only, was in bona fide operation on March 1, 1950, during the season ordinarily covered by its operations and has so operated since that time), except in either instance as to interruptions of service over which such applicant or its predecessor in interest had no control, the Commission shall issue a certificate authorizing such operations without requiring further proof that public convenience and necessity will be served thereby, and without further proceedings, if application for such certificate is made to the Commission as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and within one hundred and twenty days after the date on which this subparagraph takes effect. Pending the determination of any such application, the continuance of such operation without a certificate shall be lawful. Any carrier which, on the date this subparagraph takes effect, is engaged in an operation of the character specified in the foregoing provisions of this subparagraph, but was not engaged in such operation on March 1, 1950, may under such regulations as the Commission shall prescribe, if application for a certificate is made to the Commission within one hundred and twenty days after the date on which this subparagraph takes effect, continue such operation without a certificate pending the determination of such application in accordance with section 207 (a)."

SEC. 3. Paragraph (a) of section 209 of such part II is hereby amended by inserting "(1)" after "(a)" where it appears at the beginning of such paragraph, and by inserting at the end of such paragraph two subparagraphs as follows:

"(2) Unless otherwise specifically indicated in such permit, the holder of any permit heretofore issued under this part, or hereafter issued under this part pursuant to an application filed on or before the date on which this paragraph takes effect, authorizing the holder thereof to engage as a contract carrier by motor vehicle in the transportation in interstate or foreign commerce of passengers or property over any route or routes or within any territory, may without making application under this part engage, to the same extent and subject to the same terms, conditions, and limitations, as a contract carrier by motor vehicle in the transportation of passengers or property, as the case may be, over such route or routes or within such territory, in commerce between places in the United States and places in Territories or possessions of the United States.

"(3) Subject to the provisions of section 210, if any person (or its predecessor in interest) was in bona fide operation on March 1, 1950, over any route or routes or within any territory, as a contract carrier engaged in the transportation of passengers or property by motor vehicle in commerce between any place in the United States and any place in a Territory or possession of the United States, and has so operated since that time (or if engaged in furnishing seasonal service only, was in bona fide operation on March 1, 1950, during the season ordinarily covered by its operations and has so operated since that time), except in either instance as to interruptions of service over which such applicant or its predecessor in interest had no control, the Commission shall issue a permit authorizing such operations, without further proceedings, if application for such permit is made to the Commission as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and within one hundred and twenty days after the date on which this subparagraph takes effect. Pending the determination of any such applica

tion, the continuance of such operation without a permit shall be lawful. Any carrier which, on the date this subparagraph takes effect, is engaged in an operation of the character specified in the foregoing provisions of this subparagraph, but was not engaged in such operation on March 1, 1950, may under such regulations as the Commission shall prescribe, if application for a permit is made to the Commission within one hundred and twenty days after the date on which this subparagraph takes effect, continue such operation without a permit pending the determination of such application in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.”

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon the date of its enactment, except that the first section of this Act shall take effect on the one hundred and twentieth day after such date.

Approved September 1, 1950.

[CHAPTER 936-2D SESSION]

[S. 868]

AN ACT

To provide for the dissemination of technological, scientific, and engineering information to American business and industry, and for other purposes,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the purpose of this Act is to make the results of technological research and development more readily available to industry and business, and to the general public, by clarifying and defining the functions and responsibilities of the Department of Commerce as a central clearinghouse for technical information which is useful to American industry and business.

CLEARINGHOUSE FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") is hereby directed to establish and maintain within the Department of Commerce a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of scientific, technical, and engineering information, and to this end to take such steps as he may deem necessary and desirable

(a) To search for, collect, classify, coordinate, integrate, record, and catalog such information from whatever sources, foreign and domestic, that may be available;

(b) To make such information available to industry and business, to State and local governments, to other agencies of the Federal Government, and to the general public, through the preparation of abstracts, digests, translations, bibliographies, indexes, and microfilm and other reproductions, for distribution either directly or by utilization of business, trade, technical, and scientific publications and services:

(c) To effect, within the limits of his authority as now or hereafter defined by law, and with the consent of competent authority, the removal of restrictions on the dissemination of scientific and technical data in cases where consideration of national security permit the release of such data for the benefit of industry and business.

RULES, REGULATIONS, FEES

SEC. 3. The Secretary is authorized to make, amend, and rescind such orders, rules, and regulations as he may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, and to establish, from time to time, a schedule or schedules of reasonable fees or charges for services performed or for documents or other publications furnished under this Act: Provided, That all moneys hereafter received by the Secretary in payment for publications under this Act shall be deposited in a special account in the Treasury, such account to be available, subject to authorization in any appropriation Act, for reimbursing any appropriation then current and chargeable for the cost of furnishing copies or reproductions as herein authorized, and for

making refunds to organizations and individuals when entitled thereto: And provided further, That an appropriation reimbursed by this special account shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, be available for the purposes of the original appropriation.

It is the policy of this Act, to the fullest extent feasible and consistent with the objectives of this Act, that each of the services and functions provided herein shall be self-sustaining or self-liquidating and that the general public shall not bear the cost of publications and other services which are for the special use and benefit of private groups and individuals; but nothing herein shall be construed to require the levying of fees or charges for services performed or publications furnished to any agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government, or for publications which are distributed pursuant to reciprocal arrangements for the exchange of information or which are otherwise issued primarily for the general benefit of the public.

REFERENCE OF DATA TO ARMED SERVICES

SEC. 4. The Secretary is directed to refer to the armed services all scientific or technical information, coming to his attention, which he deems to have an immediate or potential practical military value or significance, and to refer to the heads of other Government agencies such scientific or technical information as relates to activities within the primary responsibility of such agencies.

GENERAL STANDARDS AND LIMITATIONS

SEC. 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary shall respect and preserve the security classification of any scientific or technical information, data, patents, inventions, or discoveries in, or coming into, the possession or control of the Department of Commerce, the classified status of which the President or his designee or designees certify as being essential in the interest of national defense, and nothing in this Act shall be construed as modifying or limiting any other statute relating to the classification of information for reasons of national defense or security.

UTILIZATION OF EXISTING FACILITIES

SEC. 6. (a) The Secretary may utilize any personnel, facilities, bureaus, agencies, boards, administrations, offices, or other instrumentalities of the Department of Commerce which he may require to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(b) The Secretary is hereby authorized to call upon other departments and independent establishments and agencies of the Government to provide, with their consent, such available services, facilities, or other cooperation as he shall deem necessary or helpful in carrying out the provisions of this Act, and he is directed to utilize existing facilities to the full extent deemed feasible.

RELATION TO OTHER ACTS

SEC. 7. Nothing herein shall be construed to repeal or amend any other legislation pertaining to the Department of Commerce or its component offices or bureaus.

Approved September 9, 1950.

[CHAPTER 1137-2D SESSION]

(H. R. 9840)

AN ACT

To exempt furlough travel of service personnel from the tax on transportation of persons.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That effective with respect to amounts paid after the date of enactment of this Act

(a) Section 12 of the Act of August 8, 1947, entitled “An Act to terminate certain tax provisions before the end of World War II" (61 Stat. 919), is hereby repealed.

(b) Section 3469 (f) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(2) EXEMPTION OF MEMBERS OF MILITARY AND NAVAL SERVICE.-The tax imposed by this section shall not apply to the payment for transportation or facilities furnished under special tariffs providing for fares of not more than 2.025 cents per mile applicable to round-trip tickets sold to personnel of the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard traveling in uniform of the United States at their own expense when on official leave, furlough, or pass, including authorized cadets and midshipmen, issued on presentation of properly exe cuted certificate."