PUBLIC LAWS--CHS. 507, 508 -JULY 20, 1942 [CHAPTER 508] July 20, 1942 Is. 2404] [Public Law 671] Members of armed forces. Acceptance of deco- rations from certain foreign governments. Proiso. Decorations previ- ously bestowed. " Legion of Merit. " Creation of decora- tion. AN ACT To authorize officers and enlisted men of the armed forces of the United States to accept decorations, orders, medals, and emblems tendered them by govern- ments of cobelligerent nations or other American republics and to create the decorations to be known as the "Legion of Merit", and the "Medal for Merit". Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That officers and enlisted men of the armed forces of the United States be, and they are hereby, authorized during the present war and for a year there- after to accept from the governments of cobelligerent nations or the other American republics such decorations, orders, medals, and emblems, as may be tendered them, and which are conferred by such governments upon members of their own military forces, hereby expressly granting the consent of Congress required for this purpose by clause 8 of section 9, article I, of the Constitution: Provided, That any such officer or enlisted man is hereby authorized to accept and wear any decoration, order, medal, or emblem heretofore bestowed upon such person by the government of a cobelligerent nation or of an American republic. SEC. 2. (1) That there is hereby created a decoration to be known as the "Legion of Merit", which shall have suitable appurtenances and devices and not more than four degrees, and which the President, under such rules and regulations as he shall prescribe, may award to (a) personnel of the armed forces of the United States and of the Government of the Philippines and (b) personnel of the armed 662 c ig [56 STAT. making appropriations for the Legislative Branch of the Govern- ment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1933, and for other pur- poses", is hereby amended to read as follows: Placement oforders. "SEC. 7. (a) Any executive department or independent establish- ment of the Government, or any bureau or office thereof, if funds are available therefor and if it is determined by the head of such execu- tive department, establishment, bureau, or office to be in the interest of the Government so to do, may place orders with any other such department, establishment, bureau, or office for materials, supplies, equipment, work, or services, of any kind that such requisitioned Federal agency may be in a position to supply or equipped to render, Payment. and shall pay promptly by check to such Federal agency as may be requisitioned, upon its written request, either in advance or upon the furnishing or performance thereof, all or part of the estimated or actual cost thereof as determined by such department, establish- Adjustments. ment, bureau, or office as may be requisitioned; but proper adjust- ments on the basis of the actual cost of the materials, supplies, or equipment furnished, or work or services performed, paid for in advance, shall be made as may be agreed upon by the departments, Procos. establishments, bureaus, or offices concerned: Provided, That the ontract, etc., for des- War Department, Navy Department, Treasury Department, Civil gnated agencies. Aeronautics Administration, and the Maritime Commission may place orders, as provided herein, for materials, supplies, equipment, work, or services, of any kind that any requisitioned Federal agency may be in a position to supply, or to render or to obtain by contract: Work by private Provided further, That if such work or services can be as conveniently encies. or more cheaply performed by private agencies such work shall be let by competitive bids to such private agencies. Bills rendered, or requests for advance payments made, pursuant to any such order, shall not be subject to audit or certification in advance of payment." Approved, July 20, 1942. a
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