352
PUBLIC LAW 179-AUG. 1, 1953
Employees w i t h 15 or more years of service.
H o u r s of employment; pay rates.
Applicability of section.
S u s p e n s ion of compliance.
Assistance to America n small business.
C o m m u t e d rations. 63 Stat. 802. 37 USC 231 note.
Operation messes.
of
T r a V e 1-s t a tus rate.
Availability of appropriations. Tableware, e t c. in o f f i c e r s ' q u a r ters.
[67
STAT.
States or on the Canal Zone; (3) that nothing in this Act shall prohibit the continued employment of any person who shall have rendered fifteen or more years of faithful and honorable service on the Canal Zone; (4) that in the selection of personnel for skilled, technical, administrative, clerical, supervisory, or executive positions the controlling factors in filling these positions shall be efficiency, experience, training, and education; (5) that all citizens of Panama and the United States rendering skilled, technical, clerical, administrative, executive, or supervisory service on the Canal Zone under the terms of this Act (a) shall normally be employed not more than forty hours per week, (b) may receive as compensation equal rates of pay based upon rates paid for similar employment in continental United States plus 25 per centum; (6) this entire section shall apply only to persons employed in skilled, technical, clerical, administrative, executive, or supervisory positions on the Canal Zone directly or indirectly by any branch of the United States Government or by any corporation or company whose stock is owned wholly or in part by the United States Government: Provided further, That the President may suspend from time to time in whole or in part compliance with this section if he should deem such course to be in the public interest. SEC. 616. Insofar as practicable, the Secretary of Defense shall assist American small business to participate equitably in the furnishing of commodities and services financed with funds appropriated under this Act by making available or causing to be made available to suppliers in the United States, and particularly to small independent enterprises, information, as far in advance as possible, with respect to purchases proposed to be financed with funds appropriated under this Act, and by making available or causing to be made available to purchasing and contracting agencies of the Department of Defense information as to commodities and services produced and furnished by small independent enterprises in the United States, and by otherwise helping to give small business an opportunity to participate in the furnishing of commodities and services financed with funds appropriated by this Act. SEC. 617. Hereafter, commuted rations for enlisted personnel of the uniformed services (as defined in the Career Compensation Act of 1949) on leave, or otherwise authorized to mess separately, shall be equivalent to the cost of the ration as determined by the Secretary of Defense. SEC. 618. No appropriation contained in this Act shall be available for expenses of operation of messes (other than organized messes the operating expenses of which are financed principally from nonappropriated funds) at which meals are sold to officers or civilians except under regulations approved by the Secretary of Defense, which shall (except under unusual or extraordinary circumstances) establish rates for such meals sufficient to provide reimbursement of operating expenses and food costs to the appropriations concerned: Provided, That officers and civilians in a travel status receiving a per diem allowance in lieu of subsistence shall be charged at the rate of not less than $2.25 per day: Provided, further, That for the purposes of this section payments for meals at the rates established hereunder may be made in cash or by deductions from the pay of civilian employees. SEC. 619. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall be available until expended unless expressly so provided elsewhere in this or some other appropriation Act. SEC. 620. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall be available for or on account of the supply or replacement of table linen, dishes, glassware, silver, and kitchen utensils for use in the residences or quarters of officers on shore (other than for field messes,
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