Smithsonian Institution: Annual appropriations.. Permanent appropriations..

Total.....

Tariff Commission, annual appropriations. Emergency relief..

General public works..

Grand total, annual.

Grand total, permanent..

Grand total, trust accounts..

Grand total, Executive Office and Independent Establishments, except Veterans' Administration and Farm Credit Administration.....

Appropriations, 1935

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

The estimates for the Executive Office provide for the salaries of the President, the Vice President, and the President's office force, miscellaneous office expenses, printing and binding, traveling expenses, and maintenance of the Executive Mansion and grounds.

The Budget estimate for 1936 (which includes salaries on a 100-percent basis with all pay cuts restored) is $16,980 less than the total appropriation for 1935 (which included salaries on a 95-percent basis). If it were not for the anticipated increase of $12,162 for the 5-percent restoration in the compensation of employees, the net decrease would have been $29,142.

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

The Commission, originally established by an act of Congress approved March 4, 1923, is charged under Executive Orders No. 6614 and No. 6690, dated February 26, 1934, and April 25, 1934, respectively, with the administration, including maintenance and upkeep, of the American military cemeteries, memorial chapels, and battle monuments which have been established in Europe in connection with the participation of the United States in the World War. There are 6 cemeteries, each with a memorial chapel, located in France, 1 just outside of Paris and the other 5 on the sites of the principal battlefields. One cemetery and memorial chapel is located in Belgium and one in England. These 8 military cemeteries embrace some 30,000 graves. There are also 8 battle monuments in France, 2 in Belgium, and 1 at Gibraltar.

The estimate of $199,059 provides only for the administration, maintenance, and upkeep of the properties. It is expected that construction work will be completed in the fiscal year 1935. The work of the Commission was financed during 1935 by funds transferred from the War Department and unexpended balances carried over from the previous fiscal year.

Total, 1935, including pay restorations

BOARD OF TAX APPEALS

The Board hears appeals of taxpayers from decisions by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in cases involving income, excess profits, and estate taxes. It is com

$923, 028 60,000

983, 028

889,963

1,477, 008, 401 478, 982 15,000

1,477, 502, 383

5 percent of legislative reduction in compensation

$950, 189 60,000

1,010, 189

970, 000

4, 000, 000, 000 300, 000, 000

4,372, 197, 462 126, 424 15,000

4,372, 338, 886

posed of 16 members, each member having the authority to hear cases assigned to him. The Board functions in the manner of a court. Its decisions are reviewable by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals and the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia on petitions for review. From these courts appeals may be taken to the United States Supreme Court on writs of certiorari. Aside from the final 5-percent salary restoration, there is a net decrease of $9,933 in this item.

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

The Commission prepares for and holds competitive examinations, and rates and certifies eligibles for approximately 1,700 different kinds of positions in the classified civil service comprising more than 460,000 positions. It maintains service records of permanent employees in the Federal classified service, and also of employees in other branches of the Government who are subject to the Retirement Act. It administers the Retirement Act, including the adjudication of claims for refunds and annuities and the maintenance of the Civil Service and Canal Zone Retirement and Disability Funds. It also carries out the provisions of the Classification Act, under which it ascertains the duties and responsibilities of positions within the scope of the act, allocates positions to appropriate salary grades, and prepares class specifications and standards for the guidance of appointing officers.

EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION COMMISSION

The act of Congress creating the Employees' Compensation Commission assures compensation, including reasonable medical and hospital treatment, to all civil employees of the Federal Government, employees of the District of Columbia except firemen and policemen, and officers and enlisted men of the Naval Reserve on authorized training duty in time of peace, who sustain personal injuries in performance of their duties.

In addition, Congress has by law designated the Commission to pass on all compensation claims of employees of the Civil Works Administration and enrollees of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The Commission also administers the Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, which is for the protection of all employees engaged in maritime employment on navigable waters of the United States, who sustain injuries in line of duty, and for the benefit of their dependents in case of death. Under this act the employer bears all compensation and death benefit costs, the Commission bearing only the administrative costs.

