Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 58 Part 1.djvu/842

 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 611-DEC. 20, 1944 Contracts of $1,000 or more. Personal interest. Remission of liqui- dated damages. Director of Inspec- tion, duties, etc. Delegation of pow- ers. Purchases to accord with Federal regula- tions. Surplus articles, purchase from Gov- ernment. Application of E. O. 3019. 40U.8.C.I311a note. Use of title com- panies. otherwise provided; but no contract of $1,000 or more entered into on behalf of said District of Columbia by any contracting officer appointed pursuant to this Act shall be binding upon said District of Columbia, or give rise to any claim or demand against said District of Columbia, until approved by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, or a majority of them, sitting as a Board. All contracts entered into by any contracting officer in which such contracting officer or any of the Commissioners shall be personally interested shall be void, and no payment shall be made on any of such contracts by the District of Columbia or by any officer thereof. That with respect to all contracts of the District of Columbia which contain stipulations for liquidated damages for delay the Commis- sioners of the District of Columbia are authorized and empowered to remit the whole or any part of such damages as in their discretion may be just and equitable. SEC. 3. That the Commissioners may transfer to, impose upon, and vest in the Director of Inspection of the District of Columbia all or any of the duties imposed upon, and all or any of the powers, rights and authority vested in, the Inspector of Buildings of the District of Columbia, the Inspector of Plumbing of the District of Columbia, and the Electrical Engineer of the District of Columbia, by any law, and the Commissioners may authorize the said Director of Inspection to delegate any or all of such powers to the Chief Engineer of the Department of Inspection of the District of Columbia and to the Chief of Inspection of the Department of Inspection of the District of Colum- bia and to their respective deputies when acting for them. SEC. 4. The Commissioners and other responsible officials, in expending appropriations provided for the expenses of the govern- ment of the District of Columbia, so far as possible, shall purchase material, supplies, including food supplies, and equipment, when needed and funds are available, in accordance with the regulations and schedules of the Procurement Division of the Treasury Depart- ment or from various services of the Government of the United States possessing materials, supplies, passenger-carrying and other motor vehicles, and equipment no longer required. Surplus articles pur- chased from the Government, if the same have not been used, shall be paid for at a reasonable price, not to exceed actual cost, and if the same have been used, at a reasonable price based upon length of usage. The various services of the Government of the United States are authorized to sell such surplus articles to the District under the conditions specified, and the proceeds of such sales shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts: Provided, That this sec- tion shall not be construed to amend, alter, or repeal the Executive order of December 3, 1918, concerning the transfer of office materials, supplies, and equipment in the District of Columbia falling into disuse because of the cessation of war activities. SEC. 5. The Commissioners may, in their discretion and when they deem such action to be in the public interest, effect settlement with owners of real estate authorized to be acquired by purchase or con- demnation for District of Columbia purposes, through such title company or companies in the District of Columbia as may be desig- nated by the Commissioners, and to pay from appropriations avail- able for the acquisition of such real estate reasonable fees to cover the cost of the services rendered by such title company or companies. SEC. 6. The power and authorities conferred by this Act are to be construed as in addition to and not by way of limitation of the powers now vested by law in the Commissioners. Approved December 20, 1944. 822 [58 STAT.

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