Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 53 Part 2.djvu/723

 53 STAT.] 76TH CONG. , 1 ST SESS.-CHS. 420, 421-AUG. 4, 1939 sections 28 and 29, township 16 south, range 11 west, New Mexico principal meridian, be, and the same hereby is, accepted. SEC. 2. The Commissioner of Work Projects is hereby authorized and directed to acquire by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, such other lands and interests in land as he may deem necessary for use in connection with the maintenance of said dam and reservoir and to carry out the purposes of this Act. SEC. 3. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 2 of this Act, the Commissioner of Work Projects is hereby author- ized to use funds heretofore or hereafter appropriated to, or for, the Work Projects Administration. Approved, August 4, 1939. 1199 Acquisition of other lands. Use of funds author- ized. [CHAPTER 421] JOINT RESOLUTION To provide for the adjudication by a Commissioner of claims of American na- tionals against the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to appoint a Commissioner learned in the law to determine the validity and amounts of the claims of American nationals against the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and to fill any vacancy in the same manner that the original appointment was made. SEC. 2. The salary of the Commissioner shall be at the rate of $9,000 a year. He shall have a secretary and such additional legal, clerical, and other assistants as may be approved and appointed by the Secretary of State, and at such rates of compensation as may be fixed by him within the limits of appropriated funds. Such persons may be appointed without reference to civil-service laws and rules or the Classification Act of 1923, as amended. SEC. 3. The Commissioner shall be allowed the necessary actual expenses of office rent, furniture, stationery, books, printing, travel expenses when on official business outside the city of Washington, and other incidental expenses which he may certify as necessary and which shall be approved by the Secretary of State. SEC. 4. Before entering upon his duties the Commissioner shall take a solemn oath faithfully and impartially to examine the claims and to give his decisions in accordance with his best judgment and such principles of law as may be applicable. The decisions of the Commissioner shall be in writing, and shall be final and conclusive as to the merits of all cases decided. No claim within the Commis- sioner's jurisdiction which shall not have been presented to him within twelve months from the date he enters upon the duties of his office shall be considered by him. SEC. 5. (a) The Commissioner shall perform his duties in the city of Washington beginning within a period of fifteen days from the date of his appointment. He shall as soon as practicable make all necessary rules and regulations not inconsistent with this resolution or the laws of the United States, governing the method of procedure before him in carrying into effect the provisions of this resolution. (b) For the purpose of any investigation which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act, he is empowered to administer oaths and affirmations, subpena witnesses, take evidence, and require the production of books, papers, or other documents which he considers relevant to any case within his jurisdiction. Any person knowingly and willfully swearing or affirming falsely in any such proceedings shall be deemed guilty of August 4, 1939 [H. J. Res. 315] [Pub. Res., No. 36] Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Adjudication of claims against Govern- ment of. Appointment of Commissioner. Commissioner's sal- ary; secretary and other assistants. 5U. S.C. §661-674; Supp. IV, §§673, 673c. Expense allowances. Oath of office. Decisions. Time limitation for filing claims. Location of office, method of procedure, etc. Administration of oaths. Perjury.

