MARINE SCIENCES AND RESEARCH ACT JD 
CoMPpTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, 
Washington, November 17, 1959. 
Hon. Warren G. Macnuson, 
Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 
U.S. Senate. 
Dear Mr. Cuarrman: Further reference is made to your letter 
dated September 17, 1959, acknowledged on September 21, requesting 
the comments of the General Accounting Office concerning 8. 2692, 
86th Congress, Ist session, entitled ‘“‘A bill to advance the marine 
sciences, to establish a comprehensive 10-year program of ocea- 
nographic research and surveys; to promote commerce and navigation, 
to secure the national defense; to expand ocean resources; to authorize 
the construction of research and survey ships and facilities; to assure 
systematic studies of effects of radioactive materials in marine en- 
vironments; to enhance the general welfare; and for other purposes.’ 
In the consideration of the bill, we recommend the following 
corrections and clarifications: 
The reference in line 5, page 15, to “the preceding item (a)”’ appar- 
ently was intended to read ‘“‘the preceding item (c).” 
Section 7(f) directs the Maritime Administration to construct ships 
of designated tonnage. However, section 8 does not authorize any 
additional appropriation to the Administration for this purpose. If 
it is intended that other funds are to be used for this purpose, it is 
recommended that the bill so state. Also, it is not clear whether the 
ships required to be constructed by section 7(f) are in addition to 
ships authorized to be constructed by other sections of the bill. 
Section 8(d) does not place any limitation on the cost of operating 
new Coast and Geodetic Survey ships, while an annual limitation is 
imposed on the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries by section 6(b) and 
on the Navy by section 14. We do not know whether this was an 
oversight or was intentional. 
The last sentence of section 10 states “‘Appropriations authorized in 
this section shall be in addition to other appropriations provided for 
such Department or Office to carry out its duties under law.” How- 
ever, we are unable to ascertain where any appropriation has been 
authorized in such section. 
We also recommend that a general provision be included in the bill 
to the effect that all agreements for grants in excess of a specified 
amount; e.g., $50,000, contain a provision that the Comptroller 
General of the United States or his duly authorized representatives 
shall have the right to examine any directly pertinent books, docu- 
ments, papers, and records, of the grantee relating to the purpose of 
the grant, for a period of 3 years after the last payment under the 
grant. 
We recognize that the question whether legislation of this type is 
necessary is strictly a matter of policy for determination of the 
Congress, on which we express no opinion. However, we would 
suggest that the matters hereinabove set forth be given serious 
consideration by your committee in its deliberations on the bill. 
Sincerely yours, 
JOSEPH CAMPBELL, 
Comptroller General of the United States. 
