treaties; to erect and maintain monuments along the water boundary; to make necessary surveys of changes brought about by force of current in both rivers caused by avulsion, accretion, or erosion; to mark and eliminate bancos caused by such changes; and to survey, place, and maintain monuments on all international bridges between the two countries. The Commission is authorized to call for papers and information relating to boundary matters from either country, hold meetings at any point where any of the difficulties or questions may arise, summon witnesses, and take testimony. The Commission is authorized to make use of the same means that are used by the courts of the United States and Mexico to compel the attendance of witnesses. If both Commissioners agree to a decision their judgment shall be binding on both Governments, unless one of the Governments disapproves of it within one month from the date on which it is pronounced. The American section of the Commission was, by Public Resolution 212, 72d Congress, approved June 30, 1932 (47 Stat. 417), charged with the exercise and performance of the powers, duties, and functions of the American section of the International Water Commission, United States and Mexico, which was abolished by the terms of such act, effective July 1, 1932. The Mexican Government consolidated the Mexican Commissions of International Waters and Boundaries, effective January 1, 1941. The American Commissioner, pursuant to his designation by the President under the act approved August 19, 1935 (49 Stat. 660), is cooperating with a representative of the Mexican Government in an investigation, study, and report regarding the equitable use of waters of the three major international streams of the southwestern frontier, namely, the lower Rio Grande, the lower Colorado River, and the Tia Juana River, for the purpose of securing information on which to base a treaty with the Government of Mexico relating to the use of the waters of these rivers. In addition to the development and analysis of data pertaining to irrigated areas and the extent of beneficial use of these waters generally, there are operated by the Commission, over 1,500 miles of the Rio Grande, its tributaries, and diversions, 55 stream-gaging stations embracing the measurement of the run-off from over 55,000 square miles of the drainage area of the Rio Grande within the United States of America between Fort Quitman, Texas, and the Gulf of Mexico, and nearly one half of the pertinent drainage area in Mexico between those points. Statutory provision is also made by this act for the conduct by the American Commissioner of technical and other investigations relating to the defining, demarcation, fencing, or monumentation of the land and water boundary, and for the construction of fences, monuments, and other demarcation of the boundary line, as well as sewer and water systems and other enumerated structures crossing the international border. The act further embraces statutory authority and administrative provisions for the construction, operation, and maintenance of treaty and other boundary projects. Funds are appropriated annually for the work of the American section of the International Boundary Commission, United States and Mexico. The first appropriation was provided by an act of Congress approved September 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 504). For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941 the sum of $198,000 was appropriated by Congress for the salaries and expenses of the Commission (54 Stat. 189). The following additional appropriations were made for construction, operation, and maintenance of Public Works projects: Rio Grande rectification project, not to exceed $60,000 continued available from the 1940 appropriation; lower Rio Grande flood-control project, $950,000 together with the unexpended balances of the 1940 appropriations; and Rio Grande canalization project, $810,000 plus the unexpended balances of the 1940 appropriations (54 Stat. 189; 54 Stat. 650). INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND CANADA 23 (Conventions of April 21, 1906, April 11, 1908, and February 24, 1925 *) American Offices: Washington, D.C. Canadian Offices: Ottawa, Ontario. American Commissioner: Thomas Riggs, of New York. Canadian Commissioner: Noel J. Ogilvie. Engineer to American Section: Jesse Hill, of California. The International Boundary Commission, United States, Alaska, and Canada, was created under the provisions of the several boundary treaties between the United States and Great Britain, for the purpose 23 Also includes the duties of the Alaskan Boundary Delimitation Commission and the Canadian Boundary Delimitation Commission. 24 Treaty Series 452; 34 Stat. 2948; Treaty Series 497; 35 Stat. 2003; Treaty Series 720; 44 Stat. 2102. 25 Mr. McCallum was appointed on January 1, 1941 to take the place left vacant by the resignation of John A. Pounder on July 1, 1940. of defining, marking, and maintaining the demarcation of the international boundary line between the United States and Canada and between Alaska and Canada, as follows: (1) Southeastern Alaska, or the boundary between Alaska and British Columbia: length, 893 miles; (2) The boundary between Alaska and Canada, along the 141st meridian: length, 647 miles; (3) The boundary between the United States and Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with the exception of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes: length 2,697 miles. Under the treaty of 1925 between the United States and Canada, the Commission is authorized and directed to inspect the various portions of the boundary line between the United States and Canada and between Alaska and Canada; to repair all damaged monuments and buoys; to re-locate and rebuild monuments which have been destroyed; to keep the boundary vistas open; to move boundary monuments to new sites and establish such additional monuments and buoys as they shall deem