54 STAT.] 76TH CONG., 3D SESS.-CH. 722-SEPT. 18, 1940 953 SEC. 302. (a) It shall be the duty of the Board to investigate- Investigations. (1) the relative economy and fitness of carriers by railroad, nessoocariers. motor carriers, and water carriers for transportation service, or any particular classes or descriptions thereof, with the view of determining the service for which each type of carrier is especially fitted or unfitted; the methods by which each type can and should be developed so that there may be provided a national transpor- tation system adequate to meet the needs of the commerce of the United States, of the Postal Service and of the national defense; (2) the extent to which right-of-way or other transportation aRightof-way, etc. , facilities and special services have been or are provided from public funds for the use, within the territorial limits of the conti- nental United States, of each of the three types of carriers without adequate compensation, direct or indirect, therefor, and the extent to which such carriers have been or are aided by donations of public property, payments from public funds in excess of ade- quate compensation for services rendered in return therefor, or extensions of Government credit; and (3) the extent to which taxes are imposed upon such carriers Etednt taxes are by the United States, and the several States, and by other agen- cies of government, including county, municipal, district, and local agencies. (b) The Board is further authorized, in its discretion, to investigate trSproveent of or consider any other matter relating to rail carriers, motor carrers, or water carriers, which it may deem important to investigate for the improvement of transportation conditions and to effectuate the 49 U. ., ch. 1; national transportation policy declared in the Interstate Commerce supp. , ch.i. Act, as amended. SEC. 303. The Board is authorized to employ, without regard to the cSecetary, general civil service laws or the Classification Act, 1923, as amended, a secre- 42 Stat. 1488 tary who shall receive compensation at the rate of $7,500 per annum supp .Vi,Cfs 76736 and a general counsel who shall receive compensation at the rate of $9,000 per annum; and to employ, without regard to the civil service laws, a clerk to each member of the Board. The Board is also author- Exprts and other ized to employ such experts, assistants, special agents, examiners, attorneys, and other employees as in its judgment may be necessary for the performance of its duties, and is authorized to utilize the etient agencies'- services, information, facilities, and personnel of the various depart- ments and agencies of the Government to the extent that such services, information, facilities, and personnel, in the opinion of such depart- ments and agencies, can be furnished without undue interference with the performance of the work and duties of such departments and agencies. SEc. 304. (a) The Board and its agents shall at all times have access countsreords, d to all accounts, records, and memoranda of the carriers and to their memoranda. properties, and it shall be the duty of the carriers to furnish the Board or its agents such information and reports as it may desire in investigating any matter within the scope of its duties. (b) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this part the otherTa°to from Board may seek information from such sources and conduct its inves- tigations in such manner as it deems advisable in the interest of a correct ascertainment of the facts, and the Board and its examiners shall be entitled to exercise the same powers with respect to conducting hearings and requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, contracts, agreements, or other records and documents as are conferred upon the Interstate Commerce Commission and its examiners by sections 17 and 12 of AU, pp. 910, 913 the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, and the provisions of para- graphs (3), (4), and (7) of section 12 of such Act shall be applicable
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