Joint resolution to provide for the maintenance of public order and the protection of life and property in connection with the Presidential inaugural ceremonies
PL 84-986 (H.J.Res.667), enacted 08/06/1956

70 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 986-AUG. 6, 1956 
1049 
SEC. 3. Section 3 (y) (2) is amended by deleting "part I I of title 
I I I " and inserting in lieu thereof "parts I I and I I I of title III". 
SEC. 4. The amendments made herein shall take eifect March 1,1957. 
Approved August 6, 1956. 
50 Stat. 189. 
47 u s e 1S3. 
Effectlvity. 
Public Law 986 
CHAPTER 974 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To provide for the maintenance of public order and the protection of life and 
property in connection with the Presidential inaugural ceremonies. 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) this Act may be 
cited as the "Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies Act". 
(b) For the purposes of this Act— 
(1) The term "inaugural period" means the period which includes 
the day on which the ceremony of inaugurating the President is held, 
the five calendar days immediately preceding such day, and the four 
calendar days immediately subsequent to such day; 
(2) The term "Inaugural Committee" means the committee in 
charge of the Presidential inaugural ceremony and functions and ac-
tivities connected therewith, to be appointed by the President-elect; 
(3) The term "Commissioners" means the Commissioners of the 
District of Columbia or their designated agent or agents; 
(4) The term "Secretary of Defense" means the Secretary of De-
fense or his designated agent or agents; and 
(5) The term "Secretary of the Interior" means the Secretary of 
the Interior or his designated agent or agents. 
SEC. 2. For each inaugural period 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 prop-
erty ; to make special regulations respecting the standing, movement, 
and operation of vehicles of whatever character or kind during said 
period; and to grant, under such conditions as they may impose, spe-
cial licenses to peddlers and vendors for the privilege of selling goods, 
wares, and merchandise in such places in the District of Columbia, and 
to charge such fees for such privilege, as they may deem proper. 
SEC. 3. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary, payable in like manner as other appropriations for 
the expenses of the District of Columbia, to enable the Commissioners 
to provide additional municipal services in said District during the 
inaugural period, including employment of personal services witnout 
regard to the civil-service and classification laws; travel expenses of 
enforcement personnel from other jurisdictions; hire of means of trans-
portation ; meals for policemen and firemen, cost of removing and re-
locating streetcar loading platforms, construction, rent, maintenance, 
and expenses incident to the operation of temporary public comfort 
stations, first-aid stations, and information booths; and other inci-
dental expenses in the discretion of the Commissioners. 
SEC. 4. The Secretary of the Interior, with the approval of such offi-
cer as may exercise jurisdiction over any of the Federal reservations 
or grounds in the District of Columbia, is authorized to grant to the 
Inaugural Committee permits for the use of such reservations or 
grounds during the inaugural period, including a reasonable time prior 
and subsequent thereto; and the Commissioners are authorized to grant 
like permits for the use of public space under their jurisdiction. Each 
such permit shall be subject to such restrictions, terms, and conditions 
as may be imposed by the grantor of such permit. 
With respect to 
August 6, 19S6 
[H. J. Re». 667] 
Presidential In-
a u g u r a l 
C e r e -
monlea Act. 
Definitions. 
Regulations. 
^>propriationis. 
Permits for 
of grounds. 
1050 
PUBLIC LAW 986-AUG. 6, 1956 
[70 ST A T . 
Liability. 
Installation of 
electrical facili-
ties. 
Loans from De 
fense Dept. 
C o mmunication 
facilities. 
public space, no reviewing stand or any stand or structure for the sale 
of goods, wares, merchandise, food, or drink shall be built on any side-
walk, street, park, reservation, or other public grounds in the District 
of Columbia, except with the approval of the Inaugural Committee, 
and with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior or the Com-
missioners, as the case may be, depending on the location of such stand 
or structure. 
The reservation, ground, or public space occupied by 
any such stand or structure shall, after the inaugural period, be 
promptly restored to its previous condition. 
The Inaugural Com-
mittee shall indemnify and save harmless the District of Columbia 
and the appropriate agency or agencies of the Federal Government 
against any loss or damage to such property and against any liability 
arising from the use of such property, either by the Inaugural Com-
mittee or a licensee of the Inaugural Committee. 
SEC. 5. The Commissioners are authorized to permit the Inaugural 
Committee to install suitable overhead conductors and install suitable 
lighting or other electrical facilities, with adequate supports, for 
illumination 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 w^th their supports shall be re-
moved within five days after the end of the inaugural period. 
