85th CONGKESS 1st Session Union Calendar No. 467 H. JL RES. 351 [Report No. 1188] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 6, 1957 Mr. Nimtz introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary August 17, 1957 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] JOINT RESOLUTION To establish a Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission. Whereas the year 1959 marks the one hundred and fiftieth anni- versary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln on February 12. 1809; and Whereas Abraham Lincoln served as the sixteenth President of the United States; and Whereas his life and ideals played an important part in the history of the United States during a critical period of its history; and Whereas his spoken and written words and his philosophy of government have continued to have influence in our Govern- ment and in our daily way of life ; and Whereas the United States observed with appropriate ceremonies I the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln in 1909; and Whereas the interest in, and respect for, Abraham Lincoln is demonstrated by over one million eight hundred and fifty thousand people from all parts of the Nation visiting the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, District of Columbia, during the year 1956, making it the most visited memorial in the world; and Whereas it is appropriate that his ideals and accomplishments be reemphasized and be given wider public knowledge on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his birth; and Whereas it is incumbent upon us as a nation to provide for the proper observance of the birth of this great man who has continued to be a force in our history: Therefore be it 1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That (a) in order to provide for appropriate and nationwide 4 observances and the coordination of ceremonies, there is 5 hereby established a commission to be known as the Lincoln 6 Sesquicentennial Commission, hereafter in this Act referred 7 to as the "Commission", which shall be composed-of twenty- 8 eight members, as follows: 9 (1) The President of the United States, President of 10 the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, 11 who shall be ex officio members of the Commission; 1 (2) Six Members of the Senate to be appointed by the 2 President of the Senate; 3 (3) Six Members of the House of Representatives to be 4 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 5 (4) Twelve members to be appointed by the President 6 of the United States; and 7 (5) One member from the Department of the Interior 8 who shall be the Director of the National Park Service or 9 his representative. 10 (b) The Director of the National Park Service shall 11 call the first meeting for the purpose of electing a Chairman. 12 The Commission, at its discretion, may appoint honorary 13 members, and may establish an Advisory Council to assist " it in its work. 15 (c) Appointments provided for in this section, with the 16 exception of honorary members, shall be made within ninety !??? days from the date of enactment of this resolution. Vacancies y* shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint- 19 ments were made. 20 Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Commission to pre- 21 pare an overall program to include specific plans for com- 22 memorating the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the 23 birth of Abraham Lincoln. In preparing its plans and 24 programs, the Commission shall give due consideration to 2^ any similar and related plans advanced by State, civic, 1 patriotic, hereditary, and historical bodies, and may desig- 2 nate special committees with representation from the above- 3 mentioned bodies to plan and conduct specific ceremonies. 4 The Commission may give suitable recognition such as the 5 award of medals and certificates or by other appropriate 6 means to persons and organizations for outstanding accom- 7 plishments in preserving the writings and ideals of Abraham 8 Lincoln, or historical locations connected with his life. 9 Sec. 3. The President of the United States is authorized 10 and requested to issue proclamations inviting the people of 11 the United States to participate in and obseve the centcn 12 niai anniversaries anniversary of the nationally significant 13 historic events, event, the co mmemorations commemoration 14 of which are is provided for herein. 15 Sec. 4. (a) The Commission is authorized to accept 16 donations of monej^, property, or personal services; to co- 17 operate with State, civic, patriotic, hereditary, and historical 18 groups and with institutions of learning; and to call upon 19 other Federal departments or agencies for their advice and 20 assistance in carrying out the purposes of this resolution. 21 All books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, 22 memorabilia, relics and other materials relating to Abraham 23 Lincoln and donated to the Commission may be deposited for 24 permanent preservation in a National, State, or local library 1 or museum or be otherwise disposed of by the Commission in 2 consultation .with the Librarian of Congress or the Secretary 3 of the Smithsonian Institution. 4 (b) The Commission, to such extent as it finds to be 5 necessary, may, without regard to the laws and procedures 6 applicable to Federal agencies, procure supplies, services, 7 and property and make contracts, expend in furtherance 8 of this resolution funds donated or funds received in pursuance 9 of contracts hereunder, and may exercise those powers that 10 are necessary to enable it to carry out efficiently and in the 11 public interest the purposes of this resolution. 12 (c^ The National Park Service is designated to provide 13 all general administrative services. 14 Sec. 5. (a) The Commission may employ, without 15 regard to civil service laws or the Classification Act of 1949, 16 an executive director and such employees as may be neces- 17 sary to carry out its functions. 18 (b) Expenditures of the Commission shall be paid by 19 the National Park Service as general administrative agent, 20 which shall keep complete records of such expenditures and 21 shall account also for all funds received by the Commission. 22 .(c) A report shall be submitted to the Congress, pre- 23 senting the preliminary plans of the Commission not later 24 than March 1, 1958, in order that further enabling legisla- 6 1 tion may be enacted. A final report shall be made to the 2 Congress no later than March 1, I960, upon which date the 3 Commission shall terminate. 4 (d) Any property acquired by the Commission remain- 5 ing upon its termination may be used by the Secretary of 6 the Interior for purposes of the National Park System or 7 may be disposed of as surplus property. The net revenues, 8 after payment of Commission expenses, derived from Com- 9 mission activities, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the 10 United States. 11 Sec. 6. (a) The members of the Commission shall serve 12 without compensation, but shall be furnished transportation 13 and be reimbursed at not to exceed $20 per diem, in lieu " of subsistence, while engaged in the discharge of their duties ???"* provided for in this resolution. 1" (b) Service of an individual as a member of the Com- ???*???' mission shall not be considered as service or employment iy bringing such individual within the provisions of sections 19 216, 281, 283, 284, 434, or 1914 of title 18 of the United 20 States Code, or section 190 of the Revised Statutes (5 U. S. C. 99) ; nor shall any member of the Commission by reason 99 of his status as such be deemed to be an "officer of the Gov- ernment" within the meaning of the Act of April 27, 1916 24 (5 U.S. 0.101). Sec. 7. Notwithstanding section 2 of the Act of July 31, 1 1894 (28 Stat. 205) , as amended (5 U. S. C. 62) , or sec- 2 tion 6 of the Act of May 10, 1916 (39 Stat. 120), as 3 amended (5 U. S .C. 58, 59), the Chairman of the Com- 4 mission may appoint to, and employ in, any civilian office 5 or position in the Commission, and pay, any retired com- 6 missioned officer, or retired warrant officer, of the Army, 7 Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Coast and Geodetic Sur- 8 vey, or Public Health Service. The retired status, office, 9 rank, and grade of retired commissioned officers or retired 10 warrant officers, so appointed or employed and, except as 11 provided in section 212 of the Act of June 30, 1932 (47 12 Stat. 406) , as amended (5 U. S. C. 59a) , any emolument, 13 perquisite, right, privilege, or benefit incident to or arising 14 out of any such status, office, rank, or grade, shall be in no 15 way affected by reason of such appointment to or employ- 16 ment in, or by reason of service in, or acceptance or holding 17 of, any civilian office or position in the Commission or the 18 receipt of the pay thereof. 19 Sec. 8. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated 20 such funds as may be necessary to carry out the provisions 21 of this resolution, including an appropriation of not to exceed 22 $40,000 to prepare the preliminary report and plans of the 23 Commission described in section 5 (c) . T-t.160l.OW.Wf3H d o D ?? o <-t- Pi P o & ?? m 50 5 g S" p Pf rt a*. M, Q CI g 2 so CO -3 rp Oi c-h O (3- O o I !. < ...
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