The committee met, pursuant to call, at 4.50 o'clock p. m. in the committee room, Capitol, Senator George H. Moses presiding. Present: Senators Moses (chairman), Schall, Frazier, and Brookhart. The CHAIRMAN. The committee has met to consider S. 1900, introduced by Senator Moses in behalf of Senator du Pont, to provide for the construction of a post road and military highway from a point on or near the Atlantic coast to a point on or near the Pacific coast, and for other purposes. (The bill referred to is here printed in full, as follows:) [S. 1900, Seventieth Congress, first session] A BILL To provide for the construction of a post road and military highway from a point on or near the Atlantic coast to a point on or near the Pacific coast, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, TITLE I.-NATIONAL SURVEY COMMISSION ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION SECTION 1. (a) There is hereby established a commission to be known as the national survey commission (hereinafter in this act referred to as the "commission") and to be composed of the following: (1) The Secretary of War. (2) The Secretary of Agriculture. (5) The Postmaster General. (6) Six individuals appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Such appointments shall be made with due regard to the appointee's knowledge of highways and highway construction, general engineering knowledge, and business experience. No more than three of such individuals shall be from the same political party. (b) Vacancies in the commission shall not impair the power of the remaining members to execute the functions of the commission, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the commission. The commission shall elect a chairman from among its members. (c) The commission (1) Shall maintain its principal office in the District of Columbia. (2) Shall have an official seal which shall be judicially noticed. (3) May accept the services of any person without compensation. 1 SALARIES SEC. 2. Each appointed commissioner shall receive compensation at the rate of $10,000 per annum, payable monthly, together with necessary traveling expenses and expenses incurred for subsistence or per diem allowance in lieu thereof, within the limitation prescribed by law, while away from his official residence in the performance of duties required by this act. The commissioners ex officio shall receive no additional compensation for their services as commissioners. PERSONNEL AND EXPENDITURES SEC. 3. The commission may (1) without regard to the civil service laws, appoint a chief engineer who shall receive a salary at the rate of $ per annum, and (2) appoint, without regard to the civil service laws and, without regard to the classification act of 1923, fix the salaries of such technical assistants and experts and such other officers, employees, and agents, and make such expenditures (including expenditures for personal services and rent at the seat of government and elsewhere, for law books, books of reference, and periodicals, and for printing and binding), as may be necessary for the execution of the functions vested in the commission, and as may be provided for by the Congress from time to time. All expenditures of the commission shall be allowed and paid upon the presentation of itemized vouchers therefor approved by the chairman. HIGHWAY SURVEY SEC. 4. (a) The commission is authorized to make preliminary examinations and surveys with a view to the construction of a post road and military highway (hereinafter referred to as the "central highway") from a point on or near the Atlantic coast to a point on or near the Pacific coast (such points to be designated by the commission), such central highway to be as direct as practicable between such points, except where, in the judgment of the commission, physical conditions, excessive cost, or other reasons render deviation necessary. (b) The right of way for such central highway shall be not less than five hundred feet in width, the highway to be located wherever most desirable on the right of way. (c) No part of such central highway shall be located within any municipality having a population, as shown by the latest available census, of two thousand five hundred or more, except where the houses average within a distance of one mile more than two hundred feet apart. (d) The commission may select as part of the route for the central highway any highway or portion thereof which has been constructed (or is under construction) by or in behalf of the Federal Government or a State or political subdivision thereof. REPORT SEC. 5. The commission shall submit to the Congress within two years after the passage of this act a preliminary report of the examinations and surveys, and may make from time to time such additional reports as the commission may deem advisable. As soon as practicable the commission shall submit to the Congress a final report together with an estimate of the total cost of the proposed central highway and a plan therefor in such detail as may be practicable. STUDY AND REPORT ON HIGHWAYS TO CONNECT WITH CENTRAL HIGHWAY SEC. 6. With a view to providing for a system of highways connecting with the central highway, the commission is authorized and directed to make a careful and thorough study of existing routes and highways, for such purpose making use of all available surveys and investigations heretofore made, and to make a complete report to Congress, on or before the date of the submission of the final report on the central highway, upon the advisability and practicability of providing for the construction of the following additional highways: (1) A highway from a point on or near the northern boundary of the State of Maine following a route as direct as practicable to a point in the southern part of the State of Florida; (2) a highway from a point on or near the northern boundary of the State of Washington following a route as direct as practicable to a point in the southern part of the State of California; (3) a highway from such southern point in California through the Southern States to connect with the eastern seaboard highway; (4) a highway from a point on the central highway as near longitude 100 degrees as may be practicable, northwest to connect with the western seaboard highway in the State of Washington; and (5) a highway from a point on the central highway as near longitude 95 degrees as may be practicable, south to connect with the highway through the Southern States. APPROPRIATION SEC. 7. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $5,000,000, to be available until expended for expenses incurred in the administration of the functions vested in the commission by this act. TITLE II.-FEDERAL HIGHWAY CORPORATION ORGANIZATION SEC. 201. Upon acceptance by act of Congress of the final report and plan of the commission submitted pursuant to section 5, the commission shall be deemed to be converted into a corporation which is hereby declared to be a Federal governmental instrumentality under the name of "The Federal Highway Corporation" (referred to in this act as the "corporation"). SEC. 202. (a) The Secretary of War, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Postmaster General, and the six appointed members of the commission in office at the time of such conversion shall constitute the board of directors of the corporation (referred to in this act as the "board"). Any vacancies in the office of an appointed director shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments to the commission. Each appointed director shall receive from the corporation a salary of $10,000 per annum, together with necessary traveling expenses and expenses incurred for subsistence or per diem allowance in lieu thereof, within the limitations prescribed by law, while away from his official residence in the performance of duties required by this act. The Secretary of War, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Postmaster General shall receive no additional compensation for their services as directors. The board shall elect a chairman from among its members. (b) The terms of office of the six appointed directors first taking office shall expire, as designated by the President at the time of the incorporation, two at the end of the third year, two at the end of the sixth year, and two at the end of the ninth year after the date of the incorporation. The terms of office of all successors shall expire nine years after the expiration of the terms for which their predecessors were appointed; but any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the unexpired term of his predecessor. (c) The board shall meet at such times and places as the board may designate. (d) Vacancies in the board shall not impair the power of the remaining directors to execute the functions of the board. Six directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the corporation. (e) The board shall direct the exercise of all the functions of the corporation. CAPITAL STOCK SEC. 203. The authorized capital stock of the corporation shall be such amount as Congress fixes in the act accepting the report and plan of the commission submitted pursuant to section 5, and all of such amount is hereby subscribed by the United States. Such subscription shall be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury, within appropriations made therefor, in amounts of $5,000,000 or multiples thereof, upon call from time to time by the corporation, and after thirty days' notice of each call to the Secretary of the Treasury. Upon any such payment a receipt therefor shall be issued by the corporation to the United States and delivered to the Secretary of the Treasury, and shall be evidence of the stock ownership of the United States. ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES SEC. 204. The corporation may borrow money and issue its notes, bonds, or other evidence of indebtedness therefor, except that the corporation shall not have power to issue or obligate itself in an amount of notes, bonds, or other |