[PUBLIC LAW 525-80TH CONGRESS]

[CHAPTER 286-2D SESSION]

[H. R. 1036]

AN ACT

To provide for the licensing of marine radiotelegraph operators as ship radio officers, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever the complement of any vessel prescribed pursuant to section 4463 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, 46 U. S. C., sec. 222), includes one or more radiotelegraph operators such operators shall be required to be licensed officers.

SEC. 2. The boards of local inspectors authorized under section 4414 of the Revised Statutes (U. S. C., 1940 edition, title 46, sec. 382) shall license radiotelegraph operators, and it shall be unlawful to employ any person or for any person to serve as a radiotelegraph operator of any steamer or of any other vessel of over one hundred gross tons carrying passengers for hire who is not licensed by the inspectors; and anyone violating this section shall be liable to a penalty of $100 for each offense.

SEC. 3. Whenever any person applies for authority to perform the duties of radiotelegraph operator of any vessel, the inspectors shall require possession of a valid first- or second-class radiotelegraph operator license issued by the Federal Communications Commission; and if, upon full consideration, they are satisfied that his character, habits of life, and physical condition are such as to authorize the belief that he is a suitable and safe person to be entrusted with the powers and duties of such a station, they shall grant him a license, authorizing him to be employed in such duties for the term of five years, provided he continues to hold a valid first- or second-class radiotelegraph operator license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.

All licenses issued under this section shall be subject to suspension or revocation on the same grounds and in the same manner and with like procedure as is provided in the case of suspension or revocation of license of officers under the provisions of section 4450 of the Revised Statutes, as amended.

SEC. 4. (a) Section 2 of the Act of March 4, 1915, as amended (U. S. C., 1940 edition, title 46, sec. 673), is amended by striking out the period after the words "management of the vessel" and inserting a colon and the following words: "Provided, That in the case of radiotelegraph operators this requirement shall be applicable only when three or more radio officers are employed."

(b) Nothing in this Act shall be presumed to repeal the provisions of section 2 of the Act of March 4, 1915, as amended (U. S. C., 1940 edition, title 46, sec. 673), limiting the work of radiotelegraph operators to eight hours in one day.

SEC. 5. Every radiotelegraph operator who receives a license shall, before entering upon his duties, make oath before one of the inspectors herein provided for, to be recorded with the certificate, that he will faithfully and honestly, according to his best skill and judgment, without concealment or reservation, perform all the duties required of him by law.

Every applicant for license as radiotelegraph operator under the provisions of this Act shall make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation, before one of the inspectors referred to in this Act, to the truth of all the statements set forth in his application for such license. Any person who shall make or subscribe to any oath or affirmation authorized in this Act and knowing the same to be false shall be deemed guilty of perjury.

Every radiotelegraph operator, who shall change, by addition, interpolation, or erasure of any kind, any certificate or license issued by an inspector or inspectors referred to in this Act shall, for every such offense, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment at hard labor for a term not exceeding three years.

SEC. 6. Every radiotelegraph operator who shall receive a license shall, when employed upon any vessel, within forty-eight hours after going on duty, place his certificate of license, which shall be framed under glass, in some conspicuous place in such vessel, where it can be seen by passengers and others at all times: Provided, That in case of emergency such radiotelegraph operator may be transferred to another vessel of the same owners for a period not exceeding forty-eight hours without the transfer of his license; and for every neglect to comply with this provision by any such radiotelegraph operator, he shall be subject to a fine of $100 or to the revocation of his license.

SEC. 7. Nothing in this Act shall affect the status of radiotelegraph operators while serving aboard vessels operating solely on the Great Lakes.

SEC. 8. Nothing in this Act shall increase the number of radiotelegraph operators at present required by law to be carried on vessels, or the type of vessels on which radiotelegraph operators are required to be carried, or to alter, repeal, modify, or affect any other statute of the United States, it being the only intent of this Act to give to radiotelegraph operators the status of licensed officers as herein provided without affecting in any way any statute of the United States except as specifically hereinbefore authorized.

SEC. 9. The provisions of this Act will become effective on April 1, 1949.

Approved May 12, 1948.

[PUBLIC LAW 161-81ST CONGRESS]

[CHAPTER 301-1ST SESSION]

[H. R. 2282]

AN ACT

To make certain Government-owned facilities available for international broadcasting in the furtherance of authorized programs of the Department of State, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, for the purpose of assuring continued operation of the facilities hereinafter described for international broadcasting as a means of achieving the objectives of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (Public Law 402, Eightieth Congress) under authority of that Act, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, as successor to Defense Plant Corporation, shall transfer, without regard to the provisions of the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended, and without reimbursement or transfer of funds, to the Secretary of State (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") all of its right, title, and interest in and to the facilities known as Plancors 1805, 1985, and 1986 located in Butler County, Ohio, in the vicinity of Delano, California, and Dixon, California, respectively, together with the equipment and other property appurtenant thereto. For the purposes of this Act, the Secretary is authorized to acquire property or rights or interests therein necessary or desirable for the operation of such facilities by purchase, lease, gift, transfer, condemnation, or otherwise.

SEC. 2. Whenever the Secretary finds that the operation of the facilities herein authorized to be transferred is no longer necessary or desirable, he shall report such fact to Congress with his recommendations for the disposition of such facilities.

SEC. 3. The Department of State shall assume all obligations of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation covering operations of said facilities, equipment, and appurtenant property outstanding at the date of transfer.

Approved July 9, 1949.

[PUBLIC LAW 366-81ST CONGRESS]

[CHAPTER 703-1ST SESSION]

[S. 443]

AN ACT

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.

[PUBLIC LAW 901-81ST CONGRESS]

[CHAPTER 1189-2D SESSION]

[H. R. 5487]

AN ACT

To provide for the review of orders of the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and of certain orders of the Secretary of Agriculture made under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended, and the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930, as amended, and of orders of the United States Maritime Commission or the Federal Maritime Board or the Maritime Administration under the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended, and the Intercoastal Shipping Act. 1933, as amended.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1. As used in this Act

(a) "Court of appeals" means a court of appeals of the United States.

(b) "Clerk" means the clerk of the court in which the petition for the review of an order, reviewable under this Act, is filed.

(c) "Petitioner" means the party or parties by whom a petition to review an order, reviewable under this Act, is filed.

(d) When the order sought to be reviewed was entered by the Federal Communications Commission, "agency" means the Commission; when such order was entered by the Secretary of Agriculture, "agency" means the Secretary; when such order was entered by the United States Maritime Commission, or the Federal Maritime Board, or the Maritime Administration, "agency" means that Commission or Board, or Administration, as the case may require.

JURISDICTION

SEC. 2. The court of appeals shall have exclusive jurisdiction to enjoin, set aside, suspend (in whole or in part), or to determine the validity of, all final orders (a) of the Federal Communications Commission made reviewable in accordance with the provisions of section 402 (a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and (b) of the Secretary of Agriculture made under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended, and under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930, as amended, except orders issued under sections 309 (e) and 317 of the Packers and Stockyards Act and section 7 (a) of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, and (c) such final orders of the United States Maritime Commission or the Federal Maritime Board or the Maritime Administration entered under authority of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended, and the Intercoastal Shipping Act, 1933, as amended, as are now subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of section 31, Shipping Act, 1916, as amended.

Such jurisdiction shall be invoked by the filing of a petition as provided in section 4 hereof.