Section, acts Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736, directed that, as of July 12, 1912, the Bureau of Manufactures and the Bureau of Statistics, both of the Department of Commerce, be consolidated into one bureau to be known as the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, and that the duties required by law to be performed by the Bureau of Manufactures and the Bureau of Statistics be transferred to and performed by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Pursuant to the powers transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Commerce under Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, which transferred the functions of officers of the Department of Commerce and the functions of all agencies and employees of such Department, with a few exceptions, to the Secretary of Commerce, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or the performance of any of his functions by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, the Secretary, through internal reorganizations, has reassigned the functions of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce to other offices of the Department.
The duties of the Department of Labor, or Bureau of Labor, “to ascertain, at as early a date as possible, and whenever industrial changes shall make it essential, the cost of producing articles at the time dutiable in the United States, in leading countries where such articles are produced, by fully specified units of production, and under a classification showing the different elements of cost, or approximate cost, of such articles of production, including the wages paid in such industries per day, week, month, or year, or by the piece; and hours employed per day; and the profits of manufacturers and producers of such articles; and the comparative cost of living, and the kind of living; what articles are controlled by trusts or other combinations of capital, business operations, or labor, and what effect said trusts, or other combinations of capital, business operations, or labor have on production and prices”, are, as of August 23, 1912, transferred to and shall be discharged by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, and it shall be also the duty of said Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce to make such special investigation and report on particular subjects when required to do so by the President or either House of Congress.
(Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407.)
The quoted language of this section was originally enacted by act June 13, 1888, ch. 389, §7, 25 Stat. 183, which charged the duties to the Commissioner of Labor.
Functions of all other officers of Department of Commerce and functions of all agencies and employees of such Department, with a few exceptions, transferred to Secretary of Commerce, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or performance of any of his functions by any such officers, agencies, and employees, by Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Through internal reorganizations, functions of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce have been reassigned to other offices of Department of Commerce.
Section 173, R.S. §336; acts Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37, Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736; Jan. 25, 1919, ch. 10, 40 Stat. 1055; Mar. 1, 1919, ch. 86, 40 Stat. 1256, required annual reports on statistics of commerce and navigation. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13, Census.
Section 174, R.S. §337; acts Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736; Mar. 1, 1919, ch. 86, 40 Stat. 1256; Aug. 31, 1961, Pub. L. 87–191, §2, 75 Stat. 419, prescribed regulations required to be observed by collectors of customs. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13, Census.
Repeal effective 180 days after Oct. 15, 1962, except that the last sentence of par. Fifth of section 174 of this title shall be repealed Oct. 15, 1962, see section 4 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 13, Census.
Section 3 of Pub. L. 87–826 provided in part that any rights or liabilities existing under sections 173, 174, 177, 179, 181, 184 to 187, and 193 of this title, sections 92 and 95 of former Title 46, Shipping, and section 1486 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions, and any proceedings instituted under or growing out of, any of such sections or parts thereof, shall not be affected by the repeal of such sections.
It shall be the province and duty of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce, to foster, promote, and develop the various manufacturing industries of the United States, and markets for the same at home and abroad, domestic and foreign, by gathering, compiling, publishing, and supplying all available and useful information concerning such industries and such markets, and by such other methods and means as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce or provided by law.
(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §5, 32 Stat. 827; Apr. 5, 1906, ch. 1366, §3, 34 Stat. 100; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736; Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 957, title XI, §1131(23), 60 Stat. 1037.)
1946—Act Aug. 13, 1946, repealed last sentence relating to duties of consular officers with respect to the Bureau.
Act Mar. 4, 1913, substituted the “Secretary of Commerce” for “Secretary of Commerce and Labor”.
Amendment by act Aug. 13, 1946, effective three months from Aug. 13, 1946, see section 1141 of that act.
For transfer of functions of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, see note set out under section 172 of this title.
Act Aug. 23, 1912, transferred certain duties of Department or Bureau of Labor to Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Act Apr. 5, 1906, abolished the grade of commercial agent and commercial agent's function of helping to gather foreign trade information, reference to which formerly appeared in the last sentence of this section. Such last sentence was subsequently repealed by Act Aug. 13, 1946.
A purpose of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce is the collection, arrangement, and classification of such statistical information as may be procured, showing, or tending to show, each year the condition of the manufactures, domestic trade, currency, and banks of the several States and Territories.
(R.S. §335; Feb. 27, 1877, ch. 69, §1, 19 Stat. 241; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407.)
R.S. §335 derived from Res. June 15, 1844, No. 16, 5 Stat. 719.
1877—Act Feb. 27, 1877, struck out “agriculture” before “manufactures”.
For transfer of functions of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, see note set out under section 172 of this title.
