Joint resolution to establish a Commission to develop and execute plans for the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie, and for other purposes
PL 87-883 (S.J.Res.208), enacted 10/24/1962

1244 
PUBLIC LAW 87-883-OCT. 24, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
October 24, 1962 
[S. J. Res. 208] 
Battle of Lake 
Erl^ Sesquicen-
tennial Celebra-
tion Commission. 
Establishment. 
Membership. 
Public Law 87-883 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To establish a Commission to develop and execute plans for the celebration of the 
one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie, and for 
other purposes. 
Whereas the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the renowned 
naval Battle of Lake Erie near Put-in-Bay, Ohio, will occur in 
September 1963; 
Whereas the decisive victory of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry on 
September 10, 1813, over the British naval forces in Lake Erie had 
profound results on the conclusion of the War of 1812 and the future 
of the United States as a nation; 
Whereas this victory of the small squadron commanded by Commo-
dore Perry marked the only time in the history of the world that an 
entire British squadron surrendered to an enemy; 
Whereas Commodore Perry's report following this engagement, "We 
have met the enemy, and they are ours . . . two ships, two brigs, 
one schooner and one sloop", electrified the young Nation at that 
time and will ever be remembered in the annals of American history; 
Whereas the War of 1812 on the land and sea areas of the United 
States and Canada introduced these two great English-speaking 
nations to a period of one hundred and fifty years of permanent 
peace and mutual respect along an unfortified three-thousand-mile 
common boundary; 
Whereas this struggle resulted in memorializing the principle of inter-
national peace by arbitration and disarmament and lasting peace 
among nations; 
Whereas the enduring results of this conflict have cemented more 
strongly the cultural and economic ties which exist between Canada 
and the United States as a demonstration of peace and good will in 
a world today fraught with unrest and fear: Therefore be it 
Resolved hy the Senate and, House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled^ That (a) there is hereby 
established a commission to be known as the "Battle of Lake Erie 
Sesquicentennial Celebration Commission" (hereinafter referred to 
as the "Commission") which shall be composed of thirteen members 
as follows: 
(1) Four members who shall be Members of the Senate, to be 
appointed by the President of the Senate (two of whom shall be 
from the State of Ohio) ; 
(2) Four members who shall be Members of the House of 
Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives (two of whom shall be from the State of 
Ohio); 
(3) One representative of the Department of the Interior who 
shall be designated by the Secretary of the Interior and who 
shall serve as executive officer of the Commission; and 
(4) Four members to be appointed by the President of the 
United States. 
76 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-883-OCT. 24, 1962 
1245 
Functions. 
Compensation. 
5 u s e 1113; 
Ante, 
p. 843. 
Acceptance of 
(b) The President shall, at the time of appointment, designate one 
of the members appointed by him to serve as Chairman. 
The members 
of the Commission shall receive no salary. 
(c) Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but 
shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
SEC. 2. The functions of the Commission shall be to develop and to 
execute suitable plans for the celebration, in 1963, of the one hundred 
and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie. 
SEC. 3. The Commission may employ, without regard to the civil 
service laws or the Classification Act of 1949, such employees as may 
be necessary in carrying out its functions: Provided^ however^ That no 
employee whose position would be subject to the Classification Act 
of 1949, as amended, if said Act were applicable to such position, 
shall be paid a salary at a rate in excess of the rate payable under said 
Act for positions of equivalent difficulty or responsibility. 
Such rates 
of compensation may be adopted by the Commission as may be author-
ized by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, as of the same date 
such rates are authorized for positions subject to said Act. 
The Com-
mission shall make adequate provision for administrative review of 
any determination to dismiss any employee. 
SEC. 4. (a) The Commission is authorized to accept donations of 
money, property, or personal services; to cooperate with agencies of donations, etc. 
State and local governments, with patriotic and historical societies 
and with institutions of learning; and to call upon other Federal 
departments or agencies for their advice and assistance in carrying out 
the purposes of this joint resolution. 
The Commission, to such extent 
as it finds to be necessary, may procure supplies, services, and property 
and make contracts, and may exercise those powers that are necessary 
to enable it to carry out efficiently and in the public interest the 
purposes of this joint resolution: Provided^ however^ That all expendi-
tures of the Commission shall be made from donated funds only. 
(b) Expenditures of the Commission shall be paid by the executive 
officer of the Commission, who shall keep complete records of such 
expenditures and who shall account for all funds received by the Com-
mission. A report of the activities of the Commission, including an 
accounting of funds received and expended, shall be furnished by the 
Commission to the Congress within one year following the termi-
nation of the celebration as prescribed by this joint resolution. 
The 
Commission shall terminate upon submission of its report to the 
Congress. 
(c) Any property acquired by the Commission remaining upon 
termination of the celebration may be used by the Secretary of the 
Interior for purposes of the national park system or may be disposed 
of as surplus property. 
The net revenues, after payment of Commis-
sion expenses, derived from Commission activities, shall be deposited 
in the Treasury of the United States. 
(d) Mail matter sent by the Commission as penalty mail or franked 
mail shall be accepted for mail subject to section 4156 of title 39, 
United States Code, as amended. 
Approved October 24, 1962. 
Expenditures. 
Report to Con-
gress. 
Property or rev-
enues, disposal. 
Franked mail. 
74 Stat, 661.