duties of administrator with respect to service

duties of administrator with respect to service Sec. 2002. The Administrator shall— (1) establish, maintain, and operate canteens where deemed necessary and practicable at hospitals and homes of the Veterans’ Administration and at other Veterans’ Administration establishments where similar essential facilities are not reasonably available from outside commercial sources; (2) establish, maintain, and operate such warehouses and storage depots as may be necessary in operating the canteens; (3) furnish the Service, without charge, rental, or reimbursement, for its use in connection with the establishment, maintenance, and operation thereof, such space, buildings, and structures under control of the Veterans’ Administration as he may consider necessary, including normal maintenance and repair service thereon; (4) transfer to the Service without charge, rental, or reimbursement such necessary equipment as may not be needed for other purposes, and furnish the Service such services and utilities, including light, water, and heat, as may be available and necessary for its use. Reasonable charges, to be determined by the Administrator, shall be paid annually by the Service for the utilities so furnished; (5) employ such persons as are necessary for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of the Service, and to pay the salaries, wages, and expenses of all such employees from the funds of the Service. Personnel necessary for the transaction of the business of the Service at canteens, warehouses, and storage depots shall be appointed, compensated from funds of the Service, and removed by the Administrator without regard to civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1949. Such employees shall be subject to the Veterans’ Preference Act of 1944, the Civil Service Retirement Act, and laws administered by the Bureau of Em-71 Stat. 153ployees Compensation applicable to civilian employees of the United States; (6) make all necessary contracts or agreements to purchase or sell merchandise, fixtures, equipment, supplies, and services, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (41 U. S. C., sec. 5), and to do all things necessary to carry out such contracts or agreements, including the making of necessary adjustments and compromising of claims in connection therewith; (7) fix the prices of merchandise and services in canteens so as to carry out the purposes of this title; (8) accept gifts and donations of merchandise, fixtures, equipment, and supplies for the use and benefit of the Service; (9) make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this title, as he considers necessary or appropriate to effectuate its purposes; (10) delegate such duties and powers to employees as he considers necessary or appropriate, whose official acts performed within the scope of the delegated authority shall have the same force and effect as though performed by the Administrator; (11) authorize the use of funds of the Service when available, subject to such regulations as he may deem appropriate, and without regard to the provisions of sections 3639 and 3651, Revised Statutes of the United States (31 U. S. C., secs. 521, 543), for the purpose of cashing checks, money orders, and similar instruments in nominal amounts for the payment of money presented by veterans hospitalized or domiciled at hospitals and homes of the Veterans-Administration, and by other persons authorized by section 2003 to make purchases at canteens. Such checks, money orders, and other similar instruments may be cashed outright or may be accepted, subject to strict administrative controls, in payment for merchandise or services, and the difference between the amount of the purchase and the amount of the tendered instrument refunded in cash.