Act Aug. 23, 1912, transferred certain duties of Department or Bureau of Labor to Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Any statistical information furnished in confidence to the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce by individuals, corporations, and firms shall be held to be confidential, and shall be used only for the statistical purposes for which it is supplied. Except as provided in the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002, the Director of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce shall not permit anyone other than the sworn employees of the Bureau to examine such individual reports, nor shall he permit any statistics of domestic commerce to be published in such manner as to reveal the identity of the individual, corporation, or firm furnishing such data.
(Jan. 27, 1938, ch. 11, §1, 52 Stat. 8; Pub. L. 107–347, title V, §526(a), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2969.)
The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002, referred to in text, is title V of Pub. L. 107–347, Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2962, which enacted section 402 of Title 13, Census, amended this section, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 3501 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.
2002—Pub. L. 107–347 substituted “Except as provided in the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002, the” for “The”.
For transfer of functions of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, see note set out under section 172 of this title.
Section, act June 27, 1938, ch. 11, §2, 52 Stat. 8, related to disclosure by employee of information. See section 1905 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
Section 20 of act June 25, 1948, provided that the repeal of this section shall be effective Sept. 1, 1948.
Section, acts July 16, 1892, ch. 196, §1, 27 Stat. 197; Mar. 3, 1893, ch. 211, §1, 27 Stat. 689; Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736, related to returns of exports to foreign countries leaving the United States by rail. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13, Census.
Repeal effective 180 days after Oct. 15, 1962, see section 4 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 13, Census.
See section 3 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under sections 173 and 174 of this title.
It shall be the duty of the officer in charge of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce to gather and collate statistics and facts relating to commerce with foreign nations and among the several States, the railroad systems of this and other countries, the construction and operation of railroads, the actual cost of such construction and operation of railroads, the actual cost of transporting freight and passengers on railroads, and on canals, rivers, and other navigable waters of the United States, the charges imposed for such transportation of freight and passengers, and the tonnage transported.
(Mar. 3, 1875, ch. 129, §1, 18 Stat. 352; Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736; May 29, 1928, ch. 901, §1(105), 45 Stat. 994.)
1928—Act May 29, 1928, discontinued the report of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce to Congress on commercial relations of the United States.
For transfer of functions of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, see note set out under section 172 of this title.
Act Aug. 23, 1912, transferred certain duties of Department or Bureau of Labor to Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Act Feb. 14, 1903, transferred Bureau of Statistics from Treasury Department to Department of Commerce and Labor.
Section, R.S. §339; acts Mar. 3, 1875, ch. 129, §1, 18 Stat. 352; Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736; Mar. 1, 1919, ch. 86, 40 Stat. 1256, required quarterly reports of exports and imports. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13, Census.
Repeal effective 180 days after Oct. 15, 1962, see section 4 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 13, Census.
See section 3 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under sections 173 and 174 of this title.
Section, R.S. §340, related to statements of vessels registered.
Section, R.S. §341; acts Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 1, 1919, ch. 86, 40 Stat. 1256, required preparation of an annual statement of merchandise. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13, Census.
Repeal effective 180 days after Oct. 15, 1962, see section 4 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 13, Census.
See section 3 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under sections 173 and 174 of this title.
The Director of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce shall collect, digest, and arrange, for the use of Congress, the statistics of the manufactures of the United States, their localities, sources of raw material, markets, exchanges with the producing regions of the country, transportation of products, wages, and such other conditions as are found to affect their prosperity.
(R.S. §342; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 1, 1919, ch. 86, 40 Stat. 1256.)
R.S. §342 derived from act July 28, 1866, ch. 298, §13, 14 Stat. 330.
Act Mar. 1, 1919, substituted “Director” for “Chief”.
For transfer of functions of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, see note set out under section 172 of this title.
Act Aug. 23, 1912, transferred certain duties of Department or Bureau of Labor to Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
The Secretary of Commerce shall make a report to Congress on the first Monday of January in each year, containing the results of the information collected during the preceding year, by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, upon the condition of the manufactures, domestic trade, currency, and banks of the several States and Territories.
(R.S. §259; Feb. 27, 1877, ch. 69, §1, 19 Stat. 241; Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §9, 32 Stat. 829; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736.)
R.S. §259 derived from acts Sept. 24, 1789, ch. 20, §35, 1 Stat. 92; June 25, 1868, ch. 71, §5, 15 Stat. 75; June 22, 1870, ch. 150, §5, 16 Stat. 162.
1877—Act Feb. 27, 1877, struck out “agriculture” before “manufactures”.
Act Mar. 4, 1913, substituted “Secretary of Commerce” for “Secretary of Commerce and Labor”.
For transfer of functions of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, see note set out under section 172 of this title.
Act Aug. 23, 1912, transferred certain duties of Department or Bureau of Labor to Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Act Feb. 14, 1903, transferred Bureau of Statistics from Treasury Department to Department of Commerce and Labor.