The increase of $60,515 in salaries and expenses includes $20,320 which comprises unobligated funds available in 1935 and projected into 1936 and $40,195 additional for salaries and expenses to provide for increased claims actively arising out of expanded regular departmental activities financed by emergency funds.

The decrease of $106,445 in the employees' compensation fund is made to reduce to a minimum the unobligated balances reported in prior years.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

The Communications Act of 1934 abolished the Federal Radio Commission and created in its stead the Federal Communications Commission. To this new Commission have been transferred not only the former duties. imposed by the Radio Act of 1927, as amended, but also the duty of regulating telephone, telegraph, cable, and all other forms of electrical communication. These duties had previously been vested in several agencies, namely, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Post Office Department, and the State Department.

The Commission is charged with the effective regulation of the industry and must investigate all interstate rates, prescribe uniform systems of accounts, and hear and determine all complaints. It must also receive, file, and examine all schedules of charges filed by the carriers, pass upon the public convenience and necessity of any proposed extensions of lines by telephone or telegraph carriers as well as the extension of radio-communication facilities, pass upon all applications for interlocking directorates between the various carriers, cooperate with the State commissions in harmonizing the Federal with the State forms of common-carrier accounting regulations, issue rules and regulations covering the use of franks, and make a valuation of all property of all the carriers.

The Commission is also charged with making certain specified investigations in the communication field, which include (1) the interrelationship between telephone and telegraph communication companies and their manufacturing subsidiaries; (2) the competition between various phases of communications; (3) new uses of communications; (4) allotment of radio broadcast facilities for educational, religious, charitable, labor organizations, and other nonprofit organizations; and (5) depreciation accounting.

The increase of $759,089 provides for additional salaries and expenses, and printing and binding necessary to the performance of new regulative functions respecting interstate telephones, telegraphs, and submarine cables. The Commission was authorized by Congress to use in the fiscal year 1935 the sum of $666,885 transferred from the Radio Commission. The allowance of $1,525,000 is based on the needs of the Commission for the fiscal year 1936.

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK BOARD

The Federal Home Loan Bank Board supervises and directs the operations of the Federal home-loan banks, 12 in number, as provided in the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, and causes studies to be made of home financing in the United States. The Federal home-loan bank system provides a permanent reservoir of credit (comparable with the Federal Reserve System) for eligible institutions as set forth in the act, such as building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, cooperative banks, homestead associations, insurance companies, and savings banks, which institutions, however, must come within the requirements of the act.

Under authority of the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, approved June 13, 1933, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board has created the Home Owners' Loan Corporation, with the members of the Board serving as the board of directors of the Corporation, and by section 5 (a) of the same act the Board has provided for the organization, incorporation, examination, operation, and regulation of Federal savings and loan associations.

The operating expenses of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board are paid from semiannual assessments on Federal home-loan banks.

There is a net decrease of $99,775 in this item due to tapering off of Federal Savings and Loan promotion activities.

FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION

The Commission has general administrative control over the power sites on navigable waters, public lands, and reservations of the United States, and over the location, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of power projects upon such sites. It also has administrative control of the maintenance of a system of accounting for determining net investment in licensed power projects, and exercises limited jurisdiction over rates, service, and securities of licensees. It levies annual charges for reimbursement to the United States for the cost of administration of the Federal Water Power Act and for the use of United States property, including lands, dams, etc., and it makes general investigation of power resources and their relation to interstate and foreign commerce, and publishes reports relating thereto.

Aside from the final 5-percent salary restoration, there is an increase in salaries and expenses of $7,424 to permit essential work to be brought current and an increase of $1,500 in printing and binding to provide for the issuance of the revised rules and regulations and certain additional printing of records.

