Maritime Activities

Maritime Activities Ship construction (liquidation of contract authorization): For an additional amount for “Ship construction”, for the payment of obligations incurred on or after July 1, 1946, pursuant to authority heretofore granted under this head to enter into contracts for ship construction, reconditioning, and betterments, $59,000,000, to remain available until expended. Operating-differential subsidies: For the payment of obligations incurred for operating-differential subsidies granted on or after January 1, 1947, as authorized by the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, and in appropriations heretofore made to the United States Maritime Commission, $20,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That to the extent that the operating-differential subsidy accrual (computed on the basis of parity) is represented on the operator’s books by a contingent accounts receivable item against the United States as a partial or complete offset to the recapture accrual, the operator (1) shall be excused from making deposits in the special reserve fund, and (2) as to the amount of such earnings the deposit of which is so excused shall be entitled to the same tax treatment as though it had been deposited in said special reserve fund. To the extent that any amount paid to the operator by the United States reduces the balance in the operator’s contingent receivable account against the United States, such amount, unless it is forthwith deposited in the fund, shall be considered as withdrawn under section 607 (h) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended: Provided further, That nothing contained in this Act, or in any prior Appropriation Act, shall be construed to affect the authority provided in section 603 (a) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, (1) to grant operating-differential subsidies on a long-term basis, and (2) to obligate the United States to make future payments in accordance with the terms of such operating-differential subsidy contracts: Provided further, That no part of the foregoing appropriation shall be available for obligation, nor any obligation made, for the payment of an operating-differential subsidy for any number of voyages, during the current fiscal year, in excess of sixteen hundred, which number shall include the number of voyages under contracts hereafter awarded and of which one hundred shall be for operators who have not held contracts prior to July 1, 1952. Salaries and expenses: For expenses necessary for carrying into effect the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, and other laws administered by the Federal Maritime Board and the Maritime Administration, $15,500,000, within limitations as follows: 67 Stat. 380 Administrative expenses, including not to exceed $2,000 for newspapers and periodicals; not to exceed $1,125 for entertainment of officials of other countries when specifically authorized by the Maritime Administrator; not to exceed $145,000 for expenses of travel; and $75,000 to be available exclusively for ship structure research, testing and models; $7,200,000; Provided, That funds transferred to this appropriation from the Vessel Operations Revolving Fund established under the provisions of the Act of June 2, 1951 (46 U. S. C. 1241 (a)) shall not exceed a sum sufficient to provide for the average employment of two hundred and ninety employees during the current fiscal year; Maintenance of shipyard facilities, operation of warehouses, and maintenance and operation of terminals, including not to exceed $2,490 for expenses of travel, $1,300,000; Reserve fleet expenses, $7,000,000, including not to exceed $7,490 for expenses of travel. Maritime training: For training personnel for the manning of the merchant marine (including operation of training stations at Kings Point, New York; Sheepshead Bay, New York; Alameda, California, and the United States Maritime Service Institute), including not to exceed $2,500,000 for personal services in the District of Columbia and elsewhere which may be used to provide pay and allowances for personnel of the United States Maritime Service comparable to those of the Coast Guard as authorized by law (46 U. S. C. 1126,14 F. R. 7707); purchase of two passenger motor vehicles, for replacement only; not to exceed $2,500 for contingencies for the Superintendent, United States Merchant Marine Academy, to be expended in his discretion; not to exceed $25,625 for expenses of travel; and not to exceed $72,500 for transfer to applicable appropriations of the Public Health Service for services rendered the Maritime Administration; $3,480,000, including uniform and textbook allowances for cadet midshipmen, at an average yearly cost of not to exceed $200 per cadet: Provided, That except as herein provided for uniform and textbook allowances this appropriation shall not be used for compensation or allowances for trainees or cadets. State marine schools: To reimburse the State of California, $47,500; the State of Maine, $47,500; the State of Massachusetts, $47,500; and the State of New York, $47,500; for expenses incurred in the maintenance and support of marine schools in such States as provided in the Act authorizing the establishment of marine schools, and so forth, approved March 4, 1911, as amended (34 U. S. C. 1121–1123); $379,800 for the maintenance and repair of vessels loaned by the United States to the said States for use in connection with such State marine schools including necessary expenses of converting one vessel from laid-up status to State training status; and $320,200 for allowances for uniforms, textbooks, and subsistence of cadets at State marine schools, to be paid in accordance with regulations established pursuant to law (46 U. S.C. 1126 (b)); $890,000. War Shipping Administration liquidation: The unexpended balance of the appropriation to the Secretary of the Treasury in the Second Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1948, for liquidation of obligations approved by the General Accounting Office as properly incurred against funds of the War Shipping Administration prior to January 1, 1947, is hereby continued available during the current fiscal year, and shall be available for the payment of obligations incurred against the working fund titled: “Working fund, Commerce, War Shipping Administration functions, December 31, 1946”. 67 Stat. 381 No additional vessels shall be allocated under charter, nor shall any vessel be continued under charter by reason of any extension of chartering authority beyond June 30, 1949, unless the charterer shall agree that the Maritime Administration shall have no obligation upon re-delivery to accept or pay for consumable stores, bunkers, and slop-chest items, except with respect to such minimum amounts of bunkers as the Maritime Administration considers advisable to be retained on the vessel and that prior to such redelivery all consumable stores, slop-chest items, and bunkers over and above such minimums shall be removed from the vessel by the charterer at his own expense. No money made available to the Department of Commerce, for maritime activities, by this or any other Act shall be used in payment for a vessel the title to which is acquired by the Government either by requisition or purchase, or the use of which is taken either by requisition or agreement, or which is insured by the Government and lost while so insured, unless the price or hire to be paid therefor (except in cases where section 802 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, is applicable) is computed in accordance with subsection 902 (a) of said Act, as that subsection is interpreted by the General Accounting Office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Maritime Administration is authorized to furnish utilities and services and make necessary repairs in connection with any lease, contract, or occupancy involving Government property under control of the Maritime Administration, and payments received by the Maritime administration for utilities, services, and repairs so furnished or made shall be credited to the appropriation charged with the cost thereof: Provided, That rental payments under any such lease, contract, or occupancy on account of items other than such utilities, services, or repairs shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. No obligations shall be incurred during the current fiscal year from the construction fund established by the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, or otherwise, in excess of the appropriations and limitations contained in this Act, or in any prior appropriation Act, and all receipts which otherwise would be deposited to the credit of said fund shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.