Section 184, R.S. §263; acts Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736; Mar. 1, 1919, ch. 86, 40 Stat. 1256, required printing of an annual report on commerce on navigation. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13, Census.
Section 185, R.S. §251 (part); acts Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736, required Secretary of Commerce to prescribe forms of annual statements to be submitted to Congress showing the actual state of commerce and navigation between the United States and foreign countries, or coastwise between the collection districts of the United States. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13.
Section 186, R.S. §338, required annual report of statistics of commerce and navigation to state kinds, quantities, and value of merchandise entered and cleared coastwise into and from collection districts of the United States. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13.
Section 187, R.S. §§265, 3812; acts Jan. 12, 1895, ch. 23, §17, 28 Stat. 603; Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736, related to printing of statement of exports and imports. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13.
Repeal effective 180 days after Oct. 15, 1962, see section 4 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 13, Census.
See section 3 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under sections 173 and 174 of this title.
The Secretary of Commerce shall publish official notifications, from time to time, of such commercial information communicated to him by diplomatic and consular officers, as he may deem important to the public interests, in such newspapers, not to exceed three in number, as he may select.
(R.S. §211; Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736.)
R.S. §211 derived from act Aug. 18, 1856, ch. 127, §2, 11 Stat. 60.
Act Mar. 4, 1913, substituted “Secretary of Commerce” for “Secretary of Commerce and Labor”.
Act Feb. 14, 1903, transferred Bureau of Statistics from Treasury Department to Department of Commerce and Labor.
Section 189, act May 15, 1936, ch. 405, §1, 49 Stat. 1335, which authorized Secretary of Commerce to charge for lists of foreign buyers, special statistical services, special commodity news bulletins, and World Trade Directory reports and to deposit collections therefore in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts, is now covered by sections 1525 and 1526 of this title. Similar provisions were contained in the following acts:
Mar. 22, 1935, ch. 39, 49 Stat. 89.
Apr. 7, 1934, ch. 104, 48 Stat. 550.
Mar. 1, 1933, ch. 144, 47 Stat. 1392.
July 1, 1932, ch. 361, 47 Stat. 501.
June 30, 1932, ch. 314, title III, §310, 47 Stat. 410.
Feb. 23, 1931, ch. 280, 46 Stat. 1333.
Apr. 18, 1930, ch. 184, 46 Stat. 197.
Jan. 25, 1929, ch. 102, 45 Stat. 1118.
Feb. 15, 1928, ch. 57, 45 Stat. 87.
Feb. 24, 1927, ch. 189, 44 Stat. 1203.
Apr. 29, 1926, ch. 195, 44 Stat. 353.
Mar. 3, 1881, ch. 130, 21 Stat. 391.
June 16, 1880, ch. 235, 21 Stat. 271.
Section 189a, act May 27, 1935, ch. 148, §1, 49 Stat. 292, which authorized Department of Commerce to make special statistical studies (foreign trade, domestic trade, and other economic matters), to prepare from its records special statistical compilations, and to furnish transcripts (studies, tables, and other records), upon payment of actual cost by requesting person, firm, or corporations, is now covered by section 1525 of this title.
No part of the consular and other commercial reports of the Department of Commerce, including circular letters to chambers of commerce, discussing partisan political, religious, or moral questions shall be published.
(Feb. 25, 1885, ch. 150, 23 Stat. 324; Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736.)
Act Mar. 4, 1913, substituted “Department of Commerce” for “Department of Commerce and Labor”.
Act Feb. 14, 1903, transferred Bureau of Statistics from Treasury Department to Department of Commerce and Labor.
All terms of measure, weight, and money in the diplomatic, consular, and other commercial reports prepared, printed, published, and distributed by the Department of Commerce shall be reduced to and expressed in terms of measure, weight, and coin of the United States, as well as in the foreign terms.
(Feb. 9, 1903, ch. 530, 32 Stat. 813; Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736.)
Act Mar. 4, 1913, substituted “Department of Commerce” for “Department of Commerce and Labor”.
Act Feb. 14, 1903, transferred Bureau of Statistics from Treasury Department to Department of Commerce and Labor.
Section 192, acts Mar. 1, 1919, ch. 86, §1, 40 Stat. 1256; May 27, 1935, ch. 148, §2, 49 Stat. 293, which provided for deposit of moneys received for special statistical studies, compilations, and transcripts in a special account for payment of ordinary expenses incidental to the work and services of nongovernmental individuals and had originally provided for covering into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts moneys received in payment of photographic and other mechanical reproduction of special statistical compilations from the records, is now covered by section 1526 of this title.
Section 192a, acts May 27, 1935, ch. 148, §3, 49 Stat. 293; Aug. 7, 1946, ch. 770, §1(4), 60 Stat. 866, required Secretary of Commerce to prescribe rules and regulations governing special statistical studies.