The decrease of $6,851 in the permanent appropriation is made because of an estimated available balance of $8,337 at the close of the fiscal year 1935.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

Under the law it is the duty of the Commission to prevent unfair methods of competition in interstate commerce and the export trade of the United States. Upon

The

request of the President, Congress, the Attorney General, or on its own initiative, the Commission investigates alleged violations of the antitrust laws. It submits to Congress when requested factual reports in respect to corporations engaged in interstate commerce. Commission investigates trade conditions in foreign countries, and administers the Export Trade Act, which exempts associations of American corporations engaged solely in export trade from the provisions of the antitrust laws. It also administers the Clayton Act relating to unlawful price discriminations, to tying and exclusive leases and sales, and to corporate-stock acquisitions and interlocking directorates.

The decrease of $500,581 is due to the transfer of the Securities Division to the new Securities and Exchange Commission and the contemplated completion of certain special investigations during the fiscal year 1935.

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE

The Comptroller General of the United States is charged by law, independently of the executive departments, with the settlement and adjustment of all claims and demands for or against the Government of the United States and all accounts in which the Government of the United States is concerned either as a debtor or creditor.

The increase of $42,115 is allowed to provide for the rental of additional space required to house expanded activities in connection with auditing the accounts of emergency agencies.

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION

The Interstate Commerce Commission has jurisdiction over all common carriers engaged in the interstate transportation of passengers or property, wholly by railroad, or partly by railroad and partly by water under certain conditions; pipe lines for certain commodities; express- and sleeping-car companies, and certain other facilities used in the interstate transportation of persons and property. It enforces the provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act, which requires all rates to be just and reasonable, and prohibits unjust discrimination and undue or unreasonable preference, or advantage in transportation rates or facilities. It enforces the safety-appliance acts, requiring railroad cars and locomotives to be equipped with certain named appliances, to insure the safety of employees, and the safe operation of trains; the Locomotive Inspection Act requiring railroad companies to equip their locomotives with safe and suitable boilers and appurtenances thereto and applying with equal force to the tender and its appurtenances. It also enforces other acts intended to insure the safety of employees and the safe transportation of passengers and property by railroad.

Aside from the final 5-percent salary restoration, there is a net decrease of $98,852 in the amount for the maintenance of this Commission.

NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS

The Committee supervises, directs, and coordinates the scientific study of the problems of aviation, both civil and military, and prevents duplication of effort in this field. It operates at Langley Field, Va., an aeronautical research laboratory and conducts fundamental research work for War, Navy, and Commerce Depart

When a controversy coming within the provisions of the Railway Labor Act arises between a carrier and its employees one party or both may request the appropriate division of the National Railroad Adjustment Board to mediate the dispute. Upon failure of such division to agree upon an award, a neutral referee shall be selected to end the deadlock. If the division fails to select one in 10 days, the National Mediation Board is required to select within 10 days of notification the required neutral referee. Whenever a party to a dispute concerning pay, rules, working conditions, or matters not referable to or adjusted by the National Railroad Adjustment Board so desires, it may request the National Mediation Board to undertake an adjustment of the difficulty, or the Board may tender its services. Should the Board fail to bring about an adjustment through mediation, it becomes its duty to try to persuade carriers and employees to submit their differences to a board of arbitration. One member of such a board is selected by the interested employees, one by the carrier, and the thirda neutral member-by the two other members. In the event a board is not selected, the National Mediation Board may name two members, the third member to be selected in the same manner as a third member is selected for a board of arbitration. Should the dispute still remain unadjusted, and in the opinion of the National Mediation Board threatens substantially to interrupt interstate commerce, it becomes the duty of the Board to notify the President of the situation, who may in his discretion create an "emergency board" to investigate and report to him the facts respecting the dispute.

The increase of $204,936 is to provide for increased activities due principally to the establishment by law of an additional mediation agency in Chicago, Ill., viz The National Railroad Adjustment Board.

