OCR Text |
Show 140 agree to utilize the same in a manner consistent with federal uses and purposes.72 School Facilities.-While not a continuing general authori- zation, it should be noted that Congress has recently em- powered the Chief of Engineers to provide school facilities for the education of dependents of persons engaged on the con- struction of a number of specified flood-control projects, and to pay for the same from funds available for such projects.73 Likewise, "when it is determined to be in the public interest," he is authorized to enter into cooperative arrangements with local agencies for the operation of such facilities, for their expansion at federal expense, and for federal contributions to cover the increased cost to local agencies of providing the educa- tional services required by the Government.74 Railroad Bridges Altered at Federal Expense.-The Chief of Engineers is vested with exceptionally wide and continuing discretion in connection with railroad-bridge alterations in- cluded in authorized flood-protection projects. For Congress in 1946 "authorized" but did not "direct" him to include at federal expense the necessary alterations of railroad bridges and approaches in connection therewith.75 Thus, federal funds may be used for items otherwise considered as local respon- sibilities. 72 Act of June 22, 1986, § 5, 49 Stat. 1570, 1572, as added by Act of July 19,1987, § 1, 50 Stat. 515, 518, 33 U. S. 0. 701h. 73 Act of July 24, 1946, § 6, 60 Stat. 641, 642, as amended June 25, 1948, § 1, 62 Stat. 1019, 1022. Congress recently enacted two statutes generally concerning the construction of school facilities at federally affected areas. Act of September 23, 1950, 64 Stat. 967, and Act of September 30, 1950, 64 Stat. 1100. 74 Id. See also infra, p. 529. 75 Act of July 24,1946, § 3, 60 Stat. 641, 642. In reporting this legislation, the House Committee asserted that it is usually beyond the ability of levee districts and local communities to bear the cost of railroad-bridge changes made necessary by the prosecution of levee, flood-wall and channel recti- fication projects; and that since the benefits from maintaining the railroad transportation network accrue to the country as a whole, it was deemed fair to include the expense of such authorization as a federal cost. H. Rep. No. 2165, 79th Cong., 2d sess., p. 6 (1946). |