desirable; to maintain at all times an effective boundary line between the United States and Canada and between Alaska and Canada; and to determine the location of any point of the boundary line which may become necessary in the settlement of any question that may arise between the two Governments. The Commission is composed of two members, one on the part of Canada and one on the part of the United States, each having a permanent staff of experienced boundary employees as field parties who personally know the boundary line and are able, jointly, to keep the line in good condition at a comparatively small annual cost. Each section of the Commission also employs from 15 to 20 temporary workers, such as rodmen, chainmen, concrete workmen, and axmen, hired locally along the line, to assist the permanent employees in carrying out the part of the work required of each country. Funds are appropriated annually for the work of the American Section of the International Boundary Commission, United States and Canada. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941 the sum of $43,000 was appropriated by Congress for the expenses of the American section of the Commission (54 Stat. 190). INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND CANADA (Treaty of January 11, 19092) American Offices: Washington, D.C. Canadian Offices: Ottawa, Ontario. American Commissioners: A. Owsley Stanley, of Kentucky, Chairman; Canadian Commissioners: Charles Stewart, Chairman; Joseph E. Perrault.29 American Secretary: Jesse B. Ellis, of Missouri. Canadian Secretary: Lawrence Johnston Burpee. The International Joint Commission, United States and Canada, was created by the treaty between the United States and Great Britain, signed January 11, 1909, the object of which is "to prevent disputes regarding the use of boundary waters and to settle all questions which are now pending between the United States and the Dominion of Canada involving the rights, obligations, or interests of either in relation to the other or to the inhabitants of the other, along their common frontier, and to make provision for the adjustment and settlement of all such questions as may hereafter arise". The Commission consists of six members, three members appointed by the President of the United States and three appointed by His Britannic Majesty on the recommendation of the Government of Canada. It was organized in 1911, adopted rules of procedure, and established permanent offices in Washington and Ottawa. It has jurisdiction over all cases involving the use or obstruction or diversion of boundary waters between the United States and Canada, of waters flowing from boundary waters, and of waters at a lower level than the boundary in rivers flowing across the boundary. Under article IX of the treaty, the International Joint Commission also is constituted an investigatory body for the purpose of examining into and reporting upon any questions or matters of difference arising along the common frontier that shall be referred to it from time to time, whenever the Government of the United States or the Government of Canada shall request that such questions or matters of difference be so referred. In the 29 years the Commission has been in operation it has disposed of a number of important questions involving the use of boundary Mr. Moore died on February 8, 1941. 28 Mr. Kyte died on November 16, 1940. 20 Mr. Perrault was appointed on October 4, 1940 to take the place left vacant by the resignation of Sir William H. Hearst, K.C.M.G. waters and has investigated others. Some of these questions have involved the interests of States, others of municipalities, and still others of corporations and individuals. Under article X of the treaty, any questions or matters of difference arising between the high contracting parties involving the rights, obligations, or interests of the United States or Canada, in relation either to each other or to their respective inhabitants, may be referred for decision to the International Joint Commission, it being understood that on the part of the United States such action will be by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and on the part of Great Britain with the consent of the Governor General in Council of the Dominion of Canada. The treaty provides that the expenses of the Commissioners be paid by their respective Governments and that the expenses of the Commission be shared equally by the contracting parties. The first appropriation for this Government's share in the expenses of the Commission was provided in an act of Congress approved June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 766). For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941 the sum of $19,500 was appropriated by Congress for the expenses of the Commission. This act also appropriated an additional amount in the sum of $48,500 for necessary special or technical investigations in connection with matters which fall within the scope of the jurisdiction of the International Joint Commission (54 Stat. 190). There is a provision in this act to the effect that the Commissioners on the part of the United States shall serve without additional compensation. However, the Congress on June 27, 1940 (54 Stat. 650) appropriated $7,500 for an additional amount for salaries and expenses, including also the salary of one Commissioner on the part of the United States. On April 1, 1941 Congress appropriated the further sum of $2,000 for salaries and expenses, fiscal year 1941 (55 Stat. 72). INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND CANADA (Convention of March 2, 1923, supplanted by convention of May 9, 1930, revised by convention of January 29, 1937 3°) Offices: Seattle, Washington. American Commissioners: 20 Edward W. Allen, of Washington, Secretary; Charles E. Jackson, Assistant Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. Treaty Series 701; 43 Stat. 1841; Treaty Series 837; 47 Stat. 1872; Treaty Series 917; 50 Stat. 1351. |