Chapter 312. To provide for the equitable distribution of captured war devices and trophies to the States and Territories of the United States and to the District of Columbia
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CHAP. 312.— An Act To provide for the equitable distribution of captured war devices and trophies to the States and Territories of the United States and to the District of Columbia. June 7, 1924.[[S. 1376](/us/bill/68/s/1376).][[Public, No. 234](/us/pl/68/234).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That the Secretary of War be, World War trophies.Pro rata apportioning and distribution to States, etc., of guns, etc., taken from Germany and allied nations.and he is hereby, authorized and directed to apportion and distribute pro rata among the several States and Territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia in corresponding ratio as the total number of men serving in the armed forces of the United States, as hereinafter provided, from each State, Territory, or possession of the United States and the District of Columbia bears to the total number of men so serving from all States, Territories, possessions, and the District of Columbia, all guns and howitzers with their respective carriages, machine guns, and other war devices and trophies suitable for distribution and captured by or surrendered to the armed forces of the United States from the armed forces of Germany and allied nations, with the exception of such guns, howitzers, carriages, machine guns, and other war devices and trophies as may be required for experimental purposes, or for actual use by the armed forces of the United States; and the further exception of Retention for Army, museums, etc., and national monuments.such of the devices aforementioned as may be required for display in national museums, at national homes for disabled volunteer soldiers, or for monumental purposes in Arlington National Cemetery and in other national cemeteries, national parks, and national monuments wheresoever situated.
Sec. 2. That for the purposes of this Act the reports heretofore Compilation made of armed forces from States, etc., during World War, to serve as basis of distribution.compiled under the direction of the Secretary of War showing the number of men in the armed forces of the United States accredited to each State, Territory, and possession of the United States, and 598to the District of Columbia, either by enlistment or by the process of the Selective Service Act, or otherwise drawn into and becoming an integral part of the armed forces of the United States during the period April 7, 1917, to November 11, 1918, and the allotment of war trophies suitable for distribution among the several States, Territories, and possessions, and the District of Columbia, shall Prompt detailed notice to executives of States, etc., of apportionment.serve as the basis of distribution.
As soon as practicable after the date upon which this Act shall become effective the Secretary of War shall cause the chief executive of each of the several States, Territories, and possessions, and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to be informed of the character and quantity of war Invitation to designate acceptance, etc.devices and trophies apportioned thereto, and shall invite each such chief executive and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to designate such material as will be accepted free on board common carrier at the point of storage and to designate the point or points to which the accepted material is to be shipped without expense to the United States, other than that of packing and loading at the point of storage.
Sec. 3. Shipment on notice of acceptance, etc. Shipment of the apportionment of each State, Territory, and possession, and the District of Columbia accepted shall be made as soon as practicable after the chief executive, or the commissioners thereof, as the case may require, shall have informed the Secretary of War that such State, Territory, possession, or District will accept and take possession thereof as hereinbefore provided for and will relieve the United States of all responsibility for the safe delivery of the material and of all charges, costs, and expenses whatsoever *Proviso*.Disposition of apportionment if not accepted within one year.connected with the transportation thereof: *Provided*, That if the chief executive or the commissioners of any State, Territory, possession, or District, shall not, within one year after notification of the character and quantity of the apportionment, file with the Secretary of War such acceptance and agreement, such apportionment, or any part thereof, shall be sold as surplus property as it then is and where it then is, or shall be destroyed—all as the Secretary Rejected portions.of War, in his discretion, shall determine; and like action shall be taken in respect of the rejected portion of any apportionment accepted in part only, and war devices and trophies considered by the Secretary of War as unsuitable for distribution.
Sec. 4. Charges to be paid by the Government. That all charges for apportioning, segregating, packing, and loading war trophies and devices for distribution to the designated point or points within each of the several States, Territories, and possessions, and the District of Columbia, as provided for herein, and for transportation to national museums, national homes for disabled volunteer soldiers, national cemeteries, and national parks, and for the disposition of undistributed war devices and trophies shall be paid by the United States Government from an appropriation to be made for that purpose.
Sec. 5. Rules, etc., to be prescribed. That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized to make all rules and regulations to carry this Act into effect. Sec. 6. Amount authorized for expenses.*Post*, p. 1345. That to enable the Secretary of War to carry out the provisions of this Act there is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any money in the United States Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $39,000, or so much thereof as may be *Proviso*.Use for cleaning, etc., forbidden.necessary: *Provided*, That none of said sum shall be expended in cleaning, painting, or otherwise reconditioning war devices and trophies prior to shipment.
Approved, June 7, 1924.