Joint resolution to establish the sesquicentennial commission for the celebration of the Battle of New Orleans, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire certain property within Chalmette National Historical Park, and for other purposes
PL 87-759 (S.J.Res.60), enacted 10/09/1962

76 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-759-OCT. 9, 1962 
7K. 
Public Law 87-759 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To establish the sesquicentennial commission for the celebration of the Battle of 
New Orleans, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire certain prop-
erty within Chalmette National Historical Park, and for other purposes. 
October 9, 1962 
[S. J. Res. 60] 
sion. 
Establishment. 
Function. 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Eepresentatives 
of the United 
/States of America in Congress assembled^ That (a) there is hereby 
Battle of New 
established a commission to be known as the "Battle of New Orleans cemenniL^S^ 
Sesquicentennial Celebration Commission" (hereinafter referred to bration commis 
as the "Commission") which shall be composed of twenty-three mem-
bers as f 
ollow's: 
(1) Eight members who shall be Members of the Senate, to be 
appointed by the President of the Senate (two each from Louisiana, 
Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee); 
(2) Eight members who shall be Members of the House of Repre-
sentatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives (two each from Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Ten-
nessee) ; 
(3) One representative of the Department of the Interior who shall 
be the Director of the National Park Service, or his designee, and 
who shall serve as executive officer of the Commission; and 
(4) Six Members to be appointed by the President, 
(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. 
SEC. 2. The function of the Commission shall be to develop and to 
execute plans for the observance in December 1964 and January 1965 
of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Chalmette, 
or New^ Orleans. 
In carrying out these functions, the Commission 
is authorized to cooperate with and to assist such groups as the State 
of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans may establish to celebrate 
the sesquicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans. 
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 w^ould 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 
authorized by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, as of the 
same date such rates are authorized for positions subject to said Act. 
The Commission 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 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 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 resolution: Provided^ however^ That all 
expenditures of the Commission shiall 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 Avho shall account also for all funds received by the 
Employees, com-
pensation. 
63 Stat. 954. 
5 u s e 1071 
note. 
Acceptance of 
donations, etc. 
gress. 
tion. 
756 
PUBLIC LAW 87-759-OCT. 9, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
Commission. A report of the activities of the Commission, including 
5in accounting of funds received and expended, shall be furnished by 
the Commission to the Congress within one year following the cele-
Report to Con- 
bration as prescribed by this resolution. The Commission shall termi-
nate upon submission of its report to the Confess. 
Property, use. 
(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 Com-
mission expenses, derived from Commission activities, shall be depos-
ited in the Treasury of the United States. 
Lands, acquisi- 
SEC, 5. WitWn the boundaries of Chalmette National Historical 
Park as designated by the Secretary of the Interior on March 20, 
1
6 use 231- 
1958, pursuant to the Act of August 10, 1939 (53 Stat. 1342), and 
^^^^- 
depicted on drawing numbered NHP-CHAI^7008, said Secretary, 
notwithstanding the proviso in section 3 of said Act, is hereby author-
ized to acquire the following lands and interests in lands with funds 
heretofore appropriated and otherwise available for such purpose: 
Beginning at the point of intersection of the west line of 
Fazendeville Road with a line 50 feet south of southerly boundary 
of right-of-way of the Louisiana Southern Railway at coordinate 
point X—2,425,730.76 and Y—467,506.11; (the bearings and coor-
dinates herein stated are in accord with the Louisiana geodetic 
survey plane grid system); and running thence south 66 degrees 
32 minutes 46 seconds east, parallel to said southerly boundary of 
right-of-way of Louisiana Southern Railway, a distance of 30 
feet to coordinate point X—2,425,758.28 and Y—467,494.17; 
thence south 23 degrees 45 minutes 21 seconds west for a distance 
of 917.90 feet along the east right-of-way of Fazendeville Road 
to a point; 
Thence south 66 degrees 14 minutes 39 seconds east for a distance 
of 161.83 feet to a point; thence south 23 degrees 45 minutes 21 
seconds west on a line parallel to Fazendeville Road for a distance 
of 1,406.51 feet to a point; thence north 64 degrees 19 minutes 9 
seconds west for a distance of 161.92 feet to a point on the east 
right-of-way of Fazendeville Road; thence south 23 degrees 45 
minutes 21 seconds west along the east right-of-way of Fazende-
ville Road for a distance of 19.41 feet to a point; 
Thence south 64 degrees 19 minutes 9 seconds east for a distance 
of 95.70 feet to a point; thence south 23 degrees 45 minutes 21 
seconds west on a line parallel to Fazendeville Road for a distance 
of 54.90 feet to a point; thence north 64 degrees 19 minutes 9 
seconds west for a distance of 95.70 feet to a point on the east 
ri^ht-of-way of Fazendeville Road; thence south 23 degrees 45 
minutes 21 seconds along the east right-of-way of Fazendeville 
Road for a distance of 279.44 feet to a point; 
Thence crossing Fazendeville Road on a line running north 
49 degrees 02 minutes 49 seconds west for a distance of 31.40 
feet to a point on the west right-of-way of Fazendeville Road; 
thence north 23 degrees 45 minutes 21 seconds east along the 
west right-of-way of Fazendeville Road for a distance of 2,663.28 
feet to a point which is the point of beginning; containing 7.02 
acres more or less, including 1.83 acres more or less within the 
right-of-way of the Fazendeville Road; and excluding lot 15, as 
shown on a map of survey by F. C. Gandolfo, Junior, dated 
January 9, 1953, and being in section 10 of township 13 south, 
range 12 east, parish of Saint Bernard, State of Louisiana, and 
known locally as Fazendeville. 
