An Act to authorize the construction of a building for a Museum of History and Technology for the Smithsonian Institution, including the preparation of plans and specifications, and all other work incidental thereto
PL 84-106 (H.R.6410), enacted 06/28/1955

69 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 106-JUNE 28, 1955 
189 
"CHAPTER 2e—REGULATION OF SALE AND USE OF FIREWORKS 
"Sec. 
"521. Regulations authorized. 
"522. Punishment for violations. 
"§ 521. Kegulations authorized 
"The Governor of the Canal Zone is authorized to prescribe, and 
from time to time alter and amend, regulations prohibiting, limiting, 
or otherwise regulating the sale and use of any fireworks within the 
Canal Zone, or any portions thereof, as he may deem necessary to 
public safety. 
"§ 522. Punishment for violations 
"Any person who shall violate any regulation prescribed under 
authority of the next preceding section shall be punishable by a fine of 
not more than $100 or by thirty days imprisonment in jail, or by both."' 
Approved June 28, 1955. 
Public Law 106 
CHAPTER 201 
AN ACT 
To authorize the construction of a building for a Museum of History and Tech-
nology for the Smithsonian Institution, including the preparation of plans 
and specitications, and all other work incidental thereto. 
June 28, 1955 
[H. R. 6410] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemoled, That the Regents of 
the Smithsonian Institution are hereby authorized and directed to have 
prepared drawings and specifications for, and to construct, a suitable 
building for a Museum of History and Technology (with requisite 
equipment, approaches, architectural landscape treatment of the 
grounds, and connections with public utilities and the Federal heat-
ing system) for the use of the Smithsonian Institution, to be located on 
that part of reservation 3 which is bounded by Twelfth Street North-
west on the east. Fourteenth Street Nortliwest on the west, Constitu-
tion Avenue on the north, and Madison Drive on the south, title to 
w^hich is in the United States, at a cost not to exceed $36,000,000. 
SEC. 2. That the exact location of the building on the site shall be 
approved by the National Capital Planning Commission, and the 
design shall be approved by the Commission of Fine Arts. 
SEC. 3. That the preparation of said drawings and specifications, 
the design and erection of the building, and all work incidental thereto 
shall be under the supervision of the Administrator of the General 
Services Administration in accordance with provisions of the Public 
Buildings Act of May 25,1926, as amended. 
SEC. 4. That there is hereby established a Joint Congressional Com-
mittee on Construction of a Building for a Museum of History and 
Technology for the Smithsonian Institution. 
It shall be the duty 
of the Joint Committee to advise with the Board of Regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution during the planning and construction of 
such building. The Joint Committee shall be composed of ten mem-
bers as follows: Five Senators appointed by the President of the 
Senate, three of whom shall be the Senate members of the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution; five Representatives appointed 
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three of whom shall 
be the Representative members of the Board of Regents of the Smith-
sonian Institution. 
The Joint Committee shall from time to time, 
but at least once annually, submit to the Congress a report on the 
Smithsonian 
In-
stitution. 
Museum of His-
t o r y an d T e ch-
nology. 
Construction au-
thority. 
Approval of site 
and design. 
J o i n t Congres-
sional Committee, 
Reports to Con» 
gre s s. 
190 
PUBLIC LAW 107-JUNE 29, 1955 
[69 S T A T 
Appropriation. 
Post, p. 461. 
Transfer to GSA. 
progress of the planning and construction of the building. 
Upon 
completion of the building, the Joint Committee shall submit a final 
report. 
OEC. 5. That there are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 
Eegents of the Smithsonian Institution such sums, not to exceed 
$36,000,000, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act: Provided, That appropriations for this purpose, except such part 
as may be necessary for the incidental expenses of the Regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution in connection with this project, shall be trans-
ferred to the General Services Administration for the performance 
of the work. 
Approved June 28, 1955. 
Public Law 107 
CHAPTER 223 
June 29. 1955 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
[S. J. Res. 62] 
Dedicating the Lee Mansion in Arlington National Cemetery as a permanent 
memorial to Robert E. Lee. 
43 Stat. 135& 
Robert E. Lee. 
C on gr e ssional 
tribute. 
Custis-Lee Man-
sion. 
De di c ation as 
memorial. 
Whereas the ninth day of April 1955 is the ninetieth anniversary of 
the Appomattox cessation of hostilities between our States; and 
Whereas of the two great figures therein involved, one. General Ulysses 
S. Grant, has been highly honored by becoming President of the 
United States, but the other, Robert E. Lee, has never been suitably 
memorialized by the National Government; and 
Whereas Robert E. Lee had graduated from West Point, dedicated 
himself to an Army career, and became a colonel in the United States 
Army, then the commander of the Confederate forces, attained 
world renown as a military genius, and after Appomattox fervently 
devoted himself to peace, to the reuniting of the Nation, and to the 
advancement of youth education and the welfare and progress of 
mankind, becoming president of the Washington and Lee University 
at Lexington, Virginia; and 
Whereas the desire and hope of Robert E. Lee for peace and unity 
within our Nation has come to pass in the years since his death, and 
the United States of America now stands united and firm, indivisible, 
and unshakable; and 
Whereas Public Resolution Numbered 74, Sixty-eighth Congress, 
approved March 4,1925, provided for the physical restoration of the 
Lee Mansion but did not dedicate the same as a permanent memorial 
to Robert E. Lee: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress of the 
United States, at this anniversary time, does hereby pay honor and 
tribute to the everlasting memory of Robert E. Lee, whose name will 
ever be bright in our history as a great military leader, a great edu-
cator, a great American, and a truly great man through the simple 
heritage of his personal traits of high character, his grandeur of soul, 
his unfailing strength of heart. 
SEC. 2. That the Congress of the United States does hereby express 
its humble gratitude to a kind Providence for blessing our Nation 
with leaders of true greatness who, like Robert E. Lee, have been able 
to see beyond their times, and by whose vision, guidance, and wisdom 
this Nation has gone forward to a place of world leadership as the 
unfaltering and powerful champion of peace, liberty, and justice. 
SEC. 3. That the magnificent manor house situated in its prominent 
position at the brow of a hill overlooking the Potomac River in Arling-
ton National Cemetery, and popularly known as Lee Mansion, be