PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 117-JUNE 4, 1943 "COURT REVIE "SEC. 12. (a) Within thirty days after the decision of the Board has become final, any party to the proceeding may appeal from the decision to the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia. Upon the filing of any such appeal notice thereof shall be served upon the Board by the appellant and upon any other party to the proceeding. Such appeal shall be heard by the court at the earliest possible date and shall be given precedence over all other civil cases. It shall not be necessary on any such appeal to enter exceptions to the rulings of the Board and no bond shall be required for entering such appeal. In no event shall any appeal act as a supersedeas. In any appeal under this section the findings of the Board, or of the examiner or appeal tribunal, as the case may be, as to the facts, if supported by evidence and in the absence of fraud, shall be conclusive, and the jurisdiction of said court shall be con- fined to questions of law: Provided, That no appeal shall be per- mitted under this section by any party who has not first exhausted his administrative remedies as provided by this Act. Appeal. "(b) An appeal may be taken from a decision of such court to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. "ADMINISTRATION Authority of Board. "SEc. 13. (a) The Board is hereby authorized and directed to administer the provisions of this Act. Subject to the Civil Service Act the Board is further authorized to employ such officers, examiners, accountants, attorneys, experts, agents, and other persons, and to make such expenditures, as may be necessary to administer this Act, and to authorize any such person to do any act or acts which could of certlineployeaes lawfully be done by the Board. The Civil Service Commission is hereby authorized and directed to confer a competitive classified civil- service status upon those employees performing services for the Board on July 1, 1940: Provided, (1) That such employees are certified by the Board as having rendered satisfactory service for not less than six months; (2) that they qualify in such appropriate noncompetitive examination as may be prescribed by the Civil Service Commission; however, all emplovees certified by the Board in accordance with con- dition (1) hereof shall automatically be eligible to take such non- competitive examination; (3) that they are citizens of the United States; and (4) that they are not disqualified by any provision of Bond. section 3 of Civil Service Rule V. The Board may, in its discretion, require bond from any of its employees engaged in carrying out the provisions of this Act. Regulations. "(b) The Board is further authorized to make and enforce all rea- sonable regulations which may be necessary to carry out the provi- sions of this Act. Such regulations shall become effective five days after they have been published in a newspaper of general circulation in the District. Annualreport. "(c) The Board shall each year, not later than March 1, submit to Congress a report covering the administration and operation of this Act during the preceding calendar year, and containing such recom- mendations as the Board wishes to make. Changeinrates. "(d) The Board shall, whenever it believes that a change in the contribution or benefit rates is necessary to protect the solvency of the fund, at once recommend such change to Congress if in session. Cooperation with "(e) FiDERAL-STATE COOPERATION.- In the administration of this -u ritBdAct the Board shall cooperate to the fullest extent consistent with the provisions of this Act, with the Social Security Board, created [57 STAT.
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