PAYMENTS TO OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE UNITED STATES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES DUE TO APPRECIATION OF FOREIGN CURRENCIES

Pursuant to the authorization contained in the act entitled "An act to authorize annual appropriations to meet losses sustained by officers and employees of the United States in foreign countries due to appreciation of foreign currencies in their relation to the American dollar, and for other purposes", approved March 26, 1934, an amount of $7,438,000 was appropriated for the payment of such losses from July 16, 1933 to June 30, 1935. The average rates of exchange covering the period of 3 years prior to April 1, 1933 were used in determining the basic rates on which the losses were to be computed, and these rates were prescribed by Executive Order No. 6657-A of March 27, 1934. The estimate of $3,904,824 to meet losses sustained during the fiscal year 1936 is

omputed on the average rates of exchange for the period f 5 years prior to April 1, 1933, and results in a decrease f $3,533,176.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

The Securities and Exchange Commission was created ursuant to section 4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 934. This Commission is charged with the responsiility of carrying out the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933.

The functions of the Commission are (1) to provide for he regulation of securities exchanges and of over-theounter markets which use means or instruments of inerstate or foreign commerce or the mails; (2) to prevent equitable and unfair practices on such exchanges and arkets; (3) to provide fair disclosure of the character of ecurities sold in interstate or foreign commerce or through he mails, and to prevent frauds in the sale thereof; (4) to rescribe rules and regulations which will regulate naonal security exchanges, security issues, brokers, dealers, nd others; (5) to make investigations of the operations nd practices on registered exchanges, and the conduct of embers and member firms; (6) to investigate suspected anipulative operations in connection with any security ither on a registered exchange or in over-the-counter arkets; (7) to audit the books and records of brokerage ouses suspected of insolvency, to determine whether ustomers' accounts are protected; (8) to examine and ct upon applications for registration and for exemption y organized security exchanges; (9) to supervise the istribution of securities not registered on any registered xchange; i. e., in over-the-counter markets; (10) to exmine and act upon security registration statements and ccompanying reports, documents, prospectuses, etc.; (11) o assemble and maintain economic, industrial and other tatistics of a miscellaneous nature for use in the regulaion of markets for securities of the different industries nd for the development of trends, and indexes relating o the capital market and the stock exchanges; (12) to egulate and supervise the solicitation of proxies; (13) to rescribe the form for and examine the statements of oldings of officers, directors and large stockholders of ssuers of securities; (14) to provide for the legal endorsenent of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933 and to initiate and cooperate with he Department of Justice in the conduct of all prosecu

tions thereunder; and (15) to perform related functions as prescribed by existing legislation or by rules and regulations of the Commission.

This is a new Commission for which Congress initially appropriated $300,000 on June 19, 1934. Čongress contemplated this total, together with the amount required to finance the Securities Division transferred from the Federal Trade Commission, would be sufficient to run the Commission until it met in January 1935, when it could provide for the future operations of the Commission. For the fiscal year 1936 the Commission is allowed $2,340,000 for salaries and expenses and $30,000 for printing and binding.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

The Smithsonian Institution was created by act of Congress in 1846 under the terms of the will of James Smithson, an Englishman, who in 1826 bequeathed his fortune to the United States to found, at Washington, under the name of the "Smithsonian Institution", an establishment for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." Aside from the final 5-percent salary restoration, there is a net decrease of $13,824 in the aggregate.

TARIFF COMMISSION

The Commission is the advisory and investigational agency of Congress, of the President, and of the executive departments and other governmental agencies, in matters pertaining to the tariff and related economic problems. It deals with unfair practices in the importation and sale of foreign merchandise; investigates and reports to the President, specifying such changes in the rates of existing duties as are found necessary to equalize cost of production at home and abroad; and observes and reports upon discriminations against the foreign trade of the United States. The increase of $36,672 is due to projecting in 1936 a portion of the 1934 unexpended balance made available in 1935 in order to continue additional activities relative to the negotiation of reciprocal trade treaties.

EMERGENCY RELIEF

GENERAL PUBLIC WORKS

The explanation of these two items is contained in the Budget message.