Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 69.djvu/179

 69

STAT.]

137

PUBLIC LAW 7 5 - J U N E 16, 1955

a number of historic properties, buildings, sites, and objects of the Colonial and Revolutionary period of American history which, because of their historical significance or their architectural merit, are of great importance to the Nation; and Whereas at this critical period, as well as at all periods in our national life, the inspiration afforded by such prime examples of the American historical heritage and their interpretation is in the public interest; and Whereas it is proper and desirable that the United States of America should cooperate in a program looking to the preservation and public use of these historic properties that are intimately associated with American Colonial solidarity and the establishment of American independence: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a Commission is hereby created for the purpose of investigating the feasibility of establishing a coordinated program in which the Federal Government may cooperate with local and State governments and historical and patriotic societies for the preservation and appreciation by the public of the most important of the Colonial and Revolutionary properties in Boston and the general vicinity thereof which form outstanding examples of America's historical heritage. SEC. 2. The Commission shall be known as the Boston National Historic Sites Commission, and shall be composed of seven individuals, who shall serve without compensation, to be appointed as follows: One Member of the United States Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one Member of the United States House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member to be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, and four persons, at least one of whom shall be a resident of the city of Boston, to be appointed by the President of the United States. Any vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. SEC. 3. The Commission shall meet for the purpose of organizing within ninety days after the enactment of this Act. The Commission shall elect a chairman and executive secretary from among its members. SEC. 4. The Commission shall (a) make an inventory and study of the historic objects, sites, buildings, and other historic properties of Boston and the general vicinity thereof, including comparative real estate costs; (b) prepare an analysis of the existing condition and state of care of such properties; (c) recommend such programs by the local. State, or Federal governments and cooperating societies for the future preservation, public use, and appreciation of such properties as the Commission shall consider to be in the public interest; and (d) prepare a report containing basic factual intormalion relating to the foregoing and the recommendations of the Commission thereon. Such report shall be transmitted to the Congress by the Secretary of the Interior within two years following the approval of this Act and the securing of appropriations for purposes hereof. Upon submission of the report to the Congress, the Commission shall cease to exist. SEC. 5. (a) The Secretary of the Interior may appoint and fix the compensation, in accordance with the provisions of the civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, of such experts, advisers, and other employees, and may make such expenditures, including expenditures for actual travel and subsistence expense of members, employees, and witnesses (not exceeding $15 for subsistence expense for any one person for any one calendar day), i o r personal services at the seat of government and elsewhere, and for printing

Boston National Historic Sites Commissiont Ptirpose.

MennberS4

Meeting*

Duties.

Report to Congresst Termination. Employees* Post, p. 460. 63 Stat. 954. 5 USC 1071 note.

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