76 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-759-OCT. 9, 1962 
757 
SEC. 6. The loint resolution of July 14, 1960 (Public Law 86-650), 
u. s. constitu-
T
T
,
'
'
T
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n 
^ 
' 
tion, anniversary. 
IS amended to read as lollows: 
74 stat. sos. 
u 
DECLARATION OF POLICY 
"SECTION 1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to 
authorize appropriate activities on the part of the Federal Govern-
ment in celebration of the oiie hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary 
of the formation of the Constitution of the United States and to pro-
vide a means whereby similar activities by the States and by the people 
may be encouraged and coordinated in a comprehensive national 
observance to the end that our citizens may gain a deeper appreciation 
of the priceless national heritage represented by the Constitution as 
a living document and a renewed zeal for the perpetuation and 
advancement of the ideals of government of which it is the embodi-
ment. 
"ESTABLISHMENT or 
THE COMMISSION 
"SEC. 2. (a) For the purpose of carrying out the policy set forth 
in section 1 of this Act, there is hereby established a commission, to 
be known as the 'United States Constitution One Hundred and 
Seventy-fifth Anniversa^ry Commission' (hereinafter referred to as 
the 'Commission') for the celebration of the one hundred and seventy-
fifth anniversary of the existence of the Constitution, and to be com-
posed of twelve Commissioners, as follows: The President of the 
United States; the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
House of Eepresentatives, ex officio; three persons to be appointed by 
the President of the United States; three Senators to be appointed by 
the President of the Senate; and three Representatives by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives. 
"(b) Service of an individual as a member of the Commission or 
employment of an individual by the Commission as an attorney, or 
expert in any business or professional field, on a part-time or full-time 
basis, with or without compensation, shall not be considered as service 
or employment bringing such individual within the provisions of 
sections 281,283,284,434, or 1914 of title 18 of the United States Code, 
or section 190 of the Revised Statutes (5 U.S.C. 99). 
"(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. 
"(d) A person appointed to the Comptiission in the status of a 
Member of Congress, but who thereafter ceases to have such status, 
shall nevertheless continue as a member of the Commission. 
United States 
Constitution One 
Hvindred and Sev-
enty-fifth Anniver-
sary Commission. 
Conflict of in-
terest. 
(( 
COMPENSATION OF T H E COMMISSION 
"SEC. 3, The members of the Commission shall serve without com-
pensation, but they shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and 
other necessary expenses incui;red by them in the performance of the 
duties vested in the Commission. 
ORGANIZATION AND STAFF OF T H E COMMISSION 
"SEC. 4. (a) The Commission shall select a Chairman from among 
its members. 
"(b) The Chairman may appoint an Executive Director, to serve 
at his pleasure, whose compensation shall be fixed by the Commission. 
"(c) The Executive Director, with the approval of the Chairman, 
may appoint and fix the compensation of such assistants and sub-
ordinates as he deems necessary. 
"(d) The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services to the same extent as is authorized by section 15 of the Act of 
758 
PUBUC LAW 87-759-OCT. 9, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
60 Stat. 810. 
August 2,1946 (5 U.S.C. 55a), but at rates not to exceed $50 per diem 
for individuals. 
"(e) Neither the civil service laws nor the Classification Act of 
63 Stat. 954. 
1949, as amended, shall apply to any exercise of the authority con-
5 use 1071 note, fgrred by subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this section: Provided^ how-
ever^ That no employee whose position would be subject to the Classi-
fication 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 authorized by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, as 
of the same date such rates are authorized for positions subject to said 
Act. 
The Commission shall make adequate provision for administra-
tive review of any determination to dismiss any employee. 
