TRANSFER OF PUBLIC WORKS FUNCTIONS HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURES IN THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS SEVENTIETH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H. R. 8127 A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSFER TO THE TRANSFER OF PUBLIC WORKS FUNCTIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURES IN THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS, A quorum being present, the committee came to order at 10.30 a. m., Hon. William Williamson, South Dakota (chairman), presiding. The chairman informed the committee that Mr. Albert S. Connolly had received a serious injury in an automobile accident, and it was the sense of the committee that the investigation, in which Mr. Connolly is interesting himself, should be indefinitely postponed by this committee pending the recovery of Mr. Connelly. The chairman laid before the committee H. R. 8127, a bill to provide for the transfer to the Department of the Interior of the public-works functions of the Federal Government, and for other purposes, a bill introduced by Hon. Adam M. Wyant, a Representative for the State of Pennsylvania, and referred to this committee. The chairman directed the clerk to read the bill. It follows: [H. R. 8127, Seventieth Congress, first session] A BILL To provide for the transfer to the Department of the Interior of the public-work functions of the Federal Government, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby transferred to the Department of the Interior, effective at the beginning of the fiscal year next succeeding the date of this act, the Bureau of Public Roads, except the Agricultural Engineering Division thereof; the office of the Supervising Architect; the office of the Architect of the Capitol; river and harbor improvement, including the Board of Engineers on Rivers and Harbors, and the duties of the Chief of Engineers appertaining thereto; the Mississippi River Commission; the California Débris Commission; the Alaska telegraph and cable system; and all other engineering and construction work of a civil character, including all jurisdiction with respect to navigable waters, Department of War, except such as may pertain to military affairs. The Board of Road Commissioners for Alaska; the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks, and the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Commission are hereby abolished, and the powers, duties, and authority conferred and imposed by law upon said boards or commissions shall be held, exercised, and performed by the Secretary of the Interior, through such instrumentalities as he may determine, with the approval of the President. The Inland Water Ways Corporation is hereby transferred from the jurisdiction of the War Department to that of the Department of the Interior. The Commission of Fine Arts is hereby transferred to the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, and the authorities, powers, and duties conferred by law, Executive order, or otherwise, upon said commission shall remain with the commission, except that the Secretary of the Interior shall direct the efforts of the commission to conform with the public-works functions of his department, with the approval of the President. 1 |