July 1, 1923," and inserting in lieu thereof the words "After April 1,

1924."

INDEBTEDNESS OF NATIONAL BANKS.

SEC. 504. That section 502 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, is amended by adding at the end thereof a new paragraph to read as follows:

"Eighth. Liabilities incurred under the provisions of section 202 of the Federal Farm Loan Act, approved July 17, 1916, as amended.

JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.

SEC. 506. (a) That a joint committee be appointed, to consist of three Members of the Banking and Currencey Committee of the Senate, to be appointed by the President thereof, and five Members of the Banking and Currency Committee of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker thereof. Vacancies occurring in the membership of the committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

(b) The joint committee is authorized to inquire into the effect of the present limited membership of State banks and trust companies in the Federal reserve system upon financial conditions in the agricultural sections of the United States; the reasons which actuate eligible State banks and trust companies in failing to become members of the Federal reserve system; what administrative measures have been taken and are being taken to increase such membership; and whether or not any change should be made in existing law, or in rules and regulations of the Federal Reserve Board, or in methods of administration, to bring about in the agricultural districts a larger membership of such banks or trust companies in the Federal reserve system.

(c) The committee is authorized to sit at any time during the sessions or recesses of the Congress, to conduct its hearings at Washington or at any other place in the United States, to send for persons, books and papers, to take testimony, to administer oaths, and to employ experts deemed necessary by such committee, a clerk, and a stenographer to report such hearings as may be had in connection with any subject which may be before said committee, such stenographer's services to be rendered at a cost not exceeding $1.25 per printed page. The expenses of such committee shall be paid out of the contingent funds of the Senate and House of Representatives in proportion to the membership of such committee from each House.

(d) The committee shall from time to time report to both the Senate and the House of Representatives the results of its inquiries, together with its recommendations, and may prepare and submit bills or resolutions embodying such recommendations, and the final report of said committee shall be submitted not later than January 31, 1924.

SEPARABILITY PROVISION.

SEC. 507. That if any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this Act shall for any reason be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair,

54-539 O-71-6

or invalidate the remainder of this Act, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment is rendered.

DEFINITIONS.

SEO. 508. That when used in this Act, the term "Federal Farm Loan Act" means the Federal Farm Loan Act approved July 17, 1916, as amended, and the term "Federal Reserve Act" means the Federal Reserve Act approved December 23, 1913, as amended.

SHORT TITLE,

SEC. 509. That this Act may be cited as the "Agricultural Credits Act of 1923."

And the Senate agree to the same.

That the Senate recede from its disagreement to the amendment of the House to the title of the bill, and agree to the same.

Approved, March 4, 1923.

[H. J. Res. 151.]

Joint Resolution Extending the time for the final report of the joint congressional committee created by the Agricultural Credits Act of 1923.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 506 of the Agricultural Credits Act of 1923 is amended by striking out "January 31" and inserting in lieu thereof “June 30."

Approved, January 31, 1924.

(75)

[PUBLIC-No. 35-68TH CONGRESS.]

(H. R. 4121.]

An Act To extend the provisions of certain laws to the Territory of Hawaii.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925, the Territory of Hawaii shall be entitled to share in appropriations now or which may hereafter become available for apportionment under the Act entitled "An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the States in the construction of rural post roads, and for other purposes," approved July 11, 1916, known as the Federal Highway Act, and any Act amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, upon the same terms and conditions as any of the several States, and such Territory shall be included in the calculations to determine the basis of apportionment of such funds: Provided, That in approving road projects in such Territory to receive Federal aid, the Secretary of Agriculture shall give preference to such projects as will expedite the completion of an adequate system of highways for the national defense or which will connect seaports with units of the national parks.

SEC. 2. The provisions of the Federal Farm Loan Act, and any Act amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, are extended to the Territory of Hawaii. The Federal Farm Loan Board shall include the Territory in a Federal land bank district, and such Federal land bank as the board may designate is authorized to establish branch banks in the Territory.

SEC. 3. The Territory of Hawaii shall be entitled to share in the benefits of the Act entitled "An Act for the promotion of the welfare and hygiene of maternity and infancy, and for other purposes," approved November 23, 1921, and any Act amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, upon the same terms and conditions as any of the several States. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925, there is authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $13,000, to be available for apportionment under such Act to the Territory, and annually thereafter such sum as would be apportioned to the Territory if such Act had originally included the Territory.

SEC. 4. The Territory of Hawaii shall be entitled to share in the benefits of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the promotion of vocational education; to provide for cooperation with the States in the promotion of such education in agriculture and the trades and industries; to provide for cooperation with the States in the preparation of teachers of vocational subjects; and to appropriate money and regulate its expenditure," approved February 23, 1917, and any Act amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, upon the same terms and conditions as any of the several States. There is authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury

not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925, and annually thereafter, the sum of $30,000, to be available for allotment under such Act to the Territory.

SEC. 5. The Territory of Hawaii shall be entitled to share in the benefits of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the promotion of vocational rehabilitation of persons disabled in industry or otherwise and their return to civil employment," approved June 2, 1920, and any Act amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, upon the same terms and conditions as any of the several States. There is authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925, and annually thereafter, the sum of $5,000, to be available for allotment under such Act to the Territory.

Approved, March 10, 1924.