Section, act Jan. 5, 1923, ch. 23, §2, 42 Stat. 1110, related to statements and reports for collectors of customs and Treasury Department. See section 301 et seq. of Title 13, Census.
Repeal effective 180 days after Oct. 15, 1962, see section 4 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 13, Census.
See section 3 of Pub. L. 87–826, set out as a note under sections 173 and 174 of this title.
Section 194, act Jan. 5, 1923, ch. 23, §1, 42 Stat. 1109, which transferred to the Department of Commerce from the Department of the Treasury the control and expense of operation of the office known as the Bureau of Customs Statistics under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Treasury, on Jan. 5, 1923, located in the customhouse, City of New York, State of New York, including all officers, clerks, and other employees of that bureau, official records, papers, mechanical and office equipment, furniture, and supplies in use on that date and which authorized the Secretary of Commerce to consolidate the Bureau of Customs Statistics with the Division of Statistics of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce into one office, located in either Washington or New York, or partly in either place, in the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce, with the statistical bureau authorized to be located in New York under the jurisdiction and control of the Department of Commerce to continue to occupy the premises in the New York customhouse which were on Jan. 5, 1923, occupied by the Bureau of Customs Statistics, and with additional space as needed to be assigned in the same building for its use by the Secretary of the Treasury upon request of the Secretary of Commerce, has been omitted as executed. Pursuant to the authority vested in the Secretary of Commerce by Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, the Secretary has reassigned the functions of the Division of Statistics of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce to other offices of the Department of Commerce.
Section 195, acts Apr. 18, 1930, ch. 184, 46 Stat. 198; Feb. 23, 1931, ch. 280, 46 Stat. 1334, which provided for the payment of transportation expenses of employees, is covered by section 5701 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31 shall not apply to advance payments for rent of offices in foreign countries by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
(Mar. 4, 1925, ch. 556, §1, 43 Stat. 1327.)
“Section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31” substituted in text for “section 3648 of the Revised Statutes” on authority of Pub. L. 97–258, §4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first section of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance.
Section was formerly classified to section 531 of Title 31 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 31, Money and Finance, by Pub. L. 97–258, §1, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 877.
Section is from the Second Deficiency Act for the fiscal year 1925.
Functions of all other officers of Department of Commerce and functions of all agencies and employees of such Department, with a few exceptions, transferred to Secretary of Commerce, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or performance of any of his functions by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, by Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Through internal reorganization, functions of former Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, referred to in text, have been reassigned to other offices of Department of Commerce.
Section 197, act Mar. 3, 1927, ch. 365, §1, 44 Stat. 1394, related to establishment of Foreign Commerce Service.
Section 197a, act Mar. 3, 1927, ch. 365, §2, 44 Stat. 1394, related to duties of officers.
Section 197b, acts Mar. 3, 1927, ch. 365, §3, 44 Stat. 1394; Apr. 12, 1930, ch. 142, 46 Stat. 163, related to appointment of officers, assignments for duty, and allowances.
Section 197c, act Mar. 3, 1927, ch. 365, §4, 44 Stat. 1395, related to employment of clerks and assistants.
Section 197d, act Mar. 3, 1927, ch. 365, §5, 44 Stat. 1396, related to status of officer while serving abroad.
Repeal effective three months from Aug. 13, 1946, see section 1141 of act Aug. 13, 1946.
Section, act Mar. 3, 1927, ch. 365, §6, 44 Stat. 1396, provided for travel and subsistence allowance to officers, employees, etc., of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce on duty abroad or away from duty post.
Section, act Mar. 3, 1927, ch. 365, §7, 44 Stat. 1396, related to availability of appropriation during fiscal year ending June 30, 1926, and thereafter for the Department of Commerce for commercial attache�AE1s in Europe, South or Central America and elsewhere.
Repeal effective three months from Aug. 13, 1946, see section 1141 of act Aug. 13, 1946.
Section, acts Jan. 25, 1929, ch. 102, title III, 45 Stat. 1119; Apr. 18, 1930, ch. 184, title III, 46 Stat. 198; Feb. 23, 1931, ch. 280, title III, 46 Stat. 1334; July 1, 1932, ch. 361, title III, 47 Stat. 502; Mar. 1, 1933, ch. 144, title III, 47 Stat. 1393; Apr. 7, 1934, ch. 104, title III, 48 Stat. 551; Mar. 22, 1935, ch. 39, §1, 49 Stat. 90; May 15, 1936, ch. 405, §1, 49 Stat. 1336; June 16, 1937, ch. 359, title III, §1, 50 Stat. 287; Apr. 27, 1938, ch. 180, title III, §1, 52 Stat. 273; June 29, 1939, ch. 248, title III, 53 Stat. 909, related to purchases of supplies and equipment on the open market.