Chapter 149.
1,244 words·~6 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-42/chapter-149-5668261·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 149.— Joint Resolution Authorizing the use of public parks, reservations, and other public spaces in the District of Columbia; and the use of tents, cots, hospital appliances, flags, and other decorations, property of the United States, by the Almas Temple, Washington, District of Columbia, 1923 Shrine Committee (Incorporated), and for other purposes. February 28, 1923.[[H. J. Res. 418](/us/bill/67/hjres/418).][[Pub. Res., No. 93](/us/bill/67/pubres/93).] Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War District of Columbia.Session of Mystic Shrine Council in.Permits for use of parks, etc., authorized.*Ante*, p. 1218.*Post*, p. 1535.is hereby authorized to grant permits to Almas Temple, Washington, District of Columbia, 1923 Shrine Committee (Incorporated), for the use of any parks, reservations, or other public spaces in the District of Columbia, under his control, on the occasion of the forty-ninth annual session of the Imperial Council, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in the month of June, 1923: *Provided*, *Provisos*.Condition.That in his opinion such use will inflict no serious or permanent injuries upon such parks, reservations, public spaces, or statuary therein; and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may designate, for such and other purposes on the occasion before named, Designation of streets, etc.such streets, avenues, and sidewalks in the said District of Columbia, under their control, as they may deem proper and necessary: *Provided, however*, That all stands, arches, or platforms that may be Approval of stands, arches, etc.erected on the public spaces aforesaid, including such as may be erected in connection with any display of fireworks, shall be under the supervision of the said Almas Temple Shrine Committee and in accordance with plans and designs to be approved by the Architect of the Capitol, the Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia, and the officer in charge of public buildings and grounds: *And provided further*, Restoration after use.That the reservations or public spaces occupied by the stands or other structures shall be promptly restored to their condition before such occupancy, and the said committee shall indemnify the War Department and the District of Columbia for damage of any kind whatsoever upon such reservation or space by reason of such use.
Sec. 2. That the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy Loan of Army and Navy tents, camp appliances, etc.are hereby authorized to loan to the said committee such tents, camp appliances, and other necessities, hospital furniture and utensils of all descriptions, ambulances, horses, drivers, stretchers, and Bed Cross flags and poles belonging to the United States, as in their judgment may be spared at the time of the session: *Provided*, That *Provisos*.Indemnity for loss, etc.the said Shrine Committee shall indemnify the United States for any loss or damage to such tents, appliances, and so forth, as aforesaid, not necessarily incident to. such use: *And provided further*, That the said committee shall give approved bond to do the same.
Bond. 1372 Sec. 3. Loan of Government flags, etc. That the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy are authorized to loan to the said committee such ensigns, flags, decorations, and so forth, belonging to the United States (battle flags excepted) as are not then in use, and may be suitable and proper for decorations and other purposes, which may be spared without detriment to the public service, such ensigns, flags, decorations, and so forth, to be used by the committee under such regulations and restrictions as may be prescribed by the said Secretaries, or either *Proviso*.Return, etc., after session.of them: *Provided*, That the said committee shall, within five days after the close of said session, return to the said Secretaries all such ensigns, flags, decorations, and so forth, thus loaned; and said committee shall indemnify the United States for any loss or damage not necessarily incident to such use.
Sec. 4. Use of parks, reservations, etc., for automobiles. That the officer in charge of public buildings and grounds, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, is hereby authorized to permit the use of any or all public parks, reservations, or other public spaces in the District of Columbia for use by said committee for parking automobiles, the temporary erection of tents for entertainments, hospitals, and other purposes; and said committee is hereby Charges for entertainment allowed.authorized to charge reasonable fees for entertainment and accommodations on said parks, reservations, or other public spaces to aid in meeting the necessary expenses incident to the session.
Sec. 5. Illumination, etc., permits. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to permit said committee to stretch suitable over-head conductors, with sufficient supports, wherever necessary and in the nearest practicable connection with the present supply of light, *Provisos*.Time limit of use.for the purpose of effecting special illumination: *Provided*, That the said conductors shall not be used for the conveying of electrical currents after June 10, 1923, and shall, with their supports, be fully Placing and removing wires.and entirely removed from the public spaces, streets, and avenues of the said city of Washington on or before June 15, 1923: *Provided further*, That the stretching and removing of the said wires shall be under the supervision of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, who shall see that the provisions of this resolution are enforced; that all needful precautions are taken for the protection of the public; and that the pavement of any street, avenue, or alley disturbed is replaced in as good condition as before entering upon the No Government liability for damages.Wires over parks and reservations.work herein authorized: *And provided further*, That no expense or damage on account of or due to the stretching, operation, or removing of the said temporary overhead conductors shall be incurred by the United States or the District of Columbia, and that if it shall be necessary to erect wires for illuminating or other purposes over any park or reservation in the District of Columbia the work of erection and removal of said wires shall be under the supervision of the officer in charge of said park or reservation.
Sec. 6. Licenses to street peddlers, etc. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to grant, under such conditions as they may impose, special licenses to peddlers and vendors to sell goods, wares, and merchandise on the streets, avenues, and sidewalks in the District of Columbia during said session, and to charge for such privileges such fees as they may deem proper. Sec. 7. Temporary overhead telegraph and telephone wires permitted. That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to permit the telegraph and telephone companies to extend overhead wires to such points as shall be deemed necessary by the said committee, the said wires to be taken down within ten days after the conclusion of the session.
Sec. 8. Use of unoccupied public buildings. That the Public Buildings Commission is hereby authorized to assign to said committee for use and occupancy during said session such unoccupied public buildings in the District of Columbia 1373as, in its discretion, may appear advisable: *Provided*, That any and *Provisos*.Surrender after session ends.all buildings so assigned shall be surrendered within ten days after the close of the said session: *Provided further*, That the said committee shall furnish a bond or other satisfactory assurance of indemnity Indemnity against damage.against damage to said property while in its possession, incidental wear and tear excepted.
Approved, February 28, 1923.