, to require the filing of annual reports, to prescribe systems of account, to authorize consolidations of telephone companies, and to authorize extension or reduction of lines.

Title III contains provisions relating to radio and is divided into two parts. Part I contains provisions respecting radio licensing and regulation. The pur