To authorize the construction and equipment of a radio laboratory building for the National Bureau of Standards, Department of Commerce.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be constructed and equipped for the National Bureau of Standards a suitable radio laboratory building, together with necessary utilities and appurtenances thereto, under a limit of cost of $4,475,000: Provided, That such limit of cost may be exceeded or shall be reduced by an amount equal to the percentage increase or decrease, if any, in construction costs generally dating from March 1, 1948, as determined by the Federal Works Administrator.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to acquire, by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise (including transfer with or without compensation from Federal agencies), such lands, estates in lands, and appurtenances thereto as may in his opinion be necessary or desirable for the construction of buildings to house activities of the National Bureau of Standards: Provided, That the site therefor shall be selected after consultation with the Director of the National Bureau of Standards.

SEC. 3. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act: Provided, That such sums so appropriated, except such part thereof as may be necessary for the incidental expenses of the Department of Commerce, shall be transferred to the Public Buildings Administration in the Federal Works Agency.

Approved October 25, 1949.

(414)

[CHAPTER 714-1ST SESSION]

[H. J. Res. 353]

JOINT RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Commission on Renovation of the Executive Mansion to preserve or dispose of material removed from the Executive Mansion during the period of renovation.

Whereas, under the provisions of section 4 (b) of Public Law 40, Eighty-first Congress, first session, the Commission on Renovation of the Executive Mansion is required to recommend to the Congress and to the President, at the earliest possible date, a plan for (1) the preservation of any material removed from the Executive Mansion which is of permanent historical importance, and (2) the sale, donation, destruction, or other disposition of the remainder of such material in the manner most consistent with its symbolical value and without commercial exploitation; and

Whereas it is necessary to commence work on the renovation of the Executive Mansion without delay; and

Whereas renovation work cannot be commenced until the disposition of the various categories of the materials to be removed from the building has been determined and specified; and

Whereas time before the adjournment of the present Congress will not permit the development of a complete and detailed plan for the disposal of all of the categories of the material in the manner most consistent with its symbolical value and without commercial exploitation; and

Whereas there is no suitable storage space of adequate capacity available for the storage of this material pending the reconvening of the present Congress for its second session: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commission on Renovation of the Executive Mansion is hereby empowered, with the approval of the President, to determine the details of and to execute a suitable plan for the preservation or other appropriate disposition of all the materials removed from the Executive Mansion in connection with the renovation thereof and consistent with their symbolical value and without commercial exploitation: Provided, That report shall be made to the Congress of action taken under this authority on January 3, 1950, and every six months thereafter until the final report is submitted: Provided further, That the Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to use for this purpose any of the funds appropriated for the renovation and modernization of the Executive Mansion under Public Law 119, Eighty-first Congress, first session, approved June 23, 1949.

Approved October 25, 1949.

[CHAPTER 728-1ST SESSION]

[S. 2316]

AN ACT

To authorize the construction and equipment of a guided-missile research laboratory building for the National Bureau of Standards, Department of Commerce.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be constructed and equipped for the National Bureau of Standards a research laboratory building, suitable for use as a guided-missile laboratory, together with necessary utilities and appurtenances thereto, under a limit of cost of $1,900,000: Provided, That such limit of cost may be exceeded or shall be reduced by an amount equal to the percentage increase or decrease, if any, in construction costs generally dating from June 1, 1948, as determined by the Federal Works Administrator: Provided further, That such limit of cost shall not be exceeded by more than 10 per centum.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to acquire, by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise (including transfer with or without compensation from Federal agencies), such lands, estates in lands, and appurtenances thereto as may in his opinion be necessary or desirable for the construction of a building to house activities of such laboratory for the National Bureau of Standards: Provided, That the site therefor shall be selected after consultation with the Director of the National Bureau of Standards.

SEC. 3. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act: Provided, That such sums so appropriated, except such part thereof as may be necessary for the incidental expenses of the Department of Commerce, shall be transferred to the Public Buildings Administration in the Federal Works Agency.

Approved October 25, 1949.

