The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-28
FOR SECRETARY
Of AERCNAu1Ics

In the house of representatives Mr..
Hubert introduced the following bill.
which was referred to the committee
on military affairs and ordered to be
printed
A bill TO establish a department of
aeronautics and for other purposes.
BE it enacted by the senate and
house of representatives of the United
States of America in congress assem-
bled. that there be at the seat of gov
eminent an executive department
known as the departments of aeronau-
tics, and a secretary of aeronauucs.
who shall lac the head thereof; and
the provisions of title four of the
revised statutes. including all amend
ments thereto, are hereby made APP
plicable to said department. The
secretary Of aerona1tics shall be APP
pointed by the president, by and with
the advice and consent of the senate.
at salary of $4,000 per annum and
with tenure of office like that OF the
heads of other executive departments,
and said secretary shall cause a seal
to he made for the department of
aeronautics of such device as the
president approves and judicial no.
tice shall 5e taken of said seal.
Section 2. That there be I'm the de-
partment of aeronautics an assistant
pointed by the president, who shall
receive a salary of $1,000 per annum.
He shall. perform such duties as are
required by law and such as are pre-
scribed by the secretary of aeronau-
ties. There shall also be chief
clerk whose salary shall be $4,000 per
laununn. A. dishurser clerk whose sal
AIRY shall be $4,000 per aftnuri. an
editor whose salary shall be $4,000
!
as congress may from time to time
| authorize. The auditor for the state
and other departments shall receive
and examine all accounts of salaries
and incidental expenses of the Office
| of the secretary of aeronautics and
of all bureaus and offices under his
| direction and all accounts relating
| to all other business within the jurIs-
diction OF the department of aero
| nautics, and shall certify the balance
arising thereon to the division of
| bookkeeping and warrants of the
| treasury department and forthwith
send a copy each such certificate
| to the secretary of aeronaufics
| Section 3. That 1t shall be the
province and duty OF the department
| OF aeronautics to supervise and pro-
| mote all matters pertaining to aero
nautics in its relation to the army and
| navy in times of war and peace and
| to endeavor TO improve and develop
! the science Of flying AS may be deemed
| aesira bile In the public interests and
| for the purpose of extending COM
merce on such other ends as may he
found practicable for the general bet
| terment of the country. and said de-
partment shall collect and disseminate
| information relating thereto as the
needs may require.
Section A. That to the department
of aeronautics are hereby transferred
the aeronautic section of the signal
corps of the department of war and
the Office of naval aeronautics of the
department of the navy and all that
pertains to them are hereby trans
ferred to the department OF aeronau-
tics. and they and-each- of them shall
remain under the supervision and
direction of the secretary of aeronau-
tics until otherwise directed by law
And the president is hereby au-
thorized to transfer to the depart
ment of aeronautics at any time either
the whole or any part. as to him may
seem best, of any bureau, division, or
other branch of the government en-
Gagged in work pertaining to aeronau-
tics.
And each and every function au-
thority. power. duty. and jurisdiction
of whatsoever character it may be,
vested at the time OF any transfer
aforesaid in the head of the executive
department from which such bureau,
division, or other branch Of the gov
eminent is transferred, shall. to the
extent to which such function, au-
thority. power. duty. or jurisdiction
pertains to such bureau, division or
other branch OF the government, I'm
mediately upon such transfer become
vested, and hereafter remain vested,
In the secretary OF aeronautics.
All land, buildings. furniture, APP
paratus. equipment and property OF
whatsoever description. and all off,
cial records and papers in the Gus
tody of any executive department from
which any bureau division. or other
branch OF the government is trans
ferred as aforesaid and pertaining
to the business of such transferred
bureau. division. or other branch OF
the government shall ri the time of
such transfer. or as Eooa thereafter
as practicable and in 80 far as such
action can be taken without hinder
ing the work Of the executive depart
ment from which such transfer is
made be given over into the custody
of the department of seronautics. And
all unexpended balances OF appropria-
TONS available q the tina a. saeh