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Show 92 shall be made unless authorized by law.109 General congres- sional practice has long been to authorize examinations and surveys in omnibus "River and Harbor Acts," almost 100 of which have been enacted since the first in 1826.110 If pre- liminary examination shows a proposed improvement not advisable, no further action may be taken unless directed by Congress; if favorable, the Secretary has discretion to cause a survey to be made and the cost and advisability reported to Congress.111 After a regular or formal report on an examina- tion or survey is submitted, no supplemental or additional re- port may be made unless authorized by law.112 In connection with the foregoing restrictions, however, note should be made of an important general authorization resulting in the so-called 308 Reports.113 In 1925, Congress directed the Secretary, through the Army Engineers, and the Federal Power Commission jointly to prepare and submit an estimate of the cost of making examinations and surveys of those navigable streams and their tributaries where power develop- ment appears feasible and practicable, with a view to the formulation of general plans for improvement of navigation and the prosecution of such improvement in combination with efficient development of potential water power, control of floods, 109 Act of July 13, 1892, § 8, 27 Stat. 88, 116. All River and Harbor Acts regularly contain this provision. See, e. g., Act of May 17,1950, 64 Stat. 163, -. In addition, appropriation acts prohibit expenditure of appropriated funds for examinations and surveys not authorized by law. See, e. g., Act of September 6, 1950, 64 Stat. 595, -. Whenever permission for construc- tion of dams is granted or under consideration by Congress, such surveys and investigations of the affected streams may be made as are necessary to secure conformity with "rational plans" for improvement of the streams for navigation. Act of June 25, 1910, § 3, 36 Stat. 630, 668, 33 U. S. O. 546. 110 See, e. g., Act of May 20,1826, 4 Stat. 175; Act of May 17, 1950, 64 Stat. 163, -. 111 Act of March 4, 1913, 37 Stat. 801, 825-826, 33 U. S. C. 545. 112 Act of September 22,1922, § 12, 42 Stat. 1038,1043. This limitaton has been repeated in all subsequent River and Harbor Acts. See, e. g., Act of May 17,1950, 64 Stat. 163, -. Similar restrictions were included in earlier statutes. See, e. g., Act of June 5, 1920, § 2, 41 Stat. 1009,1010. 113 This designation arises from the fact that cost estimates of the surveys were published in H. Doc. No. 308, 69th Cong., 1st sess. (1926). |