(416)

[CHAPTER 755-1ST SESSION]

[H. R. 5170]

AN ACT

To further the policy enunciated in the Historic Sites Act (49 Stat. 666) and to facilitate public participation in the preservation of sites, buildings, and objects of national significance or interest and providing a national trust for historic preservation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in order to further the policy enunciated in the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666), entitled "An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes", and to facilitate public participation in the preservation of sites, buildings, and objects of national significance or interest, there is hereby created a charitable, educational, and nonprofit corporation, to be known as the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, hereafter referred to as the "National Trust". The purposes of the National Trust shall be to receive donations of sites, buildings, and objects significant in American history and culture, to preserve and administer them for public benefit, to accept, hold, and administer gifts of money, securities, or other property of whatsoever character for the purpose of carrying out the preservation program, and to execute such other functions as are vested in it by this Act.

SEC. 2. The National Trust shall have its principal office in the District of Columbia and shall be deemed, for purposes of venue in civil actions, to be an inhabitant and resident thereof. The National Trust may establish offices in such other place or places as it may deem necessary or appropriate in the conduct of its business.

SEC. 3. The affairs of the National Trust shall be under the general direction of a board of trustees composed as follows: The Attorney General of the United States; the Secretary of the Interior; and the Director of the National Gallery of Art, ex officio; and not less than six general trustees who shall be citizens of the United States, to be chosen as hereinafter provided. The Attorney General, and the Secretary of the Interior, when it appears desirable in the interest of the conduct of the business of the board and to such extent as they deem it advisable, may, by written notice to the National Trust, designate any officer of their respective departments to act for them in the discharge of their duties as a member of the board of trustees. The Imber of general trustees shall be fixed by the Executive Board of National Council for Historic Sites and Buildings, a corporation e District of Columbia, and the general trustees first taking office be chosen by a majority vote of the members of the Executive from the membership of the National Council. The respective of office of the first general trustees so chosen shall be as preby the said Executive Board but in no case shall exceed a

period of five years from the date of election. A successor to a general trustee shall be chosen in the same manner as the original trustees and shall have a term expiring five years from the date of the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was chosen, except that a successor chosen to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of such term shall be chosen only for the remainder of that term. The chairman of the board of trustees shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the board. No compensation shall be paid to the members of the board of trustees for their services as such members, but they shall be reimbursed for travel and actual expenses necessarily incurred by them in attending board meetings and performing other official duties on behalf of the National Trust at the direction of the board.

SEC. 4. To the extent necessary to enable it to carry out the functions vested in it by this Act, the National Trust shall have the following general powers:

(a) To have succession until dissolved by Act of Congress, in which event title to the properties of the National Trust, both real and personal, shall, insofar as consistent with existing contractual obligations and subject to all other legally enforceable claims or demands by or against the National Trust, pass to and become vested in the United States of America.

(b) To sue and be sued in its corporate name.

(c) To adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal which shall be judicially noticed.

(d) To adopt a constitution and to make such bylaws, rules, and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of the United States or of any State, as it deems necessary for the administration of its functions under this Act, including among other matter, bylaws, rules, and regulations governing visitation to historic properties, administration of corporate funds, and the organization and procedure of the board of

trustees.

(e) To accept, hold, and administer gifts and bequests of money, securities, or other personal property of whatsoever character, absolutely or on trust, for the purposes for which the National Trust is created. Unless otherwise restricted by the terms of the gift or bequest, the National Trust is authorized to sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of and to invest or reinvest in such investments as it may determine from time to time the moneys, securities, or other property given or bequeathed to it. The principal of such corporate funds, together with the income therefrom and all other revenues received by it from any source whatsoever, shall be placed in such depositories as the National Trust shall determine and shall be subject to expenditure by the National Trust for its corporate purposes. (f) To acquire by gift, devise, purchase, or otherwise, absolutely or on trust, and to hold and, unless otherwise restricted by the terms of the gift or devise, to encumber, convey, or otherwise dispose of, any real property, or any estate or interest therein (except property within the exterior boundaries of national parks and national monuments), as may be necessary and proper in carrying into effect the purposes of the National Trust.

(g) To contract and make cooperative agreements with Federal, State, or municipal departments or agencies, corporations, associa