The 
Commissioners, or such other officials as may have jurisdiction in the 
premises, shall enforce the provisions of this joint resolution, take 
needful precautions for the protection of the public, and insure that 
the pavement of any street, sidewalk, avenue, or alley w^hich is dis-
turbed or damaged is restored to its previous condition. 
No expense 
or damage from the installation, operation, or removal of said tem-
porary overhead conductors or said illumination or other electrical 
facilities shall be incurred by the United States or the District of 
Columbia, and the Inaugural Committee shall indemnify and save 
harmless the District of Columbia and the appropriate agency or 
agencies of the Federal Government against any loss or damage and 
against any liability whatsoever arising from any act of the Inaugural 
Committee or any agent, licensee, servant, or employee of the Inau-
gural Committee. 
SEC. 6. The Secretary of Defense is authorized to lend to the 
Inaugural Committee 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 he may prescribe. 
Such loan shall be returned within 
five days after the end of the inaugural period, the Inaugural Com-
mittee shall indemnify the Government for any loss or damage to any 
such property, and no expense shall b3 incurred by the United States 
Government for the delivery, return, rehabilitation, replacement, or 
operation of such equipment. 
The Inaugural Committee 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. 7. The Commissioners, the Secretary of the Interior, and the 
Inaugural Committee are authorized to permit telegraph, telephone, 
radio-broadcasting, and television companies to .extend overhead wires 
to such points along the line of any parade as shall be deemed con-
venient for use in connection with such parade and other inaugural 
purposes. Such wires shall be removed within ten days after the con-
clusion of the inaugural period. 
70 
S T A T . } 
PUBLIC LAW 987-AUG. 6, 1956 
1051 
SEC. 8. The regulations and licenses authorized by this Act shall 
be in full force and effect onlj during the inaugural period. 
Such 
regulations shall be published m 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 such publication. Any person violating any regulation promul-
gated by the Commissioners 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 separate offense, and the penalty prescribed shall be appli-
cable to each such separate offense. 
SEC. 9. Nothing contained in this Act shall be applicable to the 
United States Capitol Buildings or Grounds or other properties under 
the jurisdiction of the Congress or any committee, conmiission or 
officer thereof: Provided, however, That any of the services or facilities 
authorized by or under this Act shall be made available with respect 
to any such properties upon request or approval of the joint committee 
of the Senate and House of Representatives appointed by the Presi-
dent of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
to make the necessary arrangements for the Inauguration of the 
President-elect and the Vice President-elect. 
Approved August 6, 1966. 
NonappllcabiUty. 
Public Law 987 
CHAPTER 975 
AN ACT 
To provide compensation for certain property losses in certain reservoir projects 
and for the replacement of school facilities of the Pollock Independent School 
District, Pollock, South Dakota, acquired by the United States for the Oahe 
Dam and Reservoir. 
August 6,1956 
[S. 2093] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary etc.^pVojec^H^ort 
of the Army is authorized and directed to pay to any bona fide lessee Missouri River, 
or permittee owning improvements situated on a railroad right-of-way pro^im^ents. *
* "
*
* 
or on Indian tribal land the fair value, as determined by the Secretary, 
or by a court of competent jurisdiction, of any such improvements 
which will be rendered inoperative or be otherwise adversely affected 
by the construction of the Gavins Point, Fort Randall, and Oahe 
Dams and Reservoir projects on the Missouri River. 
SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Army is authorized and directed to pay 
^°^aTm^kt'for 
to the Pollock Independent School District Numbered 3, Pollock^ school faculties. 
South Dakota, an amount equal to the difference between the sum 
paid for the taking of school facilities of said school district in the 
condemnation proceeding entitled "United States of America, plain-
tiff, against 10.00 Acres of Land, and so forth, defendants", civil num-
bered 682ND, filed in the United States District Court for the District 
of South Dakota, Northern Division, on May 7, 1956, and the actual 
cost of replacing the school facilities so acquired as the Secretary shall 
find to be reasonable: Provided, however, That in no event shall the 
additional amount paid pursuant to this authorization exceed $200,000. 
SEC. 3. The Secretary of the Army is authorized to provide the 
funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act from any 
moneys appropriated for the construction of the Oahe, Gavins Point, 
and Fort Randall Dams and Reservoir projects: Provided, 
however, 
That in no event shall the amount so expended exceed $550,000. 
Approved August 6, 1956.