58 STAT.] 78TH CONG. , 2D SESS.-CH. 286-JUNE 27, 1944 at the seat of government; expenses of attendance (not to exceed $3,800), when specifically authorized by the Chairman of the Com- mission, at meetings concerned with the work of the Commission; printing and binding; lawbooks and books of reference; periodicals and newspapers (not to exceed $6,500); teletype services; mainte- nance, repair, and operation of passenger-carrying automobiles; compensation as authorized by the Act of August 4, 1939, for officers of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, detailed to the Commission; and not to exceed $469,500 for the employment by contract or otherwise of persons, firms, or corporations for the per- formance of legal and other special services, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes or the civil-service and classification laws: Provided further, That the amount which may be expended for administrative expenses in the fiscal year 1944 is hereby increased from $23,000,000 to $29,130,000. VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION Administration, medical, hospital, and domiciliary services: For all salaries and expenses of the Veterans' Administration, including the expenses of maintenance and operation of medical, hospital, and domiciliary services of the Veterans' Administration, in carrying out the duties, powers, and functions devolving upon it pursuant to the authority contained in the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the President to consolidate and coordinate governmental activities affecting war veterans", approved July 3, 1930 (38 U. S . C . 11-llf), and any and all laws for which the Veterans' Administration is now or may hereafter be charged with administering, $164,044,940, of which $44,940 shall be available for salaries and expenses of the Federal Board of Hospitalization: Provided, That not to exceed $3,500 of this amount shall be available for expenses, except member- ship fees, of employees, detailed by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to attend meetings of associations for the promotion of medical science or for the betterment of insurance practices and conventions of organized war veterans: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available also for personal services in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, including traveling expenses; examination of estimates of appropriations in the field, including actual expenses of subsistence or per diem allowance in lieu thereof; furnishing and laundering of such wearing apparel as may be prescribed for employees in the performance of their official duties; purchase and exchange of lawbooks, books of reference, periodicals, and newspapers; for passenger-carrying and other motor vehicles, including purchase, maintenance, repair, and operation of same, including not more than two passenger automobiles for general admin- istrative use of the central office in the District of Columbia; and not- withstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, the Administrator is authorized to utilize Government-owned automotive equipment in transporting children of Veterans' Administration employees located at isolated stations to and from school under such limitations as he may by regulation prescribe; and notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, the Administrator is authorized to expend not to exceed $5,000 of this appropriation for actuarial services pertaining to the Government life-insurance fund and the National Service Life Insurance Fund, to be obtained by contract, without obtaining competition, at such rates of compensation as he may determine to be reasonable; for allotment and transfer to the Federal Security Agency (Public Health Service), the War, Navy, and Interior Departments, for disbursement by them under the various headings 381 53 Stat. 1182. 46U.s.C. 111. 41U.S. . §5. Post, pp. 859, 875. Salaries and ex- penses. Post, p. 859. 46 Stat. 1016 . 38 U. S. C., Supp. III, § Ila. Attendance at meet- ings. Personal services, etc. Transportation of school children. Traner of funds
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