Joint resolution to authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to promulgate special regulations for the period of The American Legion National Convention of 1954, to authorize the granting of certain permits to The American Legion 1954 Convention Corporation on the occasion of such convention, and for other purposes
PL 83-599 (H.J.Res.560), enacted 08/18/1954

68 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 599-AUG. 18, 1954 
743 
SEC. 13. The Commission shall report annually to Congress upon the 
operation of this Act. 
SEC. 14. The district courts of the United States shall have original 
jurisdiction, concurrent with the Court of Claims, of any civil action 
or claim against the United States founded upon this Act. 
SEC. 15. The insurance provided by this Act and the withholdings 
and contributions for that purpose shall become effective when directed 
by the Commission. 
Approved August 17, 1954. 
Report to C o n -
gress, 
C o u r t jurisdic-
tion. 
Effectivity. 
Public Law 599 
CHAPTER 753 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To authorize the Commissioners of tlie District of Columbia to promulgate 
special regulations for the period of The American Legion National Convention 
of 1954, to authorize the granting of certain permits to The American Legion 
1954 Convention Corporation on the occasion of such convention, and for other 
purposes. 
August 18, 1954 
[H. J. Res. 560] 
Vehicles. 
Vendors. 
Definitions. 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress asseinbled^ That for The American N^^^'if^convin" 
Legion National Convention to be held in the District of Columbia tion, 
for the period from August 25 to September 7, 1954, both inclusive, ^^[ ^- P"'""^' 
the Commissioners are authorized and directed to make all reasonable 
regulations necessary to secure the preservation of public order and 
protection of life, health, and property; to make special regulations 
respecting the standing, movement, and operation of vehicles of what-
ever character or kind during said period; and to grant under such 
conditions as they may impose, special licenses to peddlers and vendors 
for the privilege of selling goods, wares, and merchandise in such 
l)]aces in the District of Columbia, and to charge such fees for such 
privilege, as they may deem proper. 
SEC. '2. For the purposes of this joint resolution, the term "Com-
missioners" means the Commissioners of the District of Columbia or 
their designated agent or agents; the term "corporation" means The 
American Legion 1954 Convention Corporation of the District of 
Columbia; and the term "convention'- means The American Legion 
National Convention of 1954 to be held in Washington, District of 
Columbia, on August 29, 30, and 31 and September 1 and 2, 1954. 
SEC. 3. The Superintendent of National Capital Parks with the "^* °' grounds, 
approval of such officer as may exercise jurisdiction over any of the 
Federal reservations or grounds in the District of Columbia, other 
than those areas under the jurisdiction of the Congress or any com-
mittee thereof, is authorized to grant to the corporation permits for 
the use of such reservations or grounds during the convention, includ-
ing a reasonable time prior and subsequent thereto; the Architect 
of the Capitol is authorized to grant like permits for the use of those 
areas under the jurisdiction of the Congress or any committee thereof; 
and the Commissioners are authorized to grant like permits for the 
use of ])ublic space under their jurisdiction, including the grounds 
and stadia of the public schools. Each such permit shall be subject 
Restrictions. 
to such restrictions, terms, and conditions as may be imposed by the 
grantor of such permit. 
No stand or other structure shall be built on 
any sidewalk, street, park, reservation or other public grounds in the 
District of Columbia, except with the approval of the corporation, 
and with the approval of the Superintendent of National Capital 
Parks, the Architect of the Capitol, or the Commissioners, as the case 
may be, depending on the location of such stand. The reservations, 
grounds, or public spaces occupied by the stands or other structures 
shall, after the convention, be promptly restored to their previous con-
dition. The corporation shall indemnify and save harmless the Dis-
744 
PUBLIC LAW 599-AUG. 18, 1954 
[68 S T A T , 
Lighting, etc. 
Loan of tents, 
camp appliances. 
Overhead wires. 
Effe c t i v i t y of 
regulations, etc. 
Newspaper pub-
lication. 
Penalties. 
trict of Columbia and the appropriate agency or agencies of the Fed-
eral Government against any loss or damage to such property and 
against any liability arising from the use of such property, either 
by the corporation or a licensee of the corporation. 
SEC. 4. The Commissioners are authorized to permit the corpora-
tion to install suitable overhead conductors and install suitable light-
ing or other electrical facilities, with adequate supports, for illumina-
tion or other purposes. If it should be necessary to place wires for 
illuminating or other purposes over any park or reservation in the 
District of Columbia, such placing of wires and their removal shall 
be under the supervision of the official in charge of said park or 
reservation. 
Such conductors witli their supports shall be removed 
on or before September 15, 1954. The Commissioners, or such other 
officials as may have jurisdiction in the premises, shall enforce the pro-
visions of this joint resolution, take needful precautions for the pro-
tection of the public, and insure that the pavement of any street, 
sidewalk, avenue, or alley which is disturbed or damaged is restored 
to its previous condition. No expense or damage from the installa-
tion, operation, or removal of said temporary overhead conductors or 
said illumination or other electrical facilities shall be incurred by the 
United States or the District of Columbia, and the corporation shall 
indemnify and save harmless the District of Columbia and the appro-
priate agency or agencies of the Federal Government against any loss 
or damage and against any liability whatsoever arising from any act 
of the corporation or any agent, licensee, servant, or employee of the 
corporation. 
SEC. 5. Such agencies of the Department of Defense as the Secretary 
of Defense may designate are authorized to lend to the corporation 
such hospital tents, smaller tents, camp appliances, hospital furniture, 
ensigns, flags, ambulances, drivers, stretchers, and Red Cross flags and 
poles (except battle flags) as may be spared without detriment to 
the public service, and under such conditions as they may prescribe: 
Provided^ That such loan shall be returned by the 15th day of Septem-
ber 1954, and the corporation shall indemnify the Government for 
any loss or damage to any of such property, and no expense shall he 
incurred by the United States Government for the delivery, return, 
rehabilitation, replacement, or operation of such equipment. 
The cor-
poration shall give a good and sufficient bond for the safe return 
of such property in good order and condition, and the whole without 
expense to the United States. 
SEC. 6. The Commissioners, the Architect of the Capitol, the Super-
intendent of National Capital Parks, and the corporation are author-
ized to permit telegraph, telephone, radiobroadcasting, and television 
companies to extend overhead wires to such points along the line of 
any parade as shall be deemed convenient for use in connection with 
such parade and other convention purposes. 
Such wires shall be 
removed within ten days after the conclusion of the convention. 
SEC. 7. The regulations and licenses authorized by this Act shall be 
in full force and effect only during the period August 25 to Septem-
ber 7, 1954, both inclusive. 
Such regulations shall be published in 
one or more of the daily newspapers published in the District of 
Columbia and no penalty prescribed for the violation of any such 
regulation shall be enforced until five days after sucli publication. 
Any person violating any regulation promulgated by the Commis-
sioners under the authority of this Act shall be fined not more than 
$100 or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. Each and every 
day a violation of any such regulation exists shall constitute a sepa-
rate offense, and the penalty prescribed herein shall be applicable to 
each such separate offense. 
Approved August 18, 1954.