[CHAPTER 643-1ST SESSION] AN ACT To amend section 4488 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended (U. S. C., 1934 edition, title 46, sec. 481). Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the first two sentences appearing in paragraph 1 of section 4488 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended (U. S. C., 1934 edition, title 46, sec. 481), is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 4488. Every steamer navigating the ocean, or any lake, bay, or sound of the United States, shall be provided with such numbers of lifeboats, floats, rafts, life-preservers, line-carrying projectiles, and the means of propelling them, and drags, as will best secure the safety of all persons on board such vessel in case of disaster; and every seagoing vessel carrying passengers, and every such vessel navigating any of the northern or northwestern lakes, shall have the lifeboats required by law, provided with suitable boat-disengaging apparatus, so arranged as to allow such boats to be safely launched. And the Board of Supervising Inspectors shall fix and determine, by their rules and regulations, the character and arrangement of boatdisengaging apparatus and the character of lifeboats, floats, rafts, life-preservers, line-carrying projectiles, and the means of propelling them, and drags that shall be used on such vessels, and also the character and capacity of pumps or other appliances for freeing the steamer from water in case of heavy leakage, the capacity of such pumps or appliances being suited to the navigation in which the steamer is employed." Approved, August 10, 1939. [CHAPTER 644-1ST SESSION] [H. R. 7091] AN ACT To amend section 4471 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended (U. S. C., 1934 edition, title 46, sec. 464). Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 4471 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended (U. S. C., 1934 edition, title 46, sec. 464), is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 4471. Every steamer permitted by her certificate of inspection to carry as many as fifty passengers, or upward, and every steamer' carrying passengers, which also carries cotton, hay, or hemp, shall be provided with a good double-acting steam fire pump, or other equivalent apparatus for throwing water. Such pump or other apparatus for throwing water shall be kept at all times and at all seasons of the year in good order and ready for immediate use, having at least two pipes of suitable dimensions, one on each side of the vessel, to convey the water to the upper decks, to which pipes there shall be attached, by means of stopcocks or valves, both between decks and on the upper deck, good and suitable hose of sufficient strength to stand a pressure of not less than one hundred pounds to the square inch, long enough to reach to all parts of the vessel and properly provided with nozzles, and kept in good order and ready for immediate service. Each fire pump thus prescribed shall be supplied with water by means of a suitable pipe connected therewith, and passing through the side of the vessel so low as to be at all times under water when she is afloat. Every steamer shall also be provided with a pump which shall be of sufficient strength and suitably arranged to test the boilers thereof. "On and after October 1, 1937, every passenger vessel with berthed or stateroom accommodation for fifty or more passengers shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, which shall be in addition to any other device or devices for fire protection, of a type prescribed by the Board of Supervising Inspectors and approved by the Secretary of Commerce. All enclosed portions of such vessels accessible to passengers or crew (except cargo holds, machinery spaces, and, when of fire-resisting construction, toilets, bathrooms, and spaces of similar construction) shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system: Provided, That if after investigation the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation finds in the case of a particular vessel the application of this paragraph is unnecessary properly to protect life on such vessel, an exception may be made. The Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation shall cause to be made suitable tests and inspections as will insure the proper working of such systems. In carrying out the provisions of this paragraph the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation is hereby authorized and directed to prescribe the particular approved type, character, and manner of installa tion of systems to be fitted. The term 'type' as used in this paragraph shall be considered to mean any system which will give a prescribed or required efficiency and shall not mean some peculiar shape or design and shall not be confined to some certain brand or make." Approved, August 10, 1939. [CHAPTER 682-1ST SESSION] [H. R. 6664] AN ACT To admit the American-owned barges Prari and Palpa to American registry and to permit their use in coastwise trade. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, notwithstanding the provisions of section 27 of the Act of June 5, 1920, as amended (U. S. C., 1934 edition, Supp. IV, title 46, sec. 883), the barges Prari and Palpa, owned by the Southern Banana Corpora tion, a Delaware corporation, shall be admitted to American registry, and shall be entitled to engage in the coastwise trade and to transport merchandise between points in the United States, including Districts, Territories, and possessions thereof embraced within the coastwise laws. Approved, August 10, 1939. [CHAPTER 694-1ST SESSION] [H. R. 5129] AN ACT Authorizing and providing for the construction of additional facilities on the Canal Zone for the purposes of more adequately providing for the defense of the Panama Canal and for increasing its capacity for the future needs of interoceanic shipping. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the improvement and enlargement of the capacity of the Panama Canal in the interests of defense and interoceanic commerce is hereby authorized to be prosecuted by the Governor of the Panama Canal under the supervision of the Secretary of War, substantially in accordance with the plans set forth and recommended in the report of the Governor of the Panama Canal, dated February 24, 1939, and published as House Document Numbered 210 and including such appurtenant structures, works, and facilities, and enlargements or improvements of existing channels, structures, works, and facilities as may be deemed necessary at a total cost not to exceed $277,000,000, which is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the purpose: Provided, however, That all new personnel in such construction work occupying skilled, technical, clerical, administrative, and supervisory positions shall be citizens of the United States: Provided further, That the initial appropriation for the fiscal year 1940 shall not exceed $15,000,000. For the purposes aforesaid, the Governor of the Panama Canal is authorized (a) to employ such persons as he may deem necessary and to fix their compensation: Provided, That the compensation of such persons shall not be lower than the compensation paid for the same or similar services to other employees of the Panama Canal: Provided further, That rates of compensation in excess of those authorized by law for other employees of the Panama Canal shall not be paid without the approval of the Secretary of War: And provided further, That the Governor of the Panama Canal with the approval of the Secretary of War is authorized to engage under agreement when deemed necessary expert assistance in the various arts and sciences upon terms and rates of compensation for services and incidental expenses in excess of the maximum compensation provided by law for employees of the Panama Canal; (b) to authorize the making of contracts without the advertisement hereinafter prescribed, with architectural or engineering corporations, firms, or individuals for the production and delivery of designs, plans, drawings, and specifications; (c) to authorize the making of any and all contracts necessary for the prosecution of the work herein authorized; (d) to provide for the establishment and operation of such auxiliary plants and facilities in connection with the work as may be necessary or desirable; (e) to utilize any of the facilities or services of the Panama Railroad Company upon such terms and condi |