Chapter 283. For the creation of an American Battle Monuments Commission to erect suitable memorials commemorating the services of the American soldier in Europe, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 283.— An Act For the creation of an American Battle Monuments Commission to erect suitable memorials commemorating the services of the American soldier in Europe, and for other purposes. March 4, 1923.[[H. R. 14087](/us/bill/67/hr/14087).][[Public, No. 534](/us/67/pl/534).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That a commissionAmerican Battle Monuments Commission.Creation and composition of. is hereby created and established, to be known as the American Battle Monuments Commission (hereinafter referred to as the commission), to consist of seven members who shall be appointed by the President, who shall also appoint one officer of the Regular Army to serve as its secretary.
The members and secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the President who shall fill any vacancies that from time to time occur. The secretary shall also serve asSecretary’s duties. disbursing officer of the commission, who shall make disbursements upon vouchers approved by its chairman. The members of the commission shall serve without compensationOnly actual expenses to be paid. except that their actual expenses in connection with the work of the commission may be paid from any funds appropriated for the purposes of this Act, or acquired by other means hereinafter authorized.
Upon the request of the commission the President is authorizedPersonnel from departments, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps to assist. to designate such personnel of any department or of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps as may be necessary to assist in carrying out the purposes of this Act, and the commission is authorized to employ such further personnel as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, within the limits of any appropriation or appropriations made for such purposes.
Sec. 2. That the commission shall prepare plans and estimatesMemorials to American forces in Europe, to be planned, etc., by. for the erection of suitable memorials to mark and commemorate the services of the American forces in Europe and erect memorials therein at such places as the commission shall determine, including works of architecture and art in the American cemeteries in Europe. The commission shall control as to materials and design, provideMemorials in American cemeteries subject to commission. regulations for and supervise the erection of all memorial monuments and buildings in the American cemeteries in Europe.
The commission shall cause such photographs to be secured orPhotographs of battlefield where American forces were engaged to be secured. taken of the terrain of the various battle fields of Europe, upon which units of the armed forces of the United States were actively engaged with the enemy, as will complete the historical photographic record of the operations of such units; and the commission shall transmit such record when completed to the Secretary of War for permanent file with the records of the War Department. 1510 Sec. 3.
Approval of designs, etc., by Fine Arts Commission. That before any design or material for memorials is accepted by the commission, the same shall be approved by the National Commission of Fine Arts. Sec. 4. Arrangements with foreign authorities requested. That the President is requested to make the necessary arrangements with the proper authorities of the countries concerned to enable the commission to carry out the purposes of this Act. Sec. 5. Donations accepted from States, etc.
That the commission is authorized to receive funds from Deposit and accounting.any State, municipal, or private source for the purposes of this Act, and such funds shall be deposited by the commission with the Chief of Finance of the United States Army and shall lie kept by him in separate accounts and shall be disbursed upon vouchers approved by the chairman of the commission. Sec. 6. Preparation of models, memorials, etc., at arsenals, navy yards, etc., authorized. Use of captured war materials.That authority is hereby given for the preparation of models and designs and the fabrication of memorials, and the materials for such memorials, at arsenals or navy yards or by other governmental agencies, if the commission shall so determine.
Authority is hereby given for the use of captured war materials, not otherwise disposed of by congressional action, in the fabrication of not to exceed ten thousand pounds of bronze to be used on the *Proviso*.Selection restricted.memorials constructed under the provisions of this Act: *Provided*, That in the selection of materials the commission shall refrain from utilizing material which might otherwise be available for decorative or memorial purposes. Sec. 7. Replicas of memorials, etc., may be furnished at cost.
That the commission is authorized to furnish replicas of any memorial, or any part thereof, to States, municipalities, or interested private persons or associations at actual cost, and to apply any proceeds from such sales to the purposes of this Act. Sec. 8. Cooperation with citizens, States, etc. That the commission is authorized and directed to cooperate with American citizens, States, municipalities, or associations desiring to erect war memorials in Europe in such manner *Proviso*.Approval of plans.as may be determined by the commission: *Provided*, That no assistance in erecting any such memorial shall be given by any administrative agency of the United States unless the plan has been approved in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 9. Maintenance. That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to maintain the memorials erected by the commission under authority of this Act, and the commission shall advise the Secretary of War of the location and date of completion of each memorial. Sec. 10. Report to President. That the commission shall transmit to the President of the United States annually on the 1st of July a statement of all its financial and other transactions during the preceding fiscal year.
Sec. 11. Authority for appropriations. That such sum or sums as Congress may hereafter appropriate for the purposes of this Act are hereby authorized to be appropriated. Sec. 12. Final deposit of records and archives. That the records and archives of the commission shall, upon the termination of its duties, be deposited with the Secretary or War. Approved, March 4, 1923.