"(f) Mail matter sent by the Commission as penalty mail or franked 
mail shall be accepted for mail subject to Section 4156 of title 39, 
74 Stat. 661. 
United States Code, as amended. 
"OFFICE SPACE FOR THE COMMISSION 
"SEC. 5. The Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with the 
Commission, shall make available to it such office space in a building 
or buildings in the Independence National Historical Park as, in the 
judgment of the Secretary, it may require for performance of its 
functions. 
"DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION 
"SEC. 6. (a) The Commission shall request the cooperation of appro-
priate officials in all branches, departments, and agencies of the United 
States in planning ceremonies or other activities in their respective 
components of the Federal Government in observance of the one 
hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the formation of the Con-
stitution, and all such officials are authorized and requested to consult 
with the Commission. 
"(b) The Commission shall request the appointment by the Gover-
nors of each of the fifty States of individuals or committees to consult 
with the Commission and to assist in coordinating the activities of the 
Federal Government, the governments of the States, and private indi-
viduals and organizations in carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
"(c) The Commission shall take appropriate action to encourage, 
assist, and coordinate activities by municipal, county, and other local 
governmental units in carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
"(d) The Commission shall make its assistance available to public 
and private schools in planning programs, ceremonies, and other 
activities, and obtaining written and audiovisual materials for use in 
such activities in connection with the anniversary. 
"(e) The Commission shall solicit the cooperation of colleges, uni-
versities, and other institutions of higher education in encouraging 
the study and understanding of the Constitution by suitable recogni-
tion through scholarships or otherwise of promising students who dis-
play an interest in it. 
"(f) The Commission shall solicit the cooperation of, and make its 
assistance available to, civic, patriotic, and religious organizations 
undertaking any activities in connection with the anniversary. 
" (g) The Commission shall endeavor to promote worldwide under-
standing of the United States Constitution by encouraging, and if 
practicable assisting in, student exchange programs and any other 
means by which citizens of foreign countries may be afforded oppor-
tunities to learn about our constitutional processes. 
76 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-759-OCT. 9, 1%2 
759 
"(h) The Commission is authorized to accept on behalf of the 
United States such gifts of money or other property as in its judg-
ment may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act, but 
shall be accountable therefor in the same manner as for appropriated 
funds or property purchased with appropriated funds. 
"PROCLAMATIONS BY THE PRESIDENT 
"SEC. 7. The President is hereby authorized and requested to issue 
proclamations— 
"(1) designating September 17, 1962, as Constitution Day and 
calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day °*^ 
with special ceremonies and other activities in celebration of the 
one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the formation of 
the Constitution; 
"(2) designating December 15,1962, as Bill of Rights Day and 
calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day 
with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and 
" (3) designating the period from September 17,1962, to July 4, 
1963, inclusive, as a period dedicated to a renewal of national 
awareness of the priceless heritage which the Constitution repre-
sents, and calling upon the people of the United States to engage 
in such educational and inspirational activities as will deepen 
their understanding of the Constitution and strengthen their 
devotion to it. 
Constitution 
Bill of Rights 
Day. 
"DISTRIBUTION OF COPIES OF THE CONSTITUTION 
"SEC. 8. The Attorney General, acting through the Immigration 
and Naturalization Service, is hereby authorized and directed to make 
available a suitable copy of the Constitution of the United States and 
the amendments thereto to each person entering the 
JJnited States dur-
ing the one-year period which begins on September 17,1962. 
"DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY or THE COMMISSION 
^ 
"SEC. 9. (a) After the Commission has discharged all its functions 
pursuant to this Act except for those under this section and section 10, 
it shall transfer to the Secretary of the Interior such of its records and 
other property as in his judgment are appropriate for permanent 
preservation or display in the Independence National Historical Park. 
"(b) The Commission shall transfer the remainder of its records 
and property to the Administrator of General Services, who shall hold 
and dispose of such records and property in accordance with the Fed-
eral Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. 
"FINAL REPORT OF COMMISSION 
"SEC. 10. The Commission shall make a final report of its activities 
to the Congress on or before the first dajr of the second session of the 
Eighty-eighth Congress, and upon the filing of such report, the Com-
mission shall cease to exist. 
63 Stat. 377. 
40 use 471 
note. 
u. 
EXPENDITURES OF THE COMMISSION 
"SEC. 11. All expenditures of the Commission shall be made from 
donated funds only." 
SEC. 7. Nothing contained in this joint resolution shall affect the 
validity of actions heretofore lawfully taken under authority of the 
joint resolution of July 14,1960 (Public Law 86-650). 
Approved October 9, 1962. 
74